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Let the Colors Run

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Happy Father's Day

6/24/2015

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Holidays are always a good excuse to set aside some time for a creative project. My husband and I make our homemade cards the focus of our holiday gift-giving, since we don’t always have much money to spend on each other (we just barely finished being grad students). Here is what I made for Rhyan for Father’s Day this year:
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It’s not as complicated as some of our others, but I like to think its simplicity adds some class. And you can’t go wrong with Darth Vader!
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Check out some of the other cards we’ve gifted over the years. I’m keeping these forever!

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Let's warm up!

6/19/2015

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For any demanding process, be it sports, piano, or programming, warming up is necessary! It transitions our brain from the tasks of daily life to something more focused. It conditions the muscles we want to use so we don’t cramp up. Art is no different. Warm up your hands, and warm up your brain, by giving these exercises a try!

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"Quarter Doodles" -Fill it in, in 30 seconds!

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"Artist Copy" -When you don't know what to draw!
"Handwriting" -Pick a font, any font! Words are pictures, too!


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Hello, there!

6/16/2015

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Let me introduce myself....I'm Keri, I have a dog and 2 kids, and my favorite color is purple. You can check out my website at keridockter.weebly.com to view my portfolio, commission a portrait/illustration/design/sewing project, or inquire about art lessons (I serve the East Bay, CA area). I began this blog in order to reach a wider audience for art education, which is poorly represented in our public education system. It is designed to be an online companion for my current art students, as well as a resource for anyone who wants to begin exploring the visual arts on their own.

Why am I qualified to tell you all about art? Well first of all, since art is both subjective and personal, I think we all have something valuable to say and share. As for my professional experience, and to give credit where credit is due: I attended art school at Brigham Young University, which has a top-notch Illustration program (not to mention the other, truly amazing programs available there). I have interned with and met many successful artists. I have a current, steady stream of clients, which began even before I graduated with my BFA in 2011. I have been a private art tutor to over a dozen students since 2012.
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Okay, well, we can get deeper than that! Time to get out my soap box. I grew up the daughter of a chemical engineer and a computer programmer, and yet both my parents encouraged me to draw and paint and make money doing it, from a very young age. It was a long time before I realized that is not typical. But why not? I believe that developing skills in the visual arts is just as important as learning an instrument, and yet the resources in our communities for doing so are just not there. And why are music lessons so widely accepted for lay people, when art lessons are only pursued by those with more serious motives? Our country's parents are enamored with music lessons for our kids, whether they end up a doctor, a contractor, or an actual musician. But with art, it's a little touchier. If Spencer is spending too much time with a pencil in his hand, he is reminded, 'it's hard to make money doing art.' If Molly lets off some steam by slapping paint on a canvas, she's asked, 'where are you going with this?' Well you know what? WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST DO ART FOR ART'S SAKE, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT HAVING A SERIOUS REASON FOR DOING IT? **The artwork in this post are all things that I truly loved doing. It was art for art's sake!
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If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's this: I am not that original. If I've felt a certain way about a certain thing, then there are most certainly other people that feel the same way I do. And so, when I admit to myself that'd I'd be a complete emotional wreck if I didn't have art as an outlet, I recognize that other people are probably in the same boat as I am. Some people watch TV to unwind. Some head to the gym. Others listen to music or bake or eat, but painting is what works best for me. Maybe you, too, will find it a potent de-stressing exercise. Give it a try!
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I love making money through my art, but let me tell you, I'm creating art day in and day out whether I make money or not. I've noticed that if I go too long without putting pen to paper, (2 weeks-ish), that I start to get depressed, unmotivated, and insecure. And then, the day I start up again, I'm happy, whistling, and waking up on time! The funny thing is, that each time I go through this cycle and get caught in the funk, I can't figure out how I got there. I ask my husband, 'why do I feel so lame?' He reminds me I should go paint, and it's this great Ah-ha! moment. Every time. I suppose it just goes to show, that even I, a professionally-trained artist, often take art and its mental benefits for granted.
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    Hello, all!
    This blog is a place where I can share the How's and Why​'s behind my creations. I seek to enrich my family's and friend's lives through sewing, painting, crafting and designing! Feel free to gather inspiration for your own creations here, or shoot on down to my portfolio and shop to commission your own custom work.


    MY PORTFOLIO
    KeriDockter.weebly.com
    ETSY Shop
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