Sketchbook Revival 2023

 

Watercolor sketch of lotus blossom by Marla Niederer as inspired by Jean Oliver session

Quite some time ago a friend introduced me to the free online sketchbook workshop called Sketchbook Revival.  It has been put on annually for the past few years and I always find it inspiring.  During the workshop there are two video sessions posted daily offered by a variety of artists for about two weeks. The goal of the workshop is to encourage people to add an art practice into their lives on a more routine basis. I personally find creating art a very relaxing almost meditative process.  It gives me something beautiful to think about every day.

I created this watercolor sketch of a lotus blossom inspired by Jean Oliver’s session from day one. 

 

Watercolor sketch of Lotus Blossom by Marla Niederer as inspired by Jean Oliver session

I also created this travelers style journal inspired by Ali Mannings session.  I created my own book out of the backs of watercolor paper pads covered with book cloth that I created with HeatnBond and fabric.  I used Arches 90 lb watercolor paper for the signatures and old watercolor paintings for the covers of each signature.

I am still offering Self Study step by step doll making classes in my OrsinisAngels Etsy shop.  You can find them by clicking on the picture below.

 

Self study classes by Marla Niederer

I started offering digital downloads for mixed media collage sheets in my Etsy shop and digital downloads of paper dolls that you can use in your mixed media projects or just to enjoy on their own.  You can find my digital downloads by clicking on the picture below.

 

Digital Collage sheets by Marla Niederer

This month I am sharing a two part series on how to use watercolors to enhance a graphite drawing in my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel.  I used a vintage Victorian photograph in the public domain as inspiration for the angels that I drew and painted.  You can see part one by clicking on the picture below.

 

How to Enhance a Graphite Drawing with Watercolors by Marla Niederer

You can see all of my free video tutorials on OrsinisAngels by clicking on the picture below.

 

Free tutorials on OrsinisAngels YouTube channel

I hope you have been enjoying a creative day today!

 

Until next time………………..

warm hugs,

Marla

 

 

New Free Tutorials!

 

Graphite and Watercolor Angel by Marla Niederer

Many of you already know that I have been publishing free tutorials on a regular basis on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel.  I hope you have had time to watch some of them and create along with me. 

If you hadn’t viewed them yet, last month I shared several tutorials on card making.  I started out by creating a Victorian style Valentine using a combination of images that I found in the public domain and flowers that I had painted.  It was such fun to create! 

Victorian inspired Valentine card by Marla Niederer

I also shared a tutorial on how I made a special birthday card using all of my own art work images.  If you are into cardmaking, I hope these videos inspire you to create some of your own designs.

Valentine and Birthday Cards by Marla Niederer

This month I am sharing a two part series on how to use watercolors to enhance a graphite drawing.  I used a vintage Victorian photograph in the public domain as inspiration for the angels that I drew and painted.  You can see part one by clicking on the picture below.

 

Using Watercolor to Enhance a Graphite Drawing by Marla Niederer

I am still offering Self Study step by step doll making classes in my OrsinisAngels Etsy shop.  You can find them by clicking on the picture below.

 

Self Study Doll Making Classes by Marla Niederer

I started offering digital downloads for mixed media collage sheets in my Etsy shop and digital downloads of paper dolls that you can use in your mixed media projects or just to enjoy on their own.  You can find my digital downloads by clicking on the picture below.

 

Digital Collage instant downloads by Marla Niederer

I hope you have been enjoying a creative day!

 

Until next time………………..

warm hugs,

Marla

 

DIY Free Tutorials for November

 

Fall Earrings handmade by Marla L. Niederer

I know it has been quite a while since I have posted on this blog.  I apologize but sometimes life just happens and time just seems to fly by too quickly these days.

Fox hand carved stamp by Marla L. Niederer

I have continued to create free tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel for you to view if you wish to create along with me.  I just released a preview of the projects that will be added to my YouTube channel that you can view by clicking on the picture below.

DIY Projects Tutorials Preview for November

This month I will be sharing with you a tutorial on how to create your own French Ear Wires, how to create fall themed earrings, how to make your own stamp for paper crafting, and how to make an easy sew bag that you can use as a gift bag. 

 

I also started adding digital collage papers in my Etsy shop for paper crafting, art journaling, and card making.  I still have all of my self study classes in the shop too.  You can take a peek at them by clicking on the picture below.

 

OrsinisAngels Shop

You can see all of my Free Tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel by clicking on the picture below.

OrsinisAngels YouTube channel

Ihope you enjoy the rest of the fall season and find some time for your creativity.

Until next time……..

 

warm hugs,

Marla

Plein Air painting and new free tutorials

 

Windmill by Marla L. Niederer

I hope you are still enjoying a creative summer.  Over the past two weeks I have enjoyed some plein air painting.  Inspired by Yvonne Morell’s class I took my art supplies and sketched and painted a wonderful old windmill that just so happens to be located next to a friend of mine’s home.  It was such fun!

 

Wellesley Island by Marla L. Niederer

I also added color to a sketch I did while I was staying at a cottage on Wellesley Island this past spring.  Sometimes while on vacation there isn’t enough time to complete a sketch in color but I often take my fountain pen with me that my son made.  I just love using it while going out and about.  I keep water soluble ink in it and then can use just water and a brush to add shading or often I go back and add color with watercolors when I am home while using a reference photo.  I find the sketching I do while out and about becomes such nice souvenirs of my trips. 

I also wanted to share that this month on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel I have shared two new free tutorials and will be sharing a couple of journal flip throughs in the coming weeks.

 

Accordion books by Marla Niederer inspired by 5 books in 5 days challenge 

The first free tutorial is on how to make an art journal out of an old book.  I had such fun with this so hope you enjoy it also.  If you are interested in viewing it just click on the picture below and it will bring you right to the tutorial on my OrsinisAngels channel.

 

Free tutorial on how to make an art journal out of an old book by Marla L. Niederer

For the book’s pages I used geli prints that I made.  I thought I would also share how I made the geli prints with you and posted a free tutorial in case you wish to make your own geli prints too.  You can view it by clicking on the picture below.

 

Free tutorial on how I made geli prints to use in  an art journal by Marla L. Niederer

Just a reminder, I have two digital original paper doll downloads in my shop now that can be used for your personal mixed media, collage, and junk journaling projects.  You can find out more about them by clicking on each picture below.

 

Estelle a digital fairy paper doll by Marla L. Niederer

Little Fox a digital paper doll by Marla L. Niederer

You can see a free video on how I assembled and decorated my paper doll Estelle on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel by clicking on the picture below.

 

Free tutorial on how to assemble Estelle by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to see and find out about my self-study classes you can click on the picture below.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to see all of my free video tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel just click on the picture below.

 

Free tutorials on OrsinisAngels YouTube channel

To see all of my free tutorials click on the picture below.

 

Free tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To find out more about me just click on my picture below.

 

About Me

Untill next time…….

 

Warm hugs,

Marla

 

Book Challenge and Sketching workshop

 

My Living Room by Marla L. Niederer

Summer seems to be flying by so quickly!  It seems like the more you enjoy something the faster it goes by doesn’t it? 

I thought I would share with you some of the creative things I have been up to lately.  I have been working on a sketchbook practice online class presented by Yvonne Morell this month.  For the class one of the activities was to do a sketch of your living room.  This is a sketch of my living room couch.

My Living Room by Marla L. Niederer

Another activity was to sketch people in public.  This is a sketch I did while plein air painting with the art group I belong too.  Such fun!

Plein air sketch by Marla L. Niederer

I also have been involved in a Five Books in Five Days challenge presented by Ali Manning.  Well, I don’t think I will make the five books in five days deadline but had so much fun making two of the forms of accordion books presented in the challenge.  I still have a bit more work to do on them.  I’m sure glitter will be involved but thought I would share a picture of them with you. 

Accordion Books by Marla L. Niederer 

Just a reminder, I have two digital original paper doll downloads in my shop now that can be used for your personal mixed media, collage, and junk journaling projects.  You can find out more about them by clicking on each picture below.

Estelle A Digital Fairy Paper Doll by Marla L. Niederer

Little Fox a Digital Paper Doll by Marla L. Niederer

You can see a free video on how I assembled and decorated my paper doll Estelle on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel by clicking on the picture below.

 

How to assemble Estelle a Fairy Paper Doll by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to see and find out about my self-study classes you can click on the picture below.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to see all of my free video tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel just click on the picture below.

 

Free Video Tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel

To see all of my free tutorials click on the picture below.

 

Free Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To find out more about me just click on my picture below.

 

About Me

Untill next time…….

 

Warm hugs,

Marla

Mermaids

 

Mermaid Watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

This summer I’ve been working on a few mermaids.  I started out being inspired by a Jane Davenport book on mermaids and painted this.

Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Jane Davenport's book on mermaids

I then was inspired by a Toni Burt mini class for Kalidoscope 2022 her session and created this journal page.

Art Journal page by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Tony Burt's Kaleidoscope session

I then created this Mermaid watercolor painting.   I won't even tell you that I was listening to ocean sounds and had seashells on my desk while I was painting. I also won't tell you that I recently purchased a set of mermaid paintbrushes either lol!

 

Mermaid watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

My fascination with mermaids is far from over so I will probably create a few more mermaid projects this summer.

 

My watercolor painting desk

I also wanted to share that I have a few original digital download paper dolls available in my shop now.  They can be used for personal card making, art journaling, junk journaling, shelf decorations, party activities, amongst other personal creative pursuits that you may fancy.

 

You can see more about my original Little Fox digital paper doll and purchase her if you wish by clicking on her picture below.

 

Little Fox Digital Paper Doll by Marla L. Niederer

You can see more about my Fairy Digital Paper Doll Estelle and purchase her if you wish by clicking on her picture below.

 

Estelle Fairy Digital Paper Doll by Marla L. Niederer

You can see a free video on how I assembled and decorated my paper doll Estelle on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel by clicking on the picture below.

 

Estelle Paper Doll Assembly free tutorial by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to see and find out about my self-study classes you can click on the picture below.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to see all of my free video tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel just click on the picture below.

 

Free video tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To see all of my free tutorials click on the picture below.

 

Free tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To find out more about me just click on my picture below.

 

About Me

Until next time…….

 

Warm hugs,

Marla