...and hello from Karen

[KarenCardinal]

Well, I guess I should say my hellos to everyone.

Hello Everyone! :D

If you don't know who I am, I'm Karen Cardinal... that girl who's always 6 months behind in her work.

Let's see... my art story:

I have been drawing (like everyone else) most of my life, but it was always for fun and aside from an occasional commission, always for myself.
It wasn't until I decided to put some of my works on the internet and join a cp group (way back when there were Egroups) that I found out that colored pencils were not just an accepted medium, but there was so much that could be done with them.
I made a lot of friends at that group including Barbara Newton and Vera Curnow. My brain cells don't work so well any more so I can't remember if I met Bob Ebdon at that group or if it was later in one of the Yahoo cp groups. Sorry Bob! Maybe you can remember.
During that time we used to challenge each other with projects and discuss our work. It was during one of those discussions that the idea of the CP Challenge was born.
What amazed me so much working on that site was how extrodinarily helpful every artist I emailed with was, no matter what their level of expertese.
Ann Kullberg, Sally Platte and Bob Ebdon were so helpful during the first year that I know the site wouldn't have survived without them.

I still enjoy chatting (and listening) on the forums and groups (as if you couldn't tell). And aside from a stray quirk, I am still overwhelmed by how generous and helpful every artist I come across is.

I guess that's why I'm addicted to the internet. ;)

[Greg]

Hi Karen. By the way, I've been a big fan of your website, the CP Challenge, for a long time.

[KarenCardinal]

Well thank you so much Greg! :blushing:

I've got to say though... it's definately a group effort website.
Hopefully I can finish my scripts so it can get started back up again before it's totally abandoned by everyone. :rolleyes:

Hmmm... back to work I guess. ;)

[caulfield]

:bye1: Hi Karen!

I am so happy to see you again - although seeing some artwork would be nice! ;)

I am a big fan too of the cp challenge site. I hadn't seen your webdesign site before though, and I think your webdesign is wonderfully different! I am a novice webdesigner - and am very impressed by your designs. I had no idea you did Lori's site - which is gorgeous. Love the one with the motorcycle art - the mag layout works perfectly! I want to see the one with the fishing line, but it wouldn't come up. :( I would love to chat with you sometime about webpages!

Anyway nice to see you - I'm a big fan of you too - with your "have fun" attitude!

Nicole

[KarenCardinal]

Hey Nicole!
Great to hear from you!
btw: Thank you again for the help with categorizing the lessons at the Challenge! You're suggestions were spot on perfect. I can't wait to impliment them! :D

Thanks so much for the compliments on my webdesign! That has become another art form for me.
The great fun of designing sites for artists is all the hard work is already done... just design around the art. All we have to do is make sure their artwork is displayed in a way that really shows it off.

Lori's was so much fun to do because she had so many wonderful peices. Although I've been very bad and she's long overdue for an update.
Eric's (the motorcycle) was also a ball to design with the mock magazine look.
I do have to update my webdesign site though. I have a couple of sites that are no longer active and a couple others which need to be added.

I'd love to chat with you about webdesign anytime! You can help me with my new design for the Challenge and I'll bore you to death with anything you want to ask. ;)
Email or PM me anytime! :D

ohh... and keep having fun with it! :D

[Elankat]

Fun is definitely important. :D

I'm just so glad you're here, Karen. If I were more eloquent, I'd be able to say it better...you ROCK!!! :D :D

[Lahree]

Karen is an absolute genius about creating website! I have had so many fabulous comments on the design of my website.

And Although I tease Karen about updating my website--there have been a LOT of occassions when she was ready and willing to update my website and then I stalled out! Mia Culpa! We have a co-dependency relationship. :D We are dependent on each other and on cookie dough to keep going when the going gets tough.

Love ya, Karen!
:hug:
Lori

[Arlene]

well i for one am sure glad you're here!

[Brenda]

Karen, I'm so glad you're here. I hope you get a chance to post often!

I, too love your website. I use it quite often as a reference.

[Toni]

Karen i'm just glad yer here!!!!

TJ

[Belinda]

hi karen,
just thought i would pop in and say hi also :)

[KarenCardinal]

Hello and thank you everyone!

Lori, stop... now it's my turn to blush. :blushing: I wouldn't call myself a genius... ok.. well you can. ;) I'm just puttin' your perty pictures on a page. If people love it... well... that's you're fault. :D

LeAnne, please... with all you do (and 2 babies at home)... and you still make time to visit with nuts like me... YOU rock girl!

Arlene, Brenda, Toni, Belinda (and everyone else here), I'm tickled to get to hang out with all of you! You know it's people like you (the ones that understand why I can't put the drawing down at 3am) who (almost) keep me sane. :D

I can't get along without you guys! :clap:

[CindyH]

Hi Karen :bye1: Enjoyed reading your "cp history"....and how CpChallenge came about.
Welcome!!!

[Dee]

Hi Karen,

CP Challenge is one of the first places I found with a Google search.

It helped me a lot.

Thanks. :)

[Jazz]

Hiya!! Honey :clap: :clap: :clap:

It is fabulous to see you here and when your not so snowed under I am really looking forward to seeing some new work :) .

I love your site CP Challenge and in fact I am using one of the lessons -namely Lori's to help me with my droplets.

How is your back doing?

You are amazing!!


Massive hugs to you,


ALI

[Della]

:) hi Karen nice to meet you i love your work can't wait to see more
Della.