MATS1 and the GTS (Global Talent Search)

My submission for the Global Talent Search, a Journal cover for Paperchase

Taking online art and business classes have been a way for me to broaden my art world over the last few years in more ways than one. Undoubtably, I have been learning the subject matter at hand, but of equal importance, I have been broadening my reach into the creative cosmos in the form of connectivity to an art population that is much greater than I could ever hope to gain by taking art classes in my community. I'm talking about a worldwide art community!

To date, I have taken several classes from these amazingly talented people:

Kelly Rae Roberts' Flying Lessons:

From Do What You Love, by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Kempton: 

Hello Soul, Hello Business

Also from Do What You Love: Lilla Roger's Make Art That Sells

Needless to say, my art brain is growing, stretching, and becoming so many more in ways I could have never imagined! I really recommend these fantastic classes for anyone interested in growing their art business.

And now for a sweet peek at a sweater made with one of those cute bunnies featured in my GTS submission... Awww! 

"Busy Letter B" by Val Hebert

Have a busy artsy day!
x, Val

Studio move!

Lola and I have LOVED our studio at the Point Loma house, but it's now time to move on. We are now moving to ... "da da da DAAA":

A REAL, Official OFFICE Space!

It's going to be a very big change, but we are ready! Maybe you are asking why, and I will tell you...

1. Our restoration work at the Pt Loma house is complete. Last week, it went on the market, and it went into escrow that very same day! Wow. I'm telling you, this house has undergone a magical transformation. The couple that buys the house is going to LOVE living here!
2. I have outgrown my small 150 square foot space, and am going to be moving into a larger 256 sq.ft. space! That's nearly double the size I'm in now!!!
3. Greg and I have found the perfect historic office cottage perched at the top of a canyon, located behind a design studio. We will be working alongside a whole design community of artists, interior designers, architects, and more. It couldn't be more perfect! 
4. We are putting our good juju out there, and plan that Greg's business will grow into the whole cottage space. Then, there is another separate cottage I can move into.
5. We will be moving the end of the month, Hooray!

Our new office space is located in Banker's Hill area of San Diego.

For some reason, there has been a great deal of confusion about where Greg and I actually live, so I want to clear that question up too. (Really, I had no idea that so many people read my blog, and pay attention to our goings on... I am truly floored, feel a tiny bit stalked, but mostly, I am flattered!) We have been living in Coronado since Spring of 2011, but just not in our home. With our son needing specialized help for his traumatic brain damage, we had to put our financial resources into his care and rehabilitation, which meant we needed to rent out our house, and move into my mom's back house. We have had periods of hanging out at the Pt Loma house, but always knew that house would be sold, and was simply a place to store our belongings, and use for office location during the house's restoration. 

It hasn't been easy to move into my mom's house, and rely on her so much, but we just had to do what we had to do. Difficult times call for creative measures...

Now that the Pt Loma house will not be able to store our goods, we will have to put our belongings into storage until we can get back into the Coronado house. Hopefully, soon, but as we are just taking things one day at a time, not buying into the trap of "future worrying" and reassessing what is important to our family, we are staying true to the moment at hand. We are getting ready to bring our son back home, after 18 months away, and life will be taking another bend in the road ... once again. 

Praying for strength as we continue our journey... and sending creative goodness out into the universe....

x, Val

Revamping my logo all by myself...

Thanks to Lilla Rogers, and all her incredible teaching talent in the MATS class, I am reminded of my strengths... I am a traditional artist. I am just not a digital artist. I have resisted going down the digital path all these years. But as our collective world becomes more deeply enmeshed with the ease and beauty of working digitally, I fear I must succumb.

   

I began with one of my favorite images of a (what else?) bird. *rolling eyes*. I uploaded it to PicMonkey, my favorite photo editing software, and so easy to use! I put a mask over the photo (above), see the clouds at the top?

 Then I put that photo into a collage, and added a decorative pattern screen from PicMonkey's database. 

After that, I added text, and made sure it read properly when I reduced the size to 200px square. I also changed my tag line from "Felt Art With Flair" to "Illustrations With Flair"... Lilla has got me thinking again. "felt art" might limit what other's think I am capable of creating... (Thank you, Lilla!)

Lastly, I added a sweet craft paper border, and colored it blue to match the colors in my piece. 

This is just SO ME, and makes be bubble up with happiness!

So, this "old dog" is learning a few new tricks, and NOT keeping them hidden :o) I have already put this as my email signature, and am going to incorporate it everywhere else I can. Yay!

x, Val

PS. Further updates ... I am so hooked!