Do you want to know a secret? I wrote my last post on authenticity a few weeks ago, and since then I have hesitated on posting it quite a bit! I was even considering deleting it, because it doesn’t really fit this blog’s theme or the feel I want to convey. But as many bloggers will tell you if you have a theme that is consistent (happy creating) you can diverge from that theme every now and then and it won’t matter or alter the whole feel of the blog.
At first I felt that it wasn’t complete until I really was “authentic” and spilled everything about my own life, but as some of you pointed out that is not what it’s about. You can be authentic in what you say without saying everything (note to self!). My own biggest problem with this is that a lot of readers assume things about my life based on the maybe too perky image that this blog presents, and I don’t recognize myself in that. Maybe this comes from non-bloggers mostly. But I also know that this is something that a lot of you struggle with, or at least think about from time to time. So finally I decided to just put it out there, and I know now that it was the right thing to do!
Feeling Bodacious
Bodacious is a combination of the words bold (modig) and audacious (djärv, fräck) and according to wikipedia it means: “Remarkable, courageous, audacious, spirited”. I thought it was a good word for todays post, because to write you have to be brave and to be authentic to yourself you have to be a bit audacious too. And I had to look up the word because it’s the title of Kate Robertson’s (of The Queen of creativity blog) art journaling class Bodacious backrounds, that I am taking right now! Doesn’t that title sound yummy?
Kate is offering this class right now at the price of 50 USD. It started this week and will run for three more weeks, though you will have access to the down-loadable (!) videos and class forum until December 31st. She has given me one spot to give away, and I think it looks like a lot of fun! Just in this the first week she covers a bit about Color Theory and also fun stuff about using gesso as a resist with stamping, with a colour wash of metallic paint + experimenting with black gesso.
Later she will also show you how to Spray Paint Backgrounds, how to use Stencils, masks, ColorWash, Glimmer Mist, Walnut Inks and make painted backgrounds and paper Backgrounds using tissue paper, wallpaper, tyvek etc!
Giveaway time
Well, Kate has a very talkative promo video too that you can check out, and if you feel the need for some inspiration right now please comment below and I will randomly pick a winner for a spot in Kate’s class! I’d love if your comment included a link to either one of your own favorite posts or, if you don’t blog, a favorite post of someone else that you’ve read recently!
Note: I will close the comments on this post when the giveaway is finished and a winner picked.
Sounds like a fun class. I’d love to win it! I do blog, but I don’t have a favorite post of my own so I will share this post –
http://www.soulartstudio.com/wordpress/2011/05/what-it-takes-to-let-yourself-be-seen/
That I read today on another blog and it was an important idea for me.
It’s really hard to choose, so I chose three xD http://www.love-tears.net/craft/?p=722 because I was so excited about geocaching and everything was a dream, telling the story really made me feel amazing! http://www.love-tears.net/craft/?p=757 because I got to open a new shop, it’s not a huge post but it’s like a milestone. http://www.love-tears.net/craft/?p=505 because I love these kind of blogging: listing and justifying :)
Thank you for a chance to win a spot in this class. I have watched the promo video, and am SO intrigued by the techniques she describes. I will include a link to the post I wrote for my birthday, 38 things I have learned in my 38 years. It was a different kind of post than my usual crafty-type, and took awhile to compile all those “deep thoughts”. :-)
http://andria-drawingnear.blogspot.com/2011/04/38-by-38.html
I’d love to share this post by Samantha Kira:;
http://www.journalgirl.com/blog/2011/2/2/a-letter-to-a-darling.html
It really inspired me to just jump right in to art journaling and creating :}
I would love to win this class. I always have trouble with my backgrounds, which is why most of mine are just the paper. I enjoyed this post because I loved the journal and the class that inspired it. http://badhausfrau.blogspot.com/2011/04/scrappy-goodness-up-in-here.html
Hi Hannah!
I looked for the link but can’t find the one I am thinking about! I took a class from alisa burke and I like how she states that in order to do most art all you need is a pencil and paper ( referring to sketching ).
I loved her class! Looking forward to win a spot in this class! Off to go and watch the video!
What a fantastic giveaway! I’d love a chance to win!
One of my favourite posts was part of a series I did on the ABCs of art:
http://bunnysgirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/abcs-of-art-collage.html
I’ve sorely neglected my blog, but I love Cyn’s art, especially her recent piece on compassion:
http://slow-by-choice.blogspot.com/2011/05/god-in-all-things-finished.html
I would love to try out this class and then share everything with the kids I work with who are doing visual journals (as best as I can teach them). Thanks!!
I’m just starting art journaling, but I’ve been a scrapbooker for many years. I’d love to try this class. Here’s a post I wrote for last spring, but it still applies this year.
Spring Cleaning Your Scrapbooking Supplies
http://www.intoscrapbooking.com/blog/529/spring-cleaning-your-scrapbooking-supplies/
I’ve been really into art journaling lately. Once summer hits, I find that I really plug into my creative side and try to listen to what she wants from me. I check out art books when possible. I surf the Net for interesting blogs, websites, or Flickr pages regarding art journals. I would love to a chance to take this course. You can see the result of the last class I took HERE: http://innergraffiti-wendy.blogspot.com/2011/05/she-art.html
I would love to get a chance at the class. Thanks to you both. I’m so new to all this that I don’t have a favorite yet, but I did enjoy this.
http://angeliasartjournals.blogspot.com/2011/05/more-moleskin-fun.html
Hanna, thanks for posting about authenticity. I’ve actually been criticised for sharing too much on my blog – but for me, this is my life, how I live it, and if people choose to read or not read – fine!
Lately my art stuff has had to take a back seat as we recover from the January floods and the forced renovation of our house. I would really use a creative kick in the pants, LOL!
Here’s a post showing some backgrounds that I really like – and that I’d completely forgotten about!
http://caitymakes.com/2010/11/25/some-in-progress-art-journal-pages/
Hi Hannah, Thanks for a chance to win a spot in this class. I decided to point out a post that someone else wrote recently, which is a list of art movies to check out: http://www.marycnasser.com/2/post/2011/05/20-reasons-to-make-popcorn-tonight.html
I had to smile about that part where you said that your blog gives this image of a very perky person. Sometimes I read back my blog and look at the pictures and think “Wow, she has an incredible creative life! I wish I was her.” ;-)
Of course everything in my blog is true and real and I am quite creative, but it doesn’t say anything about all the other parts, like fighting to get up on time in the morning, my love hate relationship with my desk job that takes way too much time, my struggle to keep my house somewhat tidy (I never go further than ‘somewhat’) or just the daily grind that can get people down or all the insecurities that bug any living person.
It’s good to have a place where even you can have a completely positive view of your own creative life. ;-)
As for a link, I do have a blog, but I’m giving you one of Ric? Freeman Zachery’s blog, because this post just spoke to me on so many levels. Ric? is a very outspoken blogger and I don’t always agree with everything she says and thinks, but I love her candour and this post was spot on. http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/creativity-doesnt-have-to-be-pretty.html
Enjoy!
PS. Don’t count me in on the give away, I have too much going on already!
Wow, this class sounds like ‘just what I needed’…background inspiration!! I looked at Kate’s promo video and now I can’t decide if I want to do this class right now or that I can (read:must!) wait another two weeks or so because I have so much going on…Anyway, thanks for telling us about Kate’s class and thanks for giving us a chance to win a spot in her class! Which would make my decision so much easier if I won..;-)
What a fun class! I love learning new background techniques. They really help get over the “big white page syndrome!” My friend, Judy, has a great blog that I love to read: http://thekeytomyart.wordpress.com/
What a cool class – I have so much trouble with backgrounds – this would be fun. I have a few posts I like, but this one talks about a cool art project to honor the victims of the Holocaust – I’m so glad to get to participate in it: http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com/2011/03/1500000-butterflies.html
There are so many wonderful post from different bloggers,
that is difficult for me to find one that is a favorite….
Thank you for the opportunity, you are doing a wonderful job.
Patricia
Sounds like a great class! I’d love to be in it. I had to search for a good post, since I’m verly new at bloggin in English. But I think I really like this one: http://www.luthien.org/wordpress/?p=2714
I would be delighted to take this class… and I wanted to share with you this post from Connie @ Dirty Footprints Studio: http://www.dirtyfootprints-studio.com/2011/05/how-i-learned-to-forgive.html#links (it really resonated with me). Hope you have a lovely weekend and thank you for all that you do! I love your blog!!!
Sounds AMAZING! This post really inspired me- not about creativity per se, but I immediately thought of my creative goals when reading it! http://thedailylove.com/how-to-really-make-things-happen/
I would love to have space in this Bodacious class. I need some thing to inspire me to put color on these journals I have made. I make journals and I don’t want to mess them up because I don;t know where to start, especially when it comes to color. Thanks my journals and myself would greatly appreciate this opportunity
This would be awesome to win! I love taking online classes and have been really digging bright colors lately. Here’s a link to one of my favorite blog posts; it’s off-topic, I guess, since it’s about improving your photography skills, but I was so proud of myself when I finally figured out how to take good photographs for my online store!
http://craftymoira.blogspot.com/2010/12/etsy-tips-tricks-4-improve-your.html
Would loooooove to win that spot and since you have issues about ‘authenticity’, I’ve chosen a post I’ve written a while ago about me… It’s here : http://nathalienayer.blogspot.com/2011/01/liste-du-vendredi-things-he-hates-about.html
What a great giveaway! I would love a spot in that class! I’m a neophyte art journaler and I am always on the look-out for new inspiration and techniques. I recently wrote a blog post showing some of my fiber art works in progress and I’d like to share that with you.
http://polkadotpossum.blogspot.com/2011/05/artist-trading-cards-aceos-in-progress.html
I’d be so excited to win this! I love Kate’s artwork and having no money to splurge on buying my place in the class – could really benefit from being signed up for free!
I’m not so sure this is my favorite blog post ever, but I’m pleased to be creating and sharing art again: http://phoenixpeacock.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-friday-doodles.html
I would love to win this course to get me excited about creating again! I have been in a blah time and need to step it up.
My favorite blog was the one that featured my SO=oul Collage cards I made for the Gulf Oil Crisis that I put in a Smilebox format. Click on the Smilebox link to view and enjoy tghe slideshow and music. The Gulf remains close to my heart and in my prayers.
http://landoflin.blogspot.com/2010/07/soul-collage-blog-party.html
It makes you more real when you blog about authenticity. We all wish we could happily create everyday but that’s not the case. I like knowing that we all struggle with similar challenges.
My fave post on site about creativity is here: http://www.mycupofcreativitea.com/2011/01/choosing-between-being-mother-or-artist.html
I think that this is one of my most favorite posts on my blog:
http://exploringart.blogspot.com/2010/02/kuler-game-of-colours.html
It is about using Kuler (from Adobe) to make up all kind of colourcombinations. The fun part was writing a PDF with the instructions to make colour charts with Kuler.
And my recent posts about my Little Guide Book for this year are my favorite as well. This art journal evolved after my search for my Little Word for 2011 into a soft reminder of good advice that I give myself.
Oh, I’d love to win a place in this class! I’m fairly new to art journaling, etc and a recent major move and crisis has meant that I am just now getting back into creating after a month or more.
I have a new blog, so not many posts yet – but I do have a favorite in which I write about the importance and power of our thoughts, words and deeds in creating our reality. http://creativeartitudes.blogspot.com/2011/04/hows-your-bibo.html
It has been a while since I have visited. Kind of lost my passion for blogging, but now I am back, lol! Backgrounds have ALWAYS been my biggest problem and still are. Would love to take the class and found my mojo at this fabulous place! http://nonasart.blogspot.com/2009/05/hand-cut-stencils.html
Oh, I would really love to be able to see how this class will be. Since over a year I have been art journaling and I must say, I am getting better at it. But sometimes you get stuck. Everyone knows. My favorite blog is from Samantha Kira Harding, but it has already been shown.
I also like http://ilsehobbelen.blogspot.com/ from a dutch blogger.
Hi – here is one of my favorite posts on my blog http://whateverzentangles.blogspot.com/2011/05/on-going-art-journey.html I also blog about fountain pen and paper at http://okami-whatever.blogspot.com – I am rediscovering art as an adult and would love to add this class to my list of things to do
Oh, so many fun links… I am clickin’ away…. Hanna, I love your blog and would have so fun if I won a spot on this class. Here is my favourite blog post right now, (not my own) about taking time and recording your Every Day Blessings…. http://logyourmemory.com/2011/04/26/count-your-everyday-blessings-what-would-you-miss/
That sounds like a wonderful class! I would love to win a spot! Here is a link to my favorite blog post: http://sparklebluefaery.blogspot.com/2011/03/best-magazines-to-mangle-cut-up-for.html
It lists my favorite magazines to use for collage in my art journals!
Peace,
Karis
Thank you for offering a chance at this class. I am new to all of this and I think backrounds are a great place to start.
I just learn about your blog and LOVE it it’s jummy as you would say. It’s one of the most inspiring blogs I know.
I love your bookreviews and your posts about art journaling. I’m very jalous of your style it’s so colourful and happy.
Another inspiring blog I love to read is http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/
Love and kisses Marieke
This is a great offer, and I can really use it – I seem to be stuck! This post on Lesley Riley’s blog is one that speaks to me: http://www.lesleyriley.com/weblog/?p=570/
I enjoy your blog.
hello, my friend – just a little note to say that your views on the world, whether about yoga, mindfulness, happiness, frustration, or life in general, in addition to your beautiful and determined creativity, are what brought me to love your blog so dearly.
lots of love!
I would love to participate in the class and my reason is that I am new to this side of crativity as I am a textile person. But so far I love what I see around me in the cyber art space and I have learnt a lot from your blog Hanna!
in this blog you can see fantastic books
http://lisrejnertjensen.wordpress.com/
I’d love to join! It would be good to get into my art journaling life again, and I’m pretty sure the class would help me do that :)
http://scrowlscrowl.blogspot.com/2009/10/helping-mom-in-her-garden.html
I picked this post from my own blog. I kind of like the pictures.
Oh thank you for the opportunity to win a space in the Bodacious backgrounds. I’ve actually been a bit “missing” in my creativity lately and this sounds like just what I need
Hip, hip… hooray!! A giveaway, love it!
Thank you for the opportunity :]
This class sounds fun & creative.
This sounds like a great class. Sounds very inspiring and like it will be a lot of fun too!
Oh, this looks like so much fun! I am new to art journaling and would love to win a spot in this class. :) I don’t read a whole lot of blogs yet but one of my favorites is by a woman named Sandra. Love her light-heartedness. http://sanartydesigns.blogspot.com/2011/05/parents-of-teenager.html