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Learn How to Draw a Pot of Shamrocks – 20 Minute Free Art Lesson
I love shamrocks! They remind me of not only spring time, but also my mom! Every March, she would bring home a pot of shamrocks for my siblings and I to put in our room. They are a simple yet fabulous house plant to have (for all ages), as they are extremely easy to maintain. They grow and flower very quickly which can be very satisfying for those without a green thumb. Hunting for a four leaf clover in the bunch was always fun too- as I am confident it definitely brought me good luck! To celebrate spring, follow along with my step by step, 20 minute art lesson as…
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Seeing Green in Ireland and Northern Ireland
It only takes a few moments upon arrival in Ireland to realize why the country is nicknamed the Emerald Isle. Green is everywhere – vibrant, refreshing, rich greens, in every hue. One of my favorite creativity prompts while traveling is color. It’s such a simple idea, yet can truly open your eyes to seeing so much more than you expect when you explore a location! The goal is to choose a color in the morning before you head out, then when touring, be on the look out for it. When you see it, take a quick picture on your phone. At the end of the day, you can create a…
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Come Explore Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way with Creativity!
Come explore the rugged coast of Ireland and learn how to capture and paint a layered landscape of the Wild Atlantic Way! We will focus our tour on the Dingle Peninsula where we will explore the small port town with its colorful buildings and fishing boats. Then, we will “drive” along the coast and paint the stunning rugged coastline dotted with cottages, sheep and historic sites. This online class will begin with a “virtual trip” to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way where I will share with you loads of inspirational photos of the area. Following we will discuss a tried and true technique for making inspiring landscape art, then we will…
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Creative Wanderlust Prompt: GREEN
This week we will be inspired by the color GREEN! Yes, as simple as that. Picking a color is truly one of my favorite kinds of art prompts. It may seem too simple, but trust me, you can make it as complicated (or not) as you like! When my kids were young, I used a color prompt all the time when we were traveling. I’d ask them to pick a color that morning before we headed out to tour around. The instructions were basic, when they would see the color, they would snap a quick picture. It could be nature, scenery, an object, something someone was wearing, food, whatever they…
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Wanderlust Inspiration: Old Books at Trinity College Library
The smell of old books and intriguing tales wafted through the quiet room. Some where and at some time, every page had been turned. For any book lover, a visit to Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland is a pilgrimage. The iconic Long Room in the Old Library, completed in 1732 represents the ultimate in book sanctuaries. This exceptionally long space (213 feet/65 meters) is laid out in rows of nooks, each filled with stacks of shelves lined with tightly packed old books. Some of the nooks have ladders to reach the upper shelves, and some have a beautiful iron spiral staircase leading to the second level. At the entrance…
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On Location: March Packing List – Scenic Tour of Ireland and Free March 2017 Wallpaper
March is here, and I’ve been aching to take a trip to Ireland. Yes, I’m sure St. Patrick’s Day has something to do with it, but I also have a huge desire to take a road trip around the country and explore the wild seashore, stay in old castles, wander small villages, and of course drink a tasty stout in Dublin. In dreaming of this trip, I thought it would be fun to come up with an appropriate Spring packing list. There’s still a bite in the air, but nothing a cozy warm Irish sweater won’t take care of. Also, be sure to bring a brightly colored umbrella to ward off any…
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On Location: Dream Trips – Illustrated Travel Bucket List vol. 2
It doesn’t matter the time of year, I’m always dreaming of another trip. Below is a continuation of my illustrated Travel Bucket List. I’ll take you to Africa and Asia, South America and Europe– come see the next 10 incredible spots that are a must-visit in this lifetime. Soak in the Blue Lagoon – Grindavik, Iceland The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa located about 50 minutes from Reykjavik or 20 minutes from the Keflavik International Airport. Although it is a man-made lagoon, the water is fed by a nearby geothermal power plant and renewed every 2 days. The water temperature averages a balmy 99-102 degrees F year round, so even in the…
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Culture: A World of Flavors – Irish Pickling Spice Mix Recipe
The art of pickling foods has been around for over 4000 years. The process has been instrumental in history by providing a way to preserve foods for longer periods of time yet also gives rich flavors to otherwise common foods. This cooking method allows for meats and/or vegetables to be eaten on long journeys. This was especially common during sea exploring days and/or times of war. During both World Wars, corned (or salted) beef that was then pickled was very popular because of both meat rationing and long months at sea. Corned Beef made in Ireland was heavily traded from the 1600’s through the 1800’s. It was a high priced exported commodity that ironically not…
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Type+Place: A Free Font Inspired by Ireland
I’ve been working on a few projects lately where I would love to use a Celtic inspired font. In the spirit of creating something everyday, instead of downloading one of the many on the internet, I decided to create my own. The wide lettering and calligraphic elements were fun to draw. Below is a sample of the font I created used in a famous Irish toast. Such a wonderful saying! Here is a sample of the font. Feel free to download it on iFontMaker’s website and be sure to use it on for your next Irish inspired project.
