Yesterday was Book Club! We discussed Lynn Whipple's book, Expressive Flower Painting. You can watch the replay below: For the paint along portion of the video I used Golden Fluid Acrylics. And here are some of the pieces I made inspired by the techniques and ideas in the book: The next Book Club is on October 13 at 12:15pm EST. We will be discussing Creative Stamping with Mixed Media Techniques by Sherrill Kahn. Click this link to set a reminder for yourself. Book Club is free and open to all whether or not you've read the book. Visit the Book... Read more →

In the video below, I'm working on two ideas at the same time in my studio notebook, aka my sketchbook. My studio notebook is a place for me to visually think aloud. For this particular exercise, I decided to create the same image using two different methods. On the left side I painted and on the right side, I used painted paper collage. My whole goal for this experiment/exploration was to figure out which methodology I preferred -- both in terms of enjoying the process and appreciating the result. There are a lot of things that I might go back... Read more →

Do you know the difference between "abstract" and "non-objective" artwork? I didn't know there was a difference until I watched this video: So, looking at my own work, this is a small sampling of abstract work I've created: And these are a few examples of non-objective work I've made: I find this to be a fascinating bifurcation. I see that I do tend towards abstract, though I have made more non-objective work in recent years. How about you? Are you a realistic, abstract, or non-objective artist? Thanks for stopping by! Read more →

Hey friends! Here's the round-up for August 2022: What's happening at home? A certain somebody doesn't want any help. In this photo he's pushing Steve's hand off the bike. Recently at his swimming lesson, he told me to stop holding him. Since he can't swim, I declined. We finally compromised and he clung to the wall of the pool while I hovered nervously. He has declared he's a big boy and can cross streets and parking lots by himself. This is a major battle we have every day. I hold his hand. He tries to wiggle away. So today when... Read more →

I put together a video that I thought you might enjoy. I'm going to share the strategies I use as a student in order to get the most out of an art class -- whether it's online or in-person. Whether it's live or pre-recorded. Whether it's one session or many. This video is part of my "Your Creativity Coach" series. If you're interested in group coaching with me, join my Super Learner Group. The main takeaways from the video are: There are three stages of taking an art class: prep, the in-class experience, and follow-up. Most people skip the first... Read more →

It has been another wonderful week of projects and techniques and ideas in The Artful Holiday class! Here's a recap of what we did: On Monday, I shared how to make a beaded bracelet that can also be worn as a necklace or watch band! Robin said, "Julie I have always loved these bracelets but never knew how to make them. You are really an extraordinary teacher. You make it so clear and easy to follow. Thank you for that." On Tuesday, Laura Kemshall shared how to make this mixed media book wrap: Kim said, "Loved this lesson! I used... Read more →

It has been another wonderful week of projects and techniques and ideas in The Artful Holiday class! Here's a recap of what we did: On Monday, I shared how to make a beaded bracelet that can also be worn as a necklace or watch band! Robin said, "Julie I have always loved these bracelets but never knew how to make them. You are really an extraordinary teacher. You make it so clear and easy to follow. Thank you for that." On Tuesday, Laura Kemshall shared how to make this mixed media book wrap: Kim said, "Loved this lesson! I used... Read more →

As I mentioned in my previous posts (part one and part two), back in April, I spent an afternoon at the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) here in Boston. We saw 3 notable things: The Turner Exhibit Art in Bloom The Philip Guston Exhibit My first post covered my experience of the Turner Exhibit. My second post took a look at Art in Bloom 2022. And now, we finally get to my surprise favorite: Philip Guston. I had seen Philip Guston's later work in many museums over the years. So I was familiar with him. But this exhibit took a... Read more →

I love a good mash-up. You know, a bit from column A and a bit from column B smushed together and suddenly you've got something brand new! Historically speaking, mash-ups are how innovation works. People rarely invent something from scratch. It's the brilliance of putting two things together (or twenty things together) to create something new and necessary. Here's the official definition from Merriam-Webster: On today's podcast, Mom and I discuss mash-ups and why they matter in art. We also wander through a lot of chatter about teaching, learning, and being lazy. You can listen the audio version of the... Read more →

I'm currently working on a new series about motherhood. I'm in the preparatory stages of the series. I've been drawing, thinking, planning, and experimenting. Most of what I've made are little scribbles and copious notes. But I have worked on a few more composed pieces and I thought I'd share those with you today. These are acrylic paintings. Most also include collage. As you know, I generally make all of my own collage papers. And some of the pieces also include some pencil/crayon additions. Take a peek: You can watch this short process video to see the last two pieces... Read more →