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Monthly Archives: December 2012

Happy Last Day of 2012!

31 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

drawing giraffe, giraffe, giraffe creativity experiment, giraffe drawing, giraffe painting, new years, painting giraffes, year of the giraffe

giraffepencildk

Did Somebody Say, “Giraffe?”

Wow… tomorrow begins the giraffe creativity experiment and I’ve been so touched by the response. Thank you for all of you who signed up!

There are just five spots left, I was able to open up a second “section” of the class, if you would still like to hop on the giraffe wagon. I can tell already that the group is a unique, self-selected group of wonderful, enthusiastic, and slightly kooky people (as no “normal” person would sign up for a class like this… just kidding!).

* * *

I’m really looking forward to this coming year. Did I mention that my son and daughter-in-law are expecting another boy in March? We are all very excited. And my youngest, Wes, is graduating from high school in June… life is busy and full and good.

My very best wishes to all of you, and I hope you have a blessed 2013!

Checking In!

27 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

art class online, art classes online, drawing giraffes, drawing nudes, figure drawing, giraffe drawing, online art class, online classes winter, painting giraffes, winter online art classes, winter online class, year of the giraffe

liam1

I just wanted to say a quick hello between holidays… above is my son, Christer, and my grandson, Liam (15 months) on a cool, wet walk Christmas Day. We had a wonderful time with family and hope yours was happy, too!

liam2

Here is Christi, my daughter-in-law, with the little cutie pie.

***

I’m really looking forward to 2013… are you? Of course I have the big Year of the Giraffe experiment starting next Tuesday, and that’s super exciting (don’t worry, if you can’t join us for the full class, there will be other, peripheral, opportunities to participate in the experiment later in the year!).

onelinegiraffe

And the Draw! class should be really fun, too. For the first time I’ll have all of the drawing exercises documented in video in one place. In addition, we will be drawing the figure, which I have found so helpful in my own drawing practice. If you want to draw, this might be a fun class to get you started this New Year! Class begins January 10, 2013.

figure1

In any case, I’ll see you soon!

Questions

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Carla Sonheim, etsy, Girls, q&A

fortunecookie

******************************

Recently I put a call out for questions, and I plan to answer all of them over time! Here’s one from Lori:

Q: At what point did you feel comfortable with your work…I mean, when did you start to share? I like what I’m doing (sometimes), but the thought of actually letting someone else see it – and, gulp, critique it, still scares the sox off of me! Did you experience this? How’d you conquer it? Confidence is a weird thing!

A: One thing that helped early on was taking “live” classes where I got immediate feedback, either from the instructor or the other students, so by the time I put things out for my first art sale, I already knew that my art appealed to some people.

However, that first sale was so painful that I determined NEVER to do it again. Basically, 98% of the people glanced briefly at my art and then kept walking without any apparent reaction. I was pretty crushed….

But a year later I was encouraged by a friend to try again, and that time it was easier. I began to realize that it was pretty “normal” for most people to not really respond to my artwork; I was on my way to developing a thicker skin.

When I started selling on etsy in 2005, I had a new body of work (Girls) that I was a little nervous to show. But I found the internet to be a pretty painless place for me… I could put it out there and didn’t have to watch people click away!

By the time I did large outdoor art/craft shows from 2006-2008, I was used to most people not stopping or reacting, and grateful for the small percentage that liked and bought my girl paintings.

It’s not easy all the time, though. It was difficult to overhear some of the not-so-nice remarks people made. Even though my skin was pretty thick by that point, I still could get stung, and it’s one reason I don’t do those shows anymore!

Showing your art is a scary thing. It’s a really brave thing to do, I think.

I advise to start small, in a safe environment. Perhaps a small craft show somewhere, or online on facebook, a blog, or etsy. (Note: Sometimes your family members might not be the best place to start, especially if they themselves aren’t interested in art.)

Then, try not to take “non-reactions” personally. And be encouraged that most people will either be positive or indifferent, but rarely are they outright critical; though thousands and thousands of people passed my booths those three years, I only remember 2 or 3 comments that were really critical.

It definitely takes time to grow that confidence, and the fear of putting yourself out there never really goes away completely. But I encourage you to try anyway. Art is meant to be shared, I think!

Holiday Gift Store

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Carla Sonheim, gift packages, greeting cards, holiday card, holiday cards, holiday gift store, online art classes, Online Classes

Holidaystore

Hello there!

If you still have holiday shopping to do, please check out my HOLIDAY GIFT STORE: I have created some “Gift Packages” for you! All prices include PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING.

 

Books • Online Classes • Greeting Cards • Prints

 

rudolphcards

Thanks!

“Giraffe Receives Her Spots”

10 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

adora, cereal box doll, drawing giraffe, drawing giraffes, giraffe collage, girl, grow a baby, paper doll, pink animals, pink giraffe

Adoragiraffe

Hello!

I was asked some months ago to do a little illustration for an impressive creative project. “Adora” is a little girl living in southern California. When she was born in 2009, her father conceived of a project where he asked artists from all over the world to create a piece of art in her honor.

The “Grow a Baby” project has just surpassed the 500 art mark! Go to the website archive to view some of the submissions, or to ask be part of it yourself!

P.S. I was a little late getting my illustration done, and did it last week. You can tell I have “giraffes on the brain.” 😀

Holiday Gift Tags

07 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

downloadable holiday gift tag, free holiday gift tag, gift tag, holiday gift tag, holiday preparations

holidaytag

Hello! I hope your holiday preparations are going well. Thank you for being a part of my creative journey by reading this blog!

I’ve uploaded a printable PDF of holiday gift tags for you to use if you like! Just go to THIS LINK.

* * *

Seattle Locals! I’m going to be selling my books and prints on Sunday at my friend Pam Salvatore’s Christmas Open House and Gift Sale. I’ll be at

831 NE 88th Street
Seattle, WA
12:00 – 6:00pm
December 9, 2012

Pam is coordinating this event with her neighbor, Debbie Brownstein, who is having a mega art sale/food tasting event. Located across the street from Pam’s home, she will have 15 artists showing and selling and she will have an enormous spread of her food as she teaches cooking classes and caters events from her fabulous commercial kitchen.

Come if you can!

Two New Online Classes! Registration Open

04 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

art class, art class online, art classes online, drawing animals, drawing class, drawing faces, drawing giraffes, figure drawing, online art class, online art classes, online classes winter, online figure drawing, painting animals, painting giraffes, winter online art classes, winter online class, year of the giraffe

drawclass

I’ve been working hard developing TWO new online classes!

The first one, “Draw! 21 Days Towards Freeing Your Creative Self” is a three-week, video-based class for everyone — all levels encouraged and welcome. Click HERE for all the details for “Draw!”

The second one is called “Year of the Giraffe” and is a long-term, group project exploring a single subject matter and culminating in a ‘zine.

giraffe5

Take this class if you:

  • Want to practice your drawing, painting, and observation skills.
  • Paper maché is something you’d like to make time for again.
  • Think giraffes are one of the coolest creatures ever.
  • Don’t necessarily care about giraffes at all, but want to learn to think more creatively in general.
  • Want to participate in a year-long group project.

Click HERE for more!

Book Signing Today at Urban Craft Uprising

02 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

drawing and photo collage, online art class, online art classes, online classes winter, psychcentral.com, Sidewalk Cracks, Urban Craft, Urban Craft Uprising, winter online classes

blobbishSeattle locals: This is really late notice, but I’ll be an Urban Craft Uprising today at 3pm to sign books! Please stop in to say hello if you happen to be in the Seattle Center neighborhood.

Also, yesterday a little interview went live over at psychcentral.com. Check it out if you have time!

Finally, I’m a little late getting my new online classes info up. I’ve hit a few snags, and need to solve those issues before I go live with it. But it will be up SOON!

I hope you have a great day.

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Hello! I A Seattle-based artist who works with drawing, watercolor, and mixed-media. Hosts online art classes with 15 talented teachers through Carla Sonheim Presents: carlasonheim.com. Author of three instructional art books. Grateful grandma. Read more here.

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