ARTIST HUB SPECIAL GUEST CLAUDINE HELLMUTH

Its very exciting because today we kick off our first Artist Hub Exposé for 2014 with the ever so amazing and extremely talented Claudine Hellmuth!
Many of you would be familiar with Claudine's fabulous Studio product line with Ranger and  of course her fantastic workshops are a must do. Claudine is some what of a celebrity in the crafting world and widely well regarded as a collage artist, author and illustrator!
Claudine lives in washington DC with her husband Paul and their very spoiled pets. She is a prolific artist with a whimsical and vintage edge to her illustrations. So lets learn more about this fabulous lady.
Introducing the amazing.... CLAUDINE HELLMUTH

Here is her story...
Tell us a little bit about you. Hello! I'm Claudine Hellmuth! I'm a full-time illustrator who loves to create whimsical favor boxes, invites and party kits for you to download, print and make!

My work has been featured in the New York Times, on The Martha Stewart Show, HGTV, HSN and The DIY Network. My books and gift products designs have been sold in retail stores such as Michael's, Target and TJ Maxx. I've been thrilled to illustrate for companies like Smart Car, Capitol Records and publications such as The Saturday Evening Post.

Claudines latest book 'The Scrapbookers Creativity Kit' can be found here.

When I am not covered in paper, glue and tape, I'm walking our dog Maggie, reading a book or enjoying an afternoon nap with our very fat cat, Mabel!

What do you love about your creative process?

The part I love most about my printable kits is figuring out how to make my vision work on flat paper. It can be quite a puzzle to make some of the more complex shapes, (especially the round ones like the cupcakes) to work. From scratch the design process can take anywhere up to 2-3 weeks to complete.

Each design begins with sketches and line drawings; next I play with color and pattern (more polka dots please!) add in a lot of paper folding, a little experimentation and finally a few late nights for good measure!

You can read more about Claudine's process over at her blog HERE. 
Below is a video on how to make Claudine's incredibly clever and cute cupcakes!

What is your greatest influence and where do you find inspiration?

I have worked with paper for as long as I can remember and I've always loved creating thing. When I was a little girl I had a Barbie Dream House and I made almost all the furniture to go inside it. I even created a little stone fireplace using a jello box that I had covered in small pebbles and gave it a mantle!

In 2012-2013, I had a paper crafting product line in the Home Shopping Network here in the USA and my favourite part about designing the products was creating teh packaging. I love cute packing! Sometimes I buy something just because of teh packaging. I created packaging boxes in the shapes of houses and cute little trucks.

Eventually this gave me the idea to play around with creating the designs as printable kits and selling them on Etsy to see if people liked them. ANd much to my surprise they did! Teher is something magical to me to see that I can design something here in my little aprtment and someone can print it out and assemble across the globe from me!

What is your favourite piece of artwork you have created and why?

My favourite kit that I have created is the Retro Oven Cupcake box printable. This one is also my best seller! It's a little retro style oven and a cupcake fits inside!

{Click Image Above to go to Claudine's Etsy Store}

Lastly can you share some of your favourite things at the moment?

Desire Map Book by Danielle Laporte
My Birchbox Subscription
BlogcastFM podcast
Gratitude App by HappyTapper
'Baked Apples' 
(RECIPE HERE)

To connect with Claudine follow these links:
Website: Claudine Hellmuth: Retro Whimsical Art and Illustration
Shop: Whimsical Printable Party
Blog: Claudine Hellmuth Blog

Thank you so much Claudine, it was an absolute pleasure learning more about you and your process. Your printables are a tonne of fun so am thinking it is time for a spot of retail therapy followed by a cupcake or two! 

ARTIST HUB SPECIAL GUEST TERESA McFAYDEN

This months Artist Hub Exposé is a quick look into the life of Teresa McFayden.  Teresa is an artist with quite a few creative years clocked under her belt making and exploring mixed media. Teresa describes her art as being a mix of modern whimsy melded in with an abstract construct. Her style is fluid, fun and yet still quite considered with a softness that draws you into her landscapes and characters.
Teresa is a very prolific E-Workshop teacher sharing in her creative process and revealing some of her techniques and tips, so check out what is available now there is bound to be something that appeals.
So lets now explore Teresa's creative world some more.
Introducing the amazing.... TERESA McFAYDEN

Here is her story...
Tell us a little bit about you. I believe in the limitless opportunity we all have to positively affect one another’s lives. My favorite moments are the small ones; the right song playing on the radio, creating the perfect shade of blue, a rich warm latte, long walks which are necessary for inspiration, small kindnesses from strangers, and slow Sunday mornings.

Painting is my first love, but I studied education at The University of Nebraska Omaha, and enjoy teaching others to find and use their creative spirit. It is a privilege to mix art, creativity and teaching. I teach painting locally and nationally and have taught numerous online e-workshops over the years.

I live in Omaha, Nebraska with my family (who I am often inspired by). My days are filled with a menagerie of creative pursuits which taken together carve out a happy living - for that I am especially grateful.

  

I have a studio in our home. It started as an extra bedroom...then moved to our basement. I miss the natural light but I love the big space! I love that it is quiet down in my studio, but I'm always close to the family. Great for a multitasker like me.

I love art journaling! I write in one every morning and have about 20 art journals...they are my keep me sane!

How would you describe your art to people who have not seen it before?
Mixed media painting is my chosen method of play and discovery. I use acrylics, graphite and watercolor to create stories, attitudes and whimsical characters on canvas or paper. My paintings, in their shallow spaces, are often childlike renderings of animals, flowers, and rough-edged splotches of color evoking early 19th century primitive art. Yet, there is symbolic allusiveness, color tension, playfulness of spirit, and poise that make my pieces contemporary. 

What is your greatest influence and where do you find inspiration?
As far as anyone inspiring or significant to my development as an artist...well there have been several. One of the first was my Grandmother. She was a magnificent artist who shared her talents me when I was young. She painted and enjoyed pottery. She was a very shy person, but she had big dreams inside and they took her art in many wonderful directions. I admire that so much.

Inspiration is for amateurs. I wouldn't say there is anything in particular that inspires me anymore than the next person. Producing good work is only done by committing yourself to the work. Inspiration might get you started toward working on something, but it's persistence and commitment that make a person grow in any field...art or otherwise. I would say that many of my best ideas come to me while taking long walks when I can think clearly. 

Currently exhibiting at:

I am so delighted to have my mixed media paintings featured at my favorite local art gallery, Dundee Gallery in Omaha, Ne. I just started putting my work there this Summer. It's going really well and it warms my heart to know that my work is selling so well locally. I used to have a market on the west and east coast...not in the midwest. So I'm really glad to be changing that. I've worked hard to do that. I started selling at art fairs in my hometown, and featuring my work in a few galleries. I think I have found a good home for my work now. 

What is your favourite piece of artwork you have created and why?

This is always changing of course!  I may have a favorite and then in a month or so I have a new favorite! :)

To see more of Teresa's beautiful artworks check out her portfolio here.

And lastly here is a quote that has resonated with her for a couple of years and is a great reminder for all of us!

Isn't she amazing! If you are wanting a little piece of Teresa's art in your own home pop over to her Etsy store and grab yourself some specatcular artwork to cherish forever.

Thank you so much Teresa for sharing an insight into the way you work, create and inspire!

Video | Julia Pott

We have been long time fans of Julia Pott...enjoy this cool animation.

Director: Julia Pott
Animation Assistance: Robin Bushell, Daniel Chester
Production: Saatchi and Saatchi LA

Love everything about this.. the illustrations, the story, the typography...what's not to like about it.

Neato!!

Donna

Sketchbook Dump | My notebook cover

Chalkboard Animation

Wanted to share some really great chalkboard animations that I found on YouTube this week. Enjoy!

A playful weekend...

We've had a wonderful weekend so far...a bbq at Jules (still dreaming of that potato salad), a family bike ride, bomb dives in the pool and to top it off a trip to the local ice cream shop late today!  And I even got to have a sneaky bit of art time!  So I am feeling a little recharged and amped for the week ahead.

Here are some of my latest paintings that are going to be mounted and framed...I LOVE them so much, I can't wait to hang them.  Am yet to name them all but I certainly have a few ideas.   Hope you like them.

They started out as journal pages that turned into paintings.  Love to hear what you guys think of my new girls.  Donna.