2014: create every day…

Posted on January 3, 2014 by susie carranza studio

happy new year! i hope this post finds you happy and hopeful in this first week of the first month of 2014.

i wanted to share the first creative thing i’ve made this year. i’m part of a Facebook group of artists, The Studio, and the artist who created the group – April Cole – challenged us to create an art badge as a way of celebrating our one year anniversary as a group. i hadn’t participated in any of the challenges or activities so far and i signed up for this. who cared that i’d never created an art badge in my life! we were to post it on our Facebook group page on january 1st.

this is what i came up with. i covered a chipboard heart shape with a gelli print, and went at it…

…and i love it!

i chose the phrase “create every day” for my badge. i plan to place this somewhere in my work space where i can see it daily, to remind myself to really create EVERY day. even if all i can manage is a drawing in my sketchbook late at night, into the early morning hours.

CREATE. EVERY. DAY.

i’m grateful for this challenge. it made me think about what i want this year to be: creative, colorful, and full of art.

***

so, have i been creating every day? we’re three days into january, and so far, yes. if you guessed it’s late night/early morning drawings in my sketchbook – you’d be right. my days are busy right now with personal issues, but i make it a point to stay up late, pull out my Sharpies, and draw.

i have lots of plans for this year. yesterday (due to the personal issues) i decided to temporarily close both my Etsy shops. my husband (a.k.a. my shipping department!) and i need some time to focus and regroup. and just breathe! but it’s only for a short time. i have my work table going with new projects, lots of ideas jotted down in notebooks – on the first of the year i even signed up for an online course with artist Jeanne Oliver. i have lots to share and i can’t wait to get new items into the shops! (if you’d like to see what i’m up to late at night, follow me on Instagram.)

again, happy new year! and if you have a favorite word or phrase of your own, please share in the comment section!

til next time…

new items available online!

Posted on October 2, 2013 by susie carranza studio

Etsy art shop: Susie Carranza Studio

Etsy supply shop: Susie’s This & That

Arte de Nuestro Corazon online store: Arte de Nuestro Corazon

find me on Facebook: Susie Carranza Studio

peek into my sketchbook…

Posted on October 1, 2013 by susie carranza studio

happy october everyone – my favorite month! LOVE the cooling temperatures, the changing leaves, Halloween – everything!

so, i’ve always doodled. when i worked a ‘regular’ job i doodled during staff meetings, i doodled on napkins at meal times (and still do!), i doodled while on the phone…but i never really kept a sketchbook. you know, one book where i sketched out ideas. i doodled everywhere anyway, and i never sketch out a painting before i paint it, so i guess i never saw the need.

well, this past june my husband took me to Dick Blick Art Store in Pasadena for some birthday shopping. i went to just buy a Gelli plate but came home with more. you know how that happens, right? (you can check out some photos from my first time using the Gelli plate here – playing with my Gelli Plate.)

so, along with my new Gelli plate, i got some Jacquard Textile paints (which i was very excited about but haven’t used yet), a roll-up pouch for brushes & drawing supplies, and a sketchbook. and i’m enjoying it. i haven’t done alot in it yet, but i really love drawing/painting in it late at night, when everyone’s asleep and it’s quiet.

here’s a peek at a few things i’ve been doing. please forgive the not-so-good pictures; the lighting here hasn’t been great for photo taking…

so tell me – do you use a sketchbook?

new items in Etsy shop!

Posted on September 22, 2013 by susie carranza studio

i’ve been busy! i’ve been happily painting away, into the early morning hours, and i’m loving it!

creating new work really makes me happy, and with all the curve balls life has been throwing out lately, painting and drawing are really the only things keeping me sane. when i’m in the zone, everything else disappears and it’s just me and my paintbrushes. and that’s all i need in that moment. ♥

anyway, i just wanted to share a few of the new pieces i’ve added to my Etsy shop. Dia de los Muertos is so close, and i added some one-of-a-kind paper mache skulls that would be great to add to any altar, or would make beautiful gifts for anyone who loves the culture, color, and beauty that is Dia de los Muertos. you’ll also find hand painted wood birds (fun & whimsical!), crosses, and original canvas paintings and mixed media pieces – and much more.

so please – pop over to my Etsy shop now and see if there’s anything you like!
Susie Carranza Studio on Etsy

i’m off to cruise and craft…

Posted on April 22, 2013 by susie carranza studio

today i head out to Long Beach, CA to board a Carnival ship – aptly titled “Inspiration” – for this year’s Crafty Chica Art Cruise! i’ve never been and i’m looking forward to doing lots of art-ing, crafting, and meeting lots of new people – especially facebook friends i haven’t yet met in real life! i’ve heard awesome things about this cruise but never thought i’d be going on one…

i’ll have lots to share later, including how i got lucky enough to go on this cruise, and LOTS of photos, but for now, if you want some background on the Crafty Chica cruise, check it out at http://craftychicacruise.blogspot.com/p/past-cruises.html

i leave you with one of my new black and white drawings. i’m happy to say i’ve been drawing SO much again! i’m back to doing what i love and what comes naturally to me. last week was a creative week, just me + my black Sharpies + white cardstock.

there really is such satisfaction in doing what you love…