Kim Dettmer Art
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

What made you smile today?

9/29/2016

0 Comments

 
On the way to lunch, I took a different route and I saw this fun little gem on the side of the road. It made me smile!
Picture
What made you smile today?
Picture
0 Comments

Why I Create...(hint: it's ugly when I don't!)

9/21/2016

0 Comments

 
There was a time, not that long ago, when I would to say: "I'm not creative".
At the beginning of my adult life I worked with college students. My days were filled with creating presentations and leadership programs, designing brochures, flyers, and posters among other things. I didn't think I was creative - I was just doing my job.

Then, when I was a stay at home mom, I created "fun activities" for my kids, and decorated their rooms in bright colors and made up crazy songs. Again, I didn't see this as creative - I was just being a mom.

But at some point, my kids' rooms where done, my songs were not longer funny and they had their own thoughts about my "fun activities" and wanted to do their own thing.
Picture
That is when I noticed that I was crabby more often than I liked. I wondered about my grumpiness and began to try to find things that would rid myself of the sour mood.

I took a ceramics class...And I dabbled with making jewelry...I scrapbooked...went on photography outings...And I wrote a blog...and doodled. 

Interestingly, when I included these things in my life I was HAPPIER.

I noticed that each of these items involved CREATIVITY. So, I had to admit to myself that I was indeed creative and allowed myself to make creative endeavors a priority in my life.

Amazingly, the grumps subsided.

Aha!  It became crystal clear...
​To live my best life, I NEED to be creative. It is a part of who I am and it feeds my soul.


So to feed my soul (and to keep that crabby monster at bay) I create!

What do you do to feed your soul?

​Make it a HAPPY Day, 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

A Sneak Peek into my Art Studio

9/19/2016

1 Comment

 
Over the summer, I transformed our guest bedroom into my art studio.  I am excited to share a sneak peek into my space to create!
Picture
Here is where I create most of my mixed media collages. This desk was my in-laws kitchen table, so it big enough to spread out and be messy!
Picture
Paper scraps EVERWHERE! This is what my table looks like when I am in a middle of a project (only usually it's messier). 
Picture
My kick-ass modular wall. Because I work with all kinds of paper of various shapes and sizes and multiple types of medium, I need LOTS of accessible storage. I designed and my husband made these modular cubes to fit one wall for all of my paper and supplies. I LOVE it!
Picture
Last but not least, here is my digital desk, more storage and TWINKLE LIGHTS (because they make me happy!).

The room is still, and will always be, a work in progress but I am thrilled with how it turned out!

Thanks for visiting and Make it a Happy Day!
Picture
1 Comment

DIY: Magazine Collage Art

9/12/2016

0 Comments

 
When folks see my artwork, I often get the question, "How did you do that?" So today, I wanted to share with you my process for creating a collage using my Rumi Rocket (one of my earliest pieces) as an example.
Picture
Gather the following supplies:
  • Magazines
  • Pencil
  • Paper (card stock or thicker) or Art Board
  • Foam paint brush
  • Mod Podge
  • Scissors

Step 1:  Decide what image you want to create.  For the collage above, I decided that I wanted to create an earth.

Step 2:  Use your pencil to sketch the image onto your paper or art board.  This sketch does not need to be perfect, as it will just be used to identify the different elements.

Step 3:  Identify what colors you want to use for different parts of your image. 
For my collage, I decided that my background would be black tones, and the earth would be blues and greens.

Step 4:  Flip through magazines and tear out pages that have the colors you want.

Step 5:  Tear those pages into smaller pieces.

Step 6:  Now it's time to adhere the magazine rippings onto your sketch.  Use a foam brush and Mod Podge to adhere the torn pieces in place.  You'll want your first layer to be the background. Use the Mod Podge liberally and coat both your paper and the top of the magazine pieces.  

Step 7:  Repeat Step 6 for each layer.  For the collage above, I did the black area first, then blue and then green.

Step 8:  Step back and admire what you have created.  If you are happy with it and it feels complete, CONGRATS!  Go directly to Step 12. If you are not happy with it, or feel it is not complete, continue on.

Step 9:  Ask yourself what could you add that would positively impact your collage?  For mine, I decided to add stars and the rocket ship.  And because I wanted them to stand out differently than the earth, I decided to use scissors to cut out the shapes, instead of tearing them.

Step 10:  Add the new pieces to the collage.  


Step 11:  Repeat Steps 9-10 until you are happy with your masterpiece!  On my collage, I didn't decide to add the quote until after I had the stars and rocket ship done.  I felt like I needed another component for the artwork to be complete so I googled "inspirational sky quotes" and found one that really spoke to me.

Step 12:  Be sure to sign it and find a place to display it and share it with others!  Sharing art is an important part of creating it!  Don't forget to do this! Before I show any artwork to my husband, I always say, "Ok, it's time to Ohhhh and Awe for me!" so that he knows that it is important to me.  


I hope that you have a great time creating your artwork!  I would love to see it and hope that you share it on the Kim Dettmer Art facebook page!

Make it a Happy Day!
Picture
0 Comments

101 Ways to Get Your Happy On!

9/9/2016

1 Comment

 
​Who doesn't want to be happy??!! Here are some surefire ways to GET YOUR HAPPY ON!
  1. Smile (because a smile is the beginning of love)
  2. Take a walk in nature
  3. Find your Tribe (I love Women on Fire!)
  4. Hang some twinkle lights
  5. Send a handwritten letter to a friend (get a free greeting card)
  6. Make your password a happy one... like - HaHaHappy! or 1LaughAday
  7. Surround yourself with people who lift you up
  8. Turn up your favorite song and dance!
  9. Read Dr. Seuss (My favorite is On Beyond Zebra!)
  10. Play kickball
  11. Grab some crayons and color! (take an adult coloring class at melissaAnne Colors)
  12. Sing in the shower
  13. Draw a ketchup smiley face on your cheeseburger (just like my son does!)
  14. Take an art class (it's my happy place!)
  15. Make a pun - they are punny! (get a Pun a Day)
  16. Give a random stranger a flower
  17. Slow down
  18. Build with legos (get inspired at the Lego Gallery)
  19. Doodle (check out the book: 365 Days of Doodling by Carin Channing)
  20. Meditate (I uses the Headspace app)
  21. Swing at a playground
  22. Jump in leaves
  23. Make a snow angel
  24. Run through a sprinkler
  25. Plant flowers
  26. Hang Happy Art in your home (I have originals and prints available at my website)
  27. Write a bucket list
  28. Make a collage (check out how I made Picked Just for You)
  29. Travel
  30. Forgive someone - maybe even yourself. (Check out this video of Brene Brown talking about Forgiveness)
  31. Eat a chocolate kiss slowly - savor it!
  32. Paint your toenails in 5 different colors
  33. Be curious
  34. Roast a marshmallow
  35. Give a loved one a huge hug
  36. Journal (Learn why journaling is beneficial)
  37. Have a party
  38. Say "No" when you don't want to do something (get some strategies to do this)
  39. Play Frisbee
  40. Exercise - get those endorphins moving (get inspired by Sue Markovich of Clear Rock Fitness)
  41. Make and fly a paper airplane
  42. Get stuff done - accomplish a task
  43. Pet a dog or a cat
  44. Find "pictures" in the clouds (visit the Cloud Appreciation Society and get a cloud a day)
  45. Reminisce
  46. Conquer a fear
  47. Write a letter to loved ones and let them know your hopes for them (Here is my Letter to my Sons)
  48. Say "I Love You"
  49. Paint, draw, sketch - get your art on
  50. Do something nice for someone else (get some Random Act of Kindness ideas)
  51. Play a board game
  52. Build a playing card tower
  53. Apologize
  54. See the good in others - even the ones who you don't like
  55. Go to the beach and listen to the waves
  56. Find Random Hearts in nature (check out all of Carrie Saba's hearts)
  57. Write motivational and inspirational messages on your bathroom mirror (I use window markers)
  58. Take a nap
  59. Sit under a weeping willow tree
  60. Watch the sun rise
  61. Celebrate the little things (I once had a Come-Sit-Your-Ass-On-My-New-Couch party)
  62. Call a friend that you haven't talked to in a long time
  63. Do Yoga (I love AntiGravity Yoga at Synergy)
  64. Take a drive in the country
  65. Do something that scares you
  66. Build a sandcastle
  67. Be spontaneous
  68. Read a book for fun
  69. Take a hike (find a trail near you)
  70. Put a little umbrella in your drink
  71. Chalk on the sidewalk (and listen to I Chalk by Justin Roberts)
  72. Give your car a name
  73. Be grateful (I use Grati Pads from R Nichols)
  74. Jump in puddles
  75. Savor the moment (read my book Moments Meant to Savor)
  76. Write a message on a helium balloon and send into the great beyond
  77. Use emjois (create your own emjoi with Bitmoji)
  78. Go to a marathon and cheer on the runners
  79. Make fingerprint characters (learn how with Ed Emberley's Complete Funprint Drawing Book)
  80. Find your way through a corn maze
  81. Relax in a hammock
  82. Ride a roller coaster or a carousel - which ever is your speed
  83. Embrace your imperfections (read Brene Brown's Gifts of Imperfections)
  84. Lay in the grass and look up at the stars
  85. Fly a kite
  86. Listen to a toddler giggle
  87. Get Silly String and have fun
  88. Tell corny jokes (What do you call an illegally parked frog? ......... Toad.)
  89. Buy yourself flowers
  90. Have a picnic
  91. Visit a sacred place (a church, synagogue, monument, out in nature or anything that feels sacred to you) and sit quietly and simply be
  92. Make a goofy face
  93. Ditch the toxic people in your life
  94. Make a wish and throw glitter into the air
  95. Create a vision board of all your hopes and dreams (learn more about vision boards)
  96. Believe that you can do ANYTHING
  97. Let someone know that they made a positive impact on you (I talked about this in my blog)
  98. Listen to and graciously accept compliments
  99. When you are feeling joy - take a moment to pause, breathe and really feel it
  100. Ride a teeter-totter (cherry-bombs are not allowed)
  101. Love and let yourself be loved
Make it a HAPPY day!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​​
Picture
Please Note:  To send a card, I do need an address.  Individuals only submitting an email, will not receive a card, but will be subscribed to my mailing list. 

I respect your privacy! I promise I won't spam or share your email or address. ​

Subscribe to my mailing list

* indicates required
1 Comment

The Traveling Sun

9/3/2016

0 Comments

 
The process for creating each piece of artwork is always a bit different. Here is how I created my newest collage.

To begin I needed and inspiration so I went to my pinterest account and looked through my boards. I was inspired by the phrase "Fall in Love with the Moments" and so I began to create with that in mind.

Because a many of my most favorite moments have involved road trips, I knew immediately that I wanted to use a map as my background. (Interesting side note: the map I grabbed was of Oregon, which is 1 of 6 states in the United States of America that I have not yet been to. It is on my bucket list to visit within the next 3 years.)
Picture
As with all of my artwork, I wanted this piece to evoke the feeling of happiness and I decided a sun would be a key component. Then the green graph paper seemed to be the perfect item to use for the grass.

But then, I wasn't sure what to do next. The ideas of simple daisies kept entering my mind but I dismissed it, because daisies are white and the map was mostly white and I thought they would blend into the background too much. But, the daisy idea wouldn't leave me alone, so I decided to go with it. I knew that I could always outline the petals to accent their edges to prevent them from getting lost.

​Ultimately, I am pleased with my decisions to add the daisies.  The bold sun needs to shine and more colorful flowers would have competed and distracted from the bright fun sunshine!

Here is the finished product:
Picture
My facebook friends made title suggestions and then voted on the final name.  
The name that won is: The Traveling Sun

Make it a Happy Day!
Picture
0 Comments

3 Awesome Lessons Art Taught Me

9/2/2016

0 Comments

 
When I started creating art, I simply was looking for a creative outlet. I often joked that my art was my therapy. Little did I know how true that statement would prove to be! Here are my top 3 life-changing lessons that my art has taught me:
1)  Just Be Me.
When I first started exploring collage art I often would find other mixed media collage artists and I would try to duplicate their look. And, while that helped me explore materials and techniques, it didn't help me find my own style.

Once I stopped mimicking other people's artwork and started creating my own, I began to establish my look and way of creating. The art became mine and I became more confident in my art and myself.

It's amazing how this lesson has transferred into all parts of my life. I feel stronger in who I am, what I believe, and how I live my life. It feels good (most of the time) to just be me.
Picture
Picture
2)  Persistence matters.
Each and every time I am working on a piece of art, there comes a time when I absolutely, positively HATE what I am creating! I have this powerful desired to crumple it up and throw it in the trash can, light it on fire or take a jumbo sharpie marker an scribble profanity all over it. Moreover, I am sure that this piece of artwork will be hideous and I begin to wonder if I even have a creative bone in my body.

It's not a fun place to be. And, it happens, Every. Single. Time.

But artwork has taught me to persist. Artwork (and Steven Pressfield) has taught me that if I push through the resistance, that maybe, just maybe, I might create something that I am proud of. And, I am happy to report that predominately, this is true.
​This lesson I try to take into my everyday life.  When something feels hard, or when I have the urge to flee because I am out of my comfort zone, I remind myself to stick it out a bit longer. Often, the hardness and uncomfortableness passes and I am glad I persisted.
3)  Listen to my Truth.
When I am creating, I am very much in touch with my intuition and I am very clear about what I like and what I don't like. And, while I may ask for opinions or feedback, because my art is grounded in my truth, I am easily able to accept or reject what other say. Their feedback, I will consider, but I do not take it personally nor does it control my decisions or how I feel about my work.  

Sure, it is always nice to hear that someone likes my creations and conversely it is no fun to hear someone be critical about my work.  But, in the end, because I am so clued into my gut, these comments don't define me or my art.
Picture
​By listening to my truth while I am creating, I have a better sense what is true for me in other areas of my life. Now, I am better able to listen to my intuition and make decisions that are good for me.
Picture
These three lessons have impacted me so positively! It's amazing what a great therapist art is!

​Have a Happy Day!
Picture
Picture
Want to get a FREE Greeting Card, special offers and newsletters?

Sign Up below and <abracadabra> you'll get a greeting card (blank and ready to use) in your mailbox!
Please Note:  To send a card, I do need an address.  Individuals only submitting an email, will not receive a card, but will be subscribed to my mailing list.

I respect your privacy!  I promise I won't spam or share your email or address! ​

Subscribe to my mailing list

* indicates required
0 Comments

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    Categories

    All
    "Dear Sons" Collage Series

    RSS Feed

    Buy My Art Here!
    Commission Artwork!
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact