...on the eve of NEW...

...today is like a butterfly...

emerging with possibilities...

let us embrace the NEWNESS of a NEW year

 with NEW hope and promise......

...wishing you magic...

...sending 

love and hugs and joy and laughter 

to your and yours 

for a blessed, peaceful and magical Christmastime.  

...believe in Christmas magic...

...love everywhere...

...did someone say "MORE letter lovin'"???

Couldn't keep it in any longer... 
MY BRAND NEW CLASS!!  

"LETTER LOVE 201"-Lettering As Art

...Lipstick not required, but suggested!  

Come get "letter sassy", artsy and fabulous in 

  

I'm so excited about teaching some BRAND NEW lessons with crazy fun videos, a wealth of techniques and more inspired projects to help you master your artful lettering skills.  

 Hope you'll join us!  (*LETTER LOVE 101 not required)

LETTER LOVE 201- "Lettering As Art"

Explore 28 brand new techniques, concepts and projects
 to add sophistication to your artful hand lettering.

$38  with Paypal payment

INSTANT ACCESS RIGHT NOW!

28 NEW VIDEO LESSONS
*FOREVER ACCESS*SELF PACED*NETWORKING GROUPS*
CLASS NOW LIVE!
  REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

...who's coming to my FREE CLASS?

....My gift to you...

...You are cordially invited to attend my 

FREE ARTSY HOLIDAY CLASS 

called 

"FIVE GOLDEN LETTERINGS"

the classroom is now open and
starts Saturday, December 1st.

It's really free, really.
CLICK HERE

...thankful...

...seemed perfect, not only for this week, but giving thanks every moment of every day...

...good thought...

A page from my art journal...

These words are speaking to me today.  

Being creative in any form is all about sharing the authentic self.  

I like that.  Do you?

...on being creative...

In my art journal...

Here's a marker, gel penned, doodled word collage that describes

 creative people 

to me.  

What words or phrases would YOU add to this lettered collection?

....my artsy autumn hues...

Need inspiration?  Go on over and check out my post on the Sketchbook Challenge this week.   It's a wonderful place to be inspired and get filling up your art journals and sketchbooks. The theme for this month is a "Spice of Life".  My focus was color, and how i use the autumn hues in my work all year in my art journals.  What have you made in your sketchbooks with the spicy palette of autumn?

...one of my needle felted journals that i made with wool roving in a spicy color palette... 

...how's your day?

...getting your sparkle on!

Hurry, come join us!!!  My new mini class "Bling It On" starts in two days on Monday, November 5th. I'm rolling out 12 sparkly lessons in 8 days so that you can get sparkling right away. How can you resist this shimmery class after rockin' out to this fun video?  

Come join the fun and be my shining star!

"BLING IT ON!" 

12 juicy video project lessons 

$28

Runs live November 5-12, 2012 with forever access

TWELVE self paced lessons posted all in one week so you can get down to business!

A creative collection of tips, techniques and 

12 PROJECTS 

for ART MAKING, GIFT GIVING 

and HOLIDAY SPARKLING with 

Twinks, Silks, blings, glitter, shimmer sprays, and more!

***FOREVER ACCESS, SELF PACED***

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

$28

*email confirmation with class access will be sent 

manually from Joanne Sharpe 

within 24-48 hours of Paypal receipt.

Giveaway winners!

Wow, thank you so much for 

so many wonderful comments, this was fun! 

More giveaways to come.

WINNER #1: 
Joanna GrantOctober 20, 2012 3:15 PM

How generous of you, Joanne! I would be honored to win!! XOX. Joanna

1. 

   
   

   WINNER #2 is:

   RobinOctober 20, 2012 5:18 PM

   I love your work! I especially like "I create, therefore I am"!! It's perfect!! I'd love ot be able to letter like you do!

   
   

   

   Joanna and Robin, please send me an email to: jzsharpe@yahoo.com, so that i can get your art prize shipped right away.

   
   

... new mini class..."BLING IT ON!", baby!

Next up in 
Joanne Sharpe's whimsically wonderful online art school  is:

"BLING IT ON!"
online MINI CLASS starts November 5, 2012

You're a SHINING STAR!  

Get ready to shimmer, shine and sparkle...

NEW ONLINE "MINI CLASS"

"BLING IT ON!" 

12 juicy video project lessons 

$28

Runs live November 5-12, 2012 with forever access

TWELVE self paced lessons posted all in one week so you can get down to business!

A creative collection of tips, techniques and 
12 PROJECTS 

for ART MAKING, GIFT GIVING 
and HOLIDAY SPARKLING with 

Twinks, Silks, blings, glitter, shimmer sprays, and more!
***FOREVER ACCESS, SELF PACED***

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
$28

*email confirmation with class access will be sent 
manually from Joanne Sharpe 
within 24-48 hours of Paypal receipt.

...mantras and a giveaway...

...just wanted to share with you, some of my favorite mantras....

 

 ...these are little canvas paintings i sold at the vendor night at Art Is You a few weeks ago...

 ...these words inspire me.  

What words inspire you?  

What is your favorite mantra?

HOW ABOUT A GIVEAWAY WITH TWO WINNERS?!  

Leave me a comment  for a chance to win 

an original 6" x 6"  art canvas painted and lettered by me!

WINNER #1 receives this:

WINNER #2 receives this:

TWO WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SATURDAY EVENING OCTOBER 27th.  

...10-11-12.....

When i peeked at the calendar yesterday, i delighted in the really cool number sequence of the date, 10-11-12.  I had to make an art journal page.  I made this autumn art just so i could date it!  I know that many, but not all years, would have a similar interesting date sequence, right?  Think about it.  I like numbers like that.

I am home for a while, having just returned from Art Is You, my last large teaching venue for 2012.  For now, i'm done schlepping suitcases and boxes of paints, markers, papers and stuff from coast to coast.   What a beautiful teaching journey this year has been.  I am so blessed.  My 2013 is filling up faster than i could ever dream it!  It's time to cozy up to the cooler temps here and get busy writing to finish up my "Artful Lettering" book for Interweave.

 ...note the glorious shimmer and shine of the Silks acrylic glaze 
painted over my watercolor sketch...

..."Autumn is in full swing in New York the warm orange, violet and red is color Glory."

I love my artful life...

...more Sketchbook Challenge...

Head on over the the Sketchbook Challenge blog and check out my post on "Desert Patterns".  You know me, looking for art and inspiration everywhere!  Las Vegas was no exception with hyper visuals and interesting subject matter in ever square inch of this part of the "desert".   Certainly not as serene as a babbling brook, but interesting travel journal material just the same.  It was fun "seeing" Vegas to inspire my art journaling, enjoy!

*this slot machine "pattern" was my most favorite!

...a FREE e-book from Interweave?....

Wow!!!  Hooray!!  I'm in it.

  Did you get your FREE ebook?  

What a nice surprise to be included in this FREE e-book "LETTERING AND MARK MAKING",  from my friends who bring you Cloth Paper Scissors magazine and Create retreats.  If you missed the May 2011 issue, you can enjoy my "Making Magic with Markers" article that's included in this ebook. 

Just in time for my brand new class, the
 MAGICAL MARKER MYSTERY TOUR!

(DETAILS HERE)

  Want to learn everything you could possible imagine about markers?  

Come here,  this is the class for you.  

There's still time to register, as the first magical lesson starts this Monday, September 24th.  We are having a big old marker party, with piles of pens and and colorful art journaling.  Hope you'll join us!

just thinkin'...

 ...and realized that in exactly 362 days from NOW, this VERY MOMENT, 
i will be making art 
with my adventurous art friends in 
ORVIETO, ITALY!!!!!! 

Can you imagine how wonderful this will be?  

You can sign up now!  

Click on the link for details and registration info.

 This year has flown already, and i know the next will be just as quick.  

But for now, i am busy making plans for many more

TEACHING TRIPS in 2013 

I will be teaching at these locations

(not in order): 

Canada, Long Island, Manhattan, Maryland, Phoenix, Chicago, New Jersey, Kansas City, Irvine, Boston, Stamford, and a few more to confirm.  Looking forward to creating, lettering, painting, journaling, felting, sewing, drawing, doodling, coloring and making new art friends along the way.  

Will post schedule when all the details are finalized.  Life is good!

...THE MAGICAL MARKER MYSTERY TOUR is here!

ENJOY THIS PREVIEW VIDEO!

...It's time to take the MAGICAL MARKER MYSTERY TOUR online class... 

Join Joanne Sharpe and your new art friends as we explore markers galore!

WHAT'S ON THE ONLINE CLASS TOUR?

...Exploring, learning and creating with 12 awesome marker brands...

*20 VIDEOS and 20 PDFS*

(in real time 5 lessons each week)

*COLOR* LETTER*DOODLE*DRAW*JOURNAL*PLAY*
*OODLES OF BRAND NEW ARTFUL INFO*

*FOREVER CLASS ACCESS*

*SELF PACED*

*LIVE NETWORKING GROUP*

SUPPLIES: Start with your personal stash, and learn about new markers for colorful  techniques and creative projects.  We'll also use an 11"x14" Strathmore bristol pad, a Strathmore 9"x12"watercolor paper pad and a marker cardstock paper, waxed bookbinding thread and a light duty awl punch, glue stick and waterbrush.

Class launches LIVE

 Monday, September 24th-October 19, 2012 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
"MAGICAL MARKER MYSTERY TOUR" 
online class
$38

***Within 24 hours of Paypal receipt you'll receive a welcome letter and immediate class access with supply list information. 

...a big ol' marker party!.........

Are you ready for the MAGICAL MARKER MYSTERY TOUR online class? 

Just a little reminder... 

Registration opens here on the blog with a fun video on

 Saturday, September 1, 2012 at midnight EST.  

Get your stash ready, we're getting crazy with all our markers, learning what they do 

and making some fabulous art!  

Class goes live Monday, September 24th...

20 VIDEOS...20 PDFS...forever access...$38

 ...I will be using over 100 markers in this online class to provide you 

the most comprehensive, artful and educational 

MARKER EXPERIENCE, ever!  

True story.  

 Are you joining us?  See you at the virtual registration desk this weekend.

...stretching my creative wings...

Just back from Create Chicago and decompressing from all the artful energy and excitement.  Love the art girls in the midwest, so warm and gracious, you feel like you've known them forever.  To all my new friends and students, thanks for that!

In the midst of teaching my five classes, i treated myself to taking a class and "being the student".  I had an all day workshop, "Mixed Media Needle Felting" with fiber artist Rebekah Meier.  It was magical.  We even got to use the needle felting foot on the Bernina sewing machines, which was right up my alley.  So fun!

 I've always loved needlework, sewing and fabric.  When it was all the rage In the late 80's, i was a mad cross stitcher and haven't done anything like that in years.  Here are my "work in progress" creations, two felted silk pieces started in Rebekah's class.  I'm making the covers for two handmade watercolor art journals.  I'll post the completed journals when they're done.

 I'm still adding hand stitching, words and embellishments to the surfaces.  I absolutely love the "art trance" that envelops me while stitching and arranging felted fibers, fabrics, ribbons, dyes and textures.  Ahhhhh.........................

  For me, trying new things helps me grow and make new art with fresh vision and curiosity.

It always feels so good to stretch your art wings, doesn't it?