Hello, are you doing also affilate programs I could put on my blog?Is English your native language or did you learn it so well? I ask you this because I have a blog and it is in German and I am not shure if it would be better to write in E andGermanAndrea

Hi Andrea! I’m in the process of developing an affiliate program for everyone to use, but it’s not quite ready yet. It will be in the next 3 months or so though, so keep an eye out! No, my native language is Dutch, but I’ve been living in the UK for the last 16 years or so, hence my English has improved quite a bit! For your blog: it all depends on what you want to use your blog for, if you want to use it for more commercial purposes I’d go with English, if you’re more interested in sharing your life with friends and family then stick with German xxoox Tam x

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Hi Tam Can I use a varnish over mixed media art (canvas), one that doesn’t go yellow, I wonder if you could recommend anything. Also is there such a thing a “crackle” varnish, like in the paint? Pen x

hi pen - apologies for my late reply! for varnishes i like using the gel mediums (golden or liquitex), i don’t think they go yellow, but i suppose that takes a long time and i haven’t observed that on any of my paintings yet. i have several crackle varnishes, although they are called crackle paint and are sold in really small pots. ranger do them! :)

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I am just getting into art journaling and have come across your amazing site. However in an attempt to spend more time off-line I am looking for inspirational books with regards to art journaling and creating. Any suggestions?

:-) the following are some beautiful inspirational books for journaling and art!

“The Decorated Page” ~ Gwen Diehn
“The Decorated Journal” ~ Gwen Diehn
“The Complete Guide To Altered Imagery” ~ Karen Michel
“Taking Flight” ~ Kelly Rae Roberts

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what type of paper do you use for art journaling? when I put gesso on it seems to curl and ripple!

i use moleskines & larger daler-rowney sketch books - if you work wet, then go for the purple label moleskine which has thicker pages, better yet, moleskine also do a watercolor paper version, however it’s in landscape rather than upright. to avoid paper curling on more thinner pages, try not to use too much water when you work, or put your journal under a pile of heavy books after you’ve worked! :)

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If you could go back in time 10 years and tell your younger self something, what would it be?

So many things! But mostly; you are ok. It doesn’t matter if you can or can’t do things; you are worthy and loved. It doesn’t matter if you are considered beautiful or unattractive; you are worthy and loved. Be ok with what is, take a breath, love yourself.

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The Doctor parks the Tardis on your front lawn and offers to take you to visit any art era of history. Where would you go and which famous artists would you hope to encounter while you were there?

:D awesome questions rho! i’d love to take a peek into the baroque era with all the crazy white wigs and beautiful costumes, but famous artists from the past i’d love to meet are van gogh (really just want to give the dude a hug he had such a horrible life), gaudi (wanna talk about his awesome ideas around architecture) and da vinci, just to find out if there were truly all these secret things going on with him. :)

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How old are you? Will you encourage your son to create and be an artist?

I am 33, soon to be 34 on 3rd May. :-) I will encourage Dylan to do the things that make him happy. If that is creating art, then yay, if it’s playing football, then yay, if it’s being a scientist, then yay! :) I will definitely encourage him to experiment with doing art, but not more so than any other subject for that matter. :) I hope he will do and be what makes him happy. :) Thank you for your question. xoox

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Why can’t I get my studio truly clean and organized, no matter how hard I try?

Because you are an artist and artists need to be messy. It’s in your blood, it is in mine. Best approach to this (as with most things in life); is acceptance. Accept your messy messy art studio, and celebrate it! You’ll feel so much better! ;)

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Your art inspires me. What inspires you?

Thank you! I’m glad. :-) There are a variety of things that inspire me, from other artists to more intangible phenomenon like spirituality.

Some artists who’s work I adore; Gustav Klimt, Gaudi, Hundertwasser, Franz Marc, Matisse, Chagall, Kandinsky and Odilon Redon. Of the more contempory ones I like the works of; Audrey Kawasaki, Lori Early, Nicoletta Ceccolli, Tascha (timewithtascha), Ann-Julie (thenebulouskingdom), Stephen Mackey, Josee Savaria, Teesha Moore, Paulette Insall, Kelly Rae Roberts, Claudine Hellmuth, Beryl Taylor, Karen Michell Gwen Diehn.

I find inspiration too in stories, books, films, love, nature, people, my son, my husband, zen, buddhism, mythology and music. :-)

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my mama

What is your relationship like with your mother? I’ve never been very close with mine - I always envy other those who share special bonds with their parents.

My mother is wonderful, we get on well apart from some political disagreements here and there. One of my favourite memories I have from my childhood is how on some afternoons she’d put the music on loud, grab me by the hands and spin us around joyfully to the music. We’d then dance the afternoon away :).

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