Random Art Challenge Video Series Launch

2023 is a year for putting more creativity and positivity into the world. I recently launched the Random Art Challenge video series. I pull random prompts from a series of jars and then proceed to create a piece of art based on the prompts. The concept is very similar to the writing competitions I used to compete in and the process is extremely valuable in stretching those artistic muscles that can grow stiff of not used from time to time. If you’re looking for inspiration or simply curious to see what crazy prompts I pick, each video shares insight into the creative process and strives to educate through tips and tricks in a variety of media. So, if you’re thinking of trying a hobby but don’t know how to get started, chances are I’ve tried it and you can see how to get started. Subscribe and never miss an episode of Nicole’s Creative Life. I promise you’ll learn something and the videos are even safe for kids to watch. Download the FREE Anime Cat coloring page of the latest challenge result and join in the fun!

Ice Cream, Sanding, Drawing, and all the things

What a summer it’s been. As the pandemic continues, I find solace in my hobbies and being able to host people outside my house for ice cream socials. I tried a few different flavors this year, okay, I may have gotten carried away. Salted Caramel, Chocolate Buckeye, Thin Mint, Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet, Black Raspberry Cobbler Frozen Yogurt, Balsamic Strawberry, Butter Pecan, and Lemon Sherbet. But as sweet and delicious as those flavors are, it was even sweeter offering a place where my friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers could mix and mingle and enjoy each other’s company. Whatever resources you have handy, use them to build fellowship and community, our world needs it.

Also this summer was accented by the sounds of sanding, sanding, and more sanding. I will have a whole video and step-by-step process of my Halloween costume progress coming in the next few weeks. Spoiler alert, I’m going as Daft Punk. It’s been a learning experience with 3D printing, gluing, Bondo, sanding, priming, sanding, painting, messing up, sanding, repriming, repainting. Patience, patience, patience. Honestly I could have probably made another set of Princess of Power armor in the time I’ve spent on this ha ha.

Never pass up the opportunity to get away from a screen and stretch your drawing muscles. Now, I couldn’t get completely away from a screen because I don’t have a printer at the moment, but it felt good to get my hands on some graphite. Check out the tutorial here! When was the last time you picked up a pencil to draw just for the heck of it?

Creativity in Full Bloom: Catching Up

I’ve been so busy with so many projects, sorry it’s been a minute. My peony bushes exploded this year and I was so delighted. My house smelled like sweet roses for days. I can’t get enough of these. The white ones were the size of popcorn balls!

It’s been in the 90s lately, so you know what that means…ICE CREAM SEASON!!! Oh yeah, baby. I’m coming in hot with strawberry rhubarb sorbet, salted caramel, lemon sherbet, and chocolate buckeye ice cream. All from scratch. I have an ice cream stand at my window and hand it out to my friends, family and neighbors.

I’ve also begun production on my Halloween costume. Actually I think I started this in March but it’s been some trial and error. I will post a video of my lengthy process on my YouTube Channel: Nicole’s Creative Life. This is what happens when one of your favorite bands breaks up and you discover that the library offers 3D printing for $1 an hour. Halloween is going to rock…ROBOT ROCK!

DIY Projects: Let's Sew an Octopus Adorabilis

One of my many hobbies that I cranked to eleven during the pandemic was sewing. I have rudimentary knowledge, my mom gave me some lessons and I used to sew Barbie clothes by hand when I was in grade school and even high school for 4-H. My aunt is a professional seamstress in Texas and she sends me the most amazing remnants from her jobs (shout out to you Aunt Cyndi) and sometimes I get a print that is so bizarre that I’m like, what on earth will I make with this. Well, this Christmas I decided to make a stuffed animal for my dear friend’s daughter. I asked what her favorite animals were and she gave me a short list. When I looked up Octopus Adorabilis (scientifically known as Opisthoteuthis californiana - Look them up, your day will be made) I knew exactly what to do. You don’t often find them in plush form, so I went for it and pulled out my flaming pink upholstery fabric and orange leopard print.

Leopard print makes for good suckers.

I made the pattern from scratch and sewed the head and base separately, the little top fins, eyes, and attachment of head to base was hand sewn. This was a challenge because I forgot how much poly you have to stuff in these things to make sure they stay firm and not floppy. I wanted this thing to hold up to a lot of hugs.

The finished product.

I was so pleased with the finished product. It turned out large and substantial and is currently making a habitat in a little girl’s bedroom. She was named Adora, I’m told, and I couldn’t be more delighted. I may try some more experimental stuffed animals as I have a gargantuan bag of poly left over! What strange animal would you like to see made into a plush?

Sneak Peek: Tiny Dragons

Full step-by-step post to come, but I had to share this sneak peek of one of my latest resin projects: a series of paperweights and other artful little items that involve dioramas. As a kid, I was enchanted by anything that resembled a tiny world, which I think is common. Kids have this innate desire to create tiny worlds within bigger ones, probably as a means of feeling some sense of safety or control in an otherwise uncontrollable real world. Yes, I still have my collection of Polly Pockets. #notsorry

I found all sorts of tchotchkes while sorting things in my studio and am just starting to put them in resin. Some of which are these cool 1 inch dragons that are begging to be given homes. Fingers crossed the process works! What’s your favorite tiny world?

DIY Projects: Revisiting Resin

Back in my Blick days, I had to make some resin gems for an example project, but never really took it any further than that. So when I was given an Amazon gift card, I did what any sane COVID-era hermit would do, blow it on another hobby. I’d seen some cool and inspiring pieces on Pinterest and Instagram, which my brain interprets as “hey, I can do that!” I started with a sweet paperweight and some scrap jewelry chain.

I used Dr. Resin brand resin, which was the 16oz $14.99 kit from Amazon along with a $14.99 Silicone Casting Molds Set. I had some Pearl Ex powder and glitter in my cache of art supplies. Heated up my resin in a plastic bag in water in a mini crock pot. Make sure you wear gloves, have good ventilation, and mix in very small batches. A heat gun or lighter can help get rid of bubbles.

I’m gonna look so baller at the arcade tonight.

The giddy 80s child inside me was dancing around when I removed these pieces from the molds. They set in 24hrs and were fully cured in 72hrs. The little metal moons are from a nail art kit. Can’t wait to make these into earrings and other jewelry. OTHER TIPS: Stir the resin with the hardener for a full 7 minutes. Use scotch tape to get dust particles out of silicone molds. Don’t mix the powders in the molds just mix and pour from the silicone mixing cups. Also don’t scrape the the mixing cups, there’s a chance that some didn’t mix in the corners.

Meteorite Jewelry: Wearable space fragments

I’ve made jewelry since high school. My mom and I would sell it at the local Riverfront Market during the summer months and it was so much fun. I still have thousands of beads, bits, and bobs in my studio, so every now and again I sit down and tinker with ideas. Years ago, I was captivated by a local curiosities shop that sold bits of campo del cielo meteorite from Argentina. I’ve since ordered more and made different types of jewelry out of them. There’s something so cool about holding a weighty iron space rock in your hands (though technically every rock is a space because we are on a rock floating through space). If you fancy these, they are available in my Etsy shop.

“Clever girl.”

White Leather Purse Makeover

Back when I used to work for Blick Art Materials, I would get tapped to try new products. Even though I mainly produced catalog, ad, and email designs, once in a while they needed to feature something new for photography or social media. These Angelus Leather Dyes are so fun (and messy) to play with. I scored this little plain white leather purse from a local thrift store for a few dollars.

I picked a design that would be striking with high contrast, but also that would only use maybe 2 or 3 colors. I drew out the design with a light colored pencil or skinny marker. It was going to get covered up so it didn’t need to be very dark.

Do as I say, don’t do as I do, ha ha! I highly recommend putting plastic a sheet down on your work surface. Wear an apron and gloves—this stuff stains! It’s designed to dye animal skin (use real leather not pleather) so it will stain your skin for some time. It works a lot like ink or watercolor. It can be diluted with the neutral clear color they sell in the shop. This stuff will not wash off, crack, or peel—it’s a stain. I recommend getting some leather scraps to practice on.

Here’s the finished product! I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I look forward to experimenting further with the Angelus dyes. So many colors, so many possibilities. I only used the purple and red colors on this particular purse.