MATS Bootcamp


Bootcamp sounds intimidating to me, but after taking Lilla Rogers MATS A + B Classes (Make Art That Sells) -find out more by clicking here, I knew I could handle any Bootcamp 'intensity' that might come my way. Honestly, anyone who can finish one 5 week segment of MATS classes, where you go through five different industries, learning the industry details, and creating an incredible body and variety of work in such a short time, should receive a medal! It was dang intense.  

So, Bootcamp means one project per month... a dream! This first month's assignment was to sketch up cuckoo clock design options, and ultimately to create a cuckoo clock smart phone case.

Val's Art Studio cuckoo clock illustrations

My initial sketches involved animal shapes. Well, naturally.... after all, I had been working on a new set of woodland needle felted nesting animals. (Please don't judge this guy too harshly, his eyes aren't in yet. I can't yet decide to have them open or closed!)

Fox needle felt by Val's Art Studio (Sold)

From there, my design evolved into a sort of birdhouse cuckoo clock built from felted wool scraps out of my overflowing scrap bin. Heck, I have to do something with all those luscious feltie woolie bits! I cut and "pasted" but not in photoshop... with scissors, glue and thread. I love every minute of creating art in this manner :o)


After this assemblage was finished, I needle felted the birds in place, stitched some details, added a couple of dried flower buds to act as the pinecone weights, and then was finally ready to negotiate with my Photoshop skills. Yep. I negotiate. Sitting near me while I navigate photoshop is an exercise in using earplugs!

Here's the before and after. I'm not sure if there's a tremendous difference, but I worked on it for at least a day...



Finally, I created the background, a simple logo, and uploaded it to the gallery. Tomorrow, you can see it live on Lilla Roger's website. It will be in the company of crazy pants talented artists and illustrators. I am so ex-cited!!!

" Hello There!" MATS Bootcamp submission by Val Hebert

Thanks for visiting!
x, Val

Hoops 101



I love to show off the beautiful work from my talented students. These fun hoops were from Sunday's Heartfelt Hoop class. Unfortunately, students left before we could get all the hoops photographed. But a few fun hoops are better than none, right?! Thank you students friends, for the creative time together, and for brightening my art world in a very big way!

x, Val


Poser


Hello there! Meet Jackson. He is a very sweet and handsome kitty. 



Jackson's "people" (aka owners) recently got married, but were sad Jackson couldn't be a part of their special ceremony. Fortunately, I was very happy that I could offer a possible solution. 


Jackson is really a good poser. He sat nicely for a photo portrait. Then I needle felted his likeness onto a upcycled felted wool canvas (matching the colors in the couple's living room rug, I might add :o), and made it into a special wedding pillow. The pillow was used during the wedding to carry the couple's rings. 


Now, Jackson is very content to pose alongside his namesake buddy. They're like twins :o)



Very handsome twins. Do you agree??!

If you would like a needle felted portrait of your special buddy, please visit this link by clicking here.

If you would like to see how I create this type of pet portrait with needle felting, please click here.

x, Val