We so enjoying telling you all about the members of the Canvas Corp Brand Creative Crew and today is all about Shel C. You will find Shel in many creative places including her blog Paperocotillo, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube – PaperOcotilloStudio and on a daily basis you will find her in the Southwest part of the US in Tucson, Arizona. Here is a little introduction from Shel from her Youtube channel. So fun to get to know her even better this way.
We ask each designer a series of the same questions and love how different the answers are and what makes each one of them do what they do….
Describe your design style….I am a mixed media artist. I love bright bold colors and graphic look design. I love doing collage in a paper painting style. I also really get into mono printing and creating visual textures.
Who or what do you give credit to inspiring your creativity? I come from a large family of ‘makers’. My Mother is a retired elementary teacher, so I always had access to art materials as a child. I grew up with a atmosphere of creating around me…whether is was helping my Mom with bulletin boards for the classroom, making Christmas ornaments for each family group at the holidays, or sewing clothes for my dolls. My family even today says ‘you can make anything’ so I credit my creativity to them.
What inspires you most today? I think I draw most of my inspiration from the natural world. I love visiting places where the shapes and colors of plants and rocks show me how to blend them into art. I live in a stark landscape to most people..but to me the reds, golds, and dusty greens are beautiful. The triangular shapes of the mountains here and the layered colors fascinate me. I also love to people watch..people are awesome! Really, it is just about opening your eyes and seeing what amazing stuff surrounds you. Then use that energy when you go in the studio to make art!
What is your favorite Canvas Corp Brand Product? and why? Just one please!!!! Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. Shimmery Glimmer and variety of colors…what could be better?
We ask each member of the Crew to create a mini canvas that represents their style, Shel also picked this as one of your favorite projects she has created with CCB products. The colors are stunning, the composition amazing and the detail is right on. We have to say we love this one too.
Why is it your favorite? My favorite is the 4″ X 4″ canvas I made for the crew challenge. It really represents my color palette and style. I love bright splashes of color, layered texture..and of course hearts!
I also love a couple of the projects I did with other crew members for video hops on Youtube. The mermaid canvas and..
the altered composition book I made for my son for a dream journal.
Do you teach and if so tell us a bit about what you teach, where you go and some of your favorite places? I make Youtube videos of my creative processes and practices. I consider that teaching. I get a great feeling when viewers interact with me and thank me for teaching and inspiring them. My experience in the creative community of Youtube has been extremely positive, both with the viewers and the other people who make creative videos in my genre’. I also have a blog where I post step out style tutorials with photos…but that has really gone to the wayside, since I started making videos. In the past I have taught rubber stamping and scrapbooking in homes and craft stores, as well as conventions, for other companies, but I have not done that for several years.
I am the happiest doing…..something involved with travel. I love to go to new places and see new things. Favorites are the Oregon Coast, Sedona Arizona, and the Potlatch Valley in Idaho. These places seem to have a energy that revives my creativity. I know there are many many more beautiful places to visit that I will probably never get to!
My favorite place to be creative…..Is in my studio. I love the calm and focus I can get when I am in the moment throwing paint at something or gluing some paper down. LOVE IT!
Tell us one cool detail about your studio or craft space…My ‘studio’ is actually just a small bonus room off a bedroom. It has a slanted ceiling and I frequently bump my head when I try to get things. It doesn’t matter though…it is my very own creative space! Sorry about the mess..but I work there..haha. We love the mess by the way, makes us feel at home – THANK YOU!!!
Tell us one thing fun about you we might not know…I was a make-up artist for a short time in Los Angeles. I worked on some movies and TV shows and met some famous people. It was fun, but then I became a Mom instead and moved away from California.
Share with us anything about your creative life that you feel would inspire others….I think the most inspiring thing for me lately is interacting with other artistic people on the internet. I held myself away from other people for a long time, but when I found places like G+ communities, and then started blogging and doing videos I met so many who are like me. I highly recommend finding those who share your interests…even if you don’t know them in ‘real life’.
After watching Shel’s videos and reading her inspiring story, who would not be ready to create. Finding your creative mojo can take a bit of time, but once you find the place that you feel most comfortable it all seems to just fall in place.
To learn more about our Crew visit our Crew Page on our Canvas Corp Brands Website and you can join the crew on our new Canvas Corp Brands Crew Collective Group on Facebook where the Crew hosts a daily chat, inspiration, answers questions and loves to see your projects. Just click and ask to join.
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'Featured Crew Member – Shel C' have 5 comments
September 28, 2016 @ 1:38 pm Vikki Dimattia
Shel C continues to give me great ideas and further my knowledge of all things mixed media. I am a fan of her talent, creativity, expertise and whimsical style. I aspire to be her!!!
September 28, 2016 @ 2:58 pm Mary
I am so happy to have discovered Shel C on YouTube. Love her art!
September 28, 2016 @ 7:32 pm Yva Lovée Barbour
I LOVE Shel! We have collaborated on several YouTube projects and joke around about being “Twinkies” because we are so alike! I love her art style and laid back commentary on her videos. Canvas Corp Brands is lucky to have her on their design team!
September 29, 2016 @ 5:11 pm Linda Ann
Congratulations on being featured by Canvas Corp! You deserve this! Such lovely works!
September 29, 2016 @ 8:42 pm Fran Rogof
I appreciate Shel’s generosity with her knowledge. It makes me wish I had an artsy friend. I have spinning and weaving friends, but no “let’s sit down and make a mess” friends. So I watch Shel and FEEL like I have an artsy friend. It makes me feel less isolated in my hobby. However, I have a husband and adult daughter who cheer me on, while I know many do not. I am blessed to have found Shel’s channel and even won one of her 2000 giveaways. Yay, me.