Joyful Purpose

New Website Release and a Big Fat Welcome!

I am super excited to announce the release of my new website No Excuses Art www.noexcusesart.com ! Everything in one place: blog, ecourses, shop, events and work. NEWS FLASH!!! No Excuses 2014 Edition is HERE! All new themes as well as an additional artist of the month portion, links, images and monthly resource pages. You can find details and purchase the course on the new site under ecourses. BREAKING NEWS! No Excuses Art Giveaway! And its a BIG ONE! Find details and how to enter on my blog page on the new site.

Brene Brown and No Excuses #OLCBreneCourse

I first came across Brene Brown when I heard her TedTalk quite awhile back and immediately connected with her and have loved her ever since.  Another person I greatly admire and connect with is Oprah - I mean who doesn't right? She is strong, self assured, honest and real.  So when I saw that the two of them were presenting an ecourse that revolved around an art journal no less I was in!

What better way to combine my No Excuses Journal and this course to get me out of my funk.  Oh, yes I have funks.  Really I think everyone does even if they always look happy, joyful, beautiful - have the perfect kids, husband, home, studio - etc.  There are days that I struggle with anxiety - I am not good enough, not perfect enough, strong enough, creative enough - blah blah blah and there are days when I am sad - filled with worry, regret, and fear.  So when this ecourse was presented on the The Gifts of Imperfection I knew it had my name all over it.

 

Here is the results of Week 1 and Week 2 in my NE Journal:

If you haven't heard Brene's TedTalk:

 

Look What Came in the Mail Today!

I am thrilled with the way the book turned out!  A Big THANK YOU to MY North Light Publishers and my editor Amy Jones for carrying out my vision!  I love it!

Hits Book Stores in December!

No Excuses 2014

 

 

The 2014 edition of No Excuses is Coming Soon!

This year will have brand spanking new themes ....

some new additions that will include:

• A focus artist every month so that you learn a wee bit of art history
• links and resources
• downloadable art for you to print out and use in your journal
• new technique videos

Keep checking back here as in the next few days there will be details to follow to purchase.  

If you want to make sure you don't miss out on a thing leave your email in the comment section and I will contact you with the details directly ;)

 

Listen to my podcast TODAY at 2pm PST

Art Journaling the No Excuse Way with Gina Armfield

iCreateFlix Radio

today at 2:00 pm Remind+

Call in to speak with the host

 

(714) 816-4638

Gina Armfield shows us how to remove all the excuses  from our vocabulary and begin today creating.

Gina’s wealth of Art knowledge and solid teaching  skills have given her the foundation for sharing her passion of art with people from around the world through her Online Workshop offerings.  In addition to numorous live teaching events. 

As you listen to Gina you will realize there is now time like the present to start creating. 

 

Listen to the Podcast today at 2pm PST

Class Closeout!

Exciting News!  I am going to be launching my new website in October!  So to take out the old and bring in the new I will be closing out some of my old online workshops.

The following workshops will be availble for purchase until Oct 1, 2013.  You will still be able to access them as often as you wish for as long as you wish once they are purchased - just save your log in info.  But they will no longer be offered.

So get them while they are HOT!

THE DAILY SKETCHBOOK

UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF KILMT

SONG OF THE SEA

BE STILL MY HEART

LOS ARBOLES

ANIMAL SPIRIT GUIDES

 

Sept 29th Art and Soul

The Red Lion on the River

909 North Hayden Island Drive
Portland, OR 97217

Sept 30-Oct 6

Come take a workshop with me! There are a few spots left so sign up ASAP.

*If you are already signed up to take a workshop please email me with your name and class so I can bring you a little gift for being a loyal blog reader ;)* 

- No Excuses Art Journaling - Making Time for Creativity
Gina Armfield 6:30 - 9:30 and 9:00 - 4:30, Tues Eve & Wed - 9hr Class	[back to quicklinks] $ 225

Create A journal that will carry you through the year so that you can incorporate art into your daily life in a quick, easy and fun way! Based on my upcoming book and dvds by the same name by Northlight Publishing. The program is centered on using a desk calendar as the basis of an art journal while incorporating art journaling, goal setting, writing, idea making, sketching, watercoloring, and collage. It is a daily, weekly, and monthly system that provides prompts, ideas, quotes, poems, and reminders to add to your journal.   (evening class is the journal prep portion and the next whole day is the technique class) Through this process you learn step by step pen and ink drawing and introduction to watercolor to name a few of the skills. Students who had never picked up a brush end up going on to confidently paint using watercolors. Seasoned artists have used this program as a springboard for their own work. Both rave about these workshops. It's like getting a jammed packed art infusion over the course of a year in only minutes a day. Materials Fee: $15.00:  a set of monthly inserts for 15 months, images and handouts Supplies Needed: set of watercolors Suggestions: High End LUKAS Aquarell 1862 Watercolor - Set of 48 Half Pans Mid Range Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Compact Set Low Range Koi Watercolor Pocket Set-24 12 ~ 4x6 envelopes micron waterproof ink pens in a 005 and 01 nib black washi tape - http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyTape metal ruler ephemera such as menus,business cards, plane tickets, stickers, etc. round watercolor brushes in size 2/4/6 2013 and/or 2014 Weekly Planner or a 16 month weekly planner - You must have weekly spreads (I like the Barnes and Noble Desk Diary in the Soft Cover) can be ordered online or in stores favorite markers pencils Optional: watercolor pencils letter stamps and stamp pad

- The Collectors Almanac
Gina Armfield 9:00 - 4:30, Monday - Sept 30	[back to quicklinks] $ 145

Feathers, mushrooms, botanicals, buttons, butterflies, eggs, … just to name a few!We all love to collect those things that we find beautiful and peak our senses. Inspired by vintage illustrations of old we will use a moleskine notebook to document our collections while we learn pen and ink and watercolor skills. No painting or drawing experience is necessary. Materials Fee: 10.00 for images and handouts Supplies a watercolor notebook Moleskine Watercolor Notebook, 200gsm Cold Press, 5 in x 8 in, 72 Pages OR Pentalic 100-Percent Cotton Watercolor Journal 5-Inch by 8-Inch watercolor set Suggestions: High End LUKAS Aquarell 1862 Watercolor - Set of 48 Half Pans Mid Range Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Compact Set Low Range Koi Watercolor Pocket Set-24 waterproof INK fine pen - Micron black 005 and 01 round watercolor brushes I suggest a 2,4,6, round pencil eraser Hand Held Magnifying Glass Please bring a collection of your favorite images on several subjects or photos of your collections

NE Journal Peek of the Week

Here are some random page peeks from my No Excuses Journal. So take a gander ...


Watercolor feathers, recipes, and pen and ink drawings inspired by photo images.



quick watercolor sketch inspired by restaurant promo card



Letter cards taped in with washi tape



Photo strips taped down with washi



 

Draw what you love!

When in doubt draw what inspires you, what you have a passion for, what you love!  If that is chickens, tea cups, hearts, faces, or critters then so be it!  I find that we often fight our natural urges to be creative for fear that it isn't current or hip or "artistic" enough.  When you are true to what you are passionate about it shows.  

For me more often then not that is horses.  They have been a constant part of life and being since I was 7yrs old and still are to this day.  I can't imagine my life without them.  For a long time I fought this constant attraction to put them in my artwork for fear that it wouldn't bode well with others.  I finally came to accept that hey, this is who I am!  I love horses, chickens, goats, owls, ravens, hawks and pretty much any furry or feathered critter.  LET FREEDOM RING!

So today be free to draw or paint or collage the things that you dearly love!




 

Card Peeks

Here is a page of my latest "card peeks" from my No Excuses Journal.  I choose fun little random images from my iphone snaps, pinterest, and the latest Victoria Magazine!