Last Call for Explore Shapes 2

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun." -- Mary Lou Coo

I would like to invite you to join the brand new online art course starting on 10 May. 

Explore Shapes 2 is a three week long course with daily mini-projects perfectly suited to expand creativity by exploring traditional techniques in alternative and dynamic processes. The course is structured to develop a broad vocabulary of shapes and ideas suitable for different art projects as well as expanding use of colours. Each project explores a variety of water-based mixed media techniques in resourceful and interesting ways.

Fifteen daily topics for projects range from Shibori, Pineapples, Paper Lanterns and Paisley Patterns for design inspiration. Themes for the weekend assignments include combinations of Aboriginal, Greek, Neolithic and artistic styles such as mid-century, folk art and cubism. The closed Facebook created for the group compliments the course and this is where three live weekend demos will be hosted.

Explore Shapes 2 registration is £150 and closes on 9 May. 

More detailed information on Explore Shapes 2 can be found at the bottom of this post. If you would like to get a glimpse into the way I teach have a look at the FREE Colour Play Five Day Course I developed for this strange time of “lockdown”, accessible until the end of May. The response had been incredible, with thousands joining in.

I created a Facebook group where people can post work linked to this free course and this is also where I post new weekly challenges and show occasional live demos. More on this if you read further!

Follow me on Instagram for daily posts + some of the live demos I do here can be seen on Youtube too, subscribe to my Channel there. 

Other News: Giveaways and Special Offers!

This month I have started a new project on Instagram in order to inspire creativity and generate ideas. On Mondays and Fridays at 1PM UK time I will be doing a short 15 minute life demo. Monday’s demos are called #colourspark and are about different colour palettes in simple shapes to inspire bigger artworks to be done during the week. On Fridays I will be spending another fifteen minutes over lunchtime doing a live demo of a quick drawing created from a letter, shape or symbol. The tag for this weekly demo is #fifteenonfriday. Join me if you’d like to do this little challenge. The videos will also be loaded on Youtube and the Facebook group mentioned.

GIVEAWAY: I am giving away a set of QoR watercolours this weekend on Instagram. See Friday morning’s Instagram post for further details

SPECIAL OFFER: Treat yourself. I sell limited edition prints and a small collection of original paintings on Etsy, I am offering free international shipping on all print orders above £50 for the week ending on 17 May, use coupon FREEPOSTMAY. You can also buy a gift voucher with this free posting offer as a Mother’s Day gift. See my Etsy store for more info.​​​​​​​​

More information about Explore Shapes 2

Many of you joined in the free Colour Play five day course, the response was incredible and I loved what you created in response. The course is accessible until the end of May. Click here for more Colour Play information.

It is an ideal time for exploring creativity and expanding one’s own artistic practice. I created Explore Shapes 2 based on my own experimenting and exploration, combining mixed media materials, techniques, subjects and creative processes. 

This course has been based on the same principles as Explore Shapes in Ink and Watercolour that proved very popular.

Is It For Me?

Attending an online course is obviously different from doing one in person. Here are some questions and answers to see if it is suitable for you.

What is Explore Shapes 2?
It is a three-week long course exploring traditional and alternative techniques in water-based media on paper. The course is structured to develop a vocabulary of new shapes and creative mixed media techniques through manageable daily art projects. 

What is the format?
Bitesized daily projects (fifteen in total) and three bigger weekend assignments on Saturdays, all posted on this website at 9AM UK time. There are three additional live demos in a closed Facebook group: this arrangement compliments the course and are a way for me to interact and assist throughout the course. The demos can be viewed afterwards as videos in the Facebook group.

I live in a different timezone. How does it work?
Projects are released daily at 9am British Standard Time. They are presented in short video format with a written guide with images. You can see them at any point afterwards.

How much time do I need?
The daily projects can be done in around 40 to 60 minutes depending on your previous experience, The weekend projects will take longer. You can access projects at any point during the course and for two months afterwards.

Will I get feedback?
Yes, in the private Facebook group set up just for this course group. This is the place where you can post work, ask questions, get feedback and network with others from around the world. It is an additional but important component of the course. 

What can I hope to learn?
Loads! The course’s eighteen projects are perfectly suited to expand creativity by exploring traditional and alternative techniques in water-based media on paper. The course is structured to develop a broad vocabulary of new shapes and show a variety of techniques in mixed media and offer ideas in manageable daily art projects. 

Can you explain more about the course content?
Projects will start off with simple shapes from a variety of everyday sources. Inspiration comes from geometric shapes, organic forms found in vegetables and fruit, handwriting, letters and more. By combining traditional art materials with innovative 'outside the box' thinking, new directions are explored.

The topics for projects are varied daily, and range from Shibori, Pineapples, Paper Lanterns and Paisley Patterns as design inspiration, with Aboriginal, Greek and Neolithic themes inspiring the weekend assignments.

How long do I have access to the course?
Once the course ends there will be two months additional access to allow for catching up and repeating projects. 

Testimonials
I am always amazed at what gets created from course material, and am encouraged by the positive feedback received from each group. Here’s some comments from previous students:

This was super fun and your teaching style is gentle and engaging. K.C.

Thank you Este for a wonderful course, your inspiration, support and encouragement, and for your generosity in sharing your learning and skills with us. Thanks also to everyone on the course for sharing your work, ideas and encouragement. I have learned lots and feel I have a wealth of new ideas as well as super, new materials, which I never knew about before, to carry on experimenting with. Look forward to joining you again. A.B.

This project made me look at landscapes in another way! What can I do with it! Which is a huge step forward for me! Thank you so much for these fantastic course, so many interesting subjects on which I can work on! The different solutions and views on subjects! These were all valuable lessons! E.W.

Este thank you, thank you! You put together a fabulous and creative class, I was so excited each day to tackle a new subject. I had days of frustrating starts but really embraced the struggles. J.O.

I want to thank you for the course as it has been a really positive learning experience for me.  Coming from a higher education background professionally, I really appreciate the time thought and energy you have put into it. There seemed to be nothing overlooked and I like the way you support people in building their skills whilst allowing them to have creative freedom.  None of this is easy to do (especially with creative people) and I think you are a very talented and empathetic educator. J.A.

Thank you for your time, energy and patience to produce such an awesome class. N.M.

This course has opened me to a new approach to making art which I find both challenging and exciting.I would like to thank you for being so open about passing on your knowledge and expertise and putting yourself all in during your classes. Looking forward to any future class or prompts with you! A.M.

For more information on materials list etc please see the Explore Shapes 2 course information page.