...for 2014...

Wishing you 

a New Year 

overflowing 

with 

abundant joy and blessings, 

my friends!

with love and light,

joanne

...take a peek inside my BOOK!!!!

Dreams really do come true.  

I just can't believe how excited i am!  It's almost here!!!

 Over at Amazon, the LOOK INSIDE feature is now LIVE and available to preview my book coming out in early March.  I am so proud of the way Interweave published my ideas and artwork, it's perfectly true to my vision of what my first book would be.

Here's a link to get you over to Amazon and take a look! 

LINK: CLICK ON THE "LOOK INSIDE" ICON ON THE CORNER OF THE BOOK IMAGE.  

You can get an idea of the content and style and even pre-order at fantastic discount. 

Thanks so much if you've preordered a copy.  It's going to be a very fun 2014 making lettering art with this as a "workbook".  Details will be posted throughout the year about my "The Art of Whimsical Lettering Book Tour" hopefully coming to a location near YOU!! 

What do you think of the preview???  Let me know! 

So blessed.

...tis the season.......

....New Year! NEW ONLINE CLASS!!!

"2014 
DRAW YOUR AWESOME YEAR"! 

NEW! Online classJoanne Sharpe

"2014 Draw Your Awesome Year"

-CLASS IS LIVE Jan 6-27, 2014 then all lessons are self paced with forever access.

-YOUR ILLUSTRATED LIFE....15 dynamic video lessons for drawing, sketching, doodling, watercoloring, painting, lettering and collage.  

-INSPIRED EVERY DAY with creative, thoughtful, soulful themes with new projects and prompts for 12 months. 

- 15 VIDEO LESSONS (FIVE lessons will post each week for three weeks) with art, drawing and journaling techniques and instruction for creating the 2014 "AWESOME YEAR" journal book. 
-11 NEW MONTHLY VIDEOS POSTED on the FIRST OF EACH MONTH FEBRUARY through DECEMBER 2014.  26 LESSONS TOTAL!!!

- A NEW THEMED LESSON/PROMPT will post on the first of every month in 2014 in the classroom.  With the first 15 lessons you'll have all the tools to draw your life for the whole year.

-LIVE NETWORKING FACEBOOK GROUP with your new forever art friends!

-SIMPLE SUPPLIES!  You'll just need a large journal size 8.5x11" or 9x12" mixed
 media (I WILL BE USING THIS STRATHMORE JOURNAL)

 or watercolor paper with 48-68 pages (nothing smaller), black pigment pens (Pitt, Micron, Zig, Uniball), pencil, Tombow markers, watercolor set, NIJI waterbrush size medium, blingy gel pens, glue stick and washi tape.

- PRIVATE CLASSROOM is hosted on a Blogger 

***This is a companion class to "DRAW YOUR AWESOME LIFE" (not required, but strongly encouraged for maximum skill benefits)  Take them in tandem!

"2014 DRAW YOUR AWESOME YEAR"

online class
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
26 LESSONS TOTAL!!!

 WHOLE YEAR CLASS!
$55

YOUR PAYPAL RECEIPT IS YOUR CONFIRMATION.

CLASS ACCESS INFO WILL BE SENT within 24 hours of your registration.

....and if you're inspired to "draw more"...

***CLICK HERE FOR "Draw Your Awesome Life" $38 CLASSROOM NOW OPEN:  ADD "DRAW YOUR AWESOME LIFE" to your virtual class library jam packed with awesome techniques to maximize your creative skills.

...wishing you....

...an abundance of blessings and joy...

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Thank you for blessing me...

...my BiG, BIG NEWS!!!!

.....i can finally finally share this exciting news.  I've been chosen to be an ARTISAN AMBASSADOR for BERNINA!!! (the most amazing sewing machines and warmest creative community on the planet)

I will continue to nurture my mixed media and inspirational art blog here at "Whimspirations", but have created a new blog that will exclusively showcase my sewing and art quilting adventures.

Here is the blog post you will find on my new page "ARTFUL QUILT AND STITCH".  When you're done here, go check it out and add it to your bookmarks.  Thanks for stopping by!

****************on my new blog************************

  Welcome to my brand new blog "Artful Quilt and Stitch" where i will share my obsession and passion for making art with fabric, fibers, threads, dyes, paints and a rockin' sewing machine!  Let's talk "art sewing" and expanding our creative horizons together.   

I am beyond excited, and words just can't express how ecstatic and honored I am to announce 
that i just have been chosen to be an 

"Artisan Ambassador" for 
BERNINA of America. 

 If you have traveled with me on this creative journey in the past few years, you know that the acqusition of my BERNINA 350QE sewing machine changed my life.  This little powerhouse with thread and a foot pedal has taken me down an additional creative path adding a new dimension to my mixed media artwork through art quilting and stitching.  All my artistic ideas have collided into the "art sewing" universe where i am creating and teaching fabric arts, making whimsical art quilts and celebrating every day the absolute joy of working on a BERNINA sewing machine.

As an "Artisan Ambassador" i will regularly be sharing ideas, tutorials, projects, online classes and traveling to teach workshops as a passionate BERNINA girl!  My artful heart is on fire with ideas and possibilities as i work with the BERNINA 7 SERIES machine, the 750QE exploring the magic of this incredible machine.  This baby is a tank,  purrs like a kitten and does everything but cook your dinner!  (Drats, that would be nice, LOL!)  I'm so thrilled to have this opportunity to share my BERNINA love.  It's crazy!

I'll be adding a gallery of my art quilts and fabric pieces along my workshop schedule for 2014 in the next few weeks.  Looking forward to sharing my needle and thread and paint passions and hope to meet you along the way.  

So grateful, so blessed. Happy Thanksgiving!

...heading to Florida!

Where are all my sunny Florida girls??!!!! I'm leaving the Uggs, the frost and rakes at home, got a ticket to Tampa and heading down to WhimSoDoodle in TWO WEEKS! Stop in for my most popular classes this fall. Can't wait to see you at Jill Gerhardt Orobello's place. HERE ARE THE DETAILS: COME PLAY WITH ME AT WHIMSODOODLE!!!  

In FOUR JAM PACKED classes, we are DRAWING and LETTERING and SEWING and STITCHING and PAINTING and COLORING and LAUGHING and CREATING.......there is something for everyone!  Registration now open, call WhimSoDoodle to sign up.  Can't wait to see you there!

Whim So Doodle 237 2nd Ave South  St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 727.827.4911

...are you signed up yet???

NEW ONLINE CLASS!

"DRAW YOUR AWESOME LIFE"

Daily Doodle, Sketch and Journal
with Joanne Sharpe
***Class goes live Monday, October 28, 2013***

Have you been dreaming about making your own hand drawn, funky fun lettered, illustrated, living every moment, everyday art journal?  Come on "UP" with me!

Here we go again, we're going UP!  Up your creative game and make your life a masterpiece, you can do this!  Let's "step up the doodle" and start drawing and sketching life in detail.  Immerse yourself in 15 dynamic video lessons (on a private class blog) chuck full of awesome ideas and techniques for drawing, sketching, doodling and watercolor journaling  to illustrate your gorgeous, wonderful life.  

With simple art supplies, you'll create a daily ritual exploring your personal drawing, painting and coloring style while recording life's precious moments, large and small. Learn easy methods to confidently draw simple objects, locations, scenes, still life, nature and landscapes along with stylized lettering and journaling.  With my prompts, encouragement and art coaching you'll create a treasure....a personalized illustrated "life story" book that you will cherish and live in.  Network and share your work in our private Facebook group with your old and new art friends!  It's an artful life, be in it!

SIMPLE SUPPLY LIST:

*It's fine to use what you have, or choose any brands of personal preference.

(I purchase my materials from Dick Blick or my local art stores)

-watercolor journal or sketchbook 
(I use Handbook by Global Art Materials-size 5.5"x5.5" or  5.5 x 8 1/4" size
 or Moleskine watercolor 5"x8" size)
-watercolor paints or pan set  
(i use Koi travel set or , Daniel Smith or Winsor Newton tubes assorted colors in a travel palette)
- black fine tip, waterproof pens/marker 
(I use Pitt-fine point and Uniball Vision-fine tip) 
- black Tombow dual brush marker
-waterbrush 
(I use Niji brand-medium point)
-watercolor brushes  
(I use Simply Simmons brand ROUND #4 and #8)
-pencil and white eraser

OPTIONAL: Tombow color markers, Inktense pencils, Peerless watercolors

RESERVE YOUR SEAT and SIGN UP TODAY! 

15 AWESOME VIDEO LESSONS

LIVE NETWORKING

SELF PACED 

FOREVER ACCESS

....what's not to love?  

It's like buying a book, really.

Hope you'll join us!

***Class goes live Monday, October 28, 2013***

REGISTER NOW!

"Draw Your Awesome Life"

$38

*****Within 24 hours of Paypal receipt***** 

you'll receive a welcome letter and access instructions 

from instructor, Joanne Sharpe. 

...Jane's Stencil Winner!

Thank you to everyone who left comments on the Stenciling with Jane post this week.  There are some great ideas shared for using stencils, so check out the comments when you get a minute.  Have a nice weekend!

THE WINNER OF THE "Jane's Petite Girls" Stencil set is HEATHER WILLIAMS who wrote:

Heather WilliamsOctober 2, 2013 at 7:35 AM

Wow..love the idea of using the Tombows to create a watercolor effect! I, especially, love the last 2 examples!! My fave technique to use w/ stencils is: super thick, creamy opaque gesso w/ a couple colors of ink sprays spritzed on top, & then while the stencil, gesso, & colored inks are still in place, I gently swipe the ink & gesso around a bit to swirl the colors.

Heather, email me at jzsharpe@yahoo.com and i will get you over to Artist Cellar.

...stenciling with Jane...

I'm hopping again!  So happy to share these journal pages created with fabulous 6" x 6" face stencils that my gorgeous friend Jane Davenport designed and has added to her collection at Artist Cellar.  I am terrible at drawing faces, and Jane's designs are the perfect art tool to get a face image onto a surface.  It was "freeing" to have these basic lines to start and make my own face. 

Rather then spray or paint my stencil images, i used a Tombow Dual Brush (waterbased) marker on watercolor paper to draw the lines. 

 It worked perfectly, just gently swiping and pressing the side of the juicy brush tip into the stencil.  Voila!  A crisp outline of the shape made with marker!  The excess ink wiped off clean, no fuss, no mess.  (***I strongly suggest only using your DYE BASED INK markers, not your permanent or alcohol markers as these will permanently stain your stencil.  But i guess that's fine if you don't mind the marker left on your stencil.)  

Flowing hair is drawn with the marker and then i use a waterbrush to paint over and soften all the lines.  This creates a loose hand painted watercolor look. 

...add journaling over the image, done.

...After coloring with the brush marker, and to clean the stencil, spritz with water and flip.  Look at this cool image!  Ready to add my own details and journaling.

On this black gessoed, page i traced the stencil with my white Signo pen, drew flowing  hair for journaling lines and added lettering.

 

...Again, using the Tombow watercolor technique, the stenciled image is added to another painted journal page.  Think of all the ways you can use a dye based marker to create beautiful watercolor effects with your face stencils.  I am overwhelmed with possibilities, aren't you??!

 Now, leave a comment telling me in one sentence what your favorite stenciling technique is......... and YOU CAN WIN THE WHOLE SET OF FOUR STENCILS "Jane Girls Petite Series".  Visit my other hopping art friends for more chances to win!  I WILL ANNOUNCE A RANDOM WINNER ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4th.
September 28 – Artistcellar
September 29 Jill K. Berry
September 30 Dawn DeVries Sokol
October 1 – Joanne Sharpe
October 2 – Connie Hozvicka
October 3 - Effy Wild
October 4 – Tamara Laporte
October 5 – Dion Dior
October 6 – Courtney Brook
October 7 – Kate Palmer
October 8 – Jane Davenport

...new online class!!!...."DRAW YOUR AWESOME LIFE"

NEW ONLINE CLASS!

"DRAW YOUR AWESOME LIFE"

Daily Doodle, Sketch and Journal
with Joanne Sharpe
***Class goes live Monday, October 28, 2013***

Have you been dreaming about making your own hand drawn, funky fun lettered, illustrated, living every moment, everyday art journal?  Come on "UP" with me!

Here we go again, we're going UP!  Up your creative game and make your life a masterpiece, you can do this!  Let's "step up the doodle" and start drawing and sketching life in detail.  Immerse yourself in 15 dynamic video lessons (on a private class blog) chuck full of awesome ideas and techniques for drawing, sketching, doodling and watercolor journaling  to illustrate your gorgeous, wonderful life.  

With simple art supplies, you'll create a daily ritual exploring your personal drawing, painting and coloring style while recording life's precious moments, large and small. Learn easy methods to confidently draw simple objects, locations, scenes, still life, nature and landscapes along with stylized lettering and journaling.  With my prompts, encouragement and art coaching you'll create a treasure....a personalized illustrated "life story" book that you will cherish and live in.  Network and share your work in our private Facebook group with your old and new art friends!  It's an artful life, be in it!

SIMPLE SUPPLY LIST:

*It's fine to use what you have, or choose any brands of personal preference.

(I purchase my materials from Dick Blick or my local art stores)

-watercolor journal or sketchbook 
(I use Handbook by Global Art Materials-size 5.5"x5.5" or  5.5 x 8 1/4" size
 or Moleskine watercolor 5"x8" size)
-watercolor paints or pan set  
(i use Koi travel set or , Daniel Smith or Winsor Newton tubes assorted colors in a travel palette)
- black fine tip, waterproof pens/marker 
(I use Pitt-fine point and Uniball Vision-fine tip) 
- black Tombow dual brush marker
-waterbrush 
(I use Niji brand-medium point)
-watercolor brushes  
(I use Simply Simmons brand ROUND #4 and #8)
-pencil and white eraser

OPTIONAL: Tombow color markers, Inktense pencils, Peerless watercolors

RESERVE YOUR SEAT and SIGN UP TODAY! 

15 AWESOME VIDEO LESSONS

LIVE NETWORKING

SELF PACED 

FOREVER ACCESS

....what's not to love?  

It's like buying a book, really.

Hope you'll join us!

***Class goes live Monday, October 28, 2013***

REGISTER NOW!

"Draw Your Awesome Life"

$38

*****Within 24 hours of Paypal receipt***** 

you'll receive a welcome letter and access instructions 

from instructor, Joanne Sharpe. 

...my washi washi winner!!

Thanks for all your fun comments about washi tape!  There are tons of ideas for this colorful art accessory to add to your art or just add color to life moments.  

THE WINNER OF 6 ROLLS OF ARTSYVILLE TAPE IS:

Suz

SuzSeptember 10, 2013 at 11:33 AM

Huh, you use them? I thought you just collected them in cute baskets or jars.
Seriously, tape is such a neat embellishment and doesn't add weight or bulk- i use it everywhere everyone else has mentioned. "It's a good thing."
I especially thank you, Joanne,for leading me to Artsyville and all the wonderful inner child art.

Suz, send me your email address and i will send it off to Aimee.  Congrats!

...my FREE CLASS at Strathmore Artist Studio!

....it's  here!  On Tuesday, September 17th, 9AM CST,  it's my turn to share my "Artful Cardmaking" lessons on the Strathmore Artist Studio site.   In my two week launch I will have EIGHT fun little art videos with dozens of card making techniques using my favorite cards made with the most luscious paper from Strathmore.  Hope you can stop by and get some ideas for everyday and holiday cards.  You could also certainly use any of the ideas and techniques that i share in your art journaling or mixed media projects.  I really hope you'll enjoy the FREE CLASS!!!  
Head on over and sign in, or register if you haven't already, and it really IS FREE!!

...thinking of you...

...washi tape fashion show...

 I'm on a hop!  Do you LOVE, LoVe, love washi tape like i do?  It is some type of side effect of the "art supply hoarding syndrome" i have.  I don't know WHAT it is about washi tape, but i just can't get enough.  Yes, crazy, i know.  For me, it's the perfect accessory for my art work.  My sweet art friend Aimee Dolich over at Artsyville has just launched her fabulous art on a SIX ROLL collection of washi tape!!  I aodre her and her whimsical style, we are perfectly matched "art soul sisters".

This is my Artsyville tape fashion show!  My favorite use of washi tape is to attach and frame my lettering pieces into my art journals.  These are samples of hand lettering with a white Signo gel pen on scrap paper lunch bag. I cut it into smaller shapes and wrote some fun phrases referencing:

  "My Washi Tape Philosophy".  

 You can purchase Artsyville tape here:

 www.artsyville.com and artsyville.etsy.com

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN* A FULL, 

6 ROLL SET OF THE WHOLE

 Artsyville Tape COLLECTION?

*winner to be announced on my blog 9/21/13*

LEAVE ME A COMMENT ANSWERING THIS :

"What is your favorite use for washi tape?"

Visit my other artsy friends and have fun on the hop with TEN chances to win a heap of Artsyville washi tape from Aimee.
Monday, 9/9 Rachel Awes allididwaslisten.blogspot.com
Tuesday, 9/10 Joanne Sharpe joannezsharpe.blogspot.com
Wednesday, 9/11 Jill Berry jillberrydesign.com
Thursday, 9/12 Lindsay Hopkins penandpaintblog.com
Friday, 9/13 Traci Bunkers tracibunkers.com/blog
Monday, 9/16 Lori Vliegen elviestudio.blogspot.com
Tuesday, 9/17 Raine Boyd limetreefruits.com
Wednesday, 9/18 Samie Harding journalgirl.com
Thursday, 9/19 Carolyn Dube acolorfuljourney.com
Friday, 9/20 Tammy Garcia daisyyellowart.com