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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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You made it to the Hamburger Series Finale! I’m assuming you know what that means by now 😂 😂 😂 I know, it MAY have felt like we were done last week. We already sealed the beautifully detailed pitt pen doodling layer with mod podge. That should be it right? Not quite… You know I’m a HUGE mod podge fan, but as the final layer in mixed media painting on paper, canvas, or wood… this isn’t gonna seal the deal.  In today’s video, I’ll demo not one, but NINE artist vs. craft grade varnishes to show you which ones will do the trick, and which ones will last a lifetime when you are ready to protect all the layers of your mixed media your finished masterpieces. One amazing product will EVEN make your artwork look more vibrant than it already does (I know - I didn’t think that was possible either!). This same product (hint: by Liquitex), EVEN got me to fall in love with a gloss finish, when I’m typically a matte girl. Just check out this project, soooooooo smooth and shiny with it's final coat on!  In today's video we will try out 5 products you can pour and brush on, and 4 that come as spray varnish. I’ll teach you how to apply varnish to protect your art journal pages to keep them from sticking together, and how to varnish a painting, when it's done. Which varnishes are stinky? Which one takes forever to dry? Which one is JUST right? Watch the video and find out! 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!!!
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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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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