Lesley Venable

Just In Time For the Holidays...

Hi Everyone,

With the holidays close at hand and the economy as it is I thought it would be kind of cool to put together two bundles of new lessons...yes, bundles at unbelievably low prices.  I'm doing this not because I don't value my work or time but because I know how tough it can be this time of year.  <smile>  So, I wanted to do something a bit different that will, I hope, give everyone the opportunity to take a few classes (remember these don't have an end time - they are ongoing and all are video classes) while spending the least amount of money. 

 Here is how it will work:

 BUNDLE OF CREATIVITY #1 - $5.00

 1.  Collage Backgrounds - Layering, Textures, Composition and More

2.  Embellished Tags - Using fabric, images, ephemera, found objects.  Use your sewing machine or your glue. 

3.  Composition Journals - We will take a cheap notebook and create a beautiful journal for you to keep or give as gifts.

 

 BUNDLE OF CREATIVITY #2 - $10.00

 All of the above classes plus.....

4)  Mail Art - Creating unusual envelopes and mailers to send to your friends and family.

5)  Fabric Flowers - Easy way to create fabric flowers to adorn your gifts, jewelry or other art projects.

These classes/videos will go live on November 15th and sign up will begin today.  

 Thanks and hope to see you there!

 xo,

Lesley

 

 

Artful Gathering Video....

Zinnia has been a busy girl putting together videos for the teachers for The Artful Gathering 2012.   Click the link below to see the one she did for me...

http://youtu.be/D-v_pBb4yts

xoxoxo

 

Learning To Just Be.....

Sometimes it seems that we go happily along...everything goes our way and not a gray cloud mars our sky.  Then, out of nowhere or possibly somewhere that you hid it, a life lesson or two or six comes your way.  Some of these life lessons are just things we do to ourselves and they come in the shape of worry or a lack of self confidence or self-esteem.

This has been a time of those life lessons for me and while I would like to pick up a paint brush and just color out those gray spots I've decided that the time has come to deal with some of them head on.  Now I could sit here and tell you how painful it has been so far because it has and I could tell you how many tears I have cried over them because I have but I don't want to dwell on that aspect of these lessons.  In fact, the good part, the happy part, the loving part of these lessons has given me so much more than tears and pain. 

I have gained new friendships, I have seen old friendships strengthened, I have felt loved, I have felt cared for, I have felt carried when I didn't think it was possible to move one more step, I have been empowered in my own art and accepted for it and that was all done as me.  Me, who I am at my core with no masks, no attempt to be something I am not...simply me.

I am going to begin a little project on November 1st by posting a daily affirmation or daily exercise to help get us all motivated to love ourselves, to appreciate our art to see ourselves as the special, unique person/artist/individual that we are.  It is an exercise for me as I work on being a better me and it's a commitment to you.

xo,

 

 

A Day in Creativity....

I love those days when you can sit down and play around with several different things at once. Today has been one of those days spent at the long studio table (aka the dining room table) and I have had my fingers in paint, ink, fluid chalks, glue, glaze, clay, solder....well you get the drift. I have gone from one project to another and then spent some time listening to music and the Virginia Tech game in the background.

As you all know I am getting ready to be very brave and begin selling my artwork on Etsy, from my blog, while vending and in a shop in Salem. Even though people see my art all of the time online, while I am teaching, in swaps, etc. it is a bit different to put it out there to sell. What if nobody wants it??? Eeek! It's hard to put something that you have created out there to be accepted or rejected. But I'm doing it....I believe in myself and my art and like I said the other day my new mantra is "She thought she could so she did". So I am. <smile>

A lot of the newer items are me putting what I learned at Art Is to use....I have been wanting to create iconic faces for a while and now, thanks to Pam Carriker, I am actually doing it and loving it!!  Here is a new piece...the substrate is a piece of architectural salvage.....

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Another class that I took was JoAnna Pierotti's on Friday evening.  I had taken her doll class in Connecticut at the first Art Is when it was known as Art Fest For The Soul.  This was a wonderful class that was filled with my friends, laughter and beautiful creations!  Here is a piece I have been working on today using the doll face I learned in JoAnna's class....

The word bloom on this piece was inspired by Jane's beautiful necklace that she created.

I will be posting several of my iconic faces tomorrow evening on Etsy.  The creations I make with the doll faces I will be selling at the shop in Salem, VA but if you see something you like let me know. 

Would love your feedback....good or bad....just would like to know if these are creations that "sell worthy". 

xo,

Online Fluid Chalks Class

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to let you all know that my Fluid Chalks - Backgrounds and Beyond Online Class will soon be increasing in price from $20.00 to $28.00.  This increase in price will take effect on October 28th so you still have time to sign up and save a few dollars.

 

I use fluid chalks in all of my creations and yes I do mean ALL of them.  From paper to wood to metal to clay....these little gems are an absolute essential to your creative toolbox and in this online video class I show you all about the many uses for them.  Even at $28.00 it is a super bargain but if you can save a bit of green and sign up before October 28th even better, right?

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Hope to see you there.....

xo,

 

 

Creations...

While I was in Danbury teaching at Art Is You I took a class with Pam Carriker on how to paint faces.  My goal was to be able to paint very iconic looking portraits.....

I am still working with her....some touch-ups here and there, a bit of darker shading and have to work with that "hair" but basically I love how she is coming out.  If you ever have the opportunity to take a class with Pam you should definitely do it.  What an amazing teacher, woman, artist and a new friend.  Stay tuned as I will be sharing some other information about Ms. Pam soon.  <smile>

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Here is a mixed media collage that I did....love the bird and how all of the other elements came together.....

This was created in my studio....you know me and my color pallette. 

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Did you notice the button in the right sidebar?  The Artful Gathering is already getting geared up for 2012!!!  Super exciting news!!!!  Check it out by clicking the buttom below.....

 

xo,

I'm A Little Lime Jello.......

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm envious of all of you who have told me the stories of how you found an entire trunk full of beautiful vintage rhinestones and that you only had to pay a quarter for them and that was with tax.  Not only that but the proprietor of the shop/booth/house threw in a garage full of vintage lace, trims and millinery as a thank you for taking that worthless trunk of jewels off of their hands. 

I need a good, affordable (very affordable) source for old rhinestones and costume jewelry.  Is there anyone out there than can help me???  Pretty please?  We have one flea market around here and I have to say that when Tom was smoking his pipe and I saw the sign that said pipes inside I was excited because at least then the trip to this barren land would have accomplished something.  Yes they had pipes.  Pipes that you had to call water pipes because to call them what they were might have the cops taking inventory of their drug paraphenalia  treasures.

Annually, on Labor Day Weekend, we have the Hillsville Flea Market but I have to say it is getting harder and harder and harder to find anyone that isn't selling items for three times what I can purchase them from Etsy for.  I know, life is hard isn't it?

Since Brimfield isn't until March or May (can't remember which) I am putting out the good and positive thoughts and hoping to draw a rhinestone source my way.  Thanks everyone!!!

xo,

 

What A Weekend.....

This past weekend held a gift for us....we had not planned anything, nada, zilch, zippo.  There were no lists of things we had to finish, no vintage shops we needed to search through to find perfect items to resale, no proposals due.....it was, in a word, freeing.  To be totally in a space where we could choose whatever we wanted to do and, to some extent, we did.

Life threw us a few curve balls like a visit to the ER for Tom, a migraine for me and an upset tummy for Bennie.  Now in the past these things would have probably placed me on hold but this weekend I did something I had not done in a long time....I turned to my art for my comfort.  I created through the scared feelings and actually was able to see beauty come out of the unknown.  It was wonderful and even Tom liked what I was doing.  Not bad for someone who doesn't always understand "our" art. 

It felt so good to be taking the things I learned at Art Is You in Danbury and actually putting them to good and practical and fun use.  <smile>  I am loving it all and find myself going between several projects at once.  It is AMAZING!!!!!

I had forgotten how therapeutic it could be to hold a paint brush, mold clay, experiment with colors.....just play.  When was the last time your fingers were covered in paint and your hair was stuck together with who knows what kind of adhesive?  Play days should be mandatory for everyone and most especially artists.......no matter what type of artist you are.  <smile>

Tom and I have no trips planned for several months so I am looking forward to having many more play days and perhaps I can even pull Tom into the studio and get his artistic side going.  Hmmmmm if I do that who in the world will do the baking?  Art/Cookies, Art/Cookies....hard decisions to be made.

What is on your studio table right now?  What is holding you back from creating with abandon?  What would it take for you to let go and just create straight from your heart?  Just begin....one step is all it takes and you will be on your way. 

xo,

 

The Remedy for Stupidity and How It Relates To Art...

Almost a year ago I kind of allowed myself to get maneuvered into a situation and, of course, once I was maneuvered I took up the "fight" to correct  a wrong.  I know, I know, this all sounds so mysterious but really it wasn't.  I crossed a line and gave advice that was not only unsolicited but truly NONE of my business.  I stuck my foot in it....like way deep down in it and because of that mistake I've been shut out from a particular part of my family's life.

So I thought and I worried and I fretted and then I decided that I needed to make amends for what I had done.  So yesterday I sent an email to apologize for sticking my nose into a situation that had nothing to do with me.  Now, we all know about amends and how sometimes the person we are apologizing to doesn't act/do/say exactly what we want them to.  So after I sent the email yesterday I decided that I was going to have to be happy about that step and that I could no longer worry if they hated me, thought I was crazy or just  wanted nothing else to do with me.  I can't worry about what they will do because I have no control over it.  None, nada, zilch. 

They are a young couple and it may take years before they understand what I was attempting to do by butting in and it may take years for them to see the amount of courage it took for me to say I'm sorry.  I can't rush the process, I can't push the outcome....all I can do is love them from afar until they allow me to love them a bit closer.

I have to say that removing that set of blinders by making those amends has freed up my artistic side, just a bit I think.  I believe it is because I have cleaned up as best I could this mess I created and I've let it go to fall where it may.  I've released this "thing" that has been hanging over my head and I have to say it feels good.

Let me be the first to tell you that my life is not all roses and green grass and sunshine.  I have other demons that I deal with and on a daily basis I am getting better and better at setting boundaries and being who I am.  I'm attempting to sweep away the dust and baggage in steps....doable steps.  Of course the hard part for me is not creating more "ick" along the way.  I never knew that keeping your side of the street clean could be such hard work but I also never knew that the process of keeping it clean would open up so many new ways to see things.  It's amazing, terrifying sometimes yes, but amazing, amazing, amazing.

Thank you all for being part of my artistic journey.....

 

This is so fitting right now for where I am.....