I suspect I am not alone in saying that I'm very much looking forward to the new year and the 365 chances for new adventures that it brings. I find it odd that I am so hopeful and enthusiastic towards the new year when in truth, not much will change besides the flipping of the calendar page.  There are no sudden, magical changes...

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Painted in 2011 I hope each of you find yourself with family, friends and love ones for the holidays, no matter what or how you celebrate. I also wish for you some downtime so that you might savor the season's special moments without stress or worry. I pray for safety for our troops and first responders scattered about the world, keeping us secure,...

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Yeah, it's definitely that time of year...there's a cat in the christmas tree! A tree? For me!?! Moby went to full alert as soon as the box appeared in the living room and when the first part of the tree came out the box, she was in, on, under, and beside it! She's a tree-climb, limb-chewing, ornament-bopping, play machine. It's both hysterical and...

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I don't know about you, but I needed a little extra sparkle in my life today...so run your mouse around on the page and watch the faerie dust fall from your mouse! Sooooo much fun and a totally time drain, but it still brings a smile to my face! Happy day to you! ...

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Come and join me on Saturday, December 12th, from nine until noon, as we catch a little "Wave Action" in our sketchbooks! I don't know about you, but I'm ready to take a break from all the decorating and shopping and head over to the beach. The class will be held at Keeton's in Bradenton and you can find more info here.  We'll...

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Savor The SeasonWatercolor with ink (writing) I'd love to tell you I created this recently, but it was actually last year and I never got around to posting it. I find myself in the same headspace this year as last—wondering where the last 11 months went and how I'm going to get everything done between now and December 25th. My plan is to...

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For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I hope you have plenty of family, food and fun! For those scattered around the world, I wish you Happy Autumnal blessings (even if it's Spring where you live!). I am so very thankful for the friends and family I have, for our good health, the window on the world provided by the internet that allows...

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I have found myself in an odd place here of late and I wasn't really sure how to move forward. I added a house (based on an ornament I have in my studio) at the lower inside right corner. I wasn't overly interested in sketching and since I have 973, 974 things on my need-to-do-right-now list, motivation has been scarce. As in, none....

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Left: This was as far as I got on location. Right: The finished spread.Watercolor and Ink Kathy, from Catching Happiness, and I went sketching the other morning to take advantage of the um, cooler* weather, here in Florida and the fact that it's pumpkin time! It was 79º instead of 89º at 10:30 in the morning. Woohoo. Sometimes, you gotta go when you...

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Three examples of white lettering with a fourth using metallic ink instead In the video below, I demonstrate using Faber-Castell's Big White Pen to create letters on dark backgrounds and then using PITT Artist pens to do a bit of embellishing—so much fun! This technique will work on envelopes, scrapbook pages and paper, kraft paper tags and just about any other dark paper....

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The small sketchbook I am currently working in is about 3.5 x 5.5 inches and was suppose to be a watercolor sketchbook. There are no identifying marks as to who the maker might be or what type of paper is in the sketchbook, but make no mistake...it's a PITA (Pain-In-The-Art!). To say this sketchbook has been a challenge would be to a vast...

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It's here, it's here! Finally! I've been itching to hang out my fall wreaths and put up so autumn art. Tis my favorite of seasons! We're not really feeling it yet here in Florida, but they say hope blooms eternal...it was 73º this morning, so yay, weather! To celebrate the changing seasons...somewhere else...we're going to be having some fun with sunflowers, lettering, border...

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This past week, I worked on a card design and found myself with a lot of paper scraps left over. Rather than toss them, I set them over to the side of my art board because I already had a project in the back of my mind. And I might as well confess now...I hoard my paper scraps in a little green container...

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The Imaginary Realm is live!! The Independent Learning Classes are ready and waiting and I could not be more excited to share this milestone with you! It has been a dream of mine for years  and it's happening now! Independent Learning Classes are just what they sound like, you learn independently, on your own schedule when it's convenient for you and at your own...

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I was recently made aware of Artist Appreciation Month. Have you heard of it? No/ Me either. After doing a little research, I found that the idea had been around for a few years but had not really taken off. Still, the idea had merit and felt like something worthwhile. The idea is basically to discuss an artist that inspired you in your creative...

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Now that's a headline I never thought I'd write, but you just never know, do you?! Actually, all of those items have to do with upcoming classes at ImaginaryTrips.com and Keeton's Art Supply in Bradenton. Whether online or in person, I hope you can join me for some sketching fun! First up, how about immortalizing our favorite, summertime shoes, the ever-present FlipFlops? (Well,...

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Cutlery Bag I Drew OnInk and Watercolor Chris and I went to St. Petersburg a few weekends ago to visit a favorite bookstore, Haslam's, eat lunch at one of Florida's fun and kitschy restaurants, Fourth Street Shrimp Store and to look for a new freezer to replace the one that died a month ago. It wasn't too long after we sat down at...

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Wishing my guy, Chris Ferlita, a super happy birthday as he begins a new decade today! Hope the day is as brilliant as you are. Wishing my guy, Chris Ferlita, a super happy birthday as he begins a new decade today! Hope the day is as brilliant as you are. ...

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Pen and Water Wash with stamped lettersCrummy watercolor journal3.5" x 5.5" I would love to tell you I've been traveling or sketching up a storm or on some delectable adventure, but the truth is I'm not really sure where the last two weeks have disappeared to! I haven't any sketches to show for my absence either. Well, with the exception of the one...

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Assignment from An Imaginary Trip To Canada There are days when I get up and it seems I have completely lost the ability to draw accurately. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, drawing is often an exercise of frustration. But not futility. What I've learned is that sometimes it pays to keep going even when all the lines are wonky, proportions...

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