I'm so excited the Shimmer Classroom inside the Celtic Collective is now open for watercolor beginners to enjoy :)

The Shimmer classroom features bite-sized lessons for beginner watercolorists covering EVERYTHING you need to know about supplies and simple techniques. 

🧚Ready to check out this awesome new classroom? Let's go!!

We each made a few of these, and I (Karen) showed off my favorite art supplies to take along with me while traveling. Just in case YOU happen to be headed off on vacation sometime this summer :) 

Isn't this little baby watercolor journal just the cutest (above)?!
I LOVE it!! And check out the fairy eyes Lucy created LIVE!!

If you couldn't join us LIVE, watch the replay with us and watercolor along right now. It's SO much fun!! 

Our next Members Only LIVE Podcast is on the 27th because I'm away on vacation on the 21st. 

Next month, we'll be releasing another new BEGINNER classroom inside the Celtic Collective for Gouache "Virgins", lol! Gouache can be a tricky medium to master- just like watercolor, so we want to make sure you have a solid foundation to help you feel comfortable :)

​👉CLICK HERE to choose an alternative project in the Visual Index​

👉CLICK HERE to access a recent email newsletter

👉CLICK HERE if you're a new member and make sure you check out ALL the links in our FOR NEW MEMBERS blog post

👉CLICK HERE forVIDEO help navigating & finding your lessons

Happy Lammas Celtic Collective member! If you're not familiar with that term, it's a celebration of the time of year right in-between the summer soltice and fall equinox (August 1st). It's a happy time of year prepping for the first harvest and those yet to come! 

Learn more about Lammas in this wee lesson! 

Or...

❤️️Watch this week's Awesome Art School Newsletter❤️️
"Hi from Karen" Video!

All links are affiliate and are for U.S. residents - always use what you have on hand!

Next, it's time to settle into some seriously lovely lessons. Pull out ALL you fave watercolor art supplies, because they're gonna see some action this month!! 

Our first project from me (Karen), is this sweet little Terrain fairy, who you might've seen in the background of a recent YouTube video when I was swatching a new-to-me Terrain watercolor set by Prima.

If you watched the YouTube video (which was a demo of me swatching the Terrain watercolor set), you may already know that I challenged myself to complete this cutie only using the colors in that little palette! It's honestly kinda free-ing to just tell myself I can't even look at all the other endless color choices I have- and instead,
​I just need to create from what's right in front of me :) 

As always- you do you in terms of supplies. Here's what I used: 

Terrain Watercolor Set by Prima: https://amzn.to/46Qi9qz 
(or just your fave light blue, orange, yellow ochre, olive green and red!)

My favorite Cold Press (textured)
Zatercolor paper by Fabriano 11" x 14" https://amzn.to/2Vev3Lb

Molotow Fineliners https://amzn.to/3Bp41GF

Pentel Arts Sign Pen w/ Micro Brush https://amzn.to/3JhAjZ2

Copic Opaque Paint with Brush https://amzn.to/3Dfr1ZW

Polina Bright Watercolor Brushes https://www.polinabright.com/karencampbell and use coupon code KARENCAMPBELL to save 10% off your order

That's it!! Ready for this cute 2-Hour lesson??​

Next up, a FUN & EASY gouache circle project!

Feel free to create your own variation of this lesson on whatever shape of canvas, watercolor paper or art journal you're in the mood for, if you don't have a circle to work on like I did.

And, if you don't have a set of gouache, you can totally use acrylics!! Lucy got me into gouache (can I just say how hard it is to spell that word?! LOL). It's got this gorgeous matte look to it when finished!! If you've never used gouache (take THAT spellcheck!), here's a quick YouTube vid with more info on what the heck gouache is, and alternatives you can use if you prefer.

Ok, back to the lesson :) 

Use whatever YOU want, this is what I used:

10" circular canvas multipack: https://amzn.to/3OdFr2r

Gouache cheapy brushes https://amzn.to/3MeHAqe

Powercryl Creative Mark Pro Stroke ACRYLIC Brushes https://amzn.to/2JYhzkW

Liquitex Acrylic Gouache Cadmium-Free Red Deep https://amzn.to/3X882Zr

My Orange and Yellow were from this Golden So Matte Set https://amzn.to/3MHQygO

And White (by Turner as that's all I have) https://amzn.to/389Gu15 and Black: https://amzn.to/3lyKhZ5

Copic Opaque Paint with Brush https://amzn.to/3Dfr1ZW

White Transfer Paper https://amzn.to/43v1Z30

​Ready for this fun 45-min lesson?

Next up, some GORGEOUS lessons from our very own Lucy Brydon!! 

How freaking adorable is she?! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

Lucy said she went OUTSIDE of her comfort zone and into mine (WOOT!) for this lesson :) Usually she's all about detail and tons of layering, shading, you name it, and this cutie was a little more quick and dirty. Which if you REALLY know Lucy, isn't all that quick or dirty!! It still probably took her twice as long as it would me :) 

Use whatever you want,
here's what Lucy used (affiliate links, UK Amazon).

Pentel graphgear mechanical pencil 0.5 https://amzn.to/47e03iE

Daler Rowney Aquafine Textured Watercolour & Gouache Cold-Pressed
300 gsm A4 Paper Pad https://amzn.to/3QgAjfr

Arteza watercolor pencils https://amzn.to/43YjGZc

​Prismacolor set of 48 https://amzn.to/44QyhHp

Prima currents set https://amzn.to/3q3tTFT

Prima complexions set https://amzn.to/44NjVau

Uniball black gel pen https://amzn.to/3DHmVcI

PH Martin bleed proof white https://amzn.to/3QeJjlf 
(Lucy initially tried using a white paint pen,
ut the bleed proof white won out in the end!)

Polina Bright watercolor brushes
(use this link from Karen to get 10% off your purchase using her name, KARENCAMPBELL as the coupon code at checkout).

​Ready for this adorable 1-Hour Lesson?

If you thought the last project from Lucy was stunning, Lucy's Dark-Skinned Lammas Queen is one's gonna rock your world!!

Prima complexions set https://amzn.to/44NjVau

Daniel Smith Cascade green: https://amzn.to/3YiKEJH

Daniel Smith Transparent red oxide https://amzn.to/3qnaT5d

Daniel Smith Lunar Blue https://amzn.to/45eVrqv

PH Martin bleed proof white https://amzn.to/3QeJjlf

Pentel graphgear mechanical pencil 0.5 https://amzn.to/47e03iE

Fabriano watercolor paper 280gsm 15x11 “pack of 50 https://amzn.to/478RVzV​

Polina Bright watercolor brushes

a sparkly metallic watercolor for her earrings (Lucy used "Campbella" ones which are a little UK handmade company but you can use whatever you have - even a metallic gouache would work)

Daniel Smith Piemonte Genuine (couldn't find a link on amazon uk)

Ready for this gorgeous (less than 1.5 Hour)lesson?

​We hope you have SO much fun working on these projects this month!!

?Not in the mood for these lessons right now? That's ok! Scroll through the Celtic Collective Visual Index to find something else you ARE in love with!! There are so many fun choices!!
​

No problem! You can always feel free to try ANY lesson in the club because we guide you step-by-step through each and every one. BUT, if you've never played with watercolor, gouache, inks, etc. before- we suggest you either head over to the Maidens Classroom to start learning about what these products do and HOW to USE THEM to create your own art!

This is just a tiny glimpse of all the goodness the Maiden's Classroom has to offer you!! ​

We've decided to mix things up with our monthly club meetings. This time it's going to be a members-only podcast for YOU!! Still on the 21st.

Let's help you get settled!

The last thing either of us want is for you to ever feel overwhelmed.

❤️️Watch Our Celtic Collective Welcome Video❤️️

I hope that helps!!

In addition to all the resources we embed direclty into your classrooms at Awesome Art School, I also have an ENTIRE YouTube channel dedicated to helping club members!

​Sooooo many of your common questions may already have a video ready & waiting for you with the answer on the Awesome Art School YouTube Channel, or directly in the Celtic Collective classrooms themselves :) ​

Here are some quick resources in case you need them:
​​
✨WANNA REMEMBER HOW YOU GOT
to the lesson you've been working on
so you can come back more easily tomorrow?
Print a FREE Celtic Collective Navigation Sheet! 

​✨WANNA TRACK YOUR LESSON PROGRESS?
Download a FREE Awesome Art School Daily Lesson Sheet
to help you stay organized. 

✨TOTAL ART BEGINNER? Join us here to chat supplies, grab some cheatsheets, or here to start playing with watercolors & Lucy!

✨NOT AN ART BEGINNER & want a FUN project to work on? Scroll through the Visual Index to find one that floats your boat!!

✨WANNA POST YOUR WORK in the Facebook Group but don't know how? This one's for you!

Take Advantage of MORE Membership Perks!​ 

✨Use my 20% Off Code in Karen's Etsy Shop for Swag
​
✨Download any of my 6 FREE ebooks! 
Links are right under the calendar on this page:)

✨Grab some Cheatsheets from the YouTube & Cheatsheet Library (this is a BRAND NEW CLUB PERK!!)
​
✨Post my #CelticCollective artwork in the Facebook Group to enter the next monthly giveaway (always a Facebook LIVE held on the 1st of Every Month)! 
​
​Let us know if you need anything else!
​
Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].

Hi there! I am SO excited (it's Karen, by the way) to bring you your VERY FIRST Celtic Collective Members-Only Blog!! 

My goal with this members-only blog is to help you stay up to date on what's happening inside your Celtic Collective art club membership so you can make the most of it and have THE BEST TIME creating fantasy art YOU love!!

Because, let's be honest, that's WHY we're here, right?! To have FUN with our art?! 

During July in the Celtic Collective, we've done some deep dives on the techniques and work by the uber talented, 19th century illustrator, Arthur Rackam.

If you haven't had time to check any of this out yet, don't sweat it. My new club motto is "Your race, your pace." There is no "behind" in any of the clubs at Awesome Art School. Everything is just waiting and ready for you whenever YOU are ready for it!! 

👇Back to Rackham. I did a little research on him and have some fun facts for you here:

Lucy and I added a number of lessons for you to the "Master's Apprentice" classroom that were inspired by Rackham's style, including this 1-Hour lesson...

✨Castle on a Cliff in Inks with Karen✨

Supplies Used:
All you need is some hot pressed paper, a dip pen and some black ink! A Watercolor brush is essential too. Here's the list of supplies, but PLEASE just use whatever you have on hand :)

Fabriano Hot Press Watercolor Paper 11” x 14”: https://amzn.to/3kVTJsj
Dip Pen Drawing Ink (permanent): https://amzn.to/3lDrG1w
Dip Pen (11 nibs:) https://amzn.to/40es1H4
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/2JuVpmU
Polina Bright Watercolor Brushes:
https://www.polinabright.com/karencampbell 
(use coupon code KARENCAMPBELL to save 10% off your order)

🧚3 DOWNLOADS are waiting in the classroom for you including a Castle drawing reference, an Arthur Rackham illustration, and a copy of my final version of this lesson in case you'd like to work with that alongside you :)

✨Modern Maiden in Ink with Karen✨

Supplies Used:
Again - use what you have on hand, here's what I used:
Fabriano Hot Press Watercolor Paper 11” x 14”: https://amzn.to/3kVTJsj
Dip Pen Drawing Ink (permanent): https://amzn.to/3lDrG1w
Noodler's Ink Walnut: https://amzn.to/3v3FAKy
Noodler's Ink Pecan: https://amzn.to/2Y1jhpZ
Diamine Ink in Sepia: https://amzn.to/3Ow9dMS
Dip Pen (11 nibs): https://amzn.to/40es1H4
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/2JuVpmU
I used black, the brown and light brown from the Pentel Arts Sign Pen Set in Assorted Colors: https://amzn.to/41P42yq
And of course Polina Bright Watercolor Brushes: https://www.polinabright.com/karencampbell 
(use coupon code KARENCAMPBELL to save 10% off your order)

🧚3 DOWNLOADS are waiting in the classroom for you as well including a hand reference (because who doesn't need that?!),
a close-up of my finished piece,
and a simply gorgeous Arthur Rackham illustration for reference to help ya through this 1.5 hour lesson :)​

✨Flower Fairy #1 with Lucy✨

Before I EVEN TALK about the supplies Lucy used for this lesson, I can't get over how much Lucy's piece looks like the original (shown below)!! Can you?! She's got MAD SKILLS doesn't she?!

Supplies Lucy Used:
300 gsm watercolor paper
Polina Bright watercolor brushes
some vintage looking watercolors (for example "goethite" by Daniel Smith, Burnt Umber, Siena)
Dip pen and waterproof ink

🧚Lucy has 2 gorgeous reference images waiting for you in the classroom including this one below, to help ya through this quick,
​30-minute lesson.

✨ ​Flower Fairy #2 with Lucy ✨

Supplies Lucy Used:
300 gsm Watercolor paper
Dip pen and waterproof ink
A selection of vintage colors of watercolor (like Daniel Smith goethite, Burnt Umber, Sepia, Bloodstone Genuine, Shadow Violet etc - I did not use ALL of these in this painting this is just a selection of the kind of colors that would be good for this project. If you do not have them do not worry just substitute with whatever you have!)
Some blue and yellow for the fairy dress

🧚Lucy has 2 gorgeous reference images waiting for you in the classroom for this 1-Hour lesson to help you with your own fairy!

This one is super magical and I've already seen a million verions of this floating around the Awesome Art School Facebook Group:) They are all just stunning!! 

Supplies Lucy Used for this one:
Gouache (if you do not have any you can use acrylics)
Smallish filbert or flat brushes, and various greys, black, white, blues and some peach gouache or acrylic paints.

🧚Lucy again has 2 gorgeous reference images waiting for you in the classroom for this lesson to help you with your own Fairy Queen!

​👉Not feeling it with these Arthur Rackham inspired lessons? That's ok! Scroll through the Celtic Collective Visual Index to find something else you ARE in love with!! There are so many fun choices!!

No problem! You can always feel free to try ANY lesson in the club because we guide you step-by-step through each and every one. BUT, if you've never played with watercolor, gouache, inks, etc. before- we suggest you either head over to the Maidens Classroom to start learning about what these products do and HOW to USE THEM to create your own art!

This is just a tiny glimpse of all the goodness the Maiden's Classroom has to offer you!! 

August is right around the corner, and we're heading into the Celtic Wheel of the Year- Lammas! Those lessons will all drop next Monday, August 7th. We can't wait to show them to you!!

I hope that helps!!

In addition to all the resources we embed direclty into your classrooms at Awesome Art School, I also have an ENTIRE YouTube channel dedicated to helping club members!

​Sooooo many of your common questions may already have a video ready & waiting for you with the answer on the Awesome Art School YouTube Channel, or directly in the Celtic Collective classrooms themselves :) 

Here are some quick resources in case you need them:
​​
🧚WANNA REMEMBER HOW YOU GOT
to the lesson you've been working on
so you can come back more easily tomorrow?
Print a FREE Celtic Collective Navigation Sheet! 

​🧚WANNA TRACK YOUR LESSON PROGRESS?
Download a FREE Awesome Art School Daily Lesson Sheet
to help you stay organized. 

🧚TOTAL ART BEGINNER? Join us here to chat supplies, grab some cheatsheets, or here to start playing with watercolors & Lucy!

🧚NOT AN ART BEGINNER & want a FUN project to work on? Scroll through the Visual Index to find one that floats your boat!!

🧚WANNA POST YOUR WORK in the Facebook Group but don't know how? This one's for you!

​ 🧚Use my 20% Off Code in Karen's Etsy Shop for Swag
​
🧚Download any of my 6 FREE ebooks! 
Links are right under the calendar on this page:)

🧚Grab some Cheatsheets from the YouTube & Cheatsheet Library (this is a BRAND NEW CLUB PERK!!)
​
🧚Post my #CelticCollective artwork in the Facebook Group to enter the next monthly giveaway (always a Facebook LIVE held on the 1st of Every Month)! 
​
​Let us know if you need anything else!
​
Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].

We'll see you inside the club!!