Table of contents 

• January Pre-view Classes Jan 1 -15 
• Message from the Art Sherpa 
• The new acrylic art materials you need to know about for 2021 
• Exciting art challenge news. What is coming back and what is cancelled 
• Featured artist Frida Kahlo  
• Self care tips - Lavender   Bubble Tea   
• New store items 
• Cool finds for your studio 
• Niblet news what is gnew in the gnomedom  

Class Times 

YouTube : Every Tuesday 5 pm EST and Saturday 1 pm EST

We may have Bonus class releases on Thursday at 11 am EST** 

Facebook : Wednesday 7 pm EST

• The Dress -
• Frida Kahlo -
  (Featured Artist)
• Heart in a Jar - https://fb.me/e/d4U4RpK1W (watercolor) 
• Warm Cup - https://youtu.be/Y4DCJ6S8clE 
• Narnia -
• White Lily -https://fb.me/e/1OMzKUxfS 

Don't miss out on your favorite live classes 

Text TheArtSherpa to 33222 on your phone for text Notifications 

Happy New Year 

It's finally here! The New Year and the fresh start we have been waiting for. Yet, unlike the wardrobe in Narnia, going from December 31st to January 1st isn't really a magic door that changes everything. The  feeling of starting fresh comes from inside us and the way we hope and feel about the coming year.  Many things are the same today as they were just a few days ago. Many challenges of 2020 are still very much present in 2021. Yet I look to 2021 full of hope and a plans for improvement, both personal and as your Art Guide. 

The Plan  

I've spent a lot of time thinking about what would make things easier for all of you as you learn to become creative beings.  I've looked back at the lessons I have learned as your teacher from last 6 years. I have been a busy bee planning what to do during the  2021 year so that I could make learning art even more fun, easy and accessible. What steps could I take to make your experience as new artist as rewarding as it possibly can be? To create a goldilocks zone of art learning?

1. Consistency 
1. Create a core schedule and stick to it as much as power, health and the internet will allow. 
2. Set Materials 
1. Create a set list of studio and art materials so you can participate in classes knowing far in advance what you will need. 
2. Keep to those materials for all 200+ classes planned for 2021 
3. Communicate early so you can plan 
1. To let you know early what classes are coming in advance 
2. More newsletters with more information 
3. Events and posts on Facebook 
4. Fill the calendar early 
4. Provide more Learning Resources 
1. Adding mini books supplements your video learning material. 
2. Structured curriculum class programs 
5. Add the fun 
1. Include play and games on both the website and newsletter 
2. Extra Surprise video classes 
3. Share creative and self care tips

Mini Books  Try one Here

Membership on Youtube

The 2021 Class Materials Lists

  Below are a list of RECOMMENDED MATERIALS.     

The Art Sherpa is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  

Amazon sometimes Raises prices based on interest. To help you check that you are getting a fair price for your item please enjoy this price checker website

Amazon Fair Price checker https://camelcamelcamel.com/

• My Paint brands of choice are  Sennelier Acrylique, Golden Artist Color,  or Abstract Acrylic. The links lead to the listed color in all 3 brands. 
• These products were hand picked by me. First two links are professional grade, and then economy Abstract Acrylic that I personally recommend for student grade.

Naples Yellow Light * Titanite Yellow * Or Naples yellow ??

This is the only complicated part of the new 2021 list. To make it easier to understand what Naples is the right Naples, I wrote a blog. Naples yellow by any other name would be as yellow green, right? No, sadly Naples can run the gamut of stunning light yellow green to bandage bleh. So I just went and found them all. 

Naples Yellow Blog http://bit.ly/NaplesYellowLightTAS  

The Art Sherpa Patrons 

Upcoming classes Jan

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https://theartsherpa.com/patron

• Acrylic April link -  Life book link - 18+ Art Sherpa Fledging Artist Challenge  

Sherpa News

• Acrylic April link -  Life book link - 18+ Art Sherpa Fledging Artist Challenge  

• Featured artist : Frida Kahlo 

  https://www.fridakahlo.org/

  More Fun facts about Frida and the solution page coming in the next Newsletter. 

  • Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacan, Mexico City
  • She lied about her birthday, not to seem younger, but to share her day with the Mexican Revolution
  • She had polio as a child, was in a catastrophic bus accident, went through 30 surgeries in her life
  •  She started painting in a Body Cast
  • She was married to artist Diego Rivera - he was a lot 
  • She painted more than 200 paintings depicting the physical and emotional pain of her life
  • She is the mother of the selfie and one of the greatest icons of modern art 

  

  

  The Art of Self Care. 

  1. Remember you matter 
  2. When you feel calm you can help others 
  3. Taking time to be creative helps you imagine solutions to problems
  4. If you have to take care of others remember you do that best from a place of rest, mindfulness and self compassion. 
  5. If you need to H.A.L.T.  and take a break to reset, Do So!  

  

  Hungry : Make sure your body is fed and your blood sugar is balanced. 

  Angry : Feelings are information. If you are angry remove yourself from the situation until you are calm and ready to explain calmly what you are feeling 

  Lonely: Human beings are social animals, when we are lonely we struggle. Reach out and connect with someone who cares about you. 

  Tired: Many of you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders right now and rest might be scarce. If you are very tired take every chance you can to rest. If its a nap then take a nap. If it is going to bed earlier, skip that show and watch it later on the DVR.

  These are simple things that can help you steer to a better feeling tomorrow.  

  

  New Items in the Store 

  Cool Finds on Amazon 

  Great Finds for the Art Studio 

  CREATURE CUPS Cthulhu Ceramic Cup (11 Ounce, Black)

   I think it looks like Kevin the Kraken https://amzn.to/381Fn0O #CommissionsEarned 

    Zmol Electric Pencil Sharpener ~  I love this Sharpener !! 

  The Kitty Cat - https://amzn.to/3pDiU02 #CommissionsEarned  

    Adorable Micro kitty  Landscape Humidifiers - https://amzn.to/38KKy4c  

  
  

  

                           

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

IF you dont know the secret phrase we will reveal it during the Livestream    

Rules of the Give Away 

Want a chance  to win  a #8 cat's Tongue  Art sherpa Brush  ?? One lucky viewer will WIN this great brush !

How To participate for your chance to win The TAS #8 Cats Tongue  :

Giveaway opens soon and starts a little before  the live stream  and We will announce the winner live during the show. You must be present to win. 

Come join us for 

During the show we will share the Mystery Phrase so be sure to watch so you know correct answer !! 

To be eligible for your chance to win You must have answered and entered the correct Mystery phrase here in the Entry Box  : https://theartsherpa.com/blog in the current contest Blog 

You will have 4 answers to choose from 

You may know the answer ahead of time from being a fan ( that's OK)

You may answer as soon as the contest is open or wait to confirm the correct answer 

Entries are final 

If you have never entered a Rafflecopter contest they may have you make an account. This is a one time thing and will work for all future RaffleCopter Contests 

You must have a good email we can contact you with. We have to be able to reach you to Notify you 

PLEASE Don't give your address of  to us during live chat for your safety. Email is best  

To WIN  You must be present during the Live stream  when we announce your name.

If you are not present another winner will be selected.

You must be a resident of planet earth with an address that can receive mail - sorry Elon Musk no Mars delivery .

We will cover up to 100$ shipping: anything above 100$ the winner will have the option to cover to receive their prize - if they elect not to do this another winner will be chosen

To Recap

The correct  Mystery Phrase with be revealed live during the show 

There is no purchase necessary to win

You do not need to but stars or follow the page to participate

This is not a giveaway affiliated with facebook in anyway.

The winner with be chosen at random by Rafflecopter Software

Artwork and video is the sole property of The Art Sherpa™  and intended for the students personal education and Enjoyment. For questions regarding using any Art Sherpa painting in a commercial setting labs@theartsherpa.com for all other questions support@theartsherpa.com Read our full  disclosure here that covers partnerships and affiliate links http://bit.ly/affiliatedisclosureTAS   ****

Because the world is so crazy we will include a tracking number when we ship but are not responsible for items lost or damaged in the post.

Each time we do a giveaway there's a lot of panic because some people may have trouble entering . First let me say this is not the last giveaway we're ever going to do.

We would love everybody to win but sadly there is just one painting and one winner. Good news I will show you how to paint your own.

We understand that for many of our viewers our time zone is not compatible to theirs and we are sorry for the inconvenience.

The giveaway is open Now to 6:45 pm cst  of the show. Winner will be announced during the live and must be present to claim their prize .

We do need the winner to be present though for the show. Future Giveaways may be held at different times.

Be sure to follow the page to get the fastest updates on facebook giveaways and free art live streams. Follwoing does not increase your chances to win. It does help you know when we are live There are two links provided for entry. This is because depending on how you're entering and on what device are entering a small number of users may potentially have difficulty.

If you find the  link does not work for you please contact the company that hosts the software here : https://www.rafflecopter.com/contact-us

if you have any concerns or please reach to  support@theartsherpa.com  

Acrylic April Painting Challenge begins April 1st 2020- no joke 

30 Days, 30 Powerful Little Paintings

We hope that Every April, artists from all over the world take on the Acrylic all April painting challenge by doing one small acrylic painting every day for the entire month.

I am creating the #AcrylicApril challenge as a way to introduce painters to the gifts of daily painting with Acrylic.This monthly challenge will help every acrylic artist unlock the true potential of the acrylic medium and their art own voice.

Anyone can do Acrylic April,

Just grab your paint, your brush and hit the studio( even if it’s your kitchen Table).

#AcrylicApril rules:

1) Make a painting on a surface  12x12 or smaller. ( sorry for the confusion)

2) Share it online

3) Hashtag it with #AcrylicApril and #AcrylicApril2020 #ItsNoJokeAcrylicApril and be sure to add the day of the challenge, or word prompt, etc

4) Repeat Daily from April 1 ( no fooling) to April 30th

How to do the Challenge 

Do your best to paint daily. Some Days may be artwork you are excited about some days you may scribble out an abstract but under no circumstances should your be hard on yourself. If you make 30 little paintings you are a winner. If you make less than 30 you are a winner. Do your best 

Wait there are daily tutorials not just prompts ?? THAT'S right!!! This is an Art Sherpa painting challenge so it’s extra awesome.. This challenge comes with a daily live video lesson you can follow along with. So you can use the prompts, follow the lesson, or do your own thing. Either way you are going to succeed. This is going to change your art world. I will be teaching my lessons on an 8x8 art panel. That's it! Now go make something beautiful. Yes Youtubers can join in. Yes Bloggers can join in Yes Homeschool moms can join in Anyone from Anywhere in the world no matter who you are or how much painting experience you have can Join in. You are invited to paint along!! How much does it cost -IT'S FREE ( so you can buy more art supplies )

What Should YOU do first ? 

Videos will air 12 pm CST on Youtube and 6 pm CST 

The first Video is here 

<img src="https://theartsherpa.com/upimg/image/upimg_file/1296/800" alt="worksheet acrylic april #1.jpg" title="worksheet acrylic april #1.jpg" border="0" style="normalmargin: 0px;">

<img src="https://theartsherpa.com/upimg/image/upimg_file/1295/800" alt="Acrylic April grid #1.jpg" title="Acrylic April grid #1.jpg" border="0" style="normalmargin: 0px;">

Affiliate Disclosure

" When it rains – look for the rainbows – when it’s dark, look for the stars. "

I adore this humble yet mindful  little quote. Looking on the bright side of things is about finding the resilience to see the possibilities when others see the worst.  The opportunities in situations others find soul crushing. That is why I have been painting Umbrella girls. They became my symbol of hope when all was hope had been lost.

When all Hope is Lost 

My husband had nearly died, we lost everything we had worked so hard for, and even found ourselves with a newborn having to exit under the worst possible circumstances.  WE had to sell everything we owned. My art studio, Johns tools, A bunch of our art, and even many of the larger kids toys then would not fit in the trailer we could afford too rent. I remember this lady who was hired to help us sell our things letting her kids drive around in my son and daughters Barbie cars that their grandmother had gotten them one particularly magical Christmas two years before. Play all over the castle my mom and I had handpainted for my eldest. Screaming its MINE No its MINE while I tried to hide my tears and keep my kids from seeing their toys vanish. We had worked hard, been good kind  people and we had lost. I had though we had past that stage where a series of events could level us. But as many of you know it can happen to anyone. I left with my photo's, the documents and the family heirlooms we had been entrusted with. I had my husband thankfully still alive but still very ill  and depressed.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Helen Keller

So  I ended up driving the 4,090.6 km to Houston  , nursing my two month old, all the way back to Texas.  I am the girl who never gave up. Who rode a 12 hand high pony to national recognition against full grown horses and adults. I am NOT giving up on this road. I plotted a course and made us get the geocaching stuff out. We looked at all the tourist stops, cached all kinds of adventures and found our way back to Texas almost like my family. Almost like myself.

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my Angel mother.

Abraham Lincoln

BUT I have no paint !!! I have no canvases and really I am heart broken. But I am not willing to give up.I don’t even know why I was so determined. But I expect it’s those things that keep mothers going. My husband and my kids and needing to show them that things were going to be OK. I honestly was it a time in my life I didn’t know If I would ever paint again. Was I ready to start over.?! But as I got back into the swing of things at the request of my mother. Many of you know how she got me into painting parties as a way to get me out of the house. I started bringing the paint home and the canvas’s home. And just like it’s always been my art was there for me to see me through my hardest times. There were owls and sunflowers by van Gogh.

I can't just make a song people can dance in a club to... it still has to be real.

Mary J. Blige

And I managed to get a 30 x 40 canvas that was gifted to me so that I could sell a painting. I mean that’s what I know....Art.  So I just took all that feeling and hurt and fear and I matched it up with my results and determination to see a better future. And I painted my first girl in the rain. And we hung it on the wall. People LOVED her.  Two very important things happened I realized I could not sell her and I realized we needed to have a lesson on it. So I did an umbrella girl tight skirt good figure to tone streaky background for the rain. And not to be funny but she made a splash . See because she came from something real,  something authentic , honest , and true it’s spoke to people who saw her!

Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.

John Updike

Because they been through the rain to and they wanted to see rainbows and they wanted to see stars. As you know since this is become a huge trend and I’m really honored to of been a small part of creating it. Back in 2011 and 2012 there would have been no way to know that owls and Umbrella Girls would be so huge.

 The way that owls and girls in the rain came from such a real place in me it’s how we should be as artists. But for me that first painting was the seminal moment when I remembered who I was. By now I have a collection of girls in the rain. Lessons and designs. My original girl ended up being gifted to woman I met name Sharron. She had survived a terrible assault and being set on fire as a young woman. She had seen her son murdered in front of her. Yet she was one of the strongest most hopeful people I ever met. And when she would look at that paining she would say that’s me. That’s how I got through. And I knew the paining had to be hers. I want her to have that in her life. And that’s how artists Are We generally see more than the money  or the likes and follows. Because they’re real stories behind our art. What I paint is true for me even when it seems like a  simple trend.  

There is this lesson in the rain and in the dark. You have to make a decision about who you are in relationship to these things. Was I the perspective of  possibility?  When people paint my girls in the rain I’m hoping that some of what I got out of that journey, some of what it took me to survive and see through and find my positive future gets into them. Everything I do is so much more than my YouTube channel or my Instagram account or my Facebook. It’s real. The rain is real. But the umbrella is real to. This wasn’t just a streaky background I had put in a corridor of light to show the possible Future.

I think a lot about what happens to people that paint with me and the images I put in front of them in if I’m going to be leaving them stronger emotionally?  More than that to Tutorial to me  I guess it’s a lighthouse. All these paintings even after I’m gone will be in the world helping some other person  back to her personal power. Some family Back into health and Joy 

I’ve learned some things about myself. I’m tougher than I knew. I can face the storm and everything that comes for me and I will find the rainbow at the end of it. But even more than that I want to help other people behind me find that path through their personal storm. So when you do one of my tutorials know this is more than painting. This is more than views or legs or social media. This is you and me having a conversation about how strong you can be. About that you can get through your personal storm and find your rainbow at the end of it. I want to thank everyone of you for your time and your courage.

YOU are AMAZING

So everyday you write me letters and say thank you. You share you stories and art with me. I see Video and Blogs. Every time I think you are amazing. You make it easy to work this hard. This Blog is about some of your Awesome 

WE have a video montage of some viewer art From Jack And Sally painting Video 

Did you also know I see your Tribute Video's? I do and it is so so much fun. thank you Youtubers 

Have you seen Timothy Charles? He has a very handy how to Channel that does Wood Working. He also does paint nite date nights with his wife. 

Halloweenville is one of our own! Joshua is a delight for our community but he also is a fun Youtuber. I love his projects and positivity. 

We also have Bloggers who share their Art journey wth the World. THANK YOU so much 

Drawing and painting with Maria

Stephanie B Creative Designs

My Artist Journey  

Abstract City in the Rain created in Pallet Knife for a Free home Painting Party . One of the Trends I often think I should design to is Rain. This has been an interesting thing that has gone on in a very unexpected way and I believe inspired new art we can all enjoy. I am always looking to give you something exciting, challenging but still easy to paint at a beginner space. These Abstract Cities in Pallet knife are perfect for free acrylic tutorials on youtube. The Painting Party art movement has created some really unexpected design space for artists I wonder if we really understand fully.  In the past I have done daily paintings but now find myself doing 2 and even 3 designs on some days. 

Paint Nite at home allows for some really fun options I did not have when I was teaching at Sip and Paints. Simple knives and colors make this a great beginner painting anyone can do. A small diamond knife and compound angle  knife make quick work of this easy painting. 

A small thought on knives. YES you can use the plastic knives but just like brushes quality will impact your experience. Metal gives us a sharp edge that makes easy work of lines and Edges. Also loading for the stroke is easy. Pallet knives should always be loaded on the side that the stroke will be travel. Stroking right load your bead on the right side. Stroking left Load your bead on the left side. 

Pallet knife paintings can use a lot of paint. Here are some tips and tricks to keep the cost at a minimum and get the best result. If you are using a basic paint - ( artist loft or Basics ) the paint does not hold body very well. If you are using a pro paint ( Golden Artist colors, Liquitex heavy body, Matisse Derivan) You may want to extend the paint to reduce cost. Both of these challenges can be fixed by using a Matte Gel Medium as an extender. You just mix a bit of your paint into the gel half and half. That way you can go twice as far with what you have. Also if you have a deflating paint like Liquitex basics or Artist Loft it will help hold the body of the stroke ( impasto). 

Can a beginner use a pallet knife? I get asked this a lot and the answer is of course YES!!! Yes you can. You must relax in the looseness of the style and let go of perfectionism. However I think we must all let go of perfectionism a little bit. Though I do think a balanced sense of perfection can be a beautiful trait in an artist. No hard and fat answers in art just a long road of self evaluation and Discovery. I wonder if the Paint Night movement had any idea of the creative art renaissance they were creating when they started. How did you find your Way into art? What started you on this Journey.

Art love as Always

The Art Sherpa