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!

Me: One Busy Buzzing Bee!

Detail, "Found My Root" by Val Hebert, acrylic and collage on board

Oh my holy heck, we are finishing up week 4 of MATS 1, (aka Make Art That Sells), taught by the amazingly creative artsy icon, Lilla Rogers. To us, she is known as the "fairy artmother"! What a whirlwind ride it's been!

This week's assignment was Wall Art, which was as varied and creative as any class assignment I've received. The best part for me in all of this is feeling like I'm back in art school. Of course, it's pure stress when you are in school, and this is not too different. The assignments are well designed and thought out, the perfect amount of challenging, and enough to get your pulse racing! It also doesn't help that the classroom is filled with 500 incredibly talented artists. Let me tell you, it is daunting to post the assignments in the classroom every Sunday at 2pm (my time).

This week's submission is an abstract collage. Of course, mine includes birds. I've learned birds are a valuable icon I use in my work. Honestly, I can paint, needle felt, stitch, collage, ... whatever... a bird every day, and remain completely happy.

"Found My Root" Val Hebert, 24 x 24" collage and acrylic on board

Ok, now that this week's assignment is finished *ahead of schedule* I might add , I will be off to spend some time with my family... and rest up for next week's class. Week 5 is the Gift market, another one right up my alley!!!!

x, Val

PS. Please feel free to click here to visit my Flickr page and see some of my most favorite projects that are coming out of this class. Week 1 was Bolt Fabric, week 2, Plate design, week 3, Children's Book design, and 4, Wall Art. Enjoy!