September Bulletin
Here we are winding down September and Fall is upon us. In Colorado, autumn feels too short, but it is gorgeous and we all relish in the changing colors! We always take a fall drive to see the colorful aspens that paint the mountains with rich yellows and pops of orange. I’ll share in the next bulletin. This is also my favorite time of year for treats and smells!
We have finally settled into the “school routine”. Morning chaos, drop-off and pick-up schedule, work-from-home plan, after school activities, and nightly wind downs are all in order. Sometimes. Life is messy! It’s just how it is, but life is good. The more we stick to the routine, the better. Although, it’s nice to be spontaneous and do something unexpected like pick up an ice-cream treat on the way home!
Recent Projects:
Upcoming Book Release: I am happy to share more about a book I’ve been working on this past year. “Proud Deaf Girl” is a story of sweet friendship and a celebration of American Sign Language through a day of adventure! 🤟 Below is our cover and the character sheet we chose. It’s been a joy to work on. I’ve learned so much and drawn lots of hands! Make sure you’re following me @CreativeBrenda and @ProudDeafGirl on Instagram to learn more!
Classes I’m teaching: I enjoy teaching adult acrylic painting classes. We have a few planned over the fall and winter seasons. I also teach plein air classes at Garden of the Gods, which is a gorgeous and inspiring place to paint. If you’re local to Colorado, I hope you can sign up for one! Here are a few of my upcoming classes:
Classes I’m taking: Whenever I can take a Make Art That Sells class I am happy. The community is epic. Truly some of the nicest, most giving, and transparent group of people I’ve ever met. It’s a great way to sharpen my skills and learn more about the illustration industry. This Fall I’m taking MATS: Portfolio Bootcamp and MATS: Home Decor. I signed up last November during their yearly Thanksgiving sale. Here is some of my work from class:
Recent Happenings:
Every year for Labor Day, our city has a Hot Air Balloon Extravaganza. This year we woke up early, to perch on top of the same hill we always do, to watch all the balloons lift off (about 75 total). There are all kinds of different themes and shapes. It was great fun! The Darth Vader Balloon landed near us and we got to go see the landing process up close. I drew a little sketch and I am already looking forward to next year’s lift off!
RECENT FAVORITES:
Books on my table:
The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
Like Streams to the Ocean by Jedidiah Jenkins
In The Flow by Alisa Vitti
Kid Books we’ve been reading:
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
Harry Potter - The Prizoner of Azkaban (Illustrated Edition) written by J.K. Rowling and illustrated by Mr. Jim Kay
Creepy Pair of Underwear! written by Aaron Reynolds and Illustrated by Peter Brown
Podcasts I enjoyed:
Windowsill Chats with Margo Tantau (Episode no.108 & no.109 )
Creative Genius with Kate Shepherd (Episode no.22 )
Creative Pep Talk with Andy J. Pizza (Episode no. 382 )
Treats:
Have you heard about Windowsill Chat Workshops? I recently took this course:
Easy-Peasy: How to Make the Best Pie Ever! with Tom Conway and I’m on my way to making an awesome peach pie! I’ll share more next Bulletin!
Take Care,
Brenda
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