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I’m doing a webinar next week….

to promote my new videos and of course my books Art Journal Courage and Art Journal Freedom.

You can find all the info here! We'll show a demo and then open it up for questions.

 

Upcoming classes…St. Pete and local!

Hi dee ho. I had a cancellation for a teaching gig in early March. I am going to use the extra time to work on some new online classes. If you have any special requests, let me know. I have several planned, though…can't wait to work on them.

And, because of the cancellation, I was able to add a couple of last-minute local classes! If you're in the area, come and make art with me.

And…don't forget I'm teaching a bunch of my NEW 2015 classes at Whim So Doodle in St. Pete at the end of this month.

• Feb 25th through 28th, Whim So Doodle in St. Pete. Contact them to sign up and go to their website to see the classes. I'm debuting some of my brand new 2015 classes.

• Friday, March 6th, 6:30 p.m., I am teaching my Composition Basics art journaling class at Scraps of Love in Peoria, AZ.  I am excited to teach here, this store has been on my waiting list for over 18 months.

• Saturday, March 7 from 2 to pm I am teaching an ALL NEW class called Random By Design Mixed Media Mash Up Book at The Occasional Artist. Lots of people ask me, "how do you make your work look random but also tied together?" This class will show you how. Call the store to sign up.

I’m guest blogging over at the Cloth Paper Scissors blog…

To celebrate the release of my new DVDs, I'm doing a few guest blog posts over at the Cloth Paper Scissors blog. Go check out my first post, here.

Also notice the sidebar of my blog…click that to go to the NorthLight shop and use the coupon for 10% off! [Sp sorry for not having that up yesterday…I just got the coupon affiliate thing figured out this morning.] To find my products easily when you're at the shop, just put "Dina Wakley" in the search box.

Also, I have to thank Joy for this lovely comment. This is what she said:

Dina,
I just watched all three previews.
First, the previews are perfect. The viewer gets a full technique instead of just some random sample of the video.
Second, the format, where you are teaching Amy and she is doing what you do, is perfect. I get to see the technique twice, which helps me see that the same technique does not always give the same result. Both your results are pleasing.
Third, Amy is a fantastic student.
Fourth, you keep creating new ways to make interesting and meaningful and beautiful art. wow.
I bought the mask and stencil video right away. I"ll be getting the other two soon. Thank you making your teaching so convenient to access : )

Joy, thanks so much for describing exactly what we were trying to achieve with the DVDs. Thank you, thank you!

Below is an example of a piece I did from my mark-making technique that I demo in the Mark Making video. It's one of my absolute FAVORITE ways of making art.

I have three new DVDs available! Woo hoo!

Last Fall, I flew to Cincinnati for three fun days of filming with my editor Amy Jones. We had SUCH a blast and created three DVDs that you can either purchase or download (or both!). EDITED TO ADD: sorry for confusion, the download isn't free. You can either purchase a download or purchase a physical DVD. In my haste to write the post, I wasn't clear.

Amy was my art student as we went through the material. She sits right by me and follows my instructions, asks questions, and learns along with you. She is awesome and she made hecka cool art! These DVDs are like being in class with us. You see us goof up, fix things, and go through the whole art making process.

Here are the links:

Art Journal Color Courage, Download Here, Buy the DVD Here

Art Journal Mark Making, Download Here, Buy the DVD Here

Art Journal Stencils and Masks, Download Here, Buy the DVD Here

Finally put a brush to paper today…

Since I've just been trying to tread water and keep afloat (metaphorically), I haven't put a brush to paper (for myself) in ages. Today while I was working on a Ranger blog assignment (will link you up to that next month), I was waiting for some gesso to dry. I never sit and wait for paint, so I turned to my journal and roughed out this face. I love patchy layers, brushstrokes that show the hand of the artist. It's just how I love to make my art. Felt good to paint for myself, even if only for a moment.

Did you make art today?

Whew…where I’ll be in February, and some other catch-up.

Well, what a whirlwind! These last few weeks I've been in survival mode. We're moved into the new house and are definitely NOT settled in completely, but I know that will come with time. Our old house is still for sale (praying, praying, praying it sells soon). Things with my son's health are a bit better, but we're still having some challenges. I am grateful we're moving in the right direction, though. He is feeling and looking better. Thankful for daily improvements!

Just got back from a great weekend of teaching at Scrapbook N Memories in Harrisonville, Missouri. I have lots of teaching coming up, so be sure to check my teaching schedule to see where I will be. We will try to get it updated with the rest of the dates soon.

Often I will teach somewhere and people will comment, "I didn't know you were near me, I would have come." My schedule is always on my website, and make sure you're on the mailing lists & Facebook pages for your local stores. Facebook is weird, too…if you don't interact with a business page, updates won't show up in your feed. So, you need to go click on the pages you like regularly to see all the latest. This is true with my Art of Dina Wakley page, too.

In February you can find me at:

Feb 6-8: Runaway Art & Craft Studio in Salem, OR.

Feb 20-22: Back 2 Back Art Retreat, South Florida.

Feb 25-28: Whim So Doodle, St. Pete, Florida.

I know there are still some class spots in both Salem & St. Pete, so give the stores a call and sign up!

On my to do list: more art, film little videos about my new products with tips & tricks, be better at blogging (coughcough), and MORE ART! Have a super day, everyone!

 

 

Presenting to you the Ranger Designer Challenge

Each year, Ranger takes a product (or product line) and invites top-notch designers to create with it. The idea is to show the versatility of a line, that in different hands the same materials can look markedly different.

This year, the focus was Dina Wakley Media paints, stencils, and stamps. I got to hand-select a "dream team" of sorts. I wish I could have had more artists participate…but alas, they limited me to 23. So, without further ado, I present the wonderful artwork from this year's Ranger Designer Challenge!

I wish I had brought my good camera so I could get better pictures of these pieces. I just had to use my cellphone, so I'm sorry about the washed-out color and light glare and blur. You can see Ranger's post about the challenge HERE. Their pictures are better than mine, so be sure to visit. Also try visiting each artist's website…if they haven't posted their challenge yet (several have), then they may in the future.

Here's what the display looked like in the middle of the Ranger booth (I snagged these pics from the Ranger blog):

First up is mine:

I used a lot of my custom paint sprays (I mix my paint with some water in a mister and magic happens!) and my new masks.

Next up, Tim Holtz:

I love how Tim's is a piece of true assemblage art. He is such a master at combining objects in fascinating ways! I especially love the paint brush at the bottom. So cool, a visual feast.

Next up: Dyan Reaveley

Dyan is a master of doodling, and this piece proves that. It must have taken ages to do all that decorative writing. I love how the colors pop against the black. Love it!

Next up: Wendy Vecchi

Aargh, so sorry for the blurry pics. Do check the Ranger blog link above for better pics. Wendy's is delightful. I love how she used the birdies from Scribbly Birds. I wish you could see the dimension in the flower and leaves, it's really stunning! And how genius is the clipboard?

Next up: Tammy Tutterow

Tammy's is another piece that has lots of great dimension. She used my FAVE bee, too, from Scribbly Insects. Swoon! Love it.

Next up: Debbie Tlach

Debbie's piece is a portrait of her little kitty. I love the blue and orange (complemetary colors) and he just looks so sweet. She has really captured him well. Don't you think she could go into business creating portraits like this? So fun!

Next up: Lisa Pace

Lisa's piece has so many gorgeous layers. I love how she used the heart, both under and on the tag. So beautiful!

Next up: Traci Bautista

Traci did one of her signature portraits with my acrylic paint. I love how expressive it is, it just oozes energy and joy! So bright and cool.

Next up: May Flaum

 

To appreciate May's piece, you really need to be able to see it from the front and from the sides. There are sooooo many dimensional layers, it's really like a sculpture. So colorful and great!

Next up: Ronda Palazzari

Ronda's piece is an abstract work of art. Each section has interesting layers and textures. They all work together to create a whole that is really lovely.

Next up: Roben-Marie Smith

I love the narrative quality of Roben-Marie's piece (and it's so clever how she made a person with my Moon Faces stencil). You look at the piece and you can start interpreting the story, it draws you in and keeps you there. Love it.

Next up: Lorraine Bell

The analagous colors that Lorraine used in this piece give it such a calm, lovely feeling. The portraits are gorgeous and I love all the details, fab.

Next up: Mou Saha

This piece has some of my favorite things…color and texture! I love how she made the Affirmations stencil the focal point. Isn't it great? So many cool layers.

Next up: Kate Crane

I love all the little details and elements on Kate's piece (hello butterflies!). So many great pops of texture, too. Fun!

Next up: Tangie Baxter

Tangie's is another piece that you really need to be able to see from all sides. It is so textural and sculptural! I have to admit I had to reach out and touch the heart in the middle, it is like an artifact waiting to be discovered. Cool stuff.

Next up: Christy Tomlinson

Ugh, excuse my blurry pic! Christy did one of her signature girls…and get this. All of that pattern and texture is "custom painted paper" that she did herself with my acrylics. How awesome is that!! She is so sweet, love it!

Next up: Shari Carroll

I love all the layers on Shari's piece, they are luminous. She did the Mod mask in a textural way, too, so it adds such lovely dimension. So pretty, it was practically glowing!

Next up: Jim Hankins

Speaking of glowing…Jim's piece was literally glowing because it had little lights on it. How cool is that? The picture is terrible (ugh), but I wish you could see the little lights! Plus Jim's piece is sculptural, too. It has many great layers and wire and pops with color. An engineering feat!

Next up: Jennifer McGuire

How sweet is this? It is SO colorful and just looking at it makes you happy. This would be so cute in a kids' bedroom. Classic and cool.

Next up: Richele Christensen

Richele's piece is another one that literally glows…that little lantern in the box turns on. Aaah, so cool. I love the paper quilt in her background, and how her layers seem to blend so perfectly. Stunning!

Next up: Paula Cheney

Paula's piece is pastel perfection. Isn't it great how many looks you can get with my line of paint? You can bright and powerful, and you can get soft and subtle. Paula's piece is vintage pefection.

Next up: Jenny Doh

Jenny's piece is an expressive, layered painting that highlights her character FangGrrr. Here FangGrrr is playing the cello, and the word says, "Practice." I love how expressive this is, and that it is personal and meaningful…which what good art should be.

Next up: Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Julie's piece is so graphic and cool. I was chatting with her at the show and she said she was feeling inspired by Matisse. Can you see the influence? So great, I love it!

Next up: Mystele

Mystele is such an inspiration to me. She made an entire artist's book, with many painted tags and pages. They are so stunning and moving, full of grace and emotion. Don't they exude joy? I am so in love with this piece and hope Mystele will let me buy it so it can come and live in my studio.

Don't you love the pieces? I'm in awe of how great they are.

A HUGE thank you to all of the artists who made art with the Dina Wakley Media Line. Thank you, thank, you thank you!!!

 

 

 

Popping in to say….

that I had a great time at CHA. I am working on a post with all of the Designer Challenge pieces (they are AMAZING), so that should go live later this week.

Click here for the awesome May Flaum's review of my stuff.

Click here for a video by ScrapTime of my new stuff!

 

Can you spot all the new Dina Wakley Media in this piece?

I used new masks, stamps, paint…so fun. Masks: Organic Shapes. Stamps: Woodcuts, Positive Women. New Paint: Black.

Loving my new mask shapes!

So in love with my new mask shapes…