Sketchbook blog

New floral watercolor class on Skillshare

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Happy Holidays

I hope you have had a very good year. I am really looking forward to 2019, and hoping it will have not any hurricanes or record rainfall levels in it. (We have had a hard year in NC, USA in 2018, and this is why I have had to delay my new class releases -- forgive me!)

New Watercolor Class

Today is Christmas (Dec. 25), and as a special gift to you, I have uploaded a new class that's totally different from my abstract art classes. In this class, you will learn a simple method to paint a flower in watercolors. Then we will outline the flower and add a hand-lettered word of inspiration.

I paint these flowers for Art-o-mat and sell them all over the world. I hope you enjoy this class free free for the next few days. I will change settings to a paid class soon, so be sure to let folks know they can watch it free if they act now.

Free just for a few days

You can send friends and family this link to let them enjoy the class for free. In the next few days, I will move the class to a paid class so participants will have to pay. However, if you get in free then your class will always be free (no matter if you want to take it again at some other date).

Peony Lettering and Practice

If you are worried that you need practice, please print this pdf template to trace, practice, sketch and work on lettering and peonies until you feel confident about your "hand" (your own lettering) and your floral design. Again, my free gift to you!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

art

Art-o-mat Lately

Sunday, November 04, 2018

Mini Masterpieces Latest Batch

This latest Art-o-mat batch for me was full of Mondrian and Matisse.

This is my 8th batch of Mini Masterpieces for Art-o-mat.

And I've been drawing on planes lately while on business trip.

A little turbulence can make you forget about punctuation!

Clarice's Latest Batch of BoogerBrains

Clarice also made a full set of 50 fall-themed BoogerBrains, also.

Lots of Trick or Treat,

sunflowers, Jack-o-lanterns,

fall scarves, and

and pumpkin spice lattes.

Press for Art-o-mat

Art-o-mat is a movement that brings affordable, accessible art to the public, for just $5 a pop. That's why it's pretty cool to see that Art-o-mat has been highlighted by Forbes magazine as an amenity at America's luxury hotels. Check out the article here.

photo courtesy The Farmer's Daughter and Forbes

Kind Letter from an Art-o-mat Patron

It is a privilege to make art for those who really appreciate it. There is nothing better than receiving a thoughtful response from an art patron who gives you a glimpse into how much your art means to her. Recently a patron bought piece from my Little Inspiration series. Here is a wonderful email from Tammy below:

Dear Nicole -

I wanted to let you know that I purchased your "Little Inspiration" "love" from the re-purposed cigarette machine at the BMOFA! I can't tell you how much joy this little piece of art has brought to me and how perfect it is as a momento of our trip!

We visited Boston this summer from Richmond, VA to see our oldest daughter who moved to Boston in January. It was my first trip to the city and I fell in love!

Having been a former smoker, I recognized the cigarette machine immediately and was so taken with this wonderful repurposing of something that once dispensed something so harmful to now providing joy and beauty! The fact that the piece of yours that I got was doubly meaningful as our daughter's middle name is "Love" (a family surname).

Thank you for bringing joy and beauty to the world! - Tammy

Remember to keep smiling (like Baby Nate)!

avocado

Avocato Tea Towel Challenge on Spoonflower

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

While we waited out Hurricane Florence, I tried to pour my nervous energy into painting a tea towel design for the Spoonflower challenge called "It's a Punderful Life."

Spoonflower wants designers to enter themes that are plays on words and have original hand lettering.

I came up with a vibrant green and yellow color scheme for A-V-O-C-A-T-O.

I also added "purrr-fectly yum yum," to add another little pun.

It's a whole lot better to paint than worry about the hurricane damage in North Carolina.

Voting begins September 20 and ends September 25 at 3 pm EDT. You can vote here when you choose "Punderful life" challenge. Be sure to activate the checkmark, not just click the heart. I appreciate your support!

allison stoner

Personalized Gifts by Art-o-mat Artists

Friday, September 07, 2018

grateful that I belong to a network of artists who make beautiful work. I have called on artist friends Melanie Troutman Williams and Allison Stoner recently to create some personalized gifts for special friends.

Melanie Troutman

Melanie Troutman Williams works out of her studio in downtown Winston-Salem. It's a fun visit to see her because you can check out the Art-o-mat machine and lovely artwork at Delurk Gallery and grab a bite to eat at 6th and Vine restaurant.

Melanie painted a Golden Retriever named Charlie for my friend, Denise.

Charlie was a very happy and sweet dog who lived a great life.

This painting honors Denise's memories of Charlie and keeps him with her every day.

Earlier this year, Melanie also painted Benji (from the movie) for my best friend Julie's birthday.

I remember watching Benji when I was a kid.

I wonder if Benji will ever come to Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Allison Stoner

Allison makes wire sculpture flowers, both large and small (for Art-o-mat).

Here is one of Allison's large wire sculptures.

Photo courtesy of Allison's Instagram account.

I recently vended a small sculpture for a co-worker who has lost her husband.

I appreciate these meaningful gifts so much, and

I know they made a positive impact in the lives of my friends.

Have you given the gift of personalized art recently?

Drop me a line if you need recommendations!

canvas

Old School Hand Painted Vans: Cassette Tapes

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

I finally have finished these bad boys!

This is my third pair of hand painted canvas shoes. This is my first pair of Vans.

I used a lot of geometric patterns on the sides.

The front of the shoes say, "Love" and "Life" to remind folks that there's a lot to love about their lives. (Be grateful for the little things!) The hand lettering emanates from the cassette tape.

I used an old school cassette tape design. Generation Z folks will recognize the mix tape idea from the Netflix TV show Stranger Things.

My lines were reminiscent of soundwaves.

The back says, "Side 1" and "Side 2." Remember how we used to have to turn the tapes over?

The sides say, "Play" and "Record."

Does anyone remember how hard it was to scroll back the loose tape back into the cassette?

I always used a pencil to wind the tape back in, but my husband reminded me that yellow Bic pens did a better job. It's amazing what you forget as technology progresses!

See if you can find at least one mistake (there are 2) in this picture from my drawings.

There's always room to improve.

Completing this pair of canvas shoes fulfilled a couple of goals for me: working with a high contrast and limited color palette (black, white, and red), and finally getting to paint a pair of Vans.

Here are a couple pictures of the early stages.

Do you like these patterns? Do you have suggestions for me? I want to paint another pair for a charity auction really soon in size 9 women's Vans. (This is the most common size among US women.) I am thinking of a very colorful palette for that pair. If you have ideas for a design, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

anderson

Greenville, NC Art-o-mat Adventure: Emerge Gallery at Pitt County Arts Council

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Earlier this week, I had the privilege to visit Emerge Gallery at the Pitt County Arts Council in beautiful downtown Greenville, North Carolina.

Please forgive the low light photo. I visited in the late evening with my friend, Elaine Anderson.

Here is the lovely Art-o-mat machine at the Arts Council.

Elaine is an amazing REALTOR(R) and wonderful leader in civic and charitable organizations locally and all over our state. She was a wonderful host to me and took me on a tour of downtown Greenville, which has undergone a Renaissance of revitalization. The home of state-of-the-art medical facilities and East Carolina University, Greenville has become a favored relocation destination in our state.

Again, please forgive the low lighting here. The knobs are beautiful and vintage on these recycled cigarette machines.

Now made to vend handmade art instead of cigarettes, the machine offers affordable and accessible culture experiences for the low, low price of only five dollars!

I have met folks from Olio Glass Works in Winston-Salem, NC, and Dean Konop's Something Fishy work is famous among Artists in Cellophane.

Artists in Cellophane are artists like me who contribute our work to Art-o-mat. See if you can find your work in these pics!

So many tempting choices here!

I don't know what's in the mystery column.

I bought a Sarah Whittington original painting, which comes with a lovely acrylic frame to prop up my original work. Sarah is the mother of Art-o-mat founder Clark Whittington.

I also bought a blue ceramic mug produced by friends Julie Rogers and Rae Brown, who are professional potters. This one features a real maple leaf imprint from Rae's yard.

Rae Brown is Elaine's daughter, and I really enjoyed meeting her during one of her pottery classes at Emerge.

Just another happy art adventure on the books!

Older
Stories