Balzer Designs

**NEW** Winter 2018/2019 Online Classes

I am just bursting with joy over the fact that I have NEW online classes to offer you!!  

You have been asking for more online classes and more frequent online classes, so I've been a busy bee making that happen.  Going forward, you can expect new classes every quarter:

• Winter Quarter is December, January, February
• Spring Quarter is March, April, May
• Summer Quarter is June, July, August
• Fall Quarter is September, October, November

I am planning to offer FOUR new online classes every quarter.  Classes will follow a basic format:

• Intensive Workshop: This is a workshop that has 20+ tutorial videos and will probably take you 1-3 months to complete, depending on how quickly you work.  
• Mini Intensive Workshop: This is a workshop that is a little bit less of a time commitment.  Working intensely, you could complete the coursework in 2-6 weeks, depending on how quickly you work.  
• Project Class: This is a class that teaches you how to create a specific project.  There are video instructions AND a downloadable .pdf with instructions.
• Technique Class: This is a class that teaches you a specific technique through 1-2 video lessons. 

ALL classes include lifetime access.  Buy it once and you always have it!

Drum roll, please...

The classes for Winter 2018/2019 are as follows:

Intensive Workshop: Gelli Journal

This is a class that has been in the works for four years.  Seriously.  I filmed the first four videos in this workshop four years ago.  For the past five years, this has been one of my favorite art projects to take with me when I travel.  In class you will learn how to print directly into your journal -- including into that crack...

...and then transform those printed pages into colorful picture pages!

Here's what to expect from class:

• There are more than 30 HD instructional videos.
• What you see in these photos is just a tiny taste of what awaits in the classroom!
• The online classroom is packed with written tips and take aways.
• You can leave comments and questions and interact with other students, just as you would on a blog.
• The first half of the class is all about gelatin printing directly into a sketchbook -- how to make sure you get the crack, how to fix problems that occur, how to create layers of color and pattern, how to keep pages from sticking together, etc.
• Whether you're an experienced gelatin printer or you've never ever tried it before, this class is for you.  Experienced printers will proceed through the gelatin printing section quickly and less experienced or brand new printers will take their time going lesson-by-lesson.
• The second half of the class is all about creating pictures in your printed journal.
• You do not have to know how to draw.  I share methods for creating pictures by stamping and stenciling -- there's even a video on creating a stencil from a photograph!
• If you want to try drawing, I share how to combine simple shapes to create wonderful pictures.
• I share my tips on embellishing your pictures with gel pens, paint markers, and more.
• I focus in on correcting "mistakes" (aka happy accidents) and getting the results that you want.
• Take as much time as you want or need to complete the course.  Once you purchase "Gelli Journals," you have lifetime access.

PLEASE NOTE: The first four videos of this class have some auto-focus issues and so they go in and out of focus, as you can see in this YouTube video.  If the bouncing bothers you, do not sign up for class.  No refunds will be given.

Class begins December 1, 2018.

$200
Early Bird Pricing (Nov 1, 2018 - Nov 30, 2018) $125
To get the $75 discount, use this code: EarlyGelli

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Mini Intensive Workshop: Notan or Expanded Square

Notan or Expanded Square is a process of creating an entire work of art from a small piece of paper.  Essentially, you take a square of black paper and cut it with scissors and a craft knife.  Then you flip the pieces you've cut so that they mirror the empty holes. 

It's a simple idea, but the possibilities are enormous! In class I will show you the basics of the technique (of course) and discuss the philosophy of Notan.  I will also show you how to create pictoral Notan, as demonstrated in this video:

Here's what to expect from class:

• Instruction is delivered through more than 15 HD videos.
• Lessons cover all the basics: cutting with scissors, cutting with a craft knife, and there's even a video on how to use the ScanNCut to create Notan.
• I will also show you how to create amazing pictures featuring animals, plants, and even people!
• We will discuss how to use Notan in your other work and the kinds of design skills that it builds and reinforces.
• You have lifetime access to the online classroom.

$100
Early Bird Pricing (Nov 1, 2018 - Nov 30, 2018) $75
To get the $25 discount, use this code: NOV2018

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Project Class: Book of Color

This is the kind of class I would normally offer as a full day in-person class and I'm so pleased to be offering it to you as an online class instead!  It's no surprise that I loooooove color.  But, I love using all of the colors on top of each other.  I decided to challenge myself and create a reference book containing monochromatic spreads.  In class I show you how to create the book from a single piece of paper.  It's super easy!  I show you how to create each colored spread.  And most importantly, I show you how to use the book as a reference tool.

Class includes:

• Instruction via HD video.
• Videos include: how to create the book, how to color in the book, how to use the book.
• A downloadable .pdf of written instructions on creating the book.
• You can leave comments and questions and interact with other students, just as you would on a blog.
• You have lifetime access to class.

$20
Use the code: JULIEBLOG to get 20% discount (valid through Nov 7, 2018)

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Technique Class: Marker Monoprints

This is a technique that I discovered in April when I was looking for something cool and new to do on Make It Artsy.  Since April I have refined my technique and tried out lots of different brands and types of markers, plus lots of different techniques for printing.  If you've ever watched my "Exploring Art Products" videos on YouTube, this is in that style, but instead of investigating a product, I'm showing you all the ways to approach the technique of creating monoprints with markers.

Class includes:

• Instruction via HD videos.
• Tips and take aways in written form.
• You can leave comments and questions and interact with other students, just as you would on a blog.
• You have lifetime access to class.

$20
Use the code: JULIEBLOG to get 20% discount (valid through Nov 7, 2018)

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All classes open for registration TODAY
and classes begin December 1, 2018.

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HOWEVER, I am so super excited about this new online class programming that I am offering a NEW Project Class that is available right NOW.

This is a fun and easy project with fabulous results!  Turn a simple piece of paper into a paper house with two windows and a door.  Slide an LED tea light into the house and you've got magic!  These little houses are perfect for a Thanksgiving or Christmas centerpieces.  Watch the video to see the magical flickering:

In class I show you how I like to layer collage, painting, stenciling, and stamping to create a colorful house.  But you can also use scrapbook paper, gelli prints,  plain paper -- whatever you like!

Class includes:

• 3 instructional videos: Color & Collage, Cutting (by hand), and Construction.
• There is a downloadable .pdf with the house template.
• There is also a zip file containing both an .svg and .fcm file in case you'd like to do your cutting on an electronic cutter.
• There is a downloadable .pdf with written directions.
• You can leave comments and questions and interact with other students, just as you would on a blog.
• You have lifetime access to class.

$20 - grab and go!
Use the code: JULIEBLOG to get 20% discount (valid through Nov 7, 2018)

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And if you want it all, with the early bird special, look how it breaks down:

• Gelli Journal: $200 $125
• Notan: $100 $75
• Book of Color: $20 $16
• Marker Monoprints: $20 $16
• Lantern Houses: $20 $16
• TOTAL: $360 $248 - a savings of more than $100!

But remember, you have to purchase before December 1, 2018 to get the discounts on Gelli Journal and Notan!  And before November 7 to get the Book of Color, Marker Monoprints, and Lantern Houses discount!

HOWEVER, if you want it all, I am extending all of those early bird discounts for you.  You pay just $248 for all FIVE classes until December 1, 2018.  Click here to get the deal.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope to see you in the classroom!

Free Content: Good or Bad?

I read a really interesting article last night called, "Ethical Dilemmas of Providing Free Content."  It's all about whether or not crafters and artists should provide free patterns, free downloads, free instructions, etc.  The ethical dilemma is based around whether doing all that work for free actually gains you paying customers (so you can pay your rent, your health care, buy food, etc.) or not.

Obviously, I'm a fan of free.  I give you this blog 5-days-a-week for free.  But, the article did get me thinking (click through and read it).

My thoughts:

• Providing free content is (as the graphic above indicates) meant to be a hook to grab paying customers.
• Does giving stuff away for free create a culture in which people don't want to pay and feel that they shouldn't have to?
• Are certain people never going to pay no matter what you do?  They only want free content?
• Does karma come into play at all? 
• But then again, doctors don't give their services away for free.  Why should artists?
• How often do I personally purchase items from artists I follow on instagram/their blog/youtube/etc.?
• Are sites like Patreon good for artists or bad for artists?

I'm curious about your thoughts on the topic.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

2018 In Person Classes

2018 is a little more than half-way through and I believe that all of my upcoming classes are currently open for registration.  What can you expect from an in-person class? Well...

Lots of instruction.

Dirty hands.

Laughter.

Bright colors.

Dramatic storytelling.

Discovery and friendship.

One-on-one attention.

Colorful awesome art to take home.

And an emphasis on your personal style (even if you think you don't have one)! 


Students come to class from all walks-of-life and with all levels of experience.  I have taught teachers, brand new beginners, art school graduates, scientists, plumbers, accountants, botanists, flight attendants, writers, lawyers, doctors, vegans, yoga instructors, actors, stay-at-home parents, professional artists, retired people, interested teenagers, sarcastic people, enthusiastic people, and so many more!

I hope that you will join me!

• August 31-September 2, 2018 (Labor Day Weekend) 3 classes at WhimSoDoodle in St. Petersburg, FL
• September 22-23, 2018: 2 classes at The Ink Pad in NYC
• October 13-14, 2018 Boston, MA area: ScanNCut for Artists Workshop (bring your own machine - more info)
• November 2-4, 2018 Mixed Media Circus: Whimsical Collage (3-days co-teaching with Nathalie Kalbach) outside of Coventry in England

If you'd like to sign up for a class, please follow the links to the various stores and venues that are hosting the classes.  If I'm not teaching near you, I encourage you to gift yourself with a weekend away.  Students often travel from quite a distance to immerse themselves in a weekend (or more) of art making.  I hope to see you in class!

Thanks for stopping by!

Watch Me on HSN Tuesday & Wednesday

I am going to be on HSN (Home Shopping Network) on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week (plus a livestream).

Some things to know:

• You can watch HSN on your TV or stream it online. 
• You can get the deals offered on TV on HSN's website during the 24-hour period of the day (12am EST to 11:59pm EST).
• On Tuesday, I will be demonstrating sewing machines and sergers during the 6am, 1pm, and 6pm EST hours.

• Notice that I say, "during the 6am hour."  
• I don't know exactly what time I'm on between 6am and 7am.  I only know that I'm sometime in there.

• On Wednesday I will be demonstrating the PTouch Embellish during the 2pm and 6pm EST hours.

• On Wednesday I will also be sharing a project tutorial step-by-step on the HSN Facebook page.  We will be streaming LIVE at 11:20am EST sharp!  I hope you'll tune in.

Going to HSN is always a fascinating and exhausting experience.  Each 24-hour day feels like 2-3 days mashed together.  This is my first time doing more than one day of presentations.  I'm a bit nervous about all of it.  The fact is, I always get a bit nervous before "a performance" but I think it keeps me on my toes!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Five Lessons from The Crow Barn

I'm still processing my two weeks at The Crow Barn in Ohio. As I percolate, I've come up with a few lessons I thought you might find useful because they apply to all kinds of classes and learning.

ONE: Let go of self-consciousness and competing with those around you.

You're in a room surrounded by other talented people.  It's difficult to be vulnerable and open, but I believe it's the only way to truly learn.  If you're worried about what other people think of you or what other people are doing, you're not really focused on the task at hand: learning.

One of my fellow students at The Crow Barn noted that this particular group of students felt much less competitive than previous groups of students she had been a part of at The Crow Barn.  She told me that she enjoyed this class more and felt that she was getting more out of it because of that lack of competition.   

As a side note: I believe that we all have the power to change the "feeling" or mood in a room.  If things are feeling competitive, you can cool that feeling by refusing to give in to it.  Compliment other students.  Ask questions.  Let everyone be an expert in the room.  Support fellow students who might be struggling.  A little kindness goes a long way. 

If you're feeling self-conscious, here are some tips to help you let go of that feeling:

• Stop looking at what other people are doing.
• Don't compare yourself to others -- including the teacher. 
• Be kind to yourself.  No one on earth is as mean to us as we are to ourselves.
• And remember, that no one really pays attention to you as much as you think they are.  A woman once told me that she wore two different shoes all day -- through a packing mishap -- and NO ONE noticed all day long.  Even when she asked them if they noticed anything odd about her outfit.  Crazy.

TWO: Learning is hard.  Take notes.

This is one of the places where Nancy Crow and I are very much on the same page -- albeit in slightly different ways.

Listen, there's a reason all those students take notes in academic classes.  Why should art classes be any different?  An in-person class is full of valuable information.  Why lose a huge portion of that value when you walk out of the classroom?!

I take notes about:

• things the teacher says
• the things I make or do in class
• how that doing and making went and what I would do differently next time
• tips from fellow students

It really helps me to remember what actually happened in class.  I can refer back to the notes days, weeks, or even years later.  I love that!

In class at The Crow Barn, Nancy requires you to copy down the notes she posts -- which outline everything from terminology to assignments.  I was a little perplexed by this enforced note taking, but then I found myself referring back to those notes when I had questions. 

In fact, when I asked Nancy a question early on in the two weeks, she said to me, "Well, what does it say in your notes?"  And you know what? I looked it up and found the answer to my question!

THREE: Take some.  Leave some.

Teachers are going to pass on the methods and ideas that work for them.  These are not necessarily the methods and ideas that are going to work for you.  Therefore, class is something of a balancing act. 

On the one hand, you need to be open and try to create work using the methods the teacher is recommending.

On the other hand, you need to be practical about what you're going to do at home and focus on those lessons that will make a difference to your work right now.  (After all, you have your notes and can take those other lessons when and if you need them down the road.)

In the case of The Crow Barn, before heading to the first day of class, I decided to check my assumptions at the door and surrender myself to the experience.  I'm so glad that I did!  I observed Nancy's teaching methods.  I tried things I had never tried before!  I experimented.  It was great.

As class wound down other students started asking, "Will you be back to take another class from Nancy?"  I shrugged in response.  I enjoyed class a lot -- with all its highs and lows. But, I don't have the space or time to work in this large format and really get the value out of coming back year after year.  This got me thinking about what I really needed to focus on in the last few days of class -- grayscale and composition.  These are two concepts that I can roll into my painting, art journaling, or even my doodling!

FOUR: The other students are valuable assets.

Yes, you are there to learn from the teacher.  But where in-person classes have it over online classes is live classroom!  Every classroom is humming with the energy, intelligence, and artistry of all of the people in the room.  I often find that as many great ideas come from my fellow students as from the instructor.

At The Crow Barn my fellow students:

• gave me design ideas
• gave me supply tips
• gave me storage tips
• gave me workflow tips
• gave me courage
• stimulated my intellect
• buoyed my spirits
• inspired me
• gave me practical sewing tips
• helped me to be my best

Some of these things are given directly to you in a conversation.  Other tips and benefits come from eavesdropping (it's okay) and observation.  The point is: don't just listen when the instructor is talking.  Listen to everyone!  I found that chatting at mealtime was really useful for reflection and gathering information.

FIVE: Failure is not a problem.  The key is to keep going.

image source

You've heard the metaphor a hundred times.  But it's true!  When a baby is learning how to walk he/she falls down a million times.  But the baby keeps trying and keeps trying and eventually learns how to walk.  In my experience, all learning goes this way.

If you've watched my vlog or read my day-by-day posts about my Crow Barn experience, you know that I had lots of highs and lows.  There was failure and learning galore.  It's one of the many reasons that I have come to love long format classes -- i.e. more than one day. I find that the learning in a long format class is deeper because the failure (and sometimes repeated failure) has time to turn over into success!  

I think a lot of people stop after failure.  I want to encourage you (and me) to remember that failure is a bump in the road -- a detour -- not the end of the road.  The key is to keep going!

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I hope you found these five tips useful.  Writing this post definitely helped me process the whole Crow Barn experience a bit more. If you've got additional tips to add to this list, I'd love to hear them!

As always, thanks for stopping by!