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I've been a full-time working artist for 15 years! If you've been wondering how to become an artist, how to become a better artist, or if it's too late to start your own art journey, you NEED to watch today's YouTube video on my Mixed Media channel, because that is EXACTLY what I'll be talking about!!  Would it surprise you to know that I don't sell ONE SINGLE PIECE of my art? I don't!! So WHY do I make art and spend all of my time and energy on TEACHING art with a team of people behind me? Because I know the way art makes us FEEL. It can have a HUGE impact on our own lives and the lives of others. You might find it interesting to know that becoming an artist was NEVER even on my to do list when I was growing up!!  Not for one second did I even consider becoming an artist! I grew up thinking art was a hobby - no more, no less. So how did I get where I am today- with two YouTube channels, an online art school, and 12 art books already under my belt?! I got into art later in life because I got addicted to the way it made me feel when I spent time being creative. If I was having a bad day, stuck home when my kids were little and I was changing diapers and wanted to cry, the minute that I sat down to draw, sketch or paint, all of those feelings melted away. It was like a drug. There was a transformation that happened inside of me - in my brain, in my soul, in my heart...and it made everything ok again. Art gave me ALL the FEELS inside, and was something I craved because this goodness washed over me every single time I sat down to create. These amazing feelings are what I hope ALL my students can experience, and they're WHY I spend SO much time coming up with cheatsheets and shortcuts and break things down step by step for my online art classes - because I want my students to get to their happy place TOO, and to get there even faster than I did!!  I became a good artist by default. Because ALL the chasing of those good "happy place feelings" lead to practice, and all of that practice lead to really great results. Why does that matter? Because I grew up believing people who made art were BORN with talent. I didn't even entertain the thought that I could make art because I didn't think I was born with that talent. Yet here I am, a successful working artist impacting students who are now making masterpieces of their own. So how does that happen?! This is my philosophy on what happened... if I CAN LEARN to be a good artist... so can anyone!!! SO CAN YOU!!!!!  After you watch today's video, make sure you sign up to join one or both of the art challenges I'm running next week. They start on MONDAY!!! ✅ SIGN UP for my MIXED MEDIA CHALLENGE ✅ SIGN UP for my DRAWING CHALLENGE Now press play already for today's video so I can show you how YOU can become an awesome artist too ;) I can't wait to show you!!!!
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I think we all know how much art can help us to heal. It busy's our hands, quiets our minds, and soothes our hearts. This Coronavirus has the world turned topsy-turvy and now that we are home bound, it is just too easy to feel the stress of the situation. One thing that has helped me tremendously has been to do what my students do. Turn on my laptop, pull up an online art lesson, and start painting. My good good friend Lucy Brydon released this free lesson last week and following her soothing Scottish accent and her meditative, peaceful watercolor techniques was just the eliquor my soul was searching for. Here's a peek into her lesson and into my world. Each Friday I publish a free video on YouTube related to drawing, mixed media or art journaling. Well in today's video I am going the extra mile and bringing you a full blown, 1 hour, real time lesson on how to paint this ridiculously absurd trio of....EMU's!!!  I'm so proud to say that the page was painted with paints from my Signature Collection over at Jerry's Artarama. Even though I have 2 kits (one for Fairy Faces and one for Whimsical Animals), these Silly Emus were painted with paints from the Fairy Faces collection, lol!! That's the beauty of art I guess, at the end of the day, can you REALLY put paints into a single category?!  But back to the "emus"...I know what you're thinking..."What in the WHAT?!" In addition to laughing my head off while painting this (for obvious reasons, I mean, look at the guys little face!!!), I ALSO ALMOST did not pull this off!! I really didn't!! Do you know how much pressure there is to teach online? Knowing that thousands of people may be laughing hysterically and NOT with you? But AT YOU? I know we ALL struggle with feelings of not being good enough or talented or creative enough to finish our art pieces from time to time.  Today you can see me struggle as well. I hope by watching you'll know that you're not alone!!! I don't want to spoil too much of the ending but suffice it to say I do get some help... Thanks to the 5 page sheet of Bob Ross encouraging words, and my own Kick-in-the-Pants suggestions (and if you're lost, it'll make sense when you watch the video), I was able to - mid way through (minute 41 to be exact!) - get back on track and keep going until this ridiculously fun art journal page was created!! PHEW!! THANK GOD! lol! Don't believe that I almost can't finish this?? And that I'm totally mortified? I kept all of that on the video so you can see THAT I STRUGGLE TOO!!! And oh man, did I struggle. And laugh!!! But yeah, struggled.  Hope you get lots and lots of great takeaways from today's lesson, but mostly I hope you take away that we are all students, it's okay to laugh at your own struggles and that it's important to give yourself permission to mess up and HAVE FUN! Like I did!! Press Play below to get your weekly dose of inspiration and FUN!!! Earlier this week, I polled my Facebook group to get some perspective on everyone's feelings about art journaling. Just as I suspected, there are many feeling SCARED because they have no idea how to start an art journal, they're intimidated by the talents of others and think they won't measure up, they're afraid of the blank page, and of wasting a beautiful new journal and/or art supplies! What???!!! First of all, you are NOT alone, but... it's time for a kick in the pants... Art is supposed to be FUN you guys!!!! Art journaling is like the DEFINITION OF FUN because there are absolutely NO rules. Better yet- it's private. Really! Think about it- it's a book with a cover. The word "journal" basically means diary. So that means an art journal is YOUR PRIVATE SPACE to experiment and play creatively however you want to. You don't have to show a soul. Isn't that freeing??? Lots of people choose to do art journaling for mental health or stress relief. It's also a great release if you need to distract yourself while healing physically. In today's video I'll share 4 ideas on kinds of journals you might like to try- ranging from my current fave (a strathmore 11"x 14" watercolor journal), to how to art journal from an old book, and how to make an art journal from scratch. We'll also go over art supplies for beginners (all you REALLY need is a pencil!). Then I'll teach you 5 quick and easy ways to start an art journal page with various techniques to create interesting art journal backgrounds. I often use duct tape or masking tape to add texture. I also love collage and will share a fun acrylic painting idea for all the perfectionists out there!  Definitely, by far though, is spray painting through stencils...say wha??? You heard me! And in today's video you can watch me too!  I've got not one, but THREE special guests today who are waiting for you, so go ahead and CLICK HERE to start the video because we have A LOT to cover as we start our Art Journal Challenge together!
This week I also have a FREE 4-page guide full of art journal ideas, inspiration & encouragement to help you BREAK THAT BLANK PAGE & start having fun, fast!! 👇 Scroll to the bottom and tell me in the comments if you want a copy so I can send ya the link!! Come art journal with me! Drawing a realistic braid isn't nearly as hard as you might think. It just so happens I recorded the whole process to share with you!!  I know drawing hairstyles intimidates so many people, so I've taken it upon myself to break it down for you, step by step! Now before we get to drawing hair, we need to get this face drawn properly. See how her head is turned in a profile, but not ALL the way? We can still see her right eye a little bit in this pose. It's called a three quarter view portrait, and is actually one of the hardest facial positions to draw. If you've never drawn this view before, or struggle with 3/4 portraits, simply click the button below and I'll send my 3/4 Portrait Face Drawing Guidlines straight to your inbox.  Once you've got your three quarter profile face drawing guidelines printed out, click over to watch this video and see how I put everything into practice, and add on this gorgeous braid. 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 it as a full length lesson in one of the advanced classrooms of The Fun Fab Drawing Club over at Awesome Art School. Feel like the braid drawing lesson is a little tough, and you'd like to practice drawing a 3/4 face with your new cheatsheet? Check this playlist out on my YouTube Drawing channel. It's just for beginners! Thanks for hanging out with me today. ❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON ❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON ❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP ❤️ FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM 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. |
Karen CampbellFounder of Awesome Art School. Mixed Media Artist. Author of 15 Instructional Art Books!    
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"Karen is flipping hilarious and she's very real...I like the way she teaches in a way that really gives you confidence, whether you're a beginner or advanced there's always something new to learn!"
- Elizabeth W. |
What Fans Are SayingKaren, you are absolutely fabulous! You make me feel like I can draw anything. I have recently retired and finally have the time to do some of the art that I have loved since I was in school. I am really at the beginning of my art journey and I hope to learn as much as I can. Thank you for all you do. |
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