Explore Shapes 2 starts 5 April

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

My next online art course starts on 5 April and this will be the last time I’m offering it in the format of a ‘live’ course. Registration closes this weekend so let me tell you some more about it.

Explore Shapes 2 is a three-week long course with daily postings of 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 three weekend assignments include Tree of Life, Glowing Lanterns and a Fantasy night time landscape. There’s a focus on incorporating artistic styles such as Mid-century, Folk art and Cubism as well as observation, stamping techniques and mixed media layering. The course is packed with all sorts of projects to suit all abilities

The closed Facebook group created for the group compliments the course and offers a space to share project outcomes, ask questions and network with others. It is a valuable component and is only available with my ‘live’ courses (i.e. not with self-paced ones).

Explore Shapes 2 costs £175 and registration closes on 4 April.

Testimonials

Explore Shapes 2 was first offered as a course in 2020 and proved to be a very popular one. I am always amazed at what gets created on my courses, and am encouraged by the positive feedback received from each group. Here are some comments from previous students:

I am really enjoying the course and learning so much. You have made a course that is accessible and really supports the development of people's creativity and artistic skills. H.L.

I am very new to art and felt nervous about the outcomes I might achieve but I too have found the teaching and process so absorbing and this seems to be what is opening up my imagination and creativity. Looking at how others approach things has also been a big part of that and having such a supportive group with a vast range of experience really helps.
T.H.

I'm new to art and I'm so happy I signed up for this course. I'm learning such a lot, far more than I imagined I would and everyone is so kind and supportive in the Facebook group
L.W.

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.

Your colours are so gorgeous Este and this is what initially attracted me to your art. Then I joined your Colour Collage class and wow, it’s so much more than just colour. I recommend anyone to give these classes a go, it will certainly broaden your horizons with your own art and is such fun too. K.D.

Student Work

You can see examples of their work on a dedicated Instagram account @colourexplorers where I post a selection of project outcomes.

Try a FREE project

If you have not done any of my courses and would like to get a glimpse into the way I teach have a look at the FREE project available on my website. In addition to my workshop, I created this watercolour kaleidoscope project for Sketchbook Revival 2021