My Book, Storytelling Art Studio, is available for Pre-Order!

You can now pre-order my book on Amazon and enter my HUGE GIVEAWAY contest!  See the details under the Book & Giveaway tab here on my website.

I'm so excited to share the launch of my new book, Storytelling Art Studio! In it I share my dual love of literature and painting and show you how to link the two in your own artwork. The book focuses on mixed media techniques including collage, sgraffito, and book-page altering as well as traditional drawing, painting and etching! You'll use pencils, gel pens, paints, clayboard, scissors, patterned paper and even your children's drawings to bring your storytelling visions to life!

Plus, I show you how to use incorporate character, plot, conflict, theme and other aspects of fiction into your artwork.

This book has been a labor of love for me, and I'm thrilled to finally be able to share it with you!

PRE-ORDER HERE

30 Drawings in 30 Days and time for NOLA Vacation!

I am so proud to say that I finished all 30 of my 30 consecutive daily drawings -- despite snow days, young children and plain old fear of the blank page -- and my drawings are now available on Etsy.  I've also created 4 of the more romantic images for special Valentine's Day prints.  It was such an amazing journey to create these drawings and to share them with you on social media. I may just make this an annual event (thought it's way too soon to promise!) :). 

In other news, I'm off this week for a mini vacation to NOLA with AMAZING and talented artists including Anahata Katkin,  Alena Hennessy, Carrie Scmitt, Flora Bowley, Melissa Moss, Lori Portka and Nikki Cade. I can only imagine that this will be a whirlwind of inspiration, and I will take some cool photos to share. I am trying to travel light for the journey with just drawing pad, pencils and gel pens -- but I have a feeling these extraordinary ladies will make me want to Uber it to the art store 5 minutes after I arrive. Feeling very lucky.

My Etsy shop is open today, but it will be closed 2/14 - 2/20.  Happy Valentine's Day!!

30 Days 30 Drawings Project

"We Carry Each Other" - Pencil and White Chalk on Gray Paper.

If you've been following me on Instagram and Facebook, you know that I've been in the midst of a new challenge -- draw 30 drawings for 30 days. Today I am on drawing #28, and I have to say this has been an amazing experience. For one, I've watched my drawing skills and imagination take flight by forcing myself to give up my favorite thing of all time -- color - to focus just on the magic of line and story. This has been a great journey of discovery. Yet it hasn't always been joyous. Many days I have had to push through inertia, snow days, unruly children and just plain exhaustion to follow through on the intention of this challenge.

I will be putting all of the drawings on sale together in the next few days, so be sure to sign up for my mailing list to be sure to get first dibs on your favorite(s).

Encourage Your Congresspeople to Hear Your Voice

Today I felt a pull to create this ready-to-print postcard encouraging members of congress to hear the voices of people who condemn torture, hate crimes and the tyranny of the wealthy over the many others -- people, animals and all of nature -- who share this planet.  Feel free to download my postcard and use it to encourage your congressperson or senator to be a light in darkness.

No One Knows She Rides a Unicorn to School

My newest painting, "No One Knows She Rides a Unicorn to School," celebrates the power of imagination set against a black and white world. Let it always lift us up and remind us that it's ok to be a poet or a dreamer, to believe in what we cannot see, and most of all to let all of our colors shine brightly!

Winter Solstice - Encaustic on Wood Panel

This was a joyous painting to create -- I loved capturing the various blues of my surrounding Blue Ridge mountain ranges and how they glow purple pink in the morning sunrise. This piece was created entirely with pigmented beeswax with just a touch of Paynes Gray oil paint added to the intaglio carviings like the two deer and tiny trees. The original has been sold, but prints are available in my Etsy shop.

Artists For Love

This is a free high-resolution Download. Feel free to print & share in any format.

The state of our world is troubling. We have a nation divided. North Carolina forest fires blaze across my home city cloaking Asheville with smoke and keeping our children indoors at recess. My own family has been touched irrevocably by environmental pollution. Things are serious. Yet we still have the power to envision beauty for this world. Artists, in particular, have the gift and the responsibility to dream better realities into being. We can pain, draw, spin our words into story and weave something powerful, good and loving for our children.  You, too, have that power. Join the movement. Create your own artwork using these words and share it on social media or in any way you see fit.  You are also more than welcome to download my own poster and hang it up in your room to know that you are not alone. Sending love. -- Cathy

For more #artistsoflove images, visit www.alenahennessey.com

Oracle Story Card Decks are HERE!

Story is our oldest tool to tell us who we are. 

Yet we sometimes cannot hear our own stories over the noise of everyday life.

I created this beautiful, soulful oracle deck in bright, rich colors to help you see and connect with your inner storyteller, artist and creative soul.

My Story Cards have been a labor of love based on the themes, motifs and iconography of my own paintings. Like Tarot cards, they include a set of instructions, suggested layout spread, and an 8-page interpretation booklet. Their imagery is modern, colorful, and filled with accessible symbolism designed to unlock, guide and inspire the unique stories of your life.

Suggested Uses:
- Pick a card to inspire your creativity for the day
- Use the layout & instructions to do readings for yourself and others
- Reveal the important characters, conflicts and resolutions on your unique journey

Deck Includes:
* Beautiful custom-designed box to store your cards
*  70 total cards
*  69 cards (including 16 male and female 'face' cards) +1 layout spread card
*  Instructions
*  8-page booklet with interpretations for each card
*  Shrink wrapped for protection & tied with a beautiful organza ribbon
* Cards measure 4.75 x 2.75 inches

$41.00

Click here to buy now. There only 50 decks available in this limited first edition.