.. and a special welcome to all new members to our Art Community I hope you are all settling in to our creative space, feel free to peek at our NEWBIES INTRO .. and I look forward to getting to know you and your A ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Monthly Art Update subscribe to our monthly newsletter for DAILY ART NEWS of our community happenings follow us on twitter.com/milliande enjoy ..milliande

~~~ News at Milliande's ~~~

Hi everyone ... it is positively starting to feel like the beginning of autumn/ fall here in the UK, there is a definite fresh wind that is making itself known to me ... much like coming out of a long summer hibernation the creative juices are slowly waking up wanting to play a little louder again :-) As of tomorrow Maya and I are off on holiday/vacation ... first we will be spending 4-5 days at the lake district . Maya is keen to visit the birthplace of Beatrix Potter , she loves the way she draws her animals from life and in a storytelling fashion. Then we move on to visit some homeschooling friends in the Highlands of Scotland .... it is a very remote part with no internet or phone access and we have to leave our car behind ...board a fishing boat that will take us to their home after an hours journey ... what an adventure .. I am hoping to be able to check in once in a while via satellite ..but it is not guaranteed ... cant wait to get going ... I will be sharing our travel adventures as and when I can on my personal blog called ... HEARTFELT SOUL How about you ... are you more creatively inspired in the Summer Months when it is warmer, one can take the easel outside in the garden, sketch in plain air or does the onset of Autumn / Fall bring make you want to wrap up somewhere cozy with a mug of hot chocolate and a freshly opened pad of watercolor paper. So ..... ~ Does your Muse like to come out to play in the Summer or the Winter Season? ~ Are your color choices predominately autumn/fall colors or summer hues ? ~ Do your color choices represent your favourite art season or are they the exact opposite ? ~ Ever wondered why ? Do share - When does your Muse come out to play ? I hope you all have a fabulous september and rest assured the fireflies of our community will keep the fire burning .. ...milliande

~~~ CHAT ~~~

*** Daily Static CHAT

NEW I have opened a new static chat forum that is open always for women here to connect with each other, take a look at the current chat topics and feel free to start your own ... Daily Dose Of Creativity ~ Did you manage to include a little daily dose of creativity in your life today ? Do share Daily Dose of Creativity Chit Chat ~ a new forum for NON - ART related Chit chat , ~ chat about your day, your pets, your friends your vacation holidays and your plans for the week if you like CHIT CHAT FORUM

*** Weekly LIVE Chat

We have been hosting our community chat sucessfully for a couple of months now ...it seems that most days the chat lasts between 4- 6 hours...giving lots of people all over the world to " wake up" .. finish work and be able to pop in to say hi :-) ... so feel free to come and add your typing voice to the mix ..it is nice to get to know you all a bit better :-) THE WEEKS CHAT will be every FRIDAY at 2 pm EST Here a link to a time converter to help you find the time in your country ... http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter

~~~ Current ART PROMPTS ~~~

*** Contemplative Photography

An Invitation to play with photographic imagery and contemplative words in the Soulwhispers subgroup, take a peek if you like http://milliande.ning.com/group/soulwhispers/forum/topics/contemplative-photography

*** The Walls Come Down

The Walls come down" Art Journaling Prompt at Milliande's ? What Walls do yo have that you wish would come down ? To Participate at the Art Journalers Subgroup follow the link below here http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/art-prompt?groupUrl=theartjournalers&xg_source=facebook

*** Teaching Kids Art

~ Do you teach Kids Art? ~ Do you have favorite Kids Art Ideas ? ~ Do you have a favortite artist that you use for teaching kids art styles and different art history periods? ~ What are your favorite art supplies kids in your group love? ~ Do you play art games for Kids Art Activities? ~ any other art ideas you like to share with other art teachers ? Lerts support each other and share ... http://www.milliande.com/kids-art-activities.html

~~~ ART DISCUSSIONS ~~~

*** Arty MMM's - Milliande Member Meetups

~ with now over 3000 members many are within travelling proximity of each other-- here a space to participate in an Arty MMM ... meeting up for coffee, a chat or a joint visit to a creative destination ..take a peek Arty MMM's

*** Recommeded Colors for Painting Skin Tones

Lynda has started an art discussion on recommended colors for painting skin tones in the Mixed Media Hues Subgroup, take a peek if you like http://milliande.ning.com/group/thehues/forum/topics/recommended-colours-for-skin?xg_source=activity

*** Photo Resolutions for Creating Art Prints

What are the best resolutions when photographing or scanning artworks and paintings to create art prints from ? Cyndee has started a new art discussion at the HELP HAVEN forum , take a peek if you like http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/photo-resolution?xg_source=activity

*** Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl ?

Do your creative juices flow when the Sun comes up or when the Sun goes down ? new discussion at the Milliande Art Forum .. do share here http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/when-the-sun-comes-up-or-goes

*** Travelling Mixed Media Art Supplies - How to not take the Kitchen Sink ?

Do you travel ? How do you manage to efficiently pack travelling art supplies for when the muse strikes ? new discussiona t Miliande's , share here if you like http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/traveling-mixed-media-art?xg_source=msg_forum_disc

*** What is a Tag Book ? And how does one make one ?

New Art Discussion ..What is a Tag Book and How does one make one ... take a peek and share here http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/tag-books?xg_source=msg_forum_disc

*** Golden Acrylics Fluid Versus Heavybody for Mixed Media Art Journaling ?

which do you prefer for Art Journaling -- Goldens Fluid Acrylics or Goldens Heavy Body Acrylics ? Which one is the most versatile if you could only afford to buy one kind ?new discussion at the Art Journalers , take a peek here if you like http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/golden-acrylics-do-you-use?groupUrl=theartjournalers&xg_source=activity

*** Watercolor Pencils - Reviews and Recommendations

what is your favorite brand of watercolor pencil ? What do you love most about them ? Read and share here Watercolor Pencil Reviews and Recommendations

*** Does your Muse come out to play in the Summer or Winter Season?

So how about you ? ~ Does your Muse like to come out to play in the Summer or the Winter Season? ~ Are your color choices predominately autumn/fall colors or summer hues ? ~ Do your color choices represent your favourite art season or are they the exact opposite ? ~ Ever wondered why ? Do share - Does YOUR Muse like to come out to play in the Summer or the Winter Season?

***Favorite Pencil Sharpeners for Artist Pencils ?

Do you have a favourite pencil sharpener for Artist Pencils ? http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/recommendation-for-pencil?xg_source=msg_forum_disc

*** Mixed Media Art Questions answered by Milliande

I hold a space where you can ask Mixed Media questions and I will try and answered them from my art point of view ... take a peek here to ASK MILLIANDE .. I will answer the questions i order in which they arrive ..that way none get missed in the bustle of our community pages :-) and can be easily accessed for reference here are the newly answered Mixed Media Topics ..you are invited to share YOUR experiences too in the comment box that may help to answer the questions even further and from your point of view :-) ANSWERED What colored Markers are best ? Digital Art with Photoshop ? What Paper is best for Mixed Media Art Journaling ? HELP NEEDED -- any IDEAS? a couple of questions i could not find easy answers too ..any help appreciated Listings of Altered Art Workshops / Trade Events ? Expressive arts Projects for dealing with Releasing Blocks ? Pocket Watch Cases ala Tim Holtz Mixed Media

~~~ SWAPS ~~~

You are invited to host your own ART SWAPS -- any theme, any medium at the ART SWAP GROUP .... SWAP guidelines are posted for ATC's but can be adapted to suit all mediums and styles... feel free to open a new discussion with your own SWAPS anytime :-) LATEST SWAPS:

***Art Journal Page Swap September / October

>>>SEPTEMBER THEMES: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Art Journal PAGE ONE: "It's Time..."- anything those words bring to mind. Is it time to start something new? Think a new way? Are you always late? whatever you think of with those words. Art Journal PAGE TWO: "artist's choice" - page of anything you want, any theme, any message. It's up to you! >>>OCTOBER THEMES: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Art Journal PAGE ONE: "When I grow up....." Finish the sentence. What did you want to be when you grow up, or if you are like me, maybe you are still growing! It can be a ballerina, dragon slayer, doesn't matter. Think like a child and have fun!! Maybe you will re-discover a dream you lost along the way! Art Journal PAGE TWO: "Giving Thanks" I don't think an explaination is really needed here (?). Come and play here http://milliande.ning.com/group/atcswaps/forum/topics/monthly-journal-page-swap-1?xg_source=activity

*** ME and MY MUSE

Theme: Me and My Muse What inspires your art? If you had a physical muse what would it look like? If you had a playdate with your muse what might you do? My journal is all about the artist's muse. ONGOING, no deadlline Me and My Muse Art Journal Page Swap

*** a.t.c.SWAP ... Topic - EAT PRAY LOVE

~ this ATC Swap should be about Eat**Pray**Love, the book if you read it or the movie, or even just your own ideas about any or all of these three parts of our lives as women, artists, explorers . . . . http://milliande.ning.com/forum/topics/atc-group-swap-eatpraylove?groupUrl=atcswaps&xg_source=activity

~~~ ART RESOURCES ~~~

*** RAAK - Random Art Acts of Kindness

RAAK Subgroup at Milliande Art Community for Women, a thriving little group for sending and receiving art acts of Kindness .. What is a Raak? How do I participate? check otu all details in the subthreads here .. http://milliande.ning.com/group/raaks

*** Art VIDEOS

Lots of NEW ART VIDEOS posted All and more found art our Art Community Video Library

all for now have a playful day wherever you are :-) milliande