From my very first online class, An Imaginary Trip To Paris in 2009!

Is it as hard for you as it is for me to realize that 1999 was twenty years ago?! We were all so worried about Y2K and what was going to happen to our computers. Where did those years go?

For me, I see a dividing line in my decades...before May 2009 and after. Before May 2009, I was in a corporate job I didn't like, freaked out on high-octane stress most all of the time and trying to figure out how I was going to keep going until I could retire. Then my job was outsourced to another country and the economy tanked.

I decided to launch Imaginary Trips in May 2009 and you know the rest of the story! I can look back over a slew of classes and workshops that brought new friendships and experiences into my life. Some I couldn't have imagined in one hundred years let alone ten! There has been growth in technology as well as in my own artistic path.

I look at several of the folks that started way back at the beginning of the decade and I marvel at how far they've come and how much their work has evolved! And I am humbled and ever so thankful I was able to be some small part of that growth and evolution.

From a class in 2010

Strolling Through The Past
One of the advantages we have in being visual artists is the ability to see our growth. We can see how we've improved at capturing the world around us on the page, how we've changed how we approach a subject or our use of color. I spent some time in my archives recently, looking for a piece of misplaced (read that as lost) artwork. It wasn't long before I was off on a tangent, looking at some of the work I did eight and ten years ago.

Pieces I thought were marvelous at the time have lost some of their marvel today—because I've grown and my perspective on the work is much different, but that doesn't negate the feelings I had at the time about what I had created. It is only when it's lifted from its place in the continuum that it loses its luster.

I see so many changes! I think mostly I see how I would do things differently today, knowing what I know now...but isn't that always the way? We do the best we can until we learn to do better? I also continue to see room for more improvement and that's a good thing! I've always said that the day I painted a "perfect piece of artwork" would be the day I hung up my brushes. I don't think it's possible to paint a piece of perfect work, not if we're really seeking growth and new levels of creativity.

If you haven't walked back through the years of your artwork, I highly recommend it! It's eye-opening to see the growth that isn't obvious in a month or even a year's width.

Looking Forward
What's on the horizon? I see more creativity, more growth and more fun to come in form of the classes and workshops on the near horizon and in the coming years. I think one of the reasons I have always been captivated by creativity is because it's a bottomless well. Just when you think you've tapped the deepest level, along comes something to push you in a completely new direction!

How are you planning to move forward in 2020 and beyond?

Given the time of year and our mad scurry to chart our goals, plans and dreams, you've probably given thought to what you want to learn, what adventures you want to have and what dreams you want to make a reality.

From a workshop in Jekyll Island 2019

I hope some of the classes and workshops I will be offering this year might fit in with some of your plans and goals as I'd love to be a part of your continued artistic growth! Come and take a look:

An Imaginary Trip To the Classroom: Using The Color Green - In several of the classes I hosted last year, several folks asked for more help in using the color green in their work. Whether you have trouble mixing a useful green or you have trouble creating a believable landscape, this class is designed to give you plenty of useful information, tips and tricks for making friends with this highly useful color! Click the title above for more information and to get registered.

Travel Sketching In The Southwest Of France - Ten days of connection and creativity in a small French village in the southwest of France! From the refurbished convent to the small medieval villages and towns we'll visit, this trip is unlike any you've taken. There will time for sketching and shopping, relaxing and reflecting as well as reconnecting to a more creative you. Sound like just what you've been looking for? Click the here for all the details!

Local Classes - As many of you know, Creative Art Supply (formerly Keeton's) closed at the end of 2019 as did another Bay favorite, Whim So Doodle, in St. Pete and while it has been very disappointing to lose to wonderful locations, life goes on and new places are developing! I have begun to teach classes locally at Live And Learn Pharmacy in Riverview and at the Southern Atelier in Sarasota! To see any upcoming classes I have at either venue, I recommend checking out the Upcoming Classes page over at ImaginaryTrips.com.

There are a few more events to be added to the calendar so please check back! I hope to see you in one (or more) spaces soon.

Meanwhile, good luck on your creative journey into the next decade!

I stumbled across this Free illustration course over on Facebook. The course is offered by edx.org and features two experts from the University of Newcastle in Australia.

It looks like it will be both fun and beneficial to anyone seeking to improve observation and or rendering skills!
The images show a host of different subjects as well as mediums (with different approaches).
I'm not affiliated in anyway with this course of edx.com nor the University of Newcastle...I just think it looks like a super fun class! I've already signed...come and join me!

Hello, everyone! I hope you’re staying cool in this lovely August heat we’re having. I wanted to send out a quick update to let you know there will be TWO (Live) Art Journaling Classes this week! (More reason to be inside and enjoying the air conditioning!)
First up, I’ll be at the Indian Rocks Beach Art Center on Thursday, from 1 to 4 pm, to create this long-legged critter in the Beach Treasures series. We’ll work on colorful black and whites as well as water ripples. Don’t miss out!
Black Neck Stilt @ Beach Art Center, Thursday, August 9th, 1 - 4:00 PM

You can find more info here.


Our next class will be on Saturday, August 25th at 9:30 am! Make sure to mark it on your calendar!

Actually, I think it's time for two BRAND NEW Imaginary Trips To Paris!


As most of you know, I'll be getting on a plane to Paris in a little over two months...squeeee! I am so excited and I want to share my excitement with all of you as well. (There's still time and a few spaces if you want to come to Paris, too! Click here to get the details.)

To make the trip last longer and so you can come and play too, I've put together two trips—one before I go and the other after I return!

In the first Imaginary Trip To Paris!, we'll be visiting some of the city's famous iconic sites. We'll delve into the rich lives of Parisians along with how they travel in style as well as the cuisine. This class starts on Thursday, August 23rd! To learn more and sign up for special savings, please click here. 

Two upcoming classes this week are just chocked full of fun tips, techniques and tricks to get you journaling in no time!

Beach Art Center
The first one is going to be at the Beach Art Center over on Indian Rocks Beach this Thursday, 7/12, from 1 to 4 p.m.

We're going to be painting staghorn coral, learning to incorporate values to create depth, adding in a quote and suggesting texture. Sound like your idea of great way to spend your Thursday afternoon? Come join us! For more info and to register, please go here. Class info is on the right side of the page, midway down!

Keeton's Office & Art Supply
This coming Saturday, July 14th, we're gonna be doing a little (sea) horsin' around! Summer is made for bright, happy colors and this project has them in spades!
The white design over the top along with the bubbles floating in the background really push this over the top and make it lots of fun to create.

We'll be working with making washes interesting by mingling color on the paper as well as how to quickly create the white design with the seahorse's body.

Last, we'll add some lettering to finish the page.

To come and learn how to create your very own seahorse, please click here. Please call Keeton's at 941.747.2995 to register!

Hope to see you there and if not, I hope you're keeping your brushes wet and the pages, full!

Hello again, my friends! I am back from my walkabout. Blogging is something I started years ago because I liked connecting with likeminded friends and artists. It takes a certain mindset—and a lot of work—to post week in and week out for years.


Keeton's Office & Art Supply
June 9, 2018
Keeton's Office & Art Supply
Bradenton, FL
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Sea Nettle
Love or hate them, jellyfish are a fact of life if you live at the beach! While sea nettles can be quite dangerous, even deadly, there is no denying their beauty as they float along with ocean’s currents. Capturing the changing colors along with the long tentacles vary in length based on the creatures age. The bell (body) can grow up to over 2 feet in diameter!

A visit to the Provence region is a delight to the senses, the sun-drenched patina of the old architecture, the vibrant market fare, and the glittering coastline...but that's not all! Breathe deep and smell the scent of fresh bread, listen to the cries of the gulls and feel the warmth radiating from the cobbled stones of the street. History saturates the area and there are plenty of markets and cafes to explore and enjoy.

This new adventure begins on Thursday, May 3rd! Click here to register.

Video demos are provided for all of the assignments. All techniques are shown so that you can “see” when and where they’re used. You have total flexibility as to when you watch the videos once they are posted. The demos are available for the duration of the class and you can watch them as many times as you like.

Maybe I was feeling a bit nostalgic when I created this image or maybe I just wanted to depart from "reality" for a bit, but regardless of the reason, this image looks NOTHING like the photo reference. The photo I used was taken in a large craft store and it featured 3 pastel watering cans on a white wire shelf with big sale tags everywhere.

It takes time to build up experience and courage to create something that doesn't exist. I think it also help to throw in a dash of crazy, as in being crazy enough to not be so invested in the end result that you're not willing to take chances.

I have always found that taking risks with my artwork is what keeps it fresh and exciting. When I get too invested in the final results, I almost always squash my willingness to take chances...and then I wonder, "If I would have done X, would the art be better/strong/more exciting?"

I will be teaching how to draw and paint "Crusty and Rusty Waterin' Cans" at Keeton's on Saturday, April 14th at 9 AM.  Come and join in the fun! 

Creating patinas and rust really isn't a hard thing to do and it allows for all kinds of palette play! You can use just about any color on the palette, but especially in the earth pigments and granulating pigments.

Please click here and scroll down to April 14th for all the info on this class.

I have to admit I was a bit surprised by these sea creatures when I started researching them for the class—they're kinda fun!

Did you know:

• The name "urchin" is an old word that means hedgehog?
• That there are more than 950 species of sea urchins?
• Did you have any idea an urchin could live up to 200 years in the wild?!
• Sea urchins can grow up to as large as 14 inches or be as small as 1.2 inches?
• That their outer shell is called a "test?"
• They they have lots of predators including sea otters, eels, triggerfish and starfish, but their biggest predator is man due to ocean pollution and over harvesting?
• That sea urchins can live in tidal pools as well as up to 16,000 feet below the ocean's surface?

Me either! These sweet little hedgehogs are far more than just pretty shells or sweet meat and they're a delight to create in an art journal.

Come and join me at Keeton's in Bradenton, FL, this Saturday for a super fun class on adding dimensionality to the page.  To learn more, please click here.

Hope to see you there!

More often than not, I find myself working in patterns and much of the time it's subconsciously until the pattern can no longer be ignored. Case in point: two upcoming beach classes full of fun!


Sea Urchins are so much fun to create on the page that it's hard to stop. Kinda like potato chips, you cannot have just one.

These sea creatures are created by using two pieces of paper to give them the look of having an "interior" and we'll use white ink to quickly and easily recreate the dots on the outer shell.

Sound like your kind of fun?!

Come and play with me at Keeton's Office and Art Supply on Saturday, February 10th at 9 AM.

Click here for more info on the class and for info on how to register!

I look forward to seeing you there!






Starting Thursday, February 15th, come and enjoy found treasures, boardwalks, beach structures and the gorgeous views during An Imaginary Visit To The Beach!

We'll spend four weeks exploring and enjoy the warm sun and salty breezes. Who knows we might even see a dolphin or two, maybe a sea turtle!

We'll work on our sketching and page layout skills.

For more information on the class, please click here to come and join me for this online adventure!

Feeling sluggish getting the new year started? Come and join in the fun at one of these classes to help you get back to the joy of creating in your sketchbooks!

Keeton's Office and Art Supply, Bradenton, FL
Saturday, January 13th, 9 am - 12:30 pm

These little, orange balls of sunshine evoke memories in the best of ways! I think in part due to the strong olfactory element and because they're just so darn cute.

Having lived in Florida my entire life and having a host of different citrus at fingertips' reach, I've always taken these fruits for granted. When I first posted the class, I heard some very delightful stories about coming in from the cold and snow to smell these treats sitting in the kitchen as well as the small wooden crates they were shipped in.

Capturing these beauties in our sketchbooks comes down to utilizing not one, but two, white gel pens as well as really working our analogous and complementary palettes. It's gonna be fun, so I hope you'll come and join us this Saturday! For more info, please click here.



Postcards In The Garden, Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, FL
Saturday, January 20th, 9 am - 1 pm

While drawing round ornaments is very fun and satisfying, especially when we add in all the gorgeous details with a little bit of gold and glitter, after a while it can be great fun to explore other shapes and sizes. Using a little creativity and imagination, we can expand on the basic circle to make more exotic shapes!

To do this tutorial, you'll need:

• a circle template OR assorted bottle caps and jar lids in a variety of sizes
• pencil
• tracing paper
• permanent black pen
• watercolors
• eraser

Optional:

• gold gel pen
• white gel pen
• Other metallic or pearlescent pens and markers

Steps:
Draw a straight line on your tracing paper. This is your base line.
Choose a circle on the template or bottle cap. Resting the bottom of the circle on the straight line, draw a circle.
Then move either to the left or right and draw a second circle the same size. See example.
The further apart the circles, the more of an "oval shape" you'll get. Experiment with the width of the combined circles to see what you like best. Add a small rectangle and a circle for the top and you have your first ornament.

In the next example, choose a large circle or lid and again, using a straight line as your base, draw one half of the circle. The circle will be divided in half vertically.
Now move the template or cap and draw the other half so that it overlaps the first half as seen in the image below. Another way to do this is to draw one large circle on the tracing paper and then cut it in half. Overlay the edges until you are pleased with the shape. Tape the edges of the paper to hold the shape.


Make sure to use the straight line as your base to keep the sides even in length.  Add a rectangle, circle and string at the top and you have your second ornament!

One variation on this is to deliberately offset the second half so the "circle" is wider at the top than on the bottom. Play around by moving the template or cap around to get different shapes and lengths.







Moving to a more complex image, let's try stacking the circles to make a longer ornament:
After starting with the double circles like we did in the first example, I added a second row of three circles (second image). I then added a long spike. The second row of circles and spike are the same height as the large circle. This helps to keep things in balance, but it would be easy enough to go much longer with the spiked shape if you wanted to play.

In the last example, I used a row of three circles to get an extra wide ornament. I then added a second row of circles and the long spike shape. Last, I added another circle as a "dome" over the first row of large circles.

There are any number of combinations of shapes you can come up with with a little experimentation!

Let's Add A Little Paint

Since the ornaments are all drawn on tracing paper, turn the paper over and trace the outline of your ornaments onto the watercolor paper. Experiment with different arrangements by drawing thumbnails to quickly see what you like. Avoid drawing all the ornaments the same size and at the same level on the paper. I opted to split my ornaments into two groups to balance my page. Overlap the ornaments for more interest:
Next, paint around the ornaments with clear water and drop in some green watercolor paint. Keep an eye on the edges to keep them soft, as if they're fading away. While the paper is still wet, drop in other colors if you like.

Study a real bulb for ideas on where the shadows fall and where the highlights and lowlights are:

Notice how the lights are different on the frosted red ornament and harder on the shiny bobbles but they all have soft and hard lights in the shapes.

Playing around with color is half the reason I like painting ornaments so I dropped in red orange and pink. I used a granulating violet in the shadowed areas and left white skips for my highlights.

The way the image looks at the moment, it looks like the long ornament is in front of the smaller one. It takes a few tricks to move it to the front of the red ornament!

On the right side, I used cobalt teal blue and violet to paint in the ornament. I left the strip and smaller circles bare until the painted dried and then went back and added orange. I again used violet as my shadow color.

To make the two ornaments on the left look like they were overlapping, I painted the smaller ornament over the large one as if it were not there. After it dried, I added in the details in white pen on the larger ornament with a permanent ink. Once the ink dried, I washed over it with same watercolors we can see in the small ornament.


Technically speaking, there should be swirls on the backside of the smaller ornament, but I found out the hard way the ink in the metallic gel pen was not permanent and there was no way to add the swirls without lifting paint so I opted to leave them out.

If you've enjoyed this tutorial, I invite you to check out the free tutorial, "How To Sketch and Paint The Eiffel Tower," as well as "'Tis The Season Holiday Class" (just click the class title for more info!). We'll be creating awesome holiday art all year long and you can do as little or as much as you want based on the class option you choose.

And once again, I'd like to take this moment to send my wishes for the season's best to you. I hope your holidays are fun, happy, healthy and full of those you love!

From Paint A Festive Poinsettia Online Class

I'm always amazed at how fast the last three months of the year go whizzing by. I start September with the highest of hopes, believing I'm going to get oh, so much done. The next thing I know, I'm staring at the middle of December in the blink of an eye (or so it seems).

Then the pressure starts getting intense...do I have enough time to create a greeting card? What about some hostess gifts? Maybe a few pieces for my Etsy shop?

And then reality intrudes and I realize that once again, I've waited too late in the year to get started. The holiday card becomes a New Year's greeting card, the majority of gifts are store bought and Etsy gets ignored.

Ah, but not this year...or next, I should say!

Paint A Festive Poinsettia Online Class is now open! This class is also part of 'Tis The Season - Year Long Holiday Class over at the Imaginary Realm where you get to choose whether you take one class, three classes, or all of them!! 

Concept art for 'Tis The Season Holiday Class

Poinsettias have been nearly synonymous with the holidays since the early 1900s and because they're such a highly recognized plant, the artist can play with colors, shapes, sizes and it still reads as a poinsettia.

One of my favorite things about this particular plant is the complementary colors of red and green or pink and light green. These colors add a distinctive zing to the artwork that's hard to create any other way! Using an analogous color scheme is another way to jazz up the brilliant jewel tone colors of the leaves.

The Festive Poinsettia class covers drawing your plant on the page, making decisions on what to include and leave out, painting the plant, using your handwriting as fancy lettering and last, how to share your art by making a fun greeting card with a specialty cut and fold to make the edges of the poinsettia really stand out!

So if you're feeling a bit frazzled as you try to come up with an idea for the holidays, come on over and join me at The Imaginary Realm. Just think, this time next year, we'll have created 13 separate pieces of art without the usual stress and strain!

As always, please let me know if I can answer any questions!

It's entirely possible, maybe even probable, that I have all things Paris on the brain these days since I'll be going to teach a Travel and Art Workshop there in October 2018! And what could be more Parisian than the Eiffel Tower?

Along with having Paris on the brain, it seems I have the holidays on my mind as well and what could be more fun than rendering the tower as a gingerbread cookie?!

French tradition calls for placing special treats into a shoe or shoes left by the fireplace. However, I couldn't make up my mind on what kind of shoe to have, so I went back to the traditional stocking instead. Once I chose the stocking, it seemed only fitting to fill it with delectable treats, art supplies and useful things for a trip to Paris (maps, passport and boarding passes)!

Then I decided you all needed to share in the fun and joy with me. So I created a FREE TUTORIAL over at The Imaginary Realm!


The Tutorial also serves as a free preview of the holiday class, 'Tis The Season, where we'll be exploring a holiday theme each month through 2018. If this sounds like fun, you can find more info HERE.

I hope you will come and join the fun, both in Paris and the holiday class!

Concept Art for 'Tis The Season

Have you ever noticed that the less time you have, the more inspired you are or is that just me?

Every year, when the temperatures begin to drop, the leaves begin to change, and the decorations start to show up and I find myself ridiculously inspired—I cannot wait to get into the studio to start creating. I have all kinds of art ideas dancing in my head!

Except...the hours in which to create are usual nowhere to be found.

With all the extra activities going on in November and December, finding or making time to create can get tricky. I find myself up at some absurd hour in the morning or burning too much midnight oil in the hopes of getting something finished in time to use it for this year's holiday season. Sound familiar?

And every year as I scramble to get together an idea for a card to send to family and friends, I vow this is the last time I'm going to do this. Instead, I set a goal that I'll create a piece of holiday art every month so I won't be scrambling in December. Inevitably, or so it seems, as the year steams into the last few months of the year I realize that once again, I've not followed through on my plan and I'm scrambling to come up with some holiday art.

However...this year is going to be very different! Because you and I are going to be making holiday art ALL YEAR LONG! 

Introducing 'Tis The Season, An Online Holiday Class!

Here's the super cool thing about this class—the lessons will come out once a month for the year and there are three different class options that allow you to choose what works best with you. You'll also have a minimum of a year with the materials and depending on the class option, up to two years! If you're traveling when the lesson drops, don't worry. It will be there waiting on you when you're reading to start creating.

In addition, these classes are all about the studio and taking our time. There will be an art element as well as a lettering element to each class. The classes will be posted on the first Wednesday of each month and there's even a bonus class available! There will also be email reminders to let you know when the next lesson is available and to help keep you on track.

Come this time next year, you'll have a year's worth of artwork to choose from for your holiday card and gifts! Sound like a plan? Then come sign up!

You can get the details here. 

I look forward to creating with you all year long!

I am thrilled beyond words to introduce you to the ALL NEW ImaginaryTrips.com web site!

The old web site has been limping along but it lacked so much functionality as to be nearly useless. The new site has all kinds of new capabilities I'm still learning how to utilize. There's even a new logo!

I cannot tell you how many sketches and doodles I've made over the last eighteen months attempting to find the new look of Imaginary Trips and none of them felt right. Then one day I was glancing through a journal I'd been working on and I saw the red suitcase—inspiration hit. Next thing you know, Imaginary Trips has the beginnings of a brand new look!

Class Offerings

While I'm thrilled with the new look, one of the things I am most excited about is the way I am able to offer and organize new class offerings.

By clicking on the menu item, Classes, you can learn about the different types of classes I offer or you can go into the drop-down menu to search by the type of class you're looking for on-line interactive or online self-study as well as live classes. The last option allows you to search ALL new classes at a glance by clicking on the Upcoming Classes!

I can even schedule classes out into the future so you'll be able to see what's coming up and eventually there will be a calendar to make it even easy. There's also a "News" section so you can learn more about what's going on behind the scenes at Imaginary Trips.

Of course, there's always more to do and there are plans to add tutorials, art supply suggestions, a Frequently Asked Questions page and a few other treats. They'll be added as time and schedules allow. As you look around on the site, should you find a broken link that doesn't work, by all means, please let me know!

I would love to hear your thoughts on the new look and logo as well as the functionality of the site.

New Online Class

I am so excited to get back to teaching online after a long hiatus over summer. An Imaginary Visit to the American Southwest will begin on October 12th! Click the class title for more info!
We'll be visiting 3 national parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion as well as Antelope Canyon on this trip. The brilliant colors, the vistas that stretch for miles, the unique rock shapes and all those glorious textures make these parks an artist's playground!

Class will start on October 12th and includes four assignments complete with video demos and downloadable handouts. There are also three different class formats and depending on your learning style and time constraints, there's sure to be one that works for you! Ready to go? Click here for more info! Have questions? Let me know!

If you'd like to learn how to capture a sense of movement in your work, come and join me at Keeton's in Bradenton, Florida on August 12th at 9 am as we capture a Windy Day at Beach! We always have a grand time and it's so very fun to see what everyone comes up with. For more info or to register for the class, please click here.

Below is a group of in-progress turtles from our class on July 8th:

Aren't they fabulous?! If you missed this class at Keeton's because you live too far away or had other obligations, you can alway join in the fun via TheImaginaryRealm.com! The turtle class above, Painting A Gentle Giant of the Sea, is now available for you to enjoy. The class is yours for a year and you can watch the video demos as many times as you'd like!
Please click here to sign up for the class!

Life has been rather busy lately, but I finally had a chance to meet up with Kathy from CatchingHappiness.com, the other day. As a treat, we went to Revolution Ice Cream shop and yum! We did a "sampler" so we could try six different flavors between us. They were all outstanding!

Later, I waited out a rainstorm with A Paris Life by Janice MacLeod, on loan to me from Kathy. Oh, what a treat—it's even more delicious than the ice cream! If you want to go to Paris this year without getting on a plane, I highly recommend this book. It's part sketchbook with many colorful observations scattered about the essays that capture the day-to-day adventures of Ms. MacLeod. Treat yourself, you won't be sorry!
The sketch below was started at a favorite Thai restaurant while we waited for our food to appear. I am always captivated by golden goddess statuary whenever we visit. There are several statues in the restaurant, but I always seem to sit near this one. I'll repost once the sketch is finished.

Do you sketch at restaurants? Before or after the food arrives?