Happy Creative Memories
Although I am Jewish and don’t have a Christmas tree in my own home, I have many happy memories creating holiday crafts in Girl Scouts. In addition, I have always loved beautiful art from around the world and the ornaments and traditions of holiday celebrations from multiple faiths.
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For many years, I created ornaments for sale, and you have asked to learn how to create these mixed media wonders in an online class.
But rather than just offer a class in my ornaments, I wanted to offer a holiday art class that represented the variety in regional, religious and cultural holiday celebrations from across the world and for that I needed help.
A Little Help from my Friends
My first step was to contact talented artists whose artwork I admired and who represented a multicultural view of the holidays to join the class teaching team. The team includes artists from Mexico to Germany and across the country from the West Coast and Midwest as well as a few New Yorkers like myself.
Let’s Introduce the Handcrafted Holidays Teaching Team!
About Me (Miriam Schulman)
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| Miriam Schulman, founder of The Inspiration Place |
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m an artist and founder of The Inspiration Place, where I help other artists learn how to profit from their passion. Through online classes, business coaching programs, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped thousands of artists around the world develop their skill sets and create more time and freedom to do what they love. My signature coaching program, The Artist Incubator, helps artists go from so-so sales to sold-out collections.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and M.I.T, I initially pursued finance but after witnessing 9/11, I abandoned a lucrative hedge fund job to work on my art full time. Since then, my art and my story have been featured in major publications including Forbes, The New York Times, Art of Man, Art Journaling magazine as well as featured on NBC’s “Parenthood” and the Amazon series “Hunters” with Al Pacino. My forthcoming book with HarperCollins Leadership on how to make it as an artist is scheduled to be released January 31, 2023. When I’m not in the studio, you can find me hanging out with my husband, adult kids, and a tuxedo cat named Ebony. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for art lovers (of every passion level) at schulmanart.com/freebies
I’ll be your host for this free interview series.
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| Andrea Gomoll |
I’ve always admired Andrea’s YouTube videos she shares from her studio in Germany. She’s very adventurous with her art. She’s happiest when her hands are covered in paint, ink and glue from art journaling, mixed media art and whimsical paintings. She’s been a full-time artist since 2009 and today she also is an art instructor, designer and wedding photographer.
In our interview we discuss social media promotion strategies, so if you are curious about how to promote your online business on social media, be sure not to miss this interview. In addition, Andrea gives away a free coloring page download.
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| Blenda Tyvoll |
Blenda’s muse is Mother Nature. Her mixed media wall art is bright and joyful with beautiful flowers, birds, butterflies and more. During our interview we discuss strategies for selling on Etsy. So whether you have always been curious about opening an Etsy shop or have one and want to discover secrets to selling more art there, tune into this interview! Her early adoption and expertise on Etsy has broadened her artwork’s reach and given her numerous art licensing opportunities.
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| Carolyn Dube |
Carolyn and I met online when we were both 21 Secrets teachers and found ourselves travelling in the same online circles. I just love her infectious energy and exuberant personality. Carolyn’s mantra is “let’s play,” and her willingness to hush her inner critic to take advantage of Outstanding Opportunities Presenting Suddenly (O.O.P.S.) moments help her mixed media art and gelli prints come to life. She shares her talents on YouTube, artist retreats and in classes.
The project she’ll do in our class is a great opportunity to use up all the gelli prints that were past O.O.P.S. So, tune into the interview for the project reveal so you can find out what you have been saving all those gelli prints for!
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| Jane LaFazio |
I met Jane last year at an artist conference in Denver, Colorado and have taught with her in other group online classes. From her home in San Diego, California, Jane truly believes she is living the life she was meant to live as a quilter, watercolor painter and mixed media artist as well as an art teacher and blogger. She’s known for her fun-loving, creative teaching style and international art retreats.
In our interview we discussed how she came to teach painting travel trips.
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| Jessica Sporn |
Jessica is a self-taught mixed media artist who lives the life of her dreams as a full-time professional artist. Her approach to art has roots in her theater background, and today she designs stencils and stamps, offers online classes, hosts a MeetUp Group and has licensing deals with several greeting card companies. In the interview, Jessica shares how her theater background influences her art. Jessica is one of the few artists who is able to infuse her spiritual mixed media art with visual references to Judaism, and I am delighted to have Jessica as part of the Handcrafted Holidays team.
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| Joanne Sharpe |
As an award-winning author and “whimsical art maker,” Joanne’s mixed media art is colorful and playful. She has a passion for art journaling, lettering, doodling and illustration. She teaches others through online classes and in-person workshops. For the last two decades, she has licensed her art to the craft, fabric and gift-ware markets.
In our interview, we share our joys of reading (from real books) and why we are all craving more tactile experiences from life.
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| Marjie Kemper |
Marjie is a fellow New Yorker whom I have met in real life for art adventures. In her online and in-person mixed media art workshops, she shares her no-rules approach to mixed media art making and creative expression. Since more than 15,000 people follow Marjie’s Pinterest page, I wanted to get Marjie to share her secrets with you!
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| Mystele Kirkeeng |
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| Idania Salcido |
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Idania (Danita) creates surreal and whimsical mixed media and watercolor art, as well as hand-sculpted art dolls inspired by fairy tales to express her emotions. She recently had her second solo exhibit so during our interview we discuss the inspiration behind her Gothic fairy tale paintings.
So much fun listening to other artists and their work. The chats will be fun and so will the classes.
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Looking forward to class time! We are going to have sooooo much fun creating!!
Can't wait, sounds like a fun series of chats. Thank you!