Happy 2018!

I’m not even sure where to begin. I didn’t blog for the whole of 2017, in part because I was a new mama and in part because of my crush on Instagram. You can find me there @jessiestarling. Part of me feels the need to recap the last two years, recounting the highs and lows of pregnancy, birth and new motherhood; filling in details by sharing photos of my life, child, and artwork along the way. But there really is no knowing where to start, so I’ll start with today & what I’ve been making, doing, and who with. My days are mostly filled with mothering this exuberant boy and cocreating a new life with him. There is still time for art, although it feels like a shadow of once was. The balance is getting better as he gets older and my energy returns. I’m lucky in so many ways, except that I don’t believe in luck. I believe we make our own luck by choosing ourselves and deeming that what we desire is what we deserve. I hope to always live my life in this way and to pass on a legacy self acceptance and living in joy to my sweet son. 

Sacred Pregnancy

I have become a part of a wonderful class & circle of women lately based on the book Sacred Pregnancy. It has been extraordinary to sit with other pregnant mamas, voice our hopes and fears and to create together. this creativity has extended to my visual journey where I am working through this journal with words and images. This group and my journal are my comfort and solace. If you know anyone who is pregnant, please gift them this book! There are classes based on the book all over the US, so check that out too!

Big News!

                                                               

Big news on the home front! I am expecting my first child later this summer! I lot of heart, soul, and even loss went into this decision, but already it's bringing more joy, magic, and love into my life than I ever could have imagined. Support is just coming out of the woodwork. Many thanks to those who have been there with along my path to motherhood.

Hand Lettered Sign Class

Check out the amazing work from my Hand Lettered Sign class that I taught at Two Hands Paperie. These ladies just rocked it!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2016! Here are some pieces reflecting on the growth, grief, & Gratitude of last year while calling in the magic of 2016. Big things are brewing and a lot of emotional ground has been covered. These pieces reflect me finding a space to hold the lessons and to keep the abundance flowing! 

Love of Lettering

It's that time of year again! Fall classes at the best shop in Boulder (Two Hands Paperie) have begun! On November 7, from 10:30 - 4:30 I will be teaching Love of Lettering. Hand lettering is a great joy of mine, and gets incorporated into my drawings, paintings, and mixed media journals. In this class we will create a sampler of the many different lettering styles I use, as well as a chalkboard inspired page that is beyond fun. Join me as I share my tips & tricks, favorite quotes, and passion for lettering. This class will infuse your work in a variety of new ways!

Creative Lettering Workshop

There are so many great new books on the market lately that cover one of my favorite topics, lettering. I am pleased to share a new book by Lesley Riley, Creative Lettering Workshop that also includes an interview and piece of artwork by yours truly. Most books that focus on lettering tend to veer a bit more towards calligraphy or hand lettering, whereas this book is all about combining quotes with mixed media, perfect for the visual journal! Grab a copy and check out some of the fantastic artists whose work greatly inspire me, such as Jennifer Joanou and Pam Garrison.

Orange is the New Black

More fangirling! This time it's over everybody's fav show, Orange is the New Black. I love these characters SO much I just had to do a new sketch! Enjoy!!!

More fangirl funtimes

A little Game of Thrones fangirling. Don't get me started on these two. Working on a much larger sketch from the show. If you need more now, check out Scott C. Campbell's GOT Great Showdowns. He typically illustrates showdowns from films only, but gave us all the gift of a GOT series. Love him! I obsess over his work. Do you hear me Scott, let hang out and sketch and watch movies. Stay tuned...

Fangirl Funtimes

Having fun with little watercolor sketches for Lila Rogers MATS class on the subject of being a digital nomad. Google it and tell me if it doesn't just sound like a dream job!

Just finished reading (ahem, obsessing) over the book Fangirl. Sweet story of a freshman in college, falling in love, and writing Harry Potter type fan-fiction. The book within a book of Fangirl is coming out as it's own fantasy book this fall. Hurrah for Rainbow Rowell! Loving all the fan art (Simini Blocker I'm lookin at you!) for her books so much, that I had to dabble with my own! More to come.

A World of Artist Journal Pages

Woo hoo! A new visual journaling book is out! And it features four pieces of my artwork! You can order a copy of A World of Artist Journal Pages here and please take a look at my Q&A on the author's website!

March Misc

Downton Abbey

Aaahh, Downton! I can not even believe there is just 1 episode left of the season. A season that leads me to think we may only get one more. I'm not sure if I've shared very many of these sketches, but I'm crazy about drawing these cast characters from my favorite shows. It's slow going, but hopefully I can make more and post more of them because it's the most fun side project. This is from season one and I'm thinking it's about time to make a new one. Enjoy!

My Valentine

This is what my sweet husband works on most days. The building of wooden surfboards, skateboards and stand up paddle boards. Because not only is Chad a skilled craftsman, but also an artist, he decided to hand draw the designs on these two boards with paint markers. It's crazy and detailed and beautiful. Just his style.

Because Chad is crafty and creative and will pretty much do whatever I ask, he agreed to help me by being a guinea pig for my Silhouette Stories class. We spent the afternoon journaling the main assignment and this is what he came up with. I love journaling with others, but it's extra fun seeing how your spouse takes instruction and in what wildly personal way it gets interpreted. To return the favor I was a good sport with feedback on what was/wasn't working, where we needed more time, etc. All in all a good time was had by all.

First stage of the process. Journal writing, paint, collage, mono printing and mark making.

The Silhouette gets defined.

Filling in and around the silhouettes, and adding line work and lettering. Full disclosure: Chad wants to work his page some more, but as both student and teacher's helper, he did a great job. There is a story in his piece as well as an intensity and intimacy between the figures. I'll keep you updated as it evolves!

Jan - Grey Pages

Another year of No More Excuses! This year Gina Armfield has created a whole theme around color. It's really rejuvinated my commitment to my NME journal. This is such a fun, daily diary/daily sketchbook process for me. I just love it!

Inside cover was painted with acrylic and the quote is rubber stamped. The journals tabs were hand painted and punched using a tab punch.

Using my monthly grid page as a color sampler, to do list, and place for my word/quote of the year.

More "grey" pages and a little Game of Thrones love.

Silhouette Stories class

What a great class! On Jan 31 I taught Silhouette Stories at Two Hands Paperie. We spent the day working in our journals, crafting silhouettes from textured backgrounds and finishing up by adding details such as line work and lettering. Class was fun and busy and everyone really worked hard. By the end of class everyone was working fearlessly and headed in very personal directions. It was a joy to work with this group and see what everyone created using the same steps.

Creating backgrounds in our journals.

By the end of the day, each piece becomes so personal.

The finishing details.

January - what a month!

Whew! January was a busy and productive month for me. I prepped for my Silhouette Stories class at Two Hands Paperie, taught the class last weekend, somehow managed to keep up with my MATS class and Year of painting class, and worked in my No More Excuses Calendar. February looks to be about the same, busy, busy, busy. For now I will give you a glimpse of what I worked on and will follow up with specifics on my journaling classes and other projects!

Mixed media painted creating in Alena Hennessey's Year of Painting class, incorporating my word for the year, flow. "I am rooted, but I flow." -Virginia Woolfe


Silhouette Stories journal page


Journal design created in Lila Rogers MATS Bootcamp class. Tons of sketches and ideas have come out of this first assignment and I look forward to sharing them in the future as prints, journals, stickers and cards. Keep an eye out for them!