Join me for a new class!

Hello friends! Happy Wednesday!

I hope your week is going well so far. 

I have some BIG news to share with you! If you follow me on social media, you may have already seen this yesterday, but if not...

My new class, Doodling Nature, is up on the Big Picture Classes website! Woot! 

This is my first class with them, and in October my second class, focused on lettering (!!!), will launch.

I would love to have you join me for this class! We'll be doodling all of my favorite nature shapes, adding fun details to them, and even creating a full page art piece. It is going to be fun, friends!

Back in May, their videographer, Joe, came to our house and filmed both of the classes, as well as this really wonderful intro video, which made my eyes water a bit...

A few months back, a sweet and super talented guy named Joe (@joe_gomez) showed up at my doorstep with fancy camera equipment, and filmed two drawing classes I'll be teaching online with @bigpictureclasses. The whole experience so far has been so encouraging and exciting. My first class, Doodling Nature, is up on their website, along with what might be one of my favorite things that's happened so far in my art career, this short intro video he put together. I'll admit it made me cry a little. Feeling thankful today. ❤️ I would love to have you join me for this class - the link to check it out is in my profile! My second class, focused on handlettering, will launch in October!

A post shared by Mandy Ford Art & Illustration (@mandyfordart) on Aug 22, 2017 at 3:11pm PDT

This has been such a fun process and I can't wait to dive in with my students! 

Sending happy Wednesday vibes to you,

{come learn with me!}

It is so funny how life brings you opportunities that are the furthest from what you see yourself doing. 

Like me TEACHING.

Yep...not something this homebody introvert ever saw herself doing. But here I am, adding a "Classes" page to my website, teaching on Skillshare, and now I'm teaching another local class!

This summer I taught doodling to kiddos at Veach's Toy Station which was so much fun and also helped me get my feet wet in the realm of face to face teaching. 

A local friend who's children took my class, and who also teaches amazing Creativity Camp classes out of her barn (yes...barn!)...invited me to teach a class with her this fall. You all I'm over the moon excited about this, and I hope if you are local you can join us!

We'll be creating a glass mosaic frame, and then I'll be leading students in a doodling exercise to create a piece of art for their frame. 

You can reserve your spot here! Class is limited to 20 participants. 

And if you aren't local, I would love to have you join me over on Skillshare for my doodling class. Here are some fabulous projects from my students...

Aren't they amazing? I just love sharing doodling with you all...it brings so much joy to the world don't you think?

If you have any ideas for other classes you would like to see me teach please leave them in the comments!

XO,

{new doodling class!}

Hello friends and happy weekend!

I have some exciting news to share with you today!

I am teaching my first class on Skillshare, Create Your Own Crazy Doodle!

Here is a peek at the project we'll be creating...

I started making these crazy doodles about a year ago, and they are such a fun way to relax and also practice lots of fun shapes. 

In the class, I'll lead you through drawing some simple doodled shapes, and then we'll connect them all together into the big crazy doodle you see above. 

Wanna join me?

Click here to get started!

If you are new to Skillshare, it is a fabulous platform with a TON of creative classes on just about any topic you could imagine, from design to cooking, knitting to home decor. It is 99 cents for your first three months, so a super low commitment. 

I would love to have you join me!

XO,

{a few reminders}

Happy Wednesday friends!

{new coloring page}

Hey there! Happy Tuesday!

A quick email today to show you a new coloring page that will be going out to my email subscribers...

Are you on the list? Sign up here and you'll get it in your inbox!

XO,

{in my sketchbook}

When my mind is scattered, anxious, or I just can't focus, my go-to are these "crazy doodles" as I call them. This one was huge therapy for me.

I started it at home and finished it up at my office these days, my favorite local coffee shop...

If you are at all a doodler (or even if you aren't!) I really recommend trying this exercise. Pick a few shapes and fillers and don't think too much about it. You'll be amazed it what the finished product looks like...I was with this one!

XO,

{Valentine's Day coloring book!}

Happy Monday friends!

Whew...did you make it into work OK this morning? We're finally experiencing winter weather hear in Indiana...about 10-ish degrees this morning and my boys had a 2-hour delay so I'm just now getting settled in at work.

I wanted to share a few new coloring pages I'm working on for a Valentine's Day mini coloring book. I think it will be similar to my Christmas coloring book...5 or so pages and it will be a printable for sale in my Etsy shop. 

Here are the first two pages I've completed...

All of those hearts were fun but left my hand a bit crampy!

This one was fun to sketch...

And here it is inked in...the heart keys are my favorite...

Excited to see what else makes it's way onto the page. Any suggestions or requests?

XO,

{in my sketchbook}

My sketch book has seen a lot of action this past week! 

I purchased a pot of happy, floppy daisies which of course inspired some doodles... 

I also added to my seed pod collection...

And added some butterflies and birdhouses as I'm in the beginning stages of dreaming up a coloring book...

Hope your week is off to a good start!

XO,

{in my sketchbook}

I had a few spare minutes on my lunch break yesterday, and the weather was gorgeous, so I decided to stop in the park and doodle for a bit. As I drove along looking for a place to stop, I asked God for a bit of inspiration because nothing was coming to me. A few minutes before I found a spot in front of the pond this one popped into my head...

And here it is with some color added...

I'm always extra thankful for divine help in the inspiration department. 

And coffee in the morning. 

XO,

{#kindiana}

On a day when many are celebrating hope and new life and forgiveness, I'd like to add kindness to the list. 

My home state of Indiana has been in the news for some not-so-wonderful things lately, and it has left me feeling sad about the ugliness it has brought out in so many. I have stayed out of the conversation online for the most part because it was bringing out so much division and hurtful behavior.

But still I wanted to contribute something hopeful. Last week while playing frisbee in the yard with my boys the term "kindiana" came to me, and I came up with this doodle...

Not too long after, a local shop owner asked me to turn it into a larger custom piece for her shop...

And now it is available as a print in my Etsy shop...

Because being kind doesn't discriminate. #kindiana

And Happy Easter friends!

XO,

{life lessons from Lego Movie}

So you may not have seen Lego Movie, but I think all of us can relate to the quote above, credited to the ever-happy Uni-Kitty...

Yep...a unicorn/cat. Can you think of anything happier?

My son Landon's favorite book right now is based on the movie, and is called "Emmet's Guide to Being Awesome".  It is equal parts funny and inspiring, teaching kids that they are unique and awesome just how they are.

Pretty much one of the best lessons to teach children, and one we need to be reminded of as adults as well, right?

YOU are awesome, my friend. And in order to share our best awesome-ness with the world, we need to cling to our good ideas and thoughts.

Any idea is a good idea, except the not-happy ones. Tweet this 

For example:

I'm a good mother. <<< good idea.
It is selfish of me to want time to myself. <<< not-happy idea
I should go get myself a coffee. <<< good idea
I look fat in these pants. <<< not-happy idea

You get the point.

Of course we're going to have not-happy days, but we can still do our best to fill them with good and happy ideas.

So thanks Lego Movie for this life lesson, and here's to lots and lots of good ideas!

XO,

{a new journey}

Yesterday I shared some of the biggest news of my life...

I am a licensed artist. 

Me! A for real, licensed, artist. 

This stuff only happens to other people, right?

It all started in November when I found an email checking my junk folder from Oklahoma City based METcolors, saying they were interested in licensing my doodles. At first I thought it was spam, but did some research and my heart started racing when I discovered it was the real deal. We emailed back and forth a few times, and then on a snowy morning in January there was a Fedex envelope waiting for me by the front door with a contract. 

Of course I had to document it. I was giddy that entire day...I didn't even care that I had to drive our crappy van in the snow to work. :)

To say this was one of the happiest days of my life is an understatement. 

Fast forward to this week, and my doodles are on display in one of the largest retail markets in the world, the AmericasMart in Atlanta. Insane, I tell you! 

The past 7 months have been the hardest waiting game. There were days when I wondered if this was all a cruel joke...doubting myself and not knowing what was going to happen. I was hesitant to share my news until I had at least a photo of the finished product to share. Yesterday was the first time I had something tangible to show...to finally give this journey a touchable reality. 

Of course doubt will still creep in. Retailers have to like my product and purchase it. But this...seeing my art on a wall in a huge market where so many artists I admire have the same?

Unreal. SO freaking unreal. 

And to think this all started with a doodle.

Actually, it started back in art class at Eastview Elementary with Mr. Robinson and his painting lessons. And in freshman art with Mrs. Scott and her fiery red hair that matched her joy for teaching. And in the countless art classes and camps my parents sent me, despite our limited income. It started on a porch swing on Cherokee Lane where I sketched my Mom's hanging flower basket, and at Shaker Town in Kentucky, sitting on a simple bench drawing the trees and quiet buildings. It started all over again last spring, after so many years away from my pen and paper, in Amy's writing class. He knew it was time to start nudging me again. 

This is real and special and happening to me. And it can happen to you too. That is the lesson in all of this, and what I hope to inspire with my art. 

It can happen to you. 

This finding your calling thing. You just have to be still and listen and feel the small, and sometimes big, nudges. Work through the fear and the doubt and beautiful things can happen. 

You know you are doing what God called you to do when you feel exhilarated and terrified all at the same time. 

Completely exposed and yet the most alive you've ever felt. That's what this journey has been like for me so far, and I don't expect it to change anytime soon. 

Thank you SO much friends, for being a part of this journey with me. I can't put into words how grateful I am for the support of my family and friends, both in real life, and online. This is just the beginning...

XO,

{new in the shop}

I'm beyond excited to announce that I'm now offering notecards in the shop!

While sitting in my parent's garden one breezy summer evening, I was inspired to draw the salvia blooming next to my chair. That doodle was the inspiration for the Backyard Garden Collection. 

This collection is available as a set of four notecards, or four prints in a choice of two sizes.

Everyone loves receiving a hand written note in the mail, and these notecards offer lots of lovely white space inside to jot down happy thoughts.

And the prints will make a lovely gallery collection above a sofa or bed.

Hope you love them as much as I do!

XO,