art class

April 27, 2013 by Tara 6 Comments

Not literally ONTO the sofa, obvs. I’ve been finding the nature of my retreat lately means that in the evenings I’m mostly becoming one with the sofa, watching tv series on Netflix or Lovefilm, and often with the itchy fingers that tell me I want to create but not to haul my ass up to the studio to do so. So I have my makeshift coffee table art studio, and here is what’s been happening:

This has mostly come about because I’m taking Misty Mawn’s Face to Face class. Here are a couple of bits I’ve done from that:

practising heads tilting at different angles

drawing from a reference ~ fortunately i don’t think this was about getting an accurate likeness

Filed Under: art class, art development, portraits, sketchbook, sketches Tagged With: misty mawn face to face class, portrait sketches, sketchbook faces

March 27, 2013 by Tara Leave a Comment

The name for this painting came from Jeanne. I was getting stuck on names that either felt twee or just plain boring, and new fields is very apt for me right now, so New Fields it is.

Step one – laying down watercolour and gesso

It’s another Flower Crazy painting, kind of a companion to Sea Flowers. I like the contrast of colours with that one, although it wasn’t intentional.

Step two – finding flower shapes and pulling them out by outlining with pencil, then a gesso wash around them.

I did not know you could make these cool little captions beneath photos! I learn all the best things by mistake.

New Fields ~ Detail

Again it was fun to pull it together under Carla’s calm guidance, and know that you were going to finish it and it wouldn’t be languishing in a dusty corner for months. I must find a way to be this accountable with my other paintings.

New Fields hanging on the wall

It must be a confidence thing. I’ve been staring at some for weeks now and still not a clue what they need. Sometimes you have to weigh up whether it’s because it needs completely reworking, or that it needs you to look to artists that inspire you for ideas, or actually it IS finished and you’re just pushing too hard. Or something else!

New Fields ~ Detail including watercolour, gesso, acrylic ink, pencil and charcoal

I really like how this one turned out. The flower shapes annoyed me for a bit but now with the shading and details I’m happy with them.

It’s in my Etsy shop now along with Sea Flowers. They look lovely together actually but I think they can probably bear to be separated.

New Fields
Mixed Media Painting on wooden panel
25 x 25 x 2.5cm

Filed Under: art class, art development, mixed media art, mixed media painting, online classes, process Tagged With: flower crazy class, flowers

March 20, 2013 by Tara 5 Comments

So lately finishing a painting is not an experience I’m intimately acquainted with.

Which is why doing a class can be really helpful; cause you HAVE TO. Something in me clicks when Carla says ‘today you’re going to finish the painting you started the other day’. It just goes, ‘ok’.

Why that doesn’t happen when I say that to myself is a mystery.

Anyway, this week we’ve progressed from paper to wood panels! I don’t often use wood panels. I just seem to love canvas. But the rigidity of the wood is good for holding big globs of gesso and pressing hard.

I took these photos with my phone during the process, mainly because I’m joined at the hip with Instagram {if you’re on it too, come and say hi! @taraleaver}.

Part of Carla’s process is to keep going back in, adding and knocking back, which I think is partly the reason why my own paintings aren’t progressing in a healthy way lately. I have a touch of the old ‘I-don’t-know-what-to-do-and-I-might-ruin-it’ paralysis. Also I have no idea what I want to SAY, which is also handily sidestepped by doing a class.

Happens to the best of us.

This one went through a painfully bright yellow phase and a disturbing ‘dirty’ looking phase, but using Carla’s adding/removing system and persevering because it ‘had’ to be finished took me through both with surprising ease and speed. {Note to self; DO THIS.}

After the addition of pencil and charcoal for definition and depth, we finished with some white acrylic ink.

I’m calling it Sea Flowers. I took the shape from an image I saw during week one, when we were sketching sea plants.

Here’s a nice little close up; the textures are a little bit to die for.

’Sea Flowers’

25 x 25 x 2.5cm

mixed media on wood panel

Available to purchase here.

Filed Under: art class, art development, mixed media art, mixed media painting, online classes, process Tagged With: flower crazy online class, gesso on wood panel, process, sea flowers painting

March 8, 2013 by Tara 6 Comments

It’s funny. I spent a fair amount of February feeling a mild irritation that I ‘had to’ take photos every day.

Despite the fact that it was my choice. Despite the fact that I love Viv’s classes. Despite the fact that I always ended up enjoying the process, from pressing the shutter to deciding on my edits and sharing it in the group.

I’m such a child when it comes to ‘having to’ do something every day. If I have to, I automatically don’t want to. Usually I get over myself if it’s something I really want to do or I can see it’s benefitting me {like showering or doing Tai Chi. Or eating}.

And now I’m feeling it again, having signed up to Carla Sonheim‘s online painting class ‘Flower Crazy’ on a total whim, the day after Viv’s class ended. And while it sounds like I’m having a big old whinge, I don’t regret it. Some parts I find challenging, but that’s good. And once I get started, I really enjoy the drawing practice; and even though I thought I hated small detailed work, I’ve just spent an entire afternoon doing just that.

I actually joined the class because in the class description I could see there were techniques I really wanted to learn. I also really like Carla Sonheim’s work, and have her book ‘Drawing Lab For Mixed Media Artists’, which I wrote about here. And I really love to learn, and I guess I got in a classroom groove over February.

I’m teaching myself Spanish {again} too. Not sure why, but apparently I just need to. I expect the universe will reveal the why to me later.

{some cards I made from disaster paintings}

So here’s a little round up of my first week of Flower Crazy. Every day there are prompts for drawing practice, which you can see at the top. Carla gives us a theme, and then we check it out in Google images {or around our home, as today’s prompt was}, and draw anything that appeals to us as a possible flower shape.

I learned from this that I don’t like drawing gears {too symmetrical and neat}, but I love drawing sea plants! No surprises there. If it’s got a wiggly and imperfect vibe, and is sea related, I’m on it.

There are also videos three times a week and ‘how tos’ in between. Carla’s paintings are so neat and lovely. She also uses really gorgeous soft colours. Since I don’t naturally gravitate towards neutrals and greys {although I wish I did!} mine are a lot brighter and purple/aqua orientated.

Sorry I don’t seem to have edited these very well. Anyway, the image below is what I spent most of this afternoon on. {In between working on my mum’s commission ~ more on that another time ~ and making banana bread.} I loved it! And I’m happy with the outcome. So, you know, yay.

And here are a couple of collages of some close up areas of the paintings that didn’t work out. Nice elements, terrible as a whole. It’s cool though because I learned heaps doing it. I’ve been wanting to bring more detail into my larger scale paintings and am starting to see how I might do that more effectively.

Lots going on in the studio just now; I’m so pleased to be up here more often with actual PURPOSES rather than just playing, which is also fun but sometimes you need a focus. I’m working my way through various TED talks and business summits {which seem to be doing the rounds at the moment; great timing}, so if you have any recommendations of good things to listen to I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

My eyes are going googly, time to go downstairs and, er, watch a few episodes of Modern Family. {My new obsession. My neighbours must think there’s a deranged hyena living next door.}

Thanks for stopping by.

Filed Under: art class, art development, online classes, painting Tagged With: carla sonheim, painting flowers

July 10, 2012 by Tara 2 Comments

Today was the final class. Part of me is going ‘Noooo! I have so much still to learn!’ and part of me is ready for the next thing, whatever that may be.

I am inexplicably exhausted at the moment and didn’t take my most fired up creative self to class this morning. As ever, I had no idea what I was going to feel like drawing {planning ahead is useless for the likes of me, it’s all about how I feel in the moment}, just a bunch of images I’ve gathered over the years and a decision to trust that something would emerge.

It did, thankfully. {Note to self; remember that trusting allows for the thing you are trusting to happen, to happen. Nice.} There was quite a bit of practising, as watercolours ~ today’s area ~ are unfamiliar to me. I found it pretty challenging; they are unpredictable and don’t behave at all like acrylics. Claire suggested I photocopy my peacock from last week and practice on the photocopy. Also to try a few methods in my sketchbook so I don’t ruin my original. All very sensible. And look, the feathers came out beautifully! So I feel comfortable to try that on the real thing.

Since I am working a lot with figures at the moment, the urge to draw that was strongest and I had this striking image from some notecards I had years ago. I swapped the banana skirt for a tutu! And played with blending the watercolours once I’d drawn the outline with pigment liner.

Well I won’t be winning any awards for superior watercolour action any time soon, but I’ve learned a lot and enjoyed the class, so what more can you ask for?

I simply must have a nap now.

Filed Under: art class, art development, creativity, drawing, painting on paper Tagged With: figure, peacock feathers, pen and ink class, watercolours

June 26, 2012 by Tara 5 Comments

I’m really enjoying this class, and pen and ink as a medium.Today we used black Quink with a brush, which gives lovely yellow and blue tones when you add water, and pigment liner pens for outline and detail.

I’m finding I get great pleasure from balancing large, loose areas with careful detail. I also learned that next to white/lighter areas you can put dark and vice versa, which really makes the image stand out.

And I’m very happy with this dude.

Filed Under: art class, art development, creativity, drawing, techniques Tagged With: art class, figure, pen and ink

June 19, 2012 by Tara 2 Comments

I signed up to a four week Pen and Ink class a few weeks ago, because I want to bring more drawn elements into my paintings, and balance the large abstract paint areas with more detailed drawn areas. It has turned out to be good timing as creatively speaking things are really erratic round here lately. {Then again, I always seem to be saying that; welcome to the house of All or Nothing.}

Today was all about getting familiar with mark making and drawing in pen. We started with biro, not my favourite medium, but I did learn to wield it with a greater degree of effectiveness after learning a few cunning tricks from Claire, the teacher.

First we ‘took a line for a walk’, to loosen up.

Due to a communication error, our materials list had not mentioned to bring something to draw from, so most of us didn’t have anything. Claire provided us with lots of photos to choose from, although I had my own ideas anyway. I picked a lotus type flower…

And a fern. It’s not my natural way to draw plants; I don’t know, it just doesn’t really do it for me, but after Claire showed me how to make the leaves look all groovy, thus:

I found it quite therapeutic. I also got bored, hence the unfinished nature of this one.

I have to be in a certain mood to stick with something repetitive. Besides which, what I really wanted to draw was fish.

I always want to draw fish lately. Must be the Pisces in me. But check these babies out! One in biro, one in pigment liner.

Initially I hadn’t filled in the scales or done the backround on the black one, and I’d left the head and tail white on both. Claire showed me that with just a few lines I could literally transform them into something with much more depth and interest. After I finished the scales on the black fish I was so excited!

I’m so pleased with both of them. So pleased.

I’m really looking forward to next week, when we’ll be working with adding washes. It’s going to be brilliant.

Filed Under: art class, art development, drawing, sketches Tagged With: art class, biro, drawing, fish, pen and ink, pigment liner

April 11, 2012 by Tara 7 Comments

Alright my lovely darlings!

I know you are totally on the edge of your seats to find out how my first ever go at oil painting panned out…

It was FAB!!

It took me a while to really ‘learn’ the ways of oil, and clearly I’ve only just scratched the surface {literally in some areas }, but once I got over the fact that it isn’t acrylic and therefore doesn’t behave like acrylic ~ I know, but it’s like I’ve developed a muscle memory for how to apply paint ~ it was so groovy!

I went in with a prepared {lightly collaged} canvas and a half baked idea about layers and a figure. Two and a half hours or so later {I never work that long without a break by myself; clearly a classroom atmosphere is good for me}, and I had done this:

Now, you know I’m not normally one to blow my own trumpet, but BLOODY HELL I love this painting! It’s SO. GOOD! Modesty be damned; I had no idea oil paints could give so much more of a professional look to a painting. It doesn’t really show here but this could easily be in a gallery. It would sell very quickly. That’s right! For at least a million.

{If your eyes are widening at my Extreme Self Confidence All Of A Sudden you can imagine D’s face after half an hour of me waxing lyrical about my own work.}

Actually, I’m not sure it’s finished, but there is that slight Fear of Ruination going on. We’ll see.

I’m not gonna lie, tidy up time was a little tedious, and white spirit really does nothing for my hands, but I loved it so much I went back today and started three new canvases! Little ones. More on that another time.

So basically, if you’ve been thinking about trying oils and haven’t got round to it, do it do it do it! It’ll open up a whole new world to you, promise.

Filed Under: art class, art development, creativity, journey, mixed media art, mixed media painting, painting Tagged With: art class, oil painting, pink, red

August 27, 2011 by Tara 2 Comments

How lovely! Connie used two of my Total Alignment paintings ~ amongst several others ~ to illustrate the sort of thing the workshop can produce.

I must say it was one of my favourite online classes so far {and I’ve taken one or two!!!}, and you know I’m a massive fan of Connie’s anyway, but even so, I urge you check it out. If you’re looking for something to help you let go a bit, or explore new ways of approaching your creativity that are simple, liberating and fun, with no time constraints and a supportive environment, and run by one of the most gorgeous, inspiring, honest women I’ve come across over the interwebs, this might be just what you need.

And let’s face it, anyone who refers to my paintings as ‘hot mamas’ gets my vote.

Oh and PS. If you’d like further examples of painterly lusciousness to inspire you, check out the Flickr group.

Filed Under: art, art class, intuitive painting, online classes, painting, painting on paper, paintings Tagged With: connie hozvicka, intuitive painting, paintings on paper, total alignment

May 19, 2011 by Tara 16 Comments

The painting class! I’m dividing this into two or it’ll be image overload. Here’s our classroom.At the end of Day 1 we discussed what we’d done so far in the field.
Thanks to Kat for the following two photos.
This is Carissa and Juliette, no doubt discussing the finer points of painting with your fingers.
Some of my classmates. See the lady in the turquoise jumper and stripey apron (centre)? That’s Rhiannon, one of my roomies. She does amazing things with polaroids.
And this would be me, in the zone.I took photos as I went along, like I usually do. Of course now I’m in a slight muddle about which layers are which painting….

So here is the first thing we did on the first of our three canvases; get two colours on there, spray some water, smoosh it all around. Just to get rid of the white, which can be a bit daunting as we know. Then we tried all sorts of different ways of making marks, prompted by Flora and some great music. Flora had us painting on each other’s work too, so each canvas had something we’d all added. (It’s all about the non attachment.) I found this incredibly liberating.
Adding our darkest darks and lightest lights (ie white) to learn about making colours ‘pop’. (I’m totally puking at this stage. Ugly Phase-orama.)
Yay, colour!
On Day 2 Flora made us give one of our paintings to the person on our left, for keeps. This was the second exercise in practising non attachment, and was quite a challenge for several of us I think. Here’s the one I gave away…
And here’s the one I received. To be honest I didn’t find it that hard. Whatever we gave or received was probably going to get entirely covered anyway. (I’m SO zen.)
Like this:
There don’t seem to be a lot of photos of the process of this one.

Here are some pictures of the progression of Flora’s painting, which she used to demonstrate techniques. We learned really useful things like how to pull a painting together, how to pull out the bits you love and cover what you don’t, and the ‘frosting layer’, which I loved, because it was about finishing a painting which you may know I often struggle with.Here it is looking almost finished. On the final evening Flora auctioned her painting. I had told more people than I’d realised how much I wished I could win it; I don’t think I really believed I would, after all I wasn’t the only person who would have loved to. But then I did! I was mucho surprised and quite embarrassed what with everyone looking at me and people going ‘yay!’. I was quite overwhelmed actually. It is already one of my greatest treasures; I will post a photo when I’ve hung it.

Tomorrow the progression of my third and final painting, plus a bit more about the final Gallery Night…

Filed Under: acrylic painting, art class, art retreats