Kitty on the Mend, and Other Things

This little sketch was done in late 2009 when I was an artist-in-resident at the Philadelphia Art Hotel…such a cool place, and featured on Apartment Therapy recently! (I’m posting this image in honor of our cat, Natalie, who was recently sick but now is not!)

*  *  * 

So, how are you today?

Here’s my day so far:

1. Woke up.

2. Tried to write.

3. Gave up, got on train.

4. Arrived at office.

5. Fought with Steve*.

6. Made up with Steve.

7. Worked on video** with Steve.

8. Laughed my head off with Steve.

9. Ate fish tacos with Steve.

10. Wrote this list.

 

*Husband, business partner.
**We’re working on a video announcing the next Silly workshop… look for all the details on Thursday!

 

I Know, Another Bird!

Birds are everywhere and they are very trendy, so sorry to give you yet another…

… it’s just that I see them everywhere:

I guess that one was pretty obvious!

But what do you make out of this “blob”?

Print it out, turn it around and around, and find and finish the drawing! (There is no right answer.)

Post links to your finished drawings in the comments, or add it to the Drawing Lab flickr group!

Happy Thursday!

 

Junk Mail Class

Here is a finished page from the Junk Mail Artist’s Book class that ends today!

It’s been a busy and rewarding month. Thank you to everyone who took the class!

A Blobimal, and Running

 

I’ve started “running.”

But I have to put the word running in quotes, as people can and do WALK faster… just today, in fact, I ran a two-mile loop right behind a woman walking. Yes, she was ahead of me the entire time.

So why don’t I just walk?

Well, I’m hoping that, once my body gets used to the MOTION of running, I will eventually get faster.

And since I have such a terrible time finding time to exercise, I figure running gives you the most bang for the buck, so to speak.

And, I’ve been gaining weight slowly and steadily the last few years, and would like to reverse the trend. And since I have walked fairly regularly the last few years, apparently it’s not doing the trick in terms of burning the calories. (Though it could possibly be those daily muffins….)

And I have depression issues, and my husband and general common wisdom has been telling me for years that exercise would help me.

But the reason I’ve started running again, NOW?

Because Dar Hosta runs, and when I stayed with her a month ago she told me her story and it totally inspired me!

Dar is about half my size and runs a minimum of 20 miles per week. So, this means that me, being nearly twice her size, should aim to run half her goal: 10 miles a week, right?

Ten it is.

 

I Think I’m Back

You might have noticed I’ve been a little absent lately. Or that my blog has read more like an advertisement than anything else.

So sorry… I’m back, now, I think!

Steve and I had to double up on the video production schedule last week because he had to (ahem!) go back to his other job. Which means, I’m relatively caught up and can work at a more reasonable pace this week…  relief!

How has your summer been?

In just a few minutes my daughter-in-law, Christi, will be coming to the studio to help me organize. (I’m a hopeless packrat, but she is going to whip this place into shape!)

This little sketchbook painting is/was unfinished, but now that I scanned it in to show you, I think it might be finished! The bunny on the right seems like a ceramic statue to me, and the one on the left is confused. Makes me smile.

Okay, I’m not very cohesive in my thoughts today.

But I’m “back,” promise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Junk Books, Anyone?

I’m posting the supply list video for the Junk Mail Artist’s Book class starting on Monday, just to try and entice one or two more of you to sign up! If you can’t actually DO the class next week, you can still sign up and do the work at your own pace; you will have access to the videos and all the class materials “forever.”

I also wanted to brag a little: the excellent animation at the beginning of the video is by my son, Wes! And of course my photographer husband Steve, who is shooting and producing all of my class videos…

Faces 101 Online Class

Today is the last day of my Faces 101 online class, where we actually drew or painted 101 faces!

These more stylized ladies are from the last day’s assignment…

… but we drew realistically, scribbly, fast, slow, sloppily, neatly, and everything inbetween! (101 is A LOT of faces!)

Thanks, everyone, who took the class!!

 

 

“Drawing Lab” Giveaway

Today’s my day!

I’m the first of my Artspark friends to give away some loot:

(((((ARTSPARKS* HOT! HOT! HOT! Summer Giveaway!)))))

(For those who don’t know me, my name is Carla Sonheim and I try to make drawing FUN — for myself, for my kids, and for you!

I am giving away a copy of “Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists” and a small original drawing. For a chance to win, please leave your comment explaining either:

A) why you would like to win, or

B) how to keep my cat Natalie from meowing her head off:

(“B” answerers, thanks in advance!)

I will pick a winner randomly on Friday, August 19th (the last day of this giveaway hop and the last day of summer camp (online art classes) — phew!)

Go here for my blog post announcing the blog hop giveaway  to find your giveaway link of the day. (There  will be 10 giveaways total!)

Thank you so much for visiting my blog!!

___________________________________

And the winner is:

Mary Ann Hurt!!!!!

Why do I want to win your book? Well, because I wish to take one of your next classes and I will NEED this book in order to continue on my art journey!  As for your sweet kitty — we have a “pound” kitty named Buddy — he often meows when he wants certain things — like when we go outside — he expects a couple of leaves of catnip when we come back in — if he sees there is nothing — we get told. If I leave and he wakes up, he meows to find me. You just need to find out why kitty meows and give her what she wants — probably most of all ATTENTION — scratches behind her ears, on her cheeks, and kisses and hugs! She probably wants love, love, love.

Thanks, everyone for commenting!!

ARTSPARKS’ Summer Giveaway!!!

PRESS RELEASE

ARTSPARKS* HOT! HOT! HOT! Summer Giveaway!

My fabulously fiery friends are simply too hot to handle this summer! Be inspired and feed the fire of your creativity with some of the most creative publications and DVD workshops out there.

Visit each blog on the scheduled day for that person and leave comments for chances to win in this hottest of summer giveaways!

(I’m first up on Wednesday, with a copy of my book “Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists,” and a small original drawing.)
__________________

Wed August 10 Carla Sonhiem http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/
Thurs August 11 Diana Trout http://dianatrout.typepad.com/blog/
Fri August 12 Gloria Hansen http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/
Sat August 13 Tracie Lyn Huskamp http://thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/
Sun August 14 Jane LaFazio http://JaneVille.blogspot.com
Mon August 15 Jill Berry http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/
Tues August 16 Judy Coates Perez http://judyperez.blogspot.com
Wed August 17 Kelli Nina Perkins http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/
Thurs August 18 Lyric Kinard http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/
Fri August 19 Melanie Testa http://www.melanietesta.com/mtype/

* Artsparks is the name we go by, but we’re really just friends helping each other out with advice, tips, and sharing. You can start your own group!

Imaginary Creatures Class

We just finished Week #1 of summer camp, Imaginary Creatures.

These were the three paintings that I did during the class, with a camera looking over my shoulder the whole time.

I love teaching this class. The work that comes out of it from the “students” is just so fabulous!

Thank you, everyone who took this class!