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

Jun 29

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17920462666414659 $Did you know that I have two Instagram accounts? . I started the second one when I decided I wanted to really make a go of my art career, and needed to differentiate between the teaching/creative encourager side of my business, and the selling-my-own-work side. . Since there tends to be some crossover of students and collectors, I'd like to invite you to check out my other account @taraleaverart. . I'm about to launch the full collection of rock pool paintings I've been working on for the last couple of months, and subscribers to Notes from the Studio {weeklyish emails about this artist's life 😊👩🏼‍🎨} get first dibs. So if you're in the market for a Tara Leaver original 😉, this is a very good time to get on the list! . And if you're more interested in the courses and experiments and side projects, I'm still here.😊 {In fact if you haven't checked out the Happy Artist Studio yet, that could be a great next step for you - see the link in my profile and let me know if you have questions or would like some guidance at tara@taraleaver.com.🙋🏼‍♀️} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #artistincornwall #cornwallartist #inmystudio #artpractice #studioscenes #mystudiotoday #artwork_in_studio #artprocess #paintingprocess #creativeprocess #ontheeasel #artiststudio #artistlife #lifeofanartist #artwork_daily #ourstudiotime #inherstudio #homeinthestudio #createeveryday #createmakeshare #artsbeautifulx #mybeautifulmess #artistatwork #wednesdayworkspace #artgram #createmagstudio #abstractpainter #abstractartist$

taraleaver

View on Instagram

Jun 27

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17868291136842386 $A few of the pages I've been working on {playing on!} from the sketchbook I'm sharing with @agasheshilpa for our collaborative project. I love a sketchbook as a place to explore and do things I wouldn't necessarily do on my paintings. I don't use them to plan anything, just to play and experiment. How about you? Do you use sketchbooks and if so what's their main purpose for you? . Ps. See previous post for a blog post I wrote about ways to approach a collaborative sketchbook project, or go straight to taraleaver.com/blog. And see story highlights for more on Shilpa's and mine - the one titled Sketchbook Collab.😉 . PPS. If you decide to do a sketchbook project with a friend, feel free to use our #meetyouinthesketchbook hashtag! It'd be fun to see others connecting this way and all the shared art created.😊👩🏼‍🎨 . . . . . . . . . . . . . #landseaskysketchbook #happyartistmovement #concertinaskerchbook #seawhiteofbrighton #pendrawings #drawdaily #worksonpaper #artonpaper #dailysketch #sketchy #sketchbookdrawing #drawanyway #waketomake #creativeprocess #mybeautifulmess #sketchbook #lifeofanartist #artprocess #artistlife #artist_share #sketchbookart #paintinginspiration #showyourwork #beinganartist #sketchbookery #mixedmediaart$

taraleaver

View on Instagram

Jun 15

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17857026481997597 $You might know my friend @agasheshilpa and I are doing a shared shetchbook project. Two concertina sketchbooks, two very different natural environments {she's in London, I'm in Cornwall}, and a lovely way to stay creative and connected to your art, yourself, the world, and of course whoever you do it with.😊 . I've written a blog post for anyone wanting some ideas on how to do a collaborative sketchbook project of your own, and you can read it at the link in my profile.😊👩‍🎨 Have you done a project like this? Do share any tips or experiences in the comments! . . . . . . . . . . . #landseaskysketchbook #meetyouinthesketchbook #happyartistmovement #collaborativeart #sketchbookshare #drawdaily #worksonpaper #artonpaper #dailysketch #sketchy #sketchbookdrawing #drawanyway #waketomake #creativeprocess #mybeautifulmess #sketchbook #lifeofanartist #artprocess #artistlife #artist_share #sketchbookart #paintinginspiration #showyourwork #beinganartist #sketchbookery #mixedmediaart$

taraleaver

View on Instagram

Jun 12

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 17855130152056535

"When lockdown began I used your cards to send a note to all my elderly neighbours telling them I was available to do their shopping if need be along with my own and my Dad's shop. As a result I am doing the weekly shop for one of my neighbours who I hadn't realised had been self isolating for two weeks before lockdown happened. So just starting that conversation has been brilliant and it feels like I know at least a couple of my neighbours better too." .

Best message I've received this week! What a total joy to learn that my work helped connect people in this entirely unexpected way. Thank you to Carmen @whoopidoo.ings for sharing this with me and kindly allowing me to share it with you. .

Just a few sets left of this Seaweed set and then thats it for a while. Link in bio, you know the drill.😊
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#artistincornwall #cornwallartist #moocards #artforinteriors #artforhomes #artforthehome #buyartwork #collectingart #artwatchers #artworkforsale #livingwithart #contemporaryart #artcollectors #artcurator #artfinder #galleryofnow #artcollector #thedailygallery #inspiredbynature_ #artinthehome #artcollection #artworkdaily #fillyourwalls #originalart #artadvisor #livewithart #artforyoureveryday #walldecor

taraleaver

View on Instagram

Jun 9

Link to display lightbox

Instagram post 18107852593088279 $Just a few of these sets of Seaweed cards left! Five cards in each set, including white envelopes, and featuring five of my seaweed paintings. Lovely to send to those you can't be with right now, or you know, just keep them all for yourself. 😄 {I gather this is the most popular choice.😉} See ye olde link in bio for a direct link to get your set. . . Ps. If you know of anyone who might like a set of their own, please do tag them or share this post with them! Thank you so much. . . . . . . . . . . . . #fineartcards #artistincornwall #cornwallartist #moocards #artforinteriors #artforhomes #artforthehome #buyartwork #collectingart #artwatchers #artworkforsale #livingwithart #contemporaryart #artcollectors #artfinder #galleryofnow #artcollector #thedailygallery #inspiredbynature_ #artinthehome #artcollection #artcurator #artworkdaily #fillyourwalls #artadvisor #livewithart #artforyoureveryday #walldecor$

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.”

10 excellent tools and techniques to loosen up your art

The Half Way Point – a free worksheet to check in on your artist year

4 ways with blind contour drawing

How to create source material for paintings

Are some painting mediums ‘better’ than others?

Wish you were drawing more? Here are some ideas

Is it art if it took ten minutes?

One simple tip for developing your paintings

How do you know when a painting is finished?

Ten women artists who inspire me daily on Instagram

Artist’s Library: A selection of art books by and about women

28 Painting Prompts and Actions: A free download

What is a body of work? Some thoughts on how to define and create your own

Thoughts on honest art and how to bring more YOU into your work

Artist Intentions for 2019: Laying foundations for an art filled year

2018: A year in creative business

21 days in my art world :: a free challenge for artists of all kinds