...a little breather...

Have you ever had an experience that was so wonderful, you just couldn't explain it?  There were no words to describe it?  Or there were too many words to make it all come together without writing a novel?  Well, that pretty much sums up these past few weeks for me!  

 Just returned from Art Unraveled in Phoenix a few days ago.  It was spectacular.  This was my first visit to Arizona, and it's beauty took my breath away at every turn.  To be honest though, not a big fan of the 108 degrees during the day, and 92 in the evening.  I'll take the snow over that heat anyday.  Crazy as it sounds, i was actually longing for a good old Rochester cold spell! 

   My classes were awesome....busy, messy and playful, and where i met the sweetest new "forever art friends".  Not many of them are Arizona"natives", lots of transplants from the Midwest and Northeast, so interesting to me.

Pam Carriker, Mary Beth Shaw and i had a fabulous dinner in old  Scottsdale one night.  Beautiful art and architecture amazing restaurant, and look, there's my pal Pam in this gorgeous sculpture garden!

...very southwest...

Lucky me!  Found my very favorite store, Fresh Produce in Scottsdale, and even caught a huge sale! (i try to find this store whenever i travel) 

Finally had a visit with my really sweet friend (who i never met in person!) super art girl Dina Wakely! She was at the fabulous Art Unraveled Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday. 
 Love her.

  This week i am unpacking and repacking the same boxes of art treasures to ship out for Create in Chicago which starts next Wednesday.  So many supplies to pack!  So thrilled, that is my biggest gig yet.  FIVE completely full, SOLD OUT classes.  BREATHE!!!

So that's why i needed a little breather.....just to enjoy and cherish the moments and memories without pressuring myself to document those precious minutes for social media.  I love what i do, and am so very blessed.  I know that personally, i sometimes need to step away from all the technology and JUST BE in the moments.  They are treasure.

..........and you know my most favorite mantra...........  

...well, that was fun!!!

Home from a 6 hour drive from Somerset, NJ.  Create, New Jersey is now just a memory, and what a creative flurry it was! I taught four, full classes in 48 hours. Exhausted? Can't be, i am always so grateful that this is my "job". Art is my living, and my living is art! What could be better than an art retreat? Making art, teaching art, making art and meeting the best art friends for life. I am in awe when my students are empowered to be fearless in their creativity. It's incredibly rewarding.

Here are some of my fabulous students with their works in progress. I missed getting photos in every class because my iphone was in my music speaker playing my eclectic assortment of tunes while everyone was working. Dancing to the beat of the iphone, paintbrush and spray inks, it was magical!

So now it's time to pack back up for Art Unraveled in Phoenix  in just 10 days! Looking forward to that steamy good art retreat, my first time in Arizona!

We made One Page Wonder art journals and art friends forever!!!  


A deep thought....
What is more important to you when taking a class and making art?  
Is it the process or the finished art piece??  
What do you do with all your art when it's finished?
Share your thoughts with a comment below...

..."art frosting" anyone?

 I must say that i am completely obsessed with color, color, color and my twinkling paints.  You know them, Twinkling H20's?  "Twinks", those little pots of creamy sparkle goodness.  If they're not on your art table, they are in your stash, or in the "Land of Misfit Art Supplies".  You know, the ones you just don't play with any more?  Well raid that stash, get out your Twinks and meet "Silks", her baby sister!

 Here's a little video tutorial i made with the 

Twinks and Silks from Luminarte.

How about a 10% off coupon to purchase your own colorful palette and paint with stars?  Visit the Lumniarte website and use this 
coupon code for your purchase:  sharpeblog10 

 OFFER VALID July 5-15, 2102

 Stock up or give the paints a test drive!

..look at the incredible shine and light on fabric!

...stamp and stencil making vibrant backgrounds...

...my journaling pens work like a dream over the Silks and Twinks!...

Are you taking my online "Color Love" class?  

If not, join us!  This is what we're talking about.  We are completely immersed in everything color!  And my online classes are open to join anytime, are self paced, with forever access and a live, kooky, chatty Facebook group full of the best friends you never met!

...sparkle doodle pages painted with the"starlight" and that comes from a pot of Twinks or a jar of "Silks"...

These paints "art frosting" for your journal pages, crafts and artwork!  The perfect touch.  They're creamy, like buttah!  

It's "paint candy"!  It's just delicious.

...a whole journal of bling and brightness!

Learn more about Luminarte products on their website:

You were born to shine and paint with stars!  Thanks for visiting.

...soar and share...

...Feel free to share and give someone wings....

©joanne sharpe 2102

....the BIG NEWS #3!!

Finally i can spill!  I'll be teaching in 

Orvieto, Italy in September 2013!  

 This is a dream come true.  I will be hosting a trip with 

"Adventures in Italy" with Kristi and Bill Steiner, September 15-21, 2013.  

I have planned the art adventure of a lifetime to create, inspire, eat, explore and celebrate!  

Find the details for my trip here: "Whimsical Wanderings in Orvieto, Italy",

These images of Orvieto take back to my college days, and four years of art history.  I have never been to Italy and this will be a enlightening experience for me as will as the others who will join me.  We'll capture our travels with art journaling, hand lettering and mixed media art.  No experience required!

 ...I cannot wait to stand in the presence of these breathtaking images.  These are the images i have only known in books, when pulling those "all nighters" in college for my art history exams.  True story!

 ...I cannot wait to touch these ancient art treasures....

...I cannot wait to  devour this color palette and paint the the gorgeous countryside...

 ...I cannot wait to share this with YOU!  

Doesn't this sound incredible?  

All the details can be found here on the Adventures in Italy website. 

Won't you join me for the art adventure of a lifetime?