Art doll artist Michelle Schafer, fondly called Crow by some, lets us in on her amazing journey in the world of art.

Greetings and Salutations from the Studio at Crow Haven Farm.  My name is Michelle Schafer (but people call me Crow).  I’m a self-taught Mixed-Media Artist with an emphasis on Art Dolls. What this means, is that I have had no formal training, except for what I have read from books, observed from fellow artists and taking on-line workshops.  I did however take a 3 day extensive art doll workshop in New York City with the famous art doll artist, Wendy Froud.  I started my art journey about 3 years ago, and I’m still continuing with this amazing journey!

I live in a small village about 1 1/2 hours outside of Philadelphia, PA.  We reside in an Old Stone Farm House that was built in 1829 (yes, the deed is on a deer skin), and I have been fortunate enough to have converted one of the spare rooms into a studio.  While I’m at my day job (Law), my mind wonders here and there, dreaming of returning to that magical space I have created for myself.  While I physically cannot be at home in my studio 24 hours a day, I do have my constant companions, my Moleskine Sketchbooks, and my little suitcase full of pencils, erasers, color pencils and pens, just waiting for me to pick them up and hit pen to paper.

Over the Summer, I signed up for a workshop with the amazingly talented Suzi Blu (www.suziblu.ning.com).  This is where I had my first introduction to the Moleskine.  It was on the supply list, so I quickly headed out to find these Moleskine journals.  I had absolutely no idea what I was in for.  However, I quickly found out.  I held this leather bound journal with the thick cream pages in my hands, and knew it was all over!  I bought whatever size, style, I could get my hands on that day.  I couldn’t get home fast enough to try the techniques that Suzi was teaching us in my new journals.  Time has passed, yet I have never lost that feeling I had when I held my first Moleskine in my hand.  I don’t know what it is, but if you are Moleskine lover, you know what I’m talking about.  It’s like it has a presence about it.  Like you have known each other forever, and have been constant companions and if one is lost the other is lost too!

My favorite Moleskine to work in is the Sketchbook. This journal can take a lot of mediums.  The cream, thick cardstock like paper is just absolutely wonderful to work with.  The pages take any type of medium, such as acrylic paints, gesso, watercolor paints, oil pastels, watercolored crayons, collage papers, glues, stamping, etc.  It’s just amazing. You can even glue fabric in your pages.  I have one journal that I glue swatches to the pages so I can keep track of various fabrics I like, and it’s easy reference when I’m at a fabric shop!  I just whip out my journal, and compare swatches and add new swatches!  The Sketchbook is also wonderful to draw your little portraits.  I love the way the graphic looks against the cream pages.  On my sketches only, I usually spray the pages with a matte varnish spray so they don’t smudge.   I have even used molding paste on my pages and create a 2 and/or 3d effect on my pages.

I have recently purchased, what I call, the Mother of all Moleskines.  This Mother Moleskine is HUGE (16 3/4 x 12).  This is a wonderful journal for sketching out your bigger portraits and/or ideas for paintings. I only use my graphite pencils and colored pencils in this Moleskine.

While each Moleskine journal has its specific purpose, the main purpose for me, is that these journals have opened up my creative style, has taken the fear out of creating art,has introduced me to amazing people, has brought me closer to myself, has opened the doors for me to teach and show people how by working in art journals can be so fulfilling, rewarding, and absolutely change your life.

Over the past six (6) months, I have been on such an amazing journey with my journaling, sketching, drawing, working with various types of paints, papers, etc. all because of these amazing journals.  I had such a fear of that blank canvas syndrome that I wouldn’t allow myself to break open a new canvas, for fear of ruining them.  Here, by using my Moleskines, it has opened that door for me.  My Moleskine journey has also opened the doors for other people.

As I have told you…I’m never without my Moleskines.  Thus, being said, while going to pubs, coffee houses, restaurants, waiting in line at the DMV, sitting at the dentist or the doctor’s office, people started asking me questions about what the heck I was doing.  I would then go into this whole thing about the art of journaling.  It’s like watching a child taking their first steps, their eyes get all big and you see that inner child glowing in their eyes.  It’s amazing, and I just love it!  I get such a charge out of explaining the process, and what it will do for your soul, that I keep a spare on me at all times, because you never know when you come across someone and change their lives for the better!

Art journaling has made me a better person, a better artist, a better wife, a better friend and has also taught me to be me, and this I shall be forever grateful.  The best thing I can tell people is: Give yourself permission to play, don’t feel guilty for doing what makes you happy.  Laugh, be silly and enjoy the process and share your happiness with others, teach others your process, and remember that we all have something to share.  Trust me, so many people out there in this world are craving for a creative life.  I’m not saying that you have to become a full-time artist, etc…but if each person in this world would just slow down and take 5 or 10 min a day to scribble, paint or whatever in a journal, that process will expand and grow and make the world a better place for everyone!

Enjoy and remember to giggle!
Cheers and Peace
Michelle Schafer