To say the summer has been a busy one, may just be the understatement of the century!! lol!
While I've still been posting free tutorials every single week on YouTube, my opportunities to blog about them are slim to none these days.  Thought I'd catch you up just a tiny wee bit, just for the last few months or so since there's been a huge, repeated request for me to do more whimsical animals, and now there are two more tutorials taking you through the process of just that!

But I digress!  
Back to the projects at hand.  Feeling summer inspired, I created this super cute crab project for my Mixed Media Society students over at AwesomeArtSchool.com.  But I didn't want my YouTube audience to miss out on the inspiration so they get a version too!

It's not in real time, but you can absolutely see my entire process from beginning to end and if you wanted to, you can 100% complete this project based on the YouTube tutorial!! Trust me! I've seen it, and the results are AWESOME!!!

Fast forward a few weeks, now we are fully ensconced in September and wouldn't ya know it, down here in North Carolina it's still in the mid-90's!!  OVER IT!  So I busted out my Lukas Cryl Studio paints and brushes one more time and painted this adorable fall squirrel to get me in the mood for fall!!

And you know what??  IT WORKED!!
Stay tuned on my YouTube Channel for more whimsical mixed media tutorials like this one! 

Or if you're more into painting faces, I have loads of those too!  Like this one!

This coming Friday I'll be teaching a real time lesson on how to draw with the Elegant Writer!! So make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out!!!
See you Friday!
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I've been so busy I haven't been able to post for the last few weeks. With my kids home for the summer and monthly travel plans, my creative schedule has been a bit all over the place. I just wanted to share my latest project, however, as this project is a special one for me.

I created her last week, I think the day before I left for Iceland. I was feeling guilt for leaving my kids and husband behind the very week they were returning to school, stressed because my Retreat is fast approaching and this trip was taking my attention away from preparing as much as I'd like to, rushed because I want to have lessons prepared for the Fun Fab Drawing Club and Mixed Media Society and angsty because I have a lot of companies breathing down my neck for reviews. All of that combined made me feel frozen and panicked all at the same time.
But I finally decided to go and practice what I preach. I know all too well how good arting is for the soul. What therapy it is!!! When I'm feeling so stressed, I don't turn to exercise, or council, I reach for my art supplies. It ALWAYS works...so why wasn't I doing that?! So I had a little come-to-Jesus-moment with myself and talked myself into creating for one day JUST FOR ME. No lesson plan, no ulterior motive, just for out-and-out therapy BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
And you know what?! IT TOTALLY WORKED!!!
I did record it, as I like to keep a record of what I use and how I make things so I can go back and reference those ideas and supplies again.
I hope you enjoy watching this super short 4 minute process video. I also hope that this post serves as a reminder of how much art truly can heal and inspire.

​Who doesn't LOVE to play with a pile of gorgeous markers in a rainbow of colors?!

If you're anything like me, you can totally justify adding one more shade of blue to your collection, but it's not always easy to justify the cost. 

Plus, there are seriously SO many kinds of markers out there. Which brand do you choose? Which one offers the most value for the moola? And then there's alcohol based vs. water based...

Decisions! Decisions!

​Today's free YouTube video demos answers to these questions and shows you that contrary to popular belief, alcohol and water based markers actually DO play nicely with one another. Who knew?!

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Then  take a pic and post it in my FB Group  to show me how it worked for you! I'd love to see!! ​

If you need help with drawing or want an art buddy to guide you through some fun projects, check out  The Fun Fab Drawing Club  over @ AwesomeArtSchool.com.
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Just before I left for my road trip up to Boston (must have had a little seafood deliciousness on my mind!), I made this crabby crab.  His expression reminds me a little of my boys when I tell them no more screens. LOL! 

​In this project's vid, I show you my whole process from blank canvas... 

To laying down some acrylics... ​​Nope, I don't have time to wait for the paint to dry, so I use a heat gun or hair dryer basically always!

If you're a member of the Mixed Media Society at AwesomeArtSchool.com, I'm so psyched to let you know that this guy is your June lesson!!! I KNOW!!!

​So if you're looking to learn how to create this dude in REAL TIME with me, from scratch, head on over to AwesomeArtSchool.com, log into your account, and begin the paint date! The lesson is in the classroom entitled, "Official Mixed Media Society Lessons."

When you're done, show me a pic!!! I wanna see!

Summer is here, my kids are out of school as of TODAY, vacation is around the corner and I've been working like a beast to make sure that while I'm away you will still be getting awesome, educational, inspirational and (as always) totally FREE art tutorials on YouTube each and every week, 52 weeks a year.
I ALMOST got derailed from my hard work yesterday when, to my complete surprise, I had a visitor show up at my house!!! What the WHAT?!?!

It took me the greater part of the afternoon to figure who the heck sent this (AMAZING, HILARIOUS, MAGNIFICENT, HOT) present my way. After private messaging some dear friends, going LIVE in the Facebook Group, and posting on my Timeline, I figured out it was my very own SISTER!!! Ha! Well. If you love all things Scottish, Outlander or male, good news is that from now all you'll be able to tune into my YouTube art videos and get your weekly dose of my favorite fictional character as well. YUMM-O!
But I digress...
Today's video lesson seems kinda insignificant on the outside (a boring old pencil review? Really Karen??) BUT, employing the technique I teach you today can and will legitimately make a MASSIVE and immediate impact on your drawings.
And the tip I have to give you to achieve this IS SOOOOOO SIMPLE literally ANYONE can start drawing this way!!!
I'm actually kind of embarrassed I haven't taught you this before.
And...It is no coincidence that I am basing my entire new big fat drawing book on this principal, that's how simple and powerful this is.
So I hope you will take advantage of this snippet of free advice and watch the short, 10 minute video, learn and grow with me today!!!

Lastly, the full length, unedited lesson for this portrait is this months lesson in the Fun Fab Drawing Club which is available already, in the Official Drawing Club Classroom.
For more information, visit https://awesomeartschool.com/p/funfabclub
That's all for this week! Happy Drawing my friend!!

I know you already know how much I love mixed media and this months lesson in the Mixed Media Society gets right to the heart of all that goodness!!!  
First we start with the inspiration...

I honestly don't know what I love more in this picture.  The illustration from Anne Keenan Higgins, the cocktail napkins or the Complexion Set by Prima.  Well my love for those I can absolutely expound upon before I go any further.  Watch my short and sweet product review on those babies here.

Ok but let's not get too too sidetracked here.  
Back to the project!!
So first things first, we have a wee drawing lesson...
Scared to draw?  No worries, I got you!  I've included the full size PDF in the Mixed Media Society Classroom for this project, that you can print out and trace directly onto your art journal or canvas so you can cruise right along!!!

Then we grab our scissors and get to work!

Adding all these pics makes me so excited all over again for this project, it's taking everything in my power to sit in my chair and finish this blog post and not go running down to my studio to throw some paint around!!!!
​Now where were we?  Oh yes,  just about to throw some paint around!!

A little watercolor and off we go!!!
At this point, I confess, I get a bit carried away with the project...so much so that I forget to take pictures for a bit!  At least the whole fabulousness gets captured on video, in real time, so you can art along with me!!!  Phew!
What's that dreamy sparkle?  You ask?
Only Sparkle Mod Podge, BUT OF COURSE!!!
I can't believe you couldn't have guessed that already!!!

Here's the mess and project in it's full glory!!!

Dying to give it a go!!!!  Please do!  I'll even throw in a FREE 30 day trial so you can have a go without costing you a penny.  Click here to start the party!!!!  You won't regret it, your fun awaits!!!

Working hard on my new drawing book today and in it's many many pages are the steps you can take to draw a beautiful big ol' braid!!
Itching to see just what that looks like?
Just so happens I recorded the whole process to share with you!!

I know how much drawing hair intimidates so many, so I've taken it upon myself to break it down, step by step!

It's weird how easy something can be once you take it slow.  Want to learn?  Enjoy the video, it's free for you on YouTube!

Wishing there was a slower version of this?  I know.  YouTube is so awesome because it's so free and fast and FUN!  But I know for a lot of my students it's just too darn fast. 
If you'd like to take this entire drawing (including step-by-step, real time, how to draw this face...everything from eyelashes, nose, mouth, hair...from SCRATCH) I've included that in my drawing club.  Wanna try it out and see if it's a good fit? 
You can!  It's free for 30 days and just $12 little dollars a month after that.  That gives you instant access to my Introductory Course, Drawing Daze, for beginners, plus dozens and dozens of additional face and figure drawing lessons.  
Click here for your free trial and start your journey to become a better artist today by becoming a member of the Fun, Fab Drawing Club!!!!
Hope to see you there!

I have been having an absolute BLAST mixing and matching certain mythical references and combining them in new and exciting ways to produce new, unique works of art.  I think what's even more fun is that I'm not even playing this fun game by myself, no sireee.  My Friend, Artist Jenny Manno and I, have enlisted the help and fun of our respective Facebook Groups to play along with us and the results are sooooooo so much fun!

​Here are the references this week!
The first one is my the amazingly talented folks over at thepicsees.com.  If you don't know them you ought to!!  They are amazing!!

The second reference (both chosen by Jenny this week, is this sweet bird sketch she found on Pinterest.

Personally, I needed a bit more to kick start my creativity so I added two additional references...and here are my results!

I blame my Daniel Smith Watercolors for her success, along with my giant 15" x 22" watercolor pad of Strathmore Paper.  Who ever said bigger is better was RIGHT!
If you'd like to see what other references I used and watch the entire process unfold I made a sweet video of the process, voiceover and timelapsed for your enjoyment (and so that it doesn't take up too much of your precious time).
I hope you enjoy!

As you may or may not know, every Friday I release a new tutorial or inspirational art video on YouTube.
Today I am posting something quite different.
Today I talk about a much deeper topic, what art means to me and what it means to you.
Does the act of doing art take away your emotional or physical pain? Allow you to escape for a short while? Help whisk you away to your happy place? Remind you of what it feels like to be a carefree 8 year old again? Me too.
Watch this week's video to learn more about how I'm hoping to use art that I teach through the Mixed Media Society to address these very important issues for the thousands of students I meet through my school.

What is the Mixed Media Society?  Watch the video below and find out.

At 48" tall I say, "Close enough!"  
I love to share weekly tutorials because I know how much they can help to:

• Get you out of a creative rut.
• Give you tips about new ways to use old products.
• Provide a burst of inspiration so instead of staring at that blank journal page you can actually start putting pen (or paintbrush) to paper.
• Show you just how easy making cool art projects can be!

Yesterday I shared with you a full tutorial on how to make gorgeous eyes on your mixed media girls!

​Well TONIGHT I am showing you a crazy fun mashup project I did with my friend Jenny Manno.
We each pick out 2 references and then try to mash them together!
Here are the reference pictures from Pinterest:

AAhhhh!! I KNOW!  And...

And after splishin' and splashin' around with my spray paints for a bit I whipped out this long and lean underwater mashup of the two!!!

She is HUGE!!! I KNOW!

But I had soooo much fun making her, I didn't for a second regret piecing together those two canvases to create her.  My favorite part by far was using glitter Mod Podge (like an 8 year old) WITH actual glitter, on her shimmery tail!

I mean, she is a magical mermaid after all!!!  Want a peek into my process?  
It's as easy as clicking the play button below!