Anahata Katkin

Words or no words? I'm stumped.

 Still Pluggin away over here on some new Birthday designs.  They will eventually become non-birthday goodies too.  But we always start with cards.   This above version has no extra words.  But here's my thinking originally.  My humor's a little left field so let me know what you'd prefer!  
 
 

Don't forget your mums...

(Me & Mom far left- circa 1979)  We all have such different stories and upbringings.  But regardless of how or where you where raised no doubt your mom was a champion.  And if you have children you know better than anyone what a job it is. 
  I feel like my mom and I have been through so many different versions of our relationship already in life and there's so much more left to enjoy and to become.  We've come a long way from these cabin days you see above.  But too cute right? 

 If you don't know already my mom and I started PAPAYA together.  It was built by our comitment to each other and faith in the future.  So from my mom and I we have lots of goodies for this Mother's day.  (Unfortunately I can't give any to her.  Darn it.)  But if you are interested ordering something for your mother from our website, Mother's Day is coming faster than you think on May 10th.   Just a heads up reminder... We wrap all our online orders beautifully before shipping too.  cool!  

If you want to send your mom a beautifully wrapped box of goodness, take 15% off of your order (over $25) until Sunday, April 25 with code MOMSDAY10.

Tough Guy Birthday:

You know you're over the birthday song!  We need some new anthems.  Finally a card for dudes too! 

Playing w/ the Scanner

I know there are tons of you out there like me who have buckets and buckets of scraps you've collected over the years. Fabrics, magazines, photo's.  I've been inspired by little flowers on our springy walks this week and did a little digging through my treasured junk bins to see what I could pair with my wilted friends.  
 There's so much more than I will ever use in my "collection" so it's only just occurred to me after all these years to tart scanning my beloved bits.  
At first I thought I would make little montages out of them but decided I didn't need to sully their goodness.  
These kinds of morsels will be great to have on hand for design time and to chuck into my journals when I need to.  I know must of us have scanners these days.  So if you don't like waiting for pressed flowers like me this is a nice way to enjoy some blooms without the press factor.  I intend to do some sketching over some of these backgrounds or simply layer them into illustrations.  

Corid

Ooohhh!  Check this one out.  I stumbled upon Corid's beautiful etsy shop this evening.  So lovely.  Her pieces look like they are made over old ledger pages, note cards etc.  
What I am really in love with is the beautiful line work in each of her thoughtful illustrations. I have been more and more obsessed with handmade lines lately and Corid's look carefree and fun.  Each piece looks like it came out so naturally.   Corid's Etsy shop has tons of prints for only $20.00 and she has a lovely blog as well! Go and visit...   

Happy "Birf-day"!!

 Just like Christmas and Valentines Day I always feel corny when dealing with occasions.  But it's such a necessary service in my business of providing card designs.  It's always nice when I feel like the occasion and the inspiration align.  Then I don't feel like I belong cramed on the end of a card stick that's jumping out of a yellow mug-o-flowers, yelling "happy Biiiiirffffday!!!"   I consider this to be just the right amount of corny.  

Great Design Lecture: Scott Hansen (iso50)

I really enjoyed clips from this lecture by Scott Hansen.  He shares tips and suggestions for designers and a bit of his journey.  A wonderful treat from the new, retro design master.
 

Journalfest: Registration Open

 Just a reminder that the second annual Journalfest registration is now open.  A wonderful four day event by Teesha & Tracy Moore.  If you don't know already
 there retreats fill up fast and this is a great event.  I won't be teaching there this year but maybe i'll see you there!  It looks like a fantastic line up as always and they have lots of supportive events to spur you on!  
 

Adding the people...

I've had this ginormous canvas I painted four years ago, just hanging around.  I haven't quite known what I wanted to do with it so it's just been glaring at me ever since.  I loved the colors and shapes but knew I wanted to add something eventually.
(sorry for the poor photo- my dining room is so dark)  Yesterday I put in the first layers of the woman I'm adding in.  I sketched out a rough shape.  Filled it in with gesso and then used pencil to sketch her in there.  Which thank God worked out.  I could have really struggled.  Faces are hit or miss for me.  You win some you lose some but I knew I didn't want to lean too much on collage here.  Now I can do the fun part.  Which for me is adding to her environment and setting her into the canvas.  Can't find my crayons though.  And this project definitely needs some.  I think I'm going to play with loads of pen on this piece too.  I'll post the progress just for fun.    

Coming Around Again...

I am flipping the dining room into a temp studio and tackling some old canvas tonight.  In between drying layers I finished this piece today. I've cleared my schedule and I am devoting myself to some much needed, creative TLC.  It's been a little rough internally lately on the art front.  For years I have felt immune to the effects of plagiarism in various forms.  I thought people who got upset because of it needed something else to focus on.  But something has happened and it's now gotten under my skin.  And into my heart.   They say it's flattery but now I feel like I'm in a race to outrun my unwanted understudies.  I don't like to get into this level of thinking- and never have around this topic before.  After a month of yucky copyright attorney emails, workshop conflicts and knock off sightings I'm finally ready to face my work again.  For a little while I was feeling so sensitive and hurt regardless of thepotentially good intentions of other artists.
 I have such a strong desire to want to share a creative spirit with the world and now I also have the desire to stand up for myself and my work too.  Which isn't always easy.  I think that especially in a mixed media art community network that sharing is very much a part of the fabric of support and the excitement of a new era.  But I think it's time for those of us who are forging a path for ourselves and others to demonstrate a fair and just moral when it comes to creative license.  Demanding people to be accountable for their own artwork/ offerings and respectful of that of others is not about limiting the art community nor it's future but about a powerful respect that should be it's very foundation.  Just as a music teacher expects you to find your own song- so should we as responsible artists respect our sources and find our own expression as we develop.  Lets all challenge ourselves to be inspired and original in each and every attempt we make to search for authentic expression...Please. xoxoxoox...