blog - Tara Leaver

If you're looking to uncover and develop what's unique about YOUR artistic voice, or to loosen up your art, that's what we do around here. Thank you for visiting!

Join Today!

Read my Book

Artnotes

“Your encouragement has helped me hone in on the logistics. I'm far better a business woman and an artist because of your newsletter. Thank you for all you pour out to others. I find your work refreshing and fabulous. A lovely piece of the sea for me here in land locked Kansas." —Jillian Sandcastle

taraleaver

View on Instagram

May 26

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 18143909563012766 $My favourite contribution {so far} to the sketchbook collaboration I'm doing with @agasheshilpa. I find it so hard to be minimal and yet am always trying! {Anyone else?!} We'll be swapping sketchbooks again at the beginning of June. I'm really looking forward to the part where we can make a video of leafing through the completed sketchbooks. And loving the process too, of course.😆 . . . . . . . . . . . . . #meetyouinthesketchbook #landseaskysketchbook #happyartistmovement #pendrawings #drawdaily #worksonpaper #artonpaper #dailysketch #sketchy #sketchbookdrawing #drawanyway #inkdrawings #creativeprocess #mybeautifulmess #sketchbook #lifeofanartist #artprocess #artistlife #artist_share #sketchbookart #paintinginspiration #showyourwork #beinganartist #sketchbookery #pleinair #mixedmediaart #detailoftheday #outdoorart #artoutside$

taraleaver

View on Instagram

May 16

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17880460501604591

On the fast track to The Claw. 😆🤜
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#happyartistmovement #inmystudio #toolsofthetrade #artpractice #studioscenes #mystudiotoday #doitfortheprocess #artprocess #paintingprocess #creativeprocess #artiststudio #artistlife #lifeofanartist #artwork_daily #ourstudiotime #inherstudio #homeinthestudio #createeveryday #createmakeshare #artsbeautifulx #mybeautifulmess #artistatwork #artgram #createmagstudio

taraleaver

View on Instagram

May 12

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17881232305589970

I've started work on a new collection! I love that creating collections allows me to switch things up within the core obsession - a great way to stay interested and not get stuck in one way of doing one thing, while also keeping the overall cohesion. This new one will be focusing in the rock pools I've been photographing on my walks to the beach. I'm quite intrigued by the challenge of painting my experience of something that is by nature much more 'still' than birds and swimming. There isn't really a plan beyond that as I like to let things unfold, so we'll see where it goes!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#happyartistmovement #inmystudio #wip #artpractice #studioscenes #mystudiotoday #artwork_in_studio #doitfortheprocess #artprocess #paintingprocess #creativeprocess #artiststudio #artistlife #lifeofanartist #artwork_daily #ourstudiotime #inherstudio #homeinthestudio #createeveryday #createmakeshare #artsbeautifulx #mybeautifulmess #artistatwork #wednesdayworkspace #artgram #createmagstudio #abstractpainter #abstractartist

taraleaver

View on Instagram

May 9

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17994235657295155 $Just made my first ink, following Jason Logan @torontoinkcompany's gorgeous book. I used red cabbage so I don't expect it to keep its colour, but it was more about becoming familiar with the process for me this time. Making your own pigments and ink is not for the impatient! I'm loving how it's slowing me down. This took about 24 hours. I love that my kitchen looks like a creative project explosion {I also have some eco printing on the go}, and that the sun is streaming in through the open kitchen doors and it feels like a summer evening. Quite fancy a Pimms now!🍹 . . . . . . . . . . . . #makeink #vegetableink #paintingpigments #pigment #artistspigments #pigmentforaging #naturalpigments #earthpigments #mineralpigments #handmadepaints #paintingonpaper #slowliving #theslowdowncollective #slowlivingforlife #stillswithstories #smallmomentsofcalm #thesimpleeveryday #seekinspirecreate #seekmoments #naturallyimperfect #intuitiveliving #livingsimple #livethoughtfully #inspiredbynature_ #earthfriendly$

taraleaver

View on Instagram

May 5

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17883922162559571 $Last month, as an experiment, I created a limited run of greeting cards featuring some of my high contrast paintings. They sold out before I could actually share them publicly {my collectors list gets first dibs}, so I'm putting together a new set, this time with the theme of Spring. If you'd like to see them before anyone else, pop over to @taraleaverart and sign up at the link in my profile. I'll be sending an email when the new set - also a limited run - are ready to go! . . . . . . . . . . . . #artistincornwall #cornwallartist #artcards #greetingcards #artforhomes #artforthehome #moocards #collectingart #artwatchers #artworkforsale #livingwithart #contemporaryart #artcollectors #artcurator #artfinder #galleryofnow #artcollector #thedailygallery #inspiredbynature_ #artinthehome #artcollection #artworkdaily #fillyourwalls #livewithart #artforyoureveryday #walldecor$

Follow me on Instagram

“We do not always create works of art, but rather, experiments.
It is not our intention to fill museums. We are gathering experience.”

My solution to a common artist stumbling block

How to read a painting

How you can take your art to the next level

9 reasons to paint in multiples

Student Stories: Sharon Bruster

How to work out what your unfinished painting needs

Student Stories: Tracy Waite

Year in Review: 2019 as an artist and business owner {and human}

Student Stories: Gina Axlund

Gifts for Artists: for Christmas and beyond!

Making art with a chronic health condition

7 day series challenge 2019: Participant Art

Student Stories: Nicky Oram

How to develop consistency in your art: a conversation between artists

How to stop procrastinating and make your art

One effective way to make more interesting art

Swimming lessons for artists {or, what your comfort zone doesn’t teach you}