Still Searching And Learning

“Learning is the beginning of wealth. 

Learning is the beginning of health. 

Learning is the beginning of spirituality. 

Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins.” 

~ Jim Rohn

This is a 5 x 7" painting on Yupo paper, matted to 8 x 10" - It is a Birch Tree / Pour Lesson - for tomorrow's Sandarosa Studio Class - "To mask, or not to mask, that is the question".... Both techniques will be demonstrated and practiced. These trees were done by masking the trees before pouring the background.

These trees were done without masking by lifting the ink from the poured ink background.

Registration for enrollment in the 2018 Fall Session of my online alcohol ink ecourse, the Fundamentals of alcohol Ink, opens Saturday, Sept. 22nd at 9:54 pm, EDT to coincide with this year's Fall Equinox. The purchase of the full course or individual weeks comes with lifetime enrollment! Go HERE for more detailed information.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week.

X ♥  O

Quality Time Memories

"In family relationships, love is really spelled T.I.M.E."
~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I had SO MUCH FUN creating with my nephews visiting from Colorado last Friday!

Alcohol Ink Paintings by Nephews, Dillon & Cody Yates - First-Time Inkers!

We covered a lot of ground, did a bunch of different techniques (on tiles, Yupo and black vinyl),

had a lot of laughs and created some wonderful memories.

Cody and Dillon were naturals.

  I only had to explain things once to them.

They both quickly grasped all the techniques I shared.

Not bad for first timers!

 They are very pleased with their accomplishments and I am very proud of them!

Cody and I pose with the Sandarosa Sentry

Dillon and I with the Yard Guard

So grateful I was able to spend some real quality time with two super great guys. 

 Maybe someday they will find time from their mountain biking and snowboarding

and take up art. I know they both have a real aptitude for it!

"Spending time with your family and your real friends keeps you grounded."

And Don't Forget About -

 GIVEAWAY ON INSTAGRAM- OPEN to ALL MY FOLLOWERS THERE! 

 and ... the FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink E-Course.

Summer 2018 Class Opens June 6th

Thanks So Much for Stopping By

X ♥  O

The Germ Of Happiness

"Growth itself has the germ of happiness."

~ Pearl S. Buck

To me, art is, and always has been, an endlessly exciting experiment.  I am fascinated by the exploration of a world with such diverse, limitless possibilities. Continuing to stretch my physical and mental boundaries as an artist and instructor, keeps me feeling young, alive, engaged and energized. 

Alcohol ink has certainly turbo-charged my peregrination over the past five years! Now, painting almost exclusively in alcohol ink, except for an occasional watercolor on Yupo paper, doors have opened up to me that never even existed before. I am so grateful to be one of the pioneers in the alcohol ink, fine art world. I feel so lucky to live in a day and age when I can connect with a whole community of others traveling the same art "dreamway" with a tap of my finger. The work and journeys of lots of awesome artists online and in-person is a continuing form of enjoyment, growth and inspiration.

After days of editing my video for our spring a.i. conference, I'm (understandably) in a Vincent van Gogh state of mind ... Thanks to Sharen Ak Harris, here's my first attempt on blackout film - "Starry Night Lighthouse" on modeling film and on black vinyl. See my discoveries and comparisons below!

Below is an experiment I did in alcohol inks on

Modeling Film (on the left) and Glossy Vinyl (on the right)

Starry Night Lighthouse on Modeling Film and Glossy Vinyl

*My Opinions and Discoveries

Modeling film                                     Vinyl

Wipe Back -                 didn't wipe back clean                        vinyl wipes back clean

Ink w/ Snowcap -           soft, creamy texture                                 harder lines

Color -                             softer/ more muted                            brighter/ more contrast

Application -                    Less surface glide                             Inks slide on surface

My Cost -                   $15. for 6) 8 x 10" sheets                   $19. for 40) 12 x 12" sheets

*These are my personal findings and not necessarily that of  the majority of other users.

Learn how I achieved this look by watching my 45 min. video - STARRY NIGHT IN ALCOHOL INK
- Make sure to catch my 'INSPIRED BY VAN GOGH' presentation (on Yupo paper, along with 11 other presentations) at the SPRING 2018 ALCOHOL INK ART CONFERENCE - LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE!!!
  This is a Virtual (online) conference - watch the sessions from the comfort of your own studio or home 
- All sessions streamed on a private FB group 
- Lifetime access to replays of sessions and access to materials
- win wonderful door prizes compliments of our SPONSORS! (Ranger, Jacquard, Legion Paper, Marker Supply, and Art Resin)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Have a really great day!

X ♥  O