Men’s Boots & Mermaids

In a few days I’m headed to New York! The above image is one of the pieces I’m planning to put in my portfolio, which I’m showing next Friday night at the SCBWI conference.

Before that, though, Lynn Whipple and I are holding a “Spark Get-Together” in NYC on Tuesday, February 3rd from 5-8… this is a gathering for anyone in the “Spark!” class (or anyone who is interested in being in the class!). Details forthcoming (but mark your calendars!)

Which brings me to men’s boots.

Lynn is a very cute dresser. Plus, it snowed in NYC yesterday. So I added 2 + 2 and thought it would be a good idea to wear shoes other than my neon yellow tennis shoes or my “dress” flats, which have holes in both soles.

So I went boot shopping!

I’m now the owner of some black men’s boots.*

They’re cute!

I wore them today to break them in, and felt quite stylish in my black boots, jeans, and t-shirt.

I went into a frame shop and got into a nice conversation with the store attendant and noted on my way home that I really did like “dressing up.”

I was feeling pretty good about myself until I got home and looked in the mirror: my shirt was on inside-out.

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* I had to buy men’s boots because they didn’t have my size in the women’s and I would have had to order them and they wouldn’t get here in time; also, I’m as tall as —and weigh more than — most men, so I just went with it. 😀

“Winter Watercolors” with Fred Lisaius; Registration Now Open!

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“Winter Watercolors”
Painting Through the Seasons with Fred Lisaius
Two-Week Class; 6 Video Lessons
February 16 – 28, 2015

 $85 ($65 for alumni of Fred’s Classes: Save $20!)

Painting should be fun. Relax and enjoy step-by-step instruction on how to begin, create and finish a watercolor painting! Pour yourself a cup of tea, put some Vivaldi on in the background and let’s get painting!

Celebrate Winter with Fred’s next class in his Painting Through the Seasons series! In this class, he will review some basic watercolor techniques, as well as give you some new, exciting ways to bring out the soft colors of winter in your watercolor paintings.

Whether you are an experienced painter or new to watercolor, Fred will inspire, inform, and challenge you to take your paintings to the next level.

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CLASS ITINERARY

Lesson #1. Techniques Review

Lesson #2. Deer in Falling Snow

Lesson #3. Pomegranate Still life

Lesson #4. Winter Birch Trees

Lesson #5. A Hot Cup of Tea

Lesson #6. Return of the Birds

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Click here to SIGN UP TODAY!
$85.00 ($65 for “Fred Alumni”)

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Fred is a very popular and well-loved instructor! Testimonials from Fred’s classes:

“What a great, straightforward, informative class. The selection, narration, and recording were stellar. I hope that you will teach more classes, Fred. Thanks so much.” — Christine

“Seriously?!! We are really going to get more awesome lessons from Fred?!!! Fred, you rock! My fellow classmates, you all rock!!” — Jackie

“Fred Lisaius, you are a natural born teacher with a great personality. Makes it easy and fun to learn from you. Thank you so much for a tip top class!” — Karen

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Fred Lisaius is a painter, sculptor, and a popular art teacher at Bellevue College, WA  (“Fred is perfect!”). Fred is represented by the Patricia Rovzar Gallery in Seattle, and his work is in many private and corporate collections. Fred currently has  a show at the Bainbridge Island Art Museum.  From his statement:

The deeper I go into the forest the closer I feel to the truth. Off of the trail, there is a quiet calm where ideas can be contemplated and refined. In my paintings and my sculptures, I utilize the forum of nature to explore our relationship to the natural world and to each other.

Interview with Susan Wojtkowski

Hello!

Thank you to Susan Wojtkowski from the Irreversably Moi website for interviewing me recently. Head on over (it’s 35 minutes long, so get your sketchbook out for doodling!).

There are also two giveaways (one is a spot in the Year of the Spark class), so head on over and enter that, too!

Here’s the direct link to the interview:

http://irreversiblymoi.com/artist-interview-carla-sonheim/

It’s a Sparkly Party; You’re Invited!

Seattleites: This is an impromptu party… please come if you can!

Seattle Art Museum Visit

Yesterday I went to the Seattle Art Museum for an hour or so… something I don’t do often enough! I stopped in front of Gerrit van Honthorst’s “A Shepherdess Adorned with Flowers,” 1627:

… and drew a “Master Copy” in my own style:

It was fun to do!

I also saw my Imaginary Animals book in the Museum book store. I was so proud, I told the store attendant.

And then there was that awkward moment!

HAHA

Rat 2

Warm greetings to all of you today from cloudy-but-almost-sunny Seattle! Have a great weekend!

Egg Salad

All sorts of things are coming out this week… it’s been a good painting week so far!

This is small, about 7″x10″… going to try my hand a little bigger now…

“Egg Salad,” Acrylic and pencil on paper.

Mouse

I’m experimenting with a new set of Acryla Holbein Gouache paints… really love them!

REPEATING: Diane Culhane’s Class, “Paint Your Garden”!

“Paint Your Garden” with Diane Culhane from Silly U on Vimeo.

Acrylic Painting
2-Week Class; 6 Lessons
Repeat Class! January 26 – February 6, 2015.

We will explore six different painting techniques that deal with how we touch the surface of our paintings and the characteristics of the paint itself, including:

Sgraffitto , Masking,  Frottage Texturing & Blown Blots.

These techniques will become essential tools, not only for creating areas of mystery and intrigue in your work, but also for inspiring new ideas as your paintings evolve.

We will start by making test paintings of each technique to discover how viscosity and the physicality of the surface play a foundational role in the creation of a painting.

Our test paintings will then become an opening conversation, leading the way to three completed paintings of your garden, real or imaginary.

CLASS ITINERARY

Lesson #1: Sgraffito & Stippling
Lesson #2: Paint Your Garden!
Lesson #3: Masking & Drawing Gum
Lesson #4: Paint Your Garden!
Lesson #5: Frottage & Blown Blots
Lesson #6: Paint Your Garden!

SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THIS CLASS: For the Supply List, click HERE.

Here’s the scoop for this class:

• Each M-W-F you will receive an email from Diane with a reminder to visit the class blog for that day’s lesson.

• A password-protected blog dedicated to each class will serve as our clubhouse.

• A facebook group will be created for you to (optionally) share your paintings, and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. (However, if you are shy about posting your art, Diane is always available to look at your work via email.)

• The class materials will be up and available for download until “forever,” if for some reason you need to miss a day (or a couple of weeks).

• Upon registration, you will receive an email within 48 hours confirming your sign-up. On the Wednesday before your session begins, you will receive a “test” email to make sure you can receive/view everything.

• What you will need: You will be able to read acrobat pdf files and view videos.

• Class fee is good for participants living in a single household.

QUESTIONS? carla@carlasonheim.com

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Click HERE to SIGN UP TODAY!

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Diane Culhane is a professional artist and art educator who lives West Seattle in a 1910 home, and works out of her studio in Ballard Building C. She received her BFA from the University of Utah and Master’s Degree from Seattle University.

Diane has taught for The Bellevue School District, Seattle Pacific University, Kirkland Arts Center, Bellevue Arts Museum and currently directs and owns Kelsey Creek Fine Art School for children in the summer.

Visit her website at: www.dianeculhaneart.com.

My Day

Today I enjoyed reading part of Amanda Palmer’s book, “The Art of Asking,” and ended up looking up her music on youtube, which led me to this video interview with her husband, Neil Gaiman. I liked his hair so decided to paint him.

I’m shy to even post it here (I so rarely try to do “real” people), but do feel I caught him a bit!

Then I set myself to my more usual subjects: a dog and a fox.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!