Donna Downey Workshop at 'The Nest'

Spent the previous weekend at 'The Nest' attending Donna Downey's 'Metamorphosis' workshop in Byron Bay, Australia. It was a brilliant weekend jam packed with creativity, fun and frivolity, with some lovely like-minded creative souls.

Photo courtesy of Donna Downey

The before and after pics of one of the projects that we completed during the workshop.

Hope you are having a wonderful, creative week. Hugs, Kyles xo

Soul Food Giveaway Winner

Thank you to all the 'Soul Food' entrants, but there can only be one winner. The winner is .............

HELEN GROSSMAN

Congratulations Helen. Heather Santos will be in touch with you shortly. I look forward to seeing you in the course.

For more information on this upcoming course, click the image above or here.

Announcing Soul Food 2015

I have some exciting news to tell you. I will be teaching in another collaborative course next year, with some more great artists. Man am I blessed?

The Details:

Soul Food will run at Community Thrive, from Feb1 - April 30 2015

What you can expect: 

• 3 Head Chefs: Mystele Kirkeeng, Heather Santos and Jeanette House

• 17 Sous-Chefs

• 2 video instruction mixed media lessons per week for 3 months

• Each artist’s favourite comfort food cooking recipe

• All downloadable videos

• Classroom access through Dec 31, 2015

• Access to a private Soul Food community group on Facebook

• 10% discount available to our SF 2014 alumni

• 10% discount on Slimline SF 2014 [featuring the head Chefs’ 17 lessons]

• 10% discount on a new class that we’ll be announcing on April 1, 2015!

Registration will open on January 1, 2015, and you will need to be a member at Community Thrive in order to purchase and participate in Soul Food. 

The community is free to join and you can register here. When your registration is approved, you’ll find the Soul Food purchase link here [from January 1, 2015].

Follow this link to meet the Soul Food class of 2015 Faculty!

To celebrate I'm offering 1 FREE place on this 3 month mixed media online course.  All you need to do is leave a comment below.  Entries drawn on Dec 3, my 40th birthday.

Good luck. 

Kyles =D

RADIANT - An upcoming collaberation

I am so excited to let you in on a little secret. I have a wonderful opportunity to work with 8 talented mixed media instructors in an upcoming 9 week online class,
RADIANT
The brains behind this fabulous course is none other than the talented Effy Wild, popular for her online art journaling class, 'Book of Days'.

9 Teachers, 9 styles, 9 faces, 18 lessons - starting October 1 2014.

Come join me on this creative adventure.
I look forward to creating with you.

Hugs,
Kylie =D

My Artful Journey Retreat

I am now back from an adventure of a lifetime. At the end of February I and fellow companion Jenni D'Amato traveled across the seas to the Santa Cruz mountains of Northern California, for a 4-day art retreat, An Artful Journey, organised by the wonderful Cindy Woods.

Our amazing instructors, Danielle Daniels and Mindy Lacefield kept us entranced throughout their joint workshop, and inspired us to work to the wee hours of the morning if we so chose. As well as Danielle and Mindy's class there were other workshops running simultaneously, including classes instructed by Stephanie Lee, Albie Smith, Katie Kendrick and DJ Pettit.

I was not expecting the smiles, laughter and companionship of like minded souls that filled the rooms, the buildings and corridors of this wonderfully stunning retreat. I am extremely grateful for everyone that shared a piece of themselves with Jenni and I and it was with a very heavy heart that we waited in the empty dinning hall for our ride to the San Jose Airport, to start our long trip back home to Australia. The dining hall, which once was filled with the chit chat and laughter of beautiful creative women during meal times was now filled with the eerie sound of silence and the happy memories of the previous few days. Congratulations Cindy on a success event.

Thank you so very much Danielle, Mindy, Jennifer, Courtney, Sylvan, Jackie, Jenni, Char, Catherine, Karen, Annie, Bev, Lisa, Crystal, JenEve, Stephanie, Heather, Tracy and Nelli. You ladies rock!

 Hugs,

Kyles xo

My journey with intuative painter Flora Bowley

Two years ago I enrolled in Flora Bowley's online class, Bloom True. I was eager to learn something new, but also wanted to try something different than my normal style/s of artwork.

What I discovered was a whole new approach to painting. I've always enjoyed painting, but drawing has always been my first love, however since experiencing Flora's intuitive approach to painting, as well as her Brave and inspiring approach to life, I can honestly say I am a much more enriched and soulful artist and have a new found love of painting.

Amidst my artwork that you may be more familiar with, my bright and cheerful Flora inspired artworks have been surrounding me in my studio of late. I've been trying to hone my intuitive painting skills, while finding my own style, before fully sharing my bold and bright new works with the big wide web. Over the last few years I have seen so many works of art that have been inspired by Flora, but have not been completely the artist's style, rather an interweaving of the artist and Flora's style. So I've been dabbling in the background, trying to find my own style of intuitive, free flowing and happy abstract art.

I still continue with my style/s that you would be most familiar with but thought I'd finally show you this other string to my bow.

Before I share with you my new artworks, some which are finished and some that are still works in progress, I thought what better to do than introduce you to the course that has changed my art journey forever.

Bloom True - the E-course - Begins Feb 10

 Flora’s generous and soulful style of teaching has inspired thousands of people to step boldly into a world where art is born with spontaneity and joy.  Now the chance to bloom true is available to you wherever you are in the world through this five week online painting adventure!

New course begins Feb 10th 2014.

Click HERE for more information. 

If you've taken part in one of Flora's class, whether online or in person I'd love to hear your experience? 

Hugs,

 

Introducing Guest Artist Carla Sonheim

I wanted to introduce you to Carla Sonheim, an illustrator and online art instructor known for using innovative exercises and techniques to help students of all levels embrace a more playful approach to creating art. She is the author of "Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun" and "The Art of Silliness: A Creativity Book for Everyone."

For the last three years her focus has been on creating engaging online art classes, where she teaches and also presents well-known guest artists. She made this Paper Doll tutorial in anticipation of her next online class, "2014: Year of the Fairy Tale," which begins January 20, 2014. You can find our more about Carla and her art and classes here:

Carla's Blog: http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/

More Tutorials: http://www.carlasonheim.com/tutorials/

Info for "Year of the Fairy Tale" Online Class: http://www.carlasonheim.com/2014-the-year-of-the-fairy-tale/


Link to Carla's Other Online Classes: http://www.carlasonheim.com/store/

Here is a quick and fun way to make original paper dolls... a perfect thing to do with your kids or to nurture the kid inside you... because we're never too old to play with paper dolls! Have fun!

Carla Sonheim

P.S. This tutorial was made in anticipation of my next online art class, Year of the Fairy Tale.


 Supplies Needed

- a small watercolor set

- #12 round paintbrush (or similar)

- 8"x10" sheet of 140# hot press watercolor paper (or similar)

- a regular pencil

- an eraser (I like kneaded rubber erasers)

- scissors

STEP BY STEP

1. Gather your supplies.

 

 2. Lightly sketch in an outline of your doll. Keep your hand loose, and try not to worry about exact proportions (sometimes the most charming characters emerge when we let go of perfection!).

3. Using lots of water, mix up a color to use as the skin tones. Paint face, arms and feet. When face has had a chance to dry, get some red pigment on your brush and "dot" it into the watercolor quickly. The color should begin to spread out a bit for some nice rosy cheeks.

4. Let dry completely.

5. Paint in some hair; let dry completely.

6. Cut out your paper doll, and...

7. Play!

____________
© 2013 Carla Sonheim (www.carlasonheim.com)

Carla Bio:

Carla Sonheim is a painter, illustrator, and online art instructor known for using innovative techniques to help students of all levels embrace a playful approach to creating art. She is also the author of the “Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun.” Carla’s paintings have been showcased in many galleries nationwide, as well as private and corporate collections. For the last three years her focus has been on creating engaging online art classes, where she teaches and also presents well-known guest artists.

More Free Tutorials: http://www.carlasonheim.com/tutorials/

Next Online Art Class: 2014: Year of the Fairy Tale

Link to Carla's Online Classes: http://www.carlasonheim.com/store/

 

Mixed Media Artwork of late & a LifeBook lesson.

Hello there. Yes I know I should be posting more often. I have good intentions but things always seem to come up. The last few weeks have seen illness fill our home, including a few nights overnight stay in hospital with my youngest. I'm happy to report that everyone is now well and life is back to normal. Hallelujah!

Here a some of my completed mixed media artworks of late. You may have seen them already on facebook, as I find it much easier to post on facebook than creating a blog post, however I plan to post more regularly here. My blog also needs a serious makeover so hopefully I'll get it done over the next month or so. Fingers crossed.

'Tulip Appreciation'

'Cafe Express'

'Life is Perrrrfect'

'Sunset Gal'

'She wished she could Fly'

'Alice & Friends'

'Sail Away'

The top three are still available here. The last artwork was created in a lesson by Tamara Laporte's Lifebook 2013 Course. You can still join in here. All lessons are downloadable so you can catch up at your own convenience. I highly recommend it.

Lifebook Begins

Just a quick reminder that LifeBook begins 1st Jan. 

Over 1200 students have enrolled thus far. So if you would like 12 months of mixed media art classes, learning from 16 different instructors, including the amazing Tamara Laporte, then sign up now. Each week (yes all 52 weeks) you will be offered something new. It's brilliant. I was one of the instructors for 2012's LifeBook course and I can honestly say that this course is certainly the best value for money I have come across. Although I am not one of the instructors for 2013, I have enrolled as a student. I hope to see you there. 

For more information click on the image above.

May 2013 see all your dreams come true.

Hugs, Kyles =D

Lifebook 2013 - You Can Sign Up Now.

Wow! It's that time of year again. 

Registration for the amazing Lifebook 2013 is now open. 

If you took part in Lifebook 2012 then you already know what value for money this fabulous year-long course is. How can over 1200 students be wrong? That's right. Over 1200 students joined in this year.

Next year there are 21 teachers joining the amazing and talented Tamara Laporte in another year-long creative adventure.  

The list of teachers is astounding and impressive I must say. 

I wont be one of the teachers this year, however I will be enrolling as I know from first hand experience, both as a teacher and a student of Lifebook 2012, that Lifebook 2013 is too good to miss out on. Where else can you learn from so many talented teachers, for a whole year, for such an amazing price?

The line up of teachers include Tamara Laporte (of course) as well as two returning teachers in Effy Wild and Jane Davenport, 
as well as 

Melody Ross, Dion Dior, Mindy Lacefield, Jane Davies, Danita, Christy Tomlinson,  
Erin Faith Allen, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Lauren Nash,  Shiloh Sophia McCloud,  
Aimee Myers Dolich, Monica Zuniga, Mitsi B, Dina Wakely, Joann Loftus,  
Jeanette Maisy House, Dawn DeVries Sokol, Kelly Hoernig and Rachelle Panagarry.

WOW!! If that list doesn't get you excited nothing will.

To sign up or find out more about this AMAZING CREATIVE EXPERIENCE, 
begining Jan 1st 2013,
 click HERE 

A Giveaway of sorts

Sheri Ponzi, the brains behind 'Angels in my Studio' is having a party to celebrate her birthday. To help her celebrate I am having a giveaway of sorts....well almost.

From now until August 5th you can sign up for Angels In My Studio and name your own price! 

The course regularly sells for $111, but until August 5th you can join us at whatever price you can afford. 

Find out more about Angels in my Studio by clicking here.

Just click the button below to register for Angels In My Studio and name your own price!!

***Sale has now ended.***

Once you complete your transaction, YOU WILL NEED TO EMAIL KYLIE at kyliepepyatfowler@gmail.com in order to get access to the course. Access will be arranged within 24 hours.

If you wanted to be an Angel you could share this post wherever appropriate. Thanks so much.

Hugs, Kyles xo

Missing in Action - AIMS Giveaway results.

Yes I have been missing in action. My husband, children and I have been camping for the past 6 or so weeks. I thought I'd better post the results of my latest giveaway. I wont be posting regularly until we return home in approximately 4 weeks. My apologies for those blogs that I regularly visit. The winners of a free placein 'Angels in my Studio', the upcoming course I will be teaching at are: Cynthia Hanna from Creative ARTitudes and Natasha May from Natasha May Artworld I will forward your details on to Sheri, the course organizer. Not sure how this post is going to look as I'm posting for the first time from my iPad. Also having trouble adding a picture. Oh well. Hugs, Kyles :D P.S if you haven't enrolled in LifeBook then you are certainly missing out. The work the students are producing is amazing. All videos and pdf's are downloadable so you can view them in your own time. I will post some work I have completed from the other teachers classes when I return home.

Angels in my Studio Registration open and a Giveaway.

Registration is now open for the upcoming 5 month online course 'Angels in my Studio'. 

Come join me and 10 other instructors, including Michael Golzmane from Angel Activations, our 'Angel Guy'.

Students in this course will see their connection to the angelic realm blossom and spill over beautifully into their artwork. 

Each attunement from Michael Golzmane will bring you into deeper connection with your personal angels and guides as well as more universal angels that serve us all. 

I will be teaching a mixed media class using a variety of art supplies, including watercolour paper and fabric to create a beautiful angel inspired art piece.
To find out more please click here.

To celebrate this grand event, I am giving away a free place to one lucky person. 

How to enter:

*Leave a comment letting me know why you would like to win a free place in this course.

*Follow me on my new Linky Follower, at the top right hand side of my blog. 

(Word is that Google Friend Connect is on borrowed time and will be deleted soon, so Linky Follower will replace it here on my blog. )

Good luck. =D

Giveaway Winner & Angels in my Studio

This is the new online course I'll be contributing to. More details to come. =D

Giveaway Results

 

Thank you all so very much for entering my 100th post giveaway. I appreciate all of your comments and entries.

Drum roll please.............................................

And the winner is:

Diana Caho from B4UStamp Studio

Congratulations Diana. You have won a 5"x7" art print created from my original mixed media artwork 'Believe in Dreams'. I will be contacting you shortly.

Thanks again for all your entries. Keep an eye out as I have another giveaway in the pipeline.

Smiles,

Kyles =D

100th post Giveaway

In honor of my 100th post and as well as to celebrate my Life Book classes going online this week I thought I would have a giveaway.

Instead of 1 class this month I put together 3. So students are already getting more than they signed up for. How cool is that? The feedback from my Life Book classes have been overwhelmingly positive, so a big THANK YOU to all of you lovely students.

The giveaway:

1x matted print ready to be popped into a 5x7" frame. As well as the inclusion of secret goodies.

'Believe in Dreams'

To enter:

Simply become a follower and leave a comment letting me know you did. That's it. How easy is that? 

Additional entries:

Please comment separately for each additional entry, to make it easy for me.

'Subscribe' by email (enter your email in the box to the right of this post)

'Like' my Facebook page,

'Follow' me on Twitter.

Share this post for 2 additional entries. (please let me know where and provide the link) 

Original art works will be put into my store very soon as promised.  Just running a little behind schedule due to Life Book preparations and preparations for another up and coming course I've been asked to teach on, Angels in my Studio. So look out for that. I'll give you more information soon.

Hugs, Kyles =D

Life Book is underway. WooHoo!

Happy New Year to you all. I know it's a little late.

Just popping in to let you know that the Mixed Media Life Book course has just started. It's never too late to jump in and get started. The first class, by the wonderful and talented Tamara Laporte (aka Willowing) is up and running and is as brilliant as I expected. My class starts on 30th January.

 If you're thinking about treating yourself to a year of fun, friendship and creativity, then Life Book is for you. Click on the image above for more details. I do hope to see you here.

My upcoming post will include my last two finished portraits of 2011 and some new mixed media pieces I've been working on.

I'm also planning a giveaway for my 100th post (2 posts away), so stay tuned.

Until then,

Hugs, Kyles xo

Life Book... Under 2 weeks until classes begin.

Just a reminder that there is less than 2 weeks (yes that's right, 2 weeks left until the amazing LIFEBOOK begins. 

Would you love a whole year of Creative Bliss, with like-minded people?

Would love to learn from AMAZING teachers, 

like Tamara Laporte (AKA: Willowing), and many, many others?

Then this is the course for you. 

To find out more click on the image below. 

I do hope to see you there.

Big Smiles,

Kyles =D

New artworks, Life Book and more.......

I've got a few things on the go at the moment and thought I'd show you snippets of a few. Below is another box I am making. This one is going to be a Christmas present for my girlfriend's daughter.

I have been seriously thinking of putting some original artworks up for sale in my Etsy store. At the moment I have a few original ATCs for sale, but the rest are art prints. I'd love to hear what you think.

Here is a sneak peak at some small whimsical works that I'm working on , possibly to put in my store.

 I am also in the middle of 2 portrait commissions, but I can't show you much, as they are for gifts and I would hate to spoil the surprise (even if the chances of the recipient seeing this post is very minimal). Here is a peek:

I am also busy working on my Life Book classes. That's right 'classes'.  The first of my classes is January 30th 2012. I have seen the itinerary and their is something available every week. Yes you heard that correctly, every week. If you haven't enrolled yet, you still have time. 

Classes start January 1st 2012. I hope to see you there.

Kyles =D

ATCs and my Life Book Box

Here is a sneak peak at a few ATCs I've been working on.

Here are the ATCs I made for last months swap over at Willowing.ning.com.

Here is the two I received today from Gretchen Schroeder. They are so cute.

And here is a sneak peak at my Life Book box that I'm creating, to store the artwork in that I create over the course.

Best Wishes,

Kyles =D

And the winner of my Life Book Giveaway is.............

Thank you all very much for entering my Life Book Giveaway.

In total I received 58 entrants into this Awesome Giveaway.

I went through each and every comment to see which bloggers needed to have duplicate entries, due to promoting elsewhere. I had 2 entrants who emailed me to enter and another 2 who commented on my Facebook page, letting me know they promoted on facebook.

Here is a recap of the prize on offer:

A place in the year long mixed media course, Life Book. 

You will receive a whole year of amazing artistic growth, art creating, personal development, joy, fun, laughter, friendship, art community, painting, painting, painting, mixed media, gluing, collaging, cutting, sticking things on, drawing, having crazy awesome fun!

And by the end of it, you'll have a beautifully bound journal (or Life Book) with gorgeous art that will have captured your special journey in 2012!

With the help of my trusty assistant (my son James).

 Drum roll please........................No. 29. ***looking over my list****

And the Winner is: Kate. 
Why not go over to Kate's blog to congratulate her.

Congratulations Kate. You are going to loooove this course.

Thank you to everyone who participate in my giveaway, particularly those of you who promoted it.

For those of you who missed out, but would love to enrol:  
Click here to view more details

Best wishes,

Kyles =D