Friday Feature - Artefleur

Happy Friday! Sunday!

     There is something undeniably romantic about studying Fine Art in Paris. And when that wisdom is carried to the 7th most romantic city in the world, magic happens. Today's interview is with fine artist painter Artefleur.  Her Parisian background mixed with early San Francisco influence creates lively, exciting art with a subtle sophistication.  Currently, her work is being featured at the Alliance Française in San Francisco. Enjoy the interview!

Big Fish

1. What is your shop name and URL? 

Artefleur http://www.etsy.com/shop/artefleur?ref=si_shop

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

I only belong to Sfetsy ;-)

3. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I sell paintings and jewelry in my little Etsy shop.

I studied Fine Art and Art History in Paris, France. I mostly do acrylic on canvas, but i'm starting oil again...

My paintings depict scenes of San Francisco History. After showing my work, some of my friends and clients told me how fun it would be to wear my work. I started painting on clothes and making jewelry. 

I don't sell my paintings on clothes through Etsy because it's a process in which I need a lot of interaction with the client. But you can find some of my jewelry pieces on Etsy. I make miniature prints of my paintings and I set them in pendants. Each pendant is different and unique, not only because it's one of my paintings, but because  each of them have different details in the pendant or in the chain that I make. I like to use all kinds of pieces that I recycle: broken chain, keys, glass beads, buttons and ribbons....

Lady with a Gold Fan Pendant

4. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you. 

I'm from Paris, France. I used to live downtown in the latin quarter and because I studied art for 13 years, I spent a lot of time in museums and art galleries. I'm very influenced by the work of Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt and Frida Kahlo. I like their use of color and the different atmospheres they develop in their artwork. I try to go back to France once a year to refresh my memory and get the inspiration I need to keep on painting.

5. What inspires your creations?

For a few years now, I'm inspired by San Francisco and it's history, the Gold Rush, the 1906 Earthquake, the Barbary Coast, the great white shark and other sea monsters, etc...I moved to the area almost 10 years ago and at that time I didn't speak any english. My husband enrolled me in a free english class for new immigrants. The first class wasn't an english lesson but an earthquake survival course. it was quite a shock.  Being from Paris, we don't have earthquakes or Tsunamis over there. I researched the subject and started painting about it. It was a way to learn more about the history and the people of a country I was discovering.

Ikue

6. If you had to live out the rest of your life as a famous fictional character, who would you be and why? 

I would be Scarlett O'hara in "Gone with the Wind".  She's strong and resourceful.  

7. If you had to be an animal for one week, which animal would you choose to be? And what would you do? 

I would be a mermaid. I'd try to let people know about the ocean and how to take care of it.

8. If money were no object for just one day, what would you do? 

I'd play all the numbers at the lotteries. I would win of course, then money wouldn't be a problem anymore...(I'll share)

9. If your life was a book, what would be the title and how would your story end? 

"San Francisco on Fire"  But, at the end everybody would survive and live happily forever...

Portrait of a Lady with a Fur Coat

10. What does buying and selling local handmade mean to you, and how has it affected your life? 

I like when it's not made by a machine or someone on the other side of the planet. That it's hand crafted here by someone inspired by things I like too. That it's made by someone who's sharing something with me, his knowledge, his vision, his palette of colors. That we have something in common. It creates links between people, and the handmade object has more value because of that. I like the story behind the object.

11. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your shop or your work?

I like to make all kind of things, transformation is my way in life. I paint on canvas but also on furniture, clothes, hats, shoes, rocks or pots etc...

Painting is a technique that changes the life of the object it's interacting with. Inserting a print of my painting in a pendant gives it another life and in a way touches another life.  Art is a way to connect with people and that's what's important for me.

12. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

you can see my work right now in San Francisco at the Alliance
Française http://www.afsf.com/event-spolidor.shtml until the end of October

my web site is artefleur.com 

and on FB http://www.facebook.com/artefleurcom?ref=hl

on twitter https://twitter.com/Artefleur

you can find some of my prints at Back to the picture on Valencia St http://www.backtothepicture.com/

and my jewelry for kids at Scribble me Happy in San Mateo http://www.scribblemehappy.com/

you can also find my tutorial on you tube http://www.youtube.com/user/artifleur?feature=guide

and my blog http://fleurstudio.blogspot.com/

Friendship

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

Tuestorials: Gold Bootie Redo

Ankle boots or booties are everywhere now. I have a small collection I wear year-round that is starting to show it's use. On my boots, the heels are the first to go. Rather than throw out that pair, I decided to give it some love and add some fun too. If you do not have a pair of booties laying around, you can easily find a cheap pair at Payless Shoes or your local Goodwill.

Not Many Materials Needed to Create Your New Look!

Materials

• Old ankle boots or booties
• Gold paint (spray paint works too!)
• Brush
• Painter's tape
• Newspaper or paper bag (for protection)

Booties Needing an Update!

Step 1:

Select boots with a defined heel and take note of the material. The boots I selected are made of faux suede and I used a fast dry enamel paint (in a "gold leaf" shade).

It's Ready!

Step 2:

Clean the area you want to paint and apply painter’s tape around it. On my boot, I applied painter's tape around the top of the heel.

Step 3:

Apply paint. For gold paint on black boots, apply two coats. Dry in-between for best results.

New Dancing Shoes!

Step 4:

After the paint dries, remove painter's tape and admire your work! Your new shoes are now ready to party. Adding glitter or stripes to the heels are good remix ideas too. Be inspired by your craft closet to create a new look!

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

SF Etsy & Rickshaw Bags Design Contest

About a month ago, Rebecca Saylor strolled into Rickshaw Bagworks to collect some heavyweight fabric scraps that they were donating to Fabmo - along with some bags they made for volunteers.

Little did she know...she would spark a partnership that could very well go down in SF Etsy history.

Meet Mark Dwight...Founder & CEO of Rickshaw Bagworks. He's also the Founder of SFMade.

He's a completely talented and creative individual who really knows what it's like to start something from a small seedling of an idea - into something really special.

Read all about Rickshaw Bags and tell me you're not already feeling inspired by these people.

He heard about us through the SF grapevine and he said to Rebecca - I want to team up with SF Etsy and wanted to see if we would like to work together on some fun projects....and Rebecca said "I'll connect you!" The excitement was in the air.

I could hear the smile in Rebecca's voice when she called to tell me about partnering with them.  Shortly after, she connected me with Mark and the three of us started to coordinate a series of partnerships with Rickshaw Bagworks for SF ETSY MEMBERS ONLY :-)!! Yay'

The First partnership starts now...

THE DESIGN CONTEST!

I personally am completely thrilled by this contest...and I just know you all will be, too. Bag makers, embroidery artists and painters/illustrators will LOVE this project.

Basic Concept:

Design the front flap of a Rickshaw Bagworks Medium Zero Messenger Bag.

Materials You Can Use (limitations on material usage):

• For Illustrators/Screenprinters/Painters - use 10 oz. weight canvas & screen printing paint. Make sure you waterproof it also just in case it gets caught in the rain when it's made into a bag
• Bag Designers - heavy-weight upholstery fabric or anything that is 10 oz. weight or more. You can do a quilting technique or use your sewing machine to patch on different pieces to the front flap...the world is your oyster. You can even add a pocket to the front also (sorry, no button though)
• For Embroidery: see above. :) You can embroider on any heavy-weight fabric 10 oz. weight or more.

NO GLITTER - NO SEQUINS - NO FEATHERS - NO EXTRA PARTS

Nothing that could get stuck in a machine when being cut or assembled. 

Bag design should lay flat and be easy to fold up... nothing too thick, sticky or messy.

If you use any of the restricted materials, your submission will be disqualified.

The Pattern:

Download and view the pattern below

http://www.katyatchison.com/messengerBag_rickshawZero_medium_SFETSYFLAP.jpg

your submission will be is 20" by 15"
Keep your main design in the safe area shown below

PLEASE DO NOT CUT IT INTO A FLAP SHAPE

(that way, if you want to make this into a bag yourself later,
you can still do that and have them cut it for you)



Rebecca Saylor's flap design and the color swatches

Designing your one-of-a-kind flap...is really fun!



Mark of Rickshaw Bags hard at work with Rebecca's flap design

Here's a photo Astra Brinkmann took of me working on my bag design

How to submit your flap design:

Send a scan or a take a photo of your bag flap to me (Katy) by September 15th.

I will create a mock-bag with your design for voting.

Make sure you send in the best quality photo to get the most votes!
ONLY ONE DESIGN PER SF ETSY MEMBER

BAG EXAMPLES:
Here are the two bags designed from the flaps that Rebecca and I made. Notice that she used a quilting/sewn technique and I used a painting technique on my flap.

You can really individualize your design to suit your artistic style.


Flap design by Rebecca Saylor using heavy-weight upholstery

Detail shot of Rebecca's Bag - all photos taken by Rickshaw Bagworks



Detail shot of Katy's finished bag



Flap design by Katy Atchison - later assembled and built by Rickshaw Bagworks



This is what the mock design will look like for voting

Voting & How You Win:

Voting will begin on September 18th and will end September 24th on our Facebook Page. The winner will be announced at a September 25th event (see below). To win: you must have the highest COMBINED total of likes and comments for your bag design.

What you win:

You get your one-of-a-kind bag made - for free 
by Rickshaw Bagworks

Valued at over $89. You'll get to completely customize the color combination of your bag by choosing the final colors for the inside, outside and piping of the bag.

Why You want to be part of this:

EXPOSURE! Every design submitted will be posted on our Facebook Page with a link to your shop. We will have blog postings about the contest. And a whole event to announce the winner, too!

Not only that - you'll get the opportunity to really show Rickshaw Bagworks what you're all about...and YOU can build this bag later yourself if you want and wear it around to show off your brand and what you're work is all about.

WINNER ANNOUNCED DURING THE

SF ETSY EVENT @ RICKSHAW BAGS

SEPTEMBER 25th @6pm
904 22nd Street – San Francisco, CA
Right next to 22nd Street Cal Train Station

During our exclusive SF Etsy Event at Rickshaw Headquarters

FREE beverages will be provided by Speakeasy Beer! YUM!

All SF Etsy members can come to this free event! If you designed a flap - please, bring it to the event to show it off to Rickshaw and so we can create a pop-up gallery for all of us to talk about and enjoy during the event. We'll be hanging them all up and admiring your work.

Plus! Added bonus for attending: Rickshaw Bagworks wants to talk to YOU about teaming up with them to create limited edition bags. You do the fun part - put your spin on the front of the bag...

and then they assemble bags to your specs! Come hang with us and Rickshaw Bags (drink a free beer!)  and see why they want to work with you - help you expand your business into the art of making bags along side Rickshaw Bagworks via small batch one-of-a-kind bags & in-store consignment opportunities.  Imagine having access to an industrial sewing machine - a team of people to assemble your work - and a whole company wanting to help you ...create something... magical!

Plus, Mark will talk all about SFMade - what it is & how to join!

Questions?

Ask me or Rebecca if you are struggling with any part of this. We want to make this a fun project for each of you! 

HUGE THANK YOU to Rebecca Saylor. This has been her vision and we are so lucky to have her on our team!

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature: Jen Norton Art Studio

I had such a lovely time perusing the shop of this week's featured SF Etsy teammate! Allow me to introduce Jen, the artist behind Jen Norton Art Studio.

Woman With Patience by Jen Norton

Jen's shop tagline is "Picturing Stories of of Home" which is an excellent way to describe her images. From portraiture to architecture, her pictures definitely tell stories, and home is clearly a significant part of her art. I loved learning more about her and her work, getting some insights into the creative spirit behind such beautiful pictures.

Love Your Neighbor by Jen Norton

Enjoy the interview!


1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I am a painter and graphic designer so I enjoy both the emotional involvement of putting paint to canvas and the technical/communication side of taking that art and designing it into something else. My shop features reproductions of my artwork and occasionally some small originals. I sell archival prints on paper, prints on weatherproof aluminum, and canvas prints on carved and painted wood. My subjects are always something inspired by my home, my garden or something from my own life. I have a Bachelors in Fine Art from Santa Clara University and I know my desire to put out positive, uplifting content that celebrates everyday moments comes in part from that Jesuit tradition.

 2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

SFetsy, Art, CAST, South Bay, DiversiTeam

3. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I am married to a San Francisco Paramedic who recently became an RN, and is now looking to bring his triage and nursing skills to a Bay Area ER! I also have a wonderful daughter and a trusty dog companion. Every day after school, my house is overrun with teenagers who eat everything in sight and leave a big mess! I was painfully shy as a kid and still prefer a good book to a big party.

4. What inspires your creations?

As a mom of a really popular kid who brings all kinds of kids into our home, and a wife who has had to work hard with her husband to fix some broken elements in our 22+ year relationship, I feel very strongly about the vocation of nurturing family life as a means to a more peaceful world. There is so much pain and judgement in the world…and so much of it could be alleviated if we prioritized our closest relationships and gave each other a chance to be heard. Art allows me to present this in a positive, nurturing way so that others know I do not judge, but am on the same journey with them.

5. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Getting enough views and converting viewers to buyers. I'm slowly picking away at my inevitable fame…

6. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

Custom Home Portrait by Jen Norton

I just added "custom home portraits". I really like these because each of us has stories and memories made in our homes. Personal stories are important, and I want to honor them in art. 

7. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy? You have to cross promote yourself. Don't rely on Etsy traffic. I did a very targeted month of daily art and blog posts in 2011. During that time, I sold almost 1/2 of what I posted. When I stopped blogging and connecting thru my own social media channels, sales dropped off again. Also, really think about your brand, your message to the world and not just about listing "stuff". Developing a brand is your best investment in a devoted following, and your best hedge against thieves.

8. Which one song describes your life the best? Why?

"If These Walls Could Speak" by Amy Grant (originally by Jimmy Webb). It's all about what we really want (Love) underneath everything else we do or don't say. It's about forgiveness and accepting family unconditionally. (And I'm kind of an Amy Grant super-fan. )

9. What is the craziest gift you have ever received?

One of those big kickboxing freestanding bags.

10. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

Blog
Facebook 
Twitter 
Pinterest 

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

Inspired by Handmade - Pack it up, pack it in

This weekend I'm on a short trip to see family in Southern Idaho.
Although this trip is short...a summer trip to Idaho is something I've grown fond of. Born in Blackfoot, ID but raised in The Bay (and having a summer cabin in Montana)...road trips and airplane travel is part of my summer vacation each year....traveling is where I learned how to crochet...it's where I learned how to cross-stitch, I drew in my journals and it's where I found the most pleasure listening to Operation IV and Rancid as loud as I could (without my Dad hearing my music).

Packing up my things I thought of our Etsy team and how many of our members have such great items that are perfect for a road trip or a couple of hours on a plane with nothing else to do but waste a bit of time.

So this week, I'm in inspired by things you can bring with you while you travel. Functional pieces...things that I could use each year on my voyage to Montana and Idaho. Some of these items are from team members and some are just from our local community. I think you'll be inspired to get on the road to new adventures with these great finds!





1. bring a hat...buy something small that you can stuff into a small corner of your bag... this Cashmere Wool blend Handmade Cycling Cap by alloneword is a great travel companion! it will keep some of the sun out of your eyes while also keeping your head warm. The nights up in Montana can get really cool and I could also see myself using this on a morning hike around the lake.

2. a pillow is a must have! But not a huge pillow...come on...no need to pack yourself a large pillow... if you're on a plane, having a pillow to rest your head on while you take a little snooze is a luxury... have one that is totally AWESOME like this Day of the Dead pillow from MiVidaCreations just makes you look like that totally awesome traveler that you are.

3. Keep a log! I like to make Sketch Diaries of my trips. It's a way of being in the moment for me and also a way to remember how many great memories I have without being tied down with a camera in hand. punkrawkpurl makes some great little moleskin journals that are perfect for taking with you on a vacation! She's at the Hecho Local Event this Sunday...so save on some shipping and visit her if you have time.

4. pack an extra bag! I now what you're thinking...an extra bag? More stuff?! But seriously...putting a small tote into your suitcase will give you some flexibility on the road. What if you wanted to stop by that fruit stand you saw a mile back? All you'd have to do is have a tote like this one from jenspillydesigns and you're good to go! Not to mention, if you're anything like me...I always end up with too many things on the trip back to fit into my suitcase.

5. Pack the First Aid kit! Okay...so maybe you dont' need one of these if you're flying...but how great would it be to have one of these handy when on a road trip? I love that this particular one by ReCultivation is vintage. Seriously, I'm one of those people who gets headaches from too much sun and also burns easily...having some aspirin, aloe and sunscreen by me on a road trip is a must! (can you tell I'm Irish? ha!)

6. A gift for the hostess. Packing a small gift for the hostess will make your vacation all that much sweeter! I like giving handmade soaps or scrubs to my hostesses. This one is just lovely to look at and doesn't break the bank! Plus, this soap by ettaandbillie is Rosemary Lemon... Mmmmmm... it'll make the clothes you pack it by smell that much sweeter!

7. Kill the boredom! I was pretty excited to see that Even Howard (nadene) had some great little DIY Kits on her Etsy. Yay! Her things are so beautiful and now I can work on killin' the time with something creative to keep my hands and mind busy.

8. Rock ON with ya bad self! Don't forget your iPod for some tunes along the way... when we drive out through Nevada, it's really VERY important to bring something to break up the trip and the radio stations are pretty much not happenin'. I love the iPod cases that EvelynX makes... she even has some that are made to order! Maybe you can get it personalized also so everyone knows how prepared you are for some rockin' out!! :)

What types of activities did your family do while you went on road trips as a kid? What traditions do you now have with your kids? I'm curious how many of us learned some of our go-to crafts while we sat behind our parents at the wheel.

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature -- Devika's Art

This week's featured Etsy artist is Devika of Devika's Art. I love the paintings in her shop! They are so vibrant and look so full of texture and interest -- they are the kind of paintings I see online and think, "Oh! I'd love to see that in person!"

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I create acrylic and mixed media paintings. I am architect by profession, so I have sketched, painted and drawn for a long time, but as far as my paintings go, I am mostly self taught except for an oil painting class I took few years back and a couple of seminars here and there.

2. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I am the wife of an awesome man and mom of 2 equally awesome girls:-)

I am a foodie and love hanging out and vacationing with friends.

3. What inspires your creations?

Almost all my creations are inspired by nature and its elements. I draw a lot of inspiration from my Indian roots, its fabrics, weaves, spices and festivals!

4. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Getting found on Etsy is the biggest challenge I think. You get buried so fast, if you not on top of it.

5. If you had a gift certificate to Etsy for any one item you wanted, what would you buy?

I would love to get this table

6. Tell us about your first sale ever?

My first sale ever was to a couple we are good friends with, but the sale that I got a kick out of, was to a French couple who walked into my home then, where I was hosting a show (in Bangalore, India) looked at a piece titled "The Deep" and in an instant they bought it. I will never forget that one!

7. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

I have a website where you can see all my current work and also my commissioned
and sold work.
You can also email me.
I do plan to start blogging someday(soon):-)

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tuestorial: Group Painting Project

So I've been trying to think of an interactive Group Craft Project that could be fun for a group of friends to do together at a Craft Night as an Ice Breaker...
I guess I'm mentally preparing myself for this weekend's awesome Etsy Party!
Last night I tried out one of my ideas with a group of friends at my house.

THE PROJECT:
Pass The Painting
THE GOAL:
Break the Ice, have fun, giggle and take home a treat!

THE CREW! Some Artistic and Wonderfully fun people...
You'll want more than one person...preferably 4 or more for best results.

Allie Felton (Organizer)
Katy Atchison (Hostess)
Allie Zee
Angela Holmes
Also my friend Stu and his girlfriend came...which made a nice sized group of six people.

A spin off the Drawing Game, Pass the Garbage...this is pretty much exactly the same as that but more challenging because you have to have a basic understanding of how to paint or draw on a canvas.

Materials Needed:
Canvases (I bought a 10-pack of pre-stretched canvases at Aaron Brothers for $21), Acrylic Paint (because it's fast drying), Sharpies & Markers for detailing if you want...timer, water for cleaning, and various brushes.

STEP ONE:
Hand each participant a Blank Canvas...
On the back of the canvas...have them write one sentence that describes the painting.
Be Imaginative! The crazier your sentence is...the more creative your other players get to be.
My Sentence: "Don't judge a rainy day by the unicorns eating ice cream in a sailboat by the bay."



STEP TWO:
Pass the Painting to your left!
Without revealing your sentence to the group...pass the painting to the first artist.
It's fun for the artists to get to read your sentence as they receive the painting.



STEP THREE:
Each artist has 5 minutes with the canvas at a time.
Set the timer the minute people start to paint on the canvases.

You can increase or decrease the amount of time that you give each person...but please note that every person around the table will get 5-10 minutes with your canvas and you'll need to also have a bit of drying time at the end. Therefore, in this case...since there were 6 people who were part of this Painting Party, we were painting for 45 min. to an hour.

STEP FOUR:
Paint! Taking inspiration from the sentence on the back...paint on the canvas in front of you... Try to leave some room for other participants...but get creative...and QUICK! part of the fun is that you don't have a lot of time to think about what you're going to be painting.
Plus, if you're not a skilled painter...you're welcome to just doodle a little flower in the ground or paint some background color in during your 5 minute turn. Also remember that the painting you're working on isn't going to end up being yours...so don't be afraid!

STEP FIVE:
Be sure to let your paintings dry before your friends leave your house....or ask them to be careful while traveling home. What's fun about this game is that everyone takes home a memory of the evening.

STEP SIX:
Present your work to the group.
At the end... stand up and read your original sentence to the group....showing your masterpiece to everyone at the same time.
Here are some of what we did!








ADVANTAGES TO THIS STYLE OF GROUP CRAFT:
No directions... allowing people the freedom to go crazy with no directions to follow also allows you to really get to know the artists around you.

DIS-ADVANTAGES TO THIS STYLE OF GROUP CRAFT:
you need to have the space and the time to do it. A bit messy as well...but I didn't mind using my large craft table for it. Also...it takes a lot of letting go and allowing yourself to not get hung up in the end result. Personally, I like the surprise of it all. Some artists also don't like the pressure of having to work on something for 5-10 minutes...but others really like that type of challenge.

Here's the aftermath of the project: (can you tell we really got into it?)


Have any of you done something similar? What are you most looking forward to this weekend?

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Recommit to Being Awesome - GET YOUR PAINT ON!

brushes in mati's studio
photo by kelly rae roberts

Now that we're a few weeks into the new year, let's check in... How have you done with YOUR resolutions?

We all might have asked ourselves to recommit to eating better and exercising more, but how many of us asked ourselves to be more creative?

That's one of the greatest resolutions to ever give yourself!

With more creativity, you're able to open up a whole new world of awesomeness. And I happen to know a couple of people who can help you be more awesome, too!

lisa and mati at their joint art show in 2009
photo by kelly rae roberts

Lisa Congdon and Mati McDonough are joining forces next week to teach people from all over how to work their raddness all over the canvas with Get Your Paint On . This "5-week online tutorial course in painting... is designed to support both beginning painters and more experienced artists... while [Lisa + Mati] share their unique and colorful  approach to painting in a warm and welcoming environment."

Two very successful artists (featured in various books, shows, galleries and, of course, Etsy) who make amazing art want to show other people how to make art for 5 weeks? That's pretty awesome.

There are lot of areas that Get Your Paint On will cover (i.e. using colour, creating beautiful composition), but the best part will be the creative online community in which so many of us already thrive! Your fellow artisans will be honing their skills or picking up a new one; this seems like a good time of year to recommitt to being awesome!

Check out more info about Get Your Paint On here! 

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Steph Cortés from nerd JERK is the Roving Reporter, on the SF Etsy Blog Team. She enjoys going out to new crafting events and supporting the handmade movement. Look forward to more reports on her artsy shenanigans in weeks to come.

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!