Having a ball constantly figuring out fun ways to share my art and journal pages on my blog and Facebook.  My original idea for this blog wast to post inspirational art works on  a regular basis, daily, weekly, etc.  I call them "Whimspirations" © joanne sharpe…. It's my bright and colorful whimsical art ("whim") paired with hand lettered inspirational words, or quotes ("spirations").  Thus the clever title for a product line.  Recently i was cleaning my (messy disaster) of a studio and came across a stack of my notebooks and idea journals. Flipping through the pages I saw the title "Whimspirations" and realized that i have been developing this collection since 2003! 

I am a huge fan of a lovely artist named Brenda Pinnick.  A very successful licensing artist, Brenda has a fresh colorful style that speaks to me.  She is working on an art branding seminar for CHA, and she got me to thinking…what is my "brand" as an artist?  It will take me a little time to clearly define my "brand" statement, and i'd like to work on that.  But i do know that i'm driven to create fresh, vibrant hand drawn art, embellished with my custom hand lettered font.  I create to "speak visually" through color and verse.  I'm still not that computer savvy when it comes to creating art on the computer.  Although,I'm excited to take my components and see what i CAN create.

You're invited to Be "whimspired" on this blog….so check in often when you seek some good art food!
 

I love to draw with black ink pens.  And i love to color.  I love markers.  Always have.  That's right, a grown woman who finds therapy in coloring!  Don't laugh, you know that is how we all started our art careers.  Especially in the 60's growing up when COLORING BOOKS and CRAYONS were what a DS, Wii or Xbox is to kids today.  What a debate we had in college when i was studying art education…to color or not to color?, that was the question.  Heaven forbid we gave a kid a coloring book.  But think about the calmness and serenity achieved methodically swirling colored wax INSIDE (never over!!) black lines on the off white scratchy paper…..

These days, i am finding it soothing devouring my blank books and journals, filling them with doodling, words, flowers, borders, inspirational quotes and blather.  Currently, i'm designing a program of classes and workshops that celebrate the "Creativity of Coloring"….a sophisticated, artful approach, exploring simple drawing/doodling techniques, lettering, embellishments, color, Copic markers, Golden paints, papers, tools, and inspirations.

Here are some samples for the workshops.  The embellishments are Tim Holtz "Tattered Florals" Sizzix dies, a ton of Ranger Glossy Accents and a few pounds of Stickles.  (***I showed this book to Tim this past weekend when i took his class.  I think he was a little surprised to see his designs interpreted this way!  As my fellow Ranger U alum,  Jennifer McGuire says, the "Skittles Palette")  I just love COLOR!

Live life out loud in color!!
 
 
 
 

Love love love, peddling art on Main Street!  Come on down see us at Canal Days.  Some fun new looks for my signs, new classes and summer camps, we gotta whole lot of ARTSY going on!!   

Uh, no my cats won't be there, they just wanted me to show you how artsy they are with all their spots!

JACK and MONA, my bengal cats

We'll be debuting our "CATS and DAWGS" corner in our booth….how cute are these???

We're taking my famous signs up a few notches…. (did you know that these are now sold in shops in 47 states, including Alaska and Hawaii??!!)  We have SOME REALLY PRETTY NEW PALETTES and NEW GIFTY, THEMED CATEGORIES such as "FUN STUFF", "CATS and DAWGS", "WINEABLES", "GRADUATES", "GIRLFRIENDS", "INSPIRATIONS", "TEACHER GIFTS"……and lots of BLANKS FOR FREE PERSONALIZING (think kids rooms, babies, grandkids, teachers, etc)!

Bows and sparkle!
 
 

Can you see the bling on these??  Love.  You have to come see!

It has been quite an honor, and a privilege to paint, create and exhibit my artwork in the Benches On Parade  adventure.  Click on the link you can see where ALL the benches are located and keep up on all the happenings.  The VIP reception in May was magical!  The folks at Dixon Scwabl did an amazing job creating a benches preview "gallery"……an empty industrial warehouse transformed into a colorful whimsical park, complete with trees, benches, pathways, oh and wine!  A great party!! 

We were some of the last people to leave! 

 Thank you to the paparazzi photographer, my husband Tom Sharpe, for the great photos he took for me, of all the benches, and candids at this event.  I am so grateful for all the support he gives me, as my greatest art cheerleader!  

MY UNITY HEALTH BENCH "Make A Positive Difference": Now located at Greece Ridge Mall

My WCMF BENCH "Long Live Rock": Now located at Greece Ridge Mall

MY VISIT ROCHESTER BENCH "Make Yourself at Home": Now located on East Avenue, Rochester in front of the Reidman building.

My ROCHESTER GENERAL HOSPITAL BENCH "Be the Change": now located on Main Street, Pittsford village in front of Ben and Jerry's (so go get a cone and relax on my bench!)

…and last but not least, my WBEE BENCH "FLAT TERRY": Now located in Marketplace Mall.  A great homage to my dear sweet friend Terry Clifford of WBEE Morning Club.

…and the beautiful REAL TERRY on FLAT TERRY!  I just love her! 

This project was such great fun.  It was pure joy to share these creations with my sponsors, my family and friends and now the community.  Thanks to Dixon Schwabl for this project, the creative visionaries that gave the project life.  So proud to be a part of this adventure.

I was giddy to meet Lauren Dixon, the simply fabulous powerhouse of Dixon Schwabl. I have admired her for years!  Meeting Lauren brought me full circle in my creative journey, as i always dreamed of  working in any capacity with this innovative artsy agency.  (Gotta love the vision board!) 

How lucky for me to share in this spectacular  project… in all it's artful glory, 117 white fiberglass monstrosities transformed into pure magic……  

This winter was so much more bearable, with the privilege I had  participating in Rochester's public art exhibit , "Benches On Parade".  There was no wiggle room in my studio when there were at all times 2-3 gigantic fiberglass benches filling the space.  It was a blast!!  I had the most wonderful sponsors who met with me and shared ideas which brought to life to the whimsical, energetic and inspired seating.  

Some cute throw pillows made for a cozy bench while it was awaiting it's colorful paint drenching!  

On Monday, May 10th the artists and sponsors will be entertained by the wonderful people at Dixon Scwabl who coordinated this event from paper design proposals from the artists to the street placement displays that will debut this month.  I adore my new friend Joanne LaFave who was the best art coach ever!   

Here are some really SNEAKY peeks into the benches that i created.   I'll post full views after the launch on Monday.  Be on the lookout in all the local media for the details.

SPONSOR: UNITY HEALTH collaborated with the fabulous Mary Alice Keller

SPONSOR: ROCHESTER GENERAL HOSPITAL guided by Susan Crane and Michael Tedesco  

SPONSOR: VISIT ROCHESTER A welcoming and genius idea with Patti Donohue and Calin Lawrence

SPONSOR: WBEE a very arty surprise for a special lady with the most hilarious JT Thomas!! 
 

SPONSOR: WCMF another great art brainstorming masterpiece with JT THOMAS

Can't wait to see all this art on the streets!  Will post the finished benches photos……….
  
 
 
  

"……so that your SOUL can find what your SPIRIT SEEKS to BREATHE…..and find your place…..give LIFE to your PASSIONS…….sing your ART SONG…..it's EVERYTHING YOU WERE MEANT TO BE"……..joanne sharpe

…It's my peaceful happy place… writing, and bringing thoughts to life with luscious color in my art journals.  Be true to what is calling you.  

Here's a work in progress… I'm creating a character line for RUBBER STAMPS.  I just had the privilege of designing some stamps in the Spring catalog for ART GONE WILD, working with Michelle Cutts "Mrs. Stampers Anonymous".  We're  exploring some fun new stamping ideas using some more of my whimsical bold designs.  Wouldn't these girls be cute with some my sassy sayings??  They'd be perfect for Copics and making cards and scrapping.  Love them.  

Doodle and draw and girly girl sketch….  Just let the pens spill out the lines and shapes, words and thoughts.  Then fill with color.

  When i was a kid i was the coloring queen.  I love, love, loved to color EVERYDAY!!!  Stayed in the lines perfectly, I did.  Had to have fresh crayons always.  I was a crayon snob, only perfect points for my coloring adventures.  That must be why i LOVE COPIC MARKERS now!!!  They are the Cadillac of markers, the Caviar of Coloring!  I was so obsessed with these pens recently, i drove 6 hours to Long Island for a Certification Class.  Which means that now i can teach people (with the company's specifications) how to fill their world with COPICS and COLORING!!!

These are my "girls"….the shapes and lines and patterns that i could fill with buckets of color….no photoshop, no illustrator, just hands on, inky fingers, snapping caps and pure bliss……

 ****ALL CONTENT, IMAGES, QUOTES AND WRITING COPYRIGHT JOANNE Z. SHARPE 2010*****

Here to share some of the journaling i have been doing since New Year's.  I have made a promise to myself to do something creative every day.  It's been easier than i thought, and i have several journals filling up with yummy words, thoughts, doodles and color.  My design style is taking on a new life, while the feel is still quite WHIMSICAL, i am inspired in many new directions…..Copic markers, Ranger inks, Pan Pastels, Golden paints, glimmer mists, pen and ink and more…..here's where i have been on my creative journey…….when my soul speaks through my art……
 

 
 

***ALL IMAGES AND WRITING COPYRIGHTED BY JOANNE Z. SHARPE 2010*******

There's a new blog in town and it's all about my studio shop in Fairport, New York, yipeeeee!!  I hope to somehow figure out how to connect both of my blogs for easy reference. 

Why TWO blogs???  Well, i get 3 blogs from Typepad with the account i use.  With my "WHIMSPIRATIONS", personal blog (this one) i want to share my creative journey as an artist, product designer, as well share project ideas and techniques.  

On my STUDIO BLOG, joannesharpe.typepad.com/artandsoulfairport  i'll communicate the happenings, classes and gatherings at my Fairport shop. 

…..imagine the possibilities, there is so much to be creative about!

(One of the huge 8 ft handpainted canvas banners i created for Camp Stella Maris, Conesus Lake, NY)