TIME TRAVELER | Online Class

Time Traveler - Online Workshop Kalbach Koopsen Valk

I’m beyond happy to announce I’m part of this very special workshop – Time Traveler!

I’m teaching along with my amazing friends Nathalie Kalbach and Birgit Koopsen in this three-week online workshop that goes on sale today and begins on August 17th.

Become a Time Traveler with us! With this course, Nat, Birgit and I will help guide you through space and time, finding inspiration from different eras in history.

Each teacher has chosen a time and will show you mixed media techniques and design motifs inspired by their modern take on that period.

The goal is to create three different handmade book projects using Gelli® plate printmaking techniques and favourite mixed media techniques unique to each teacher.

You will get three different artistic perspectives and oodles of fun and creative ideas to try.

Sign up TODAY for Early Bird pricing: Today, 5 through 8 August 11.59 EST this course is just $89 USD. From 9 to 17 August 11.59 EST Time Traveler will be $99 USD. And then, from 18 August the course will be its regular price of $139 USD.

Check out the promo video below:

Time Traveler will begin on 17 August and will run for three weeks, with a new video publishing each day.

There will be a total of 21 videos, over five hours of video in total, as well as supply lists and additional lesson content in the classroom to help you along the way.

All the videos are downloadable and available to you to enjoy at your own pace.

Here are some of the topics covered in this workshop:

  • Mixed Media techniques
  • Gelli Arts® gel plate printmaking techniques
  • Bookbinding techniques
  • Tips and tricks for translating inspiration into art
  • Creative ideas to take to all your artmaking, art journaling, cardmaking, and beyond!

Sign up HERE for this one-of-a-kind take on creating personal, expressive mixed media art in book form from three talented teachers.

Time Traveler - Online Workshop Kalbach Koopsen Valk

n*Studio | Hex Marks The Spot

It’s my turn on the n*Studio blog today! Which means that it’s time to share last month’s project with you here.

Hex Marks The Spot

Last month Nat’s Creative Squad was asked to use the Hex Set Large rubber stamps and, to think about what we treasure.

You can read the story behind this page and, a step-by-step description of how I made it here on Nathalie’s blog: Hex Marks The Spot – Marsha Valk

Food For Thought

While you’re there you may also want to have a look at my lighthearted take on this month’s prompt: Food For Thought – Marsha Valk

n*Studio | Pastel Dreams

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Pastel Dreams art journal pageYou may have noticed that I’ve rejoined Nathalie Kalbach’s Creative Squad and, it’s my turn on the n*Studio blog today! Which means that it’s time to share last month’s project with you here!

Pastel Dreams

Last month the n*Studio Creative Squad was asked to go pastel with our colour palettes and to create with Nat’s Large Floral Tile stamp set.

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Pastel Dreams

The pastel theme reminded me of Mrs Prysselius, one of the characters in the old Pippi Longstocking films.

In the Dutch translation of the Astrid Lindgren books Mrs Prysselius is called aunt Pastellia, so that’s the name she goes by for me.

You can read the full story and watch the step-by-step video here on Nathalie’s blog: Pastel Dreams – Marsha Valk

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Feel The Rhythm

While you’re there you may also want to have a look at the video I did for April: Feel The Rhythm – Marsha Valk

Hex Marks The Spot

And, last but not least, my Creative Squad project for June is available right here: Hex Marks The Spot – Marsha Valk

n*Studio | Vacation Mode

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Vacation Mode

It’s my 25th turn on the n*Studio blog today! Which is super cool but also bittersweet as it’s actually my goodbye post…

I’m leaving the n*Studio Creative Squad!

I’ve just had a look at all of the projects I created in the past two years. Wow, did I make a lot of different things! And I remember all of the projects well, not in the least because Nat and Kim always make sure that there is an excellent theme for each month.

I can honestly say that there is a story behind every single n*Studio project I did and to me that makes my time with the Squad really special. The combination of the themes and Nat’s stamps and stencils challenged me in the very best way possible.

I experimented, even made some videos and always tried to come up with something fun. I’m incredibly thankful that Nat invited me to be part of her awesome team and it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of it!

There’s an overview of all of my projects (and that of my fellow Squad members) on the Creative Squad page on Nat’s website, if you’d like to have a look too!

This month’s theme is Vacation Mode, and there’s a step-by-step of how I created the cards above here: Vacation Mode – Marsha Valk

Enjoy your day!

n*Studio | My Fire Burns Bright

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: My Fire Burns Bright \\ You Won't Know Until You Begin Art Journal Page

It’s my turn on the n*Studio blog today! Which means that it’s time to share last month’s project with you here!

My Fire Burns Bright

Last month the n*Studio Creative Squad was asked to create with Nat’s City Streets Art Foamies and tell about something that makes our creative fire burn brightly.

I told about Creative JumpStart and how I discovered Mystele Kirkeeng last year. I’m super stoked she’s back again this year and… her video went up yesterday!

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: My Fire Burns Bright \\ JumpUpJumpBack Art Journal Page

You can read the full story on Nathalie’s blog: My Fire Burns Bright – Marsha Valk

Not signed up for CJS 2018 yet? It’s not too late! I would love it if you joined us!

Go to Creative JumpStart 2018 (affiliate link) to find out more!

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: My Fire Burns Bright \\ Just Take My Hand Art Journal Page

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: My Fire Burns Bright \\ Jump To The Left Art Journal Page

My Home is My Castle

Curious about my Creative Squad project for January? Then head on over here: My Home is My Castle – Marsha Valk

Inspired by | Stone Mattress: Nine Tales by Margaret Atwood

Inspired by: a monthly creative blog series by Riikka Kovasin and Marsha Valk

Hi there! It’s the 10th today, and I’ve got a new instalment of Inspired by for you!

The theme this time is… Stone Mattress: Nine Tales by Margaret Atwood.

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Stenen Matras

Het stenen matras

I read the Dutch translation, which I found in my local library. As the English title suggests, there are nine stories in the book. The first three stories are connected, and that confused me, as I was expecting stories, and then it seemed like I was reading chapters instead.

I’m not a massive fan of bundled stories. I prefer a longer, more in-depth story that I can’t wait to get back to when I have more time to read. With stories, you have to start over again and again and again.

I didn’t like all of the stories in this book, but I did enjoy most of them. The characters are dark, strange, evil, revengeful and a bit crazy.

Whilst I was reading, I kept seeing scenes that made me wish I was an illustrator: the indigo and emerald bees of Alphinland in the first story, the twins in the third story or the contents of a storage facility in the fifth one.

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Stenen Matras // art journal page

The project

The bees kept popping back into my head, so I decided to try and draw those. Which was even harder than I imagined, but it was nevertheless a fun exercise.

I used Derwent Inktense pencils to sketch and colour with. They are water-soluble, but permanent once dry, so I could work in several layers.

I also used red watercolour for the background, a black permanent fineliner for the outlines and a white Stabilo All to write.

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Stenen Matras // art journal page

I finish the page with gold and bronze ink splatters. They represent the tears of the lady that is connected to the long black hair.

Conclusion

It took a long time before I felt like this page was presentable. Watercolour skills have been on my wishlist for far too long. Drawing skills too ;-). Maybe that’s something I can work on in the new year.

Of course, I’m also bothered by the colours of the bees in the middle panel. The blue one should have been green and vice versa. But I realised too late, and because I sketched with coloured pencils, there was no turning back. Which is fine. Life is too short to fret over sketchbook pages!

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Stenen Matras // art journal page

Be sure to check out what Riikka has made this month on her blog Paperiliitin. I’ve already seen a glimpse, and I love it!

Take care and have a wonderful week!

Inspired by: a monthly creative blog series by Riikka Kovasin and Marsha Valk Inspired by is a blog series by my friend Riikka and I. We decide on a theme (and that theme can be anything from a film, a book, a painting, to an item, colour scheme or material), and then we create something with that theme or thing in mind.

We keep what we’re making a secret until reveal day on the 10th when we show you and each other our creations.

n*Studio | Each Day is a New Adventure + Colours Are My Friends

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Each Day is a New Adventure // art journal page

It’s my turn on the n*Studio blog today! Which means that it’s time to share last month’s project with you here! In fact, I have two to share this time, because I seem to have missed one…

Each Day is a New Adventure

Last month the n*Studio Creative Squad was asked to try something new in our art-making.

I had just bought a brand new set of Ecoline Brush Pens, and I decided to break them in on this little journal page, using some of Nathalie’s stamps.

Read the how-to in this post on Nathalie’s blog: Each Day is a New Adventure – Marsha Valk

Colours Are My Friends

Aren’t you wondering what I was wearing whilst creating this journal page? Well… my new apron of course!

Marsha Valk | n* Studio: Colours Are My Friends // apron stamped with ArtFoamies

Read the how-to for this one in this post on Nathalie’s blog: Colors Are My Friends – Marsha Valk

Marsha Valk | n*Studio : My Fire Burns Bright // detail of art journal page

My Fire Burns Bright

Curious about my project for December? Head on over here: My Fire Burns Bright – Marsha Valk

Don’t miss it, because I talk about Creative JumpStart and how it always inspires me!

Not signed up for CJS 2018 yet? I would love it if you would join us! Go to Creative JumpStart 2018 (affiliate link) to find out more!

Birgit’s Mixed Media Art Crew | Imagine A World Where

Marsha Valk | BMMAC: Imagine A World Where

It’s Wednesday today, so that means there is a new Mixed Media Art Crew post up on Birgit Koopsen’s blog!

The theme this month is ‘Imagine a world where…’ and I tried to come up with a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Visit Birgit’s blog to see what I did!

Enjoy your Wednesday!

PS. The $40 early bird deal for Creative JumpStart 2018 ends tonight Nov 29 at 11.59 pm EST! Sign up here: CJS 2018 if you haven’t already! (affiliate link)