This eclectic summer course is an invitation to feel good, make with your hands, and reconnect with the joyful energy of the season. It’s about creating space to be fuelled by summer’s brightness while also slowing down to notice, reflect, and nourish yourself.

Through a series of video lessons, you’ll explore mixed media techniques to fill a vibrant sketchbook, alongside thoughtful prompts to support reflection, move through creative blocks, and guide your next steps.

It’s a colourful, soulful journey — one that encourages you to make, wander, gather, and express your connection to summer in your own unique way 

The course is designed across 30 days but as it is a self-paced online course, you can complete the tasks as and when you want. 

This course is for you if:

• You want a supported creative connection to the season that is gently energising and restorative

• You believe making and art are good for the soul

• You want a regular practice to help you reflect, restore and re-focus for the season ahead

• You like working with shape, line and pattern

• You want to look for the beautiful in summer's palette and blooming growth.

• You like to mix words with images and the drawn with the made.

• You want a gift for your creative soul

This course will not teach you how to draw, it will give you confidence and independence to work through creative blocks and find creative flow.

How do you stay motivated? How do you rest and reflect and stay in creative flow? Creativity isn't a superpower - it is a skill that needs nurturing with all your senses engaged and heightening your connection to the world. This course combines, drawing, making and writing as well as encouragement to get out into the world, to touch, feel and record what is out there. Having structured tasks will create a routine for you to develop your skills and express yourself.

Ultimately the course is structured for enjoyment, with gentle encouragement for you to set boundaries and a time to engage in creativity. Most of the tasks are designed to be done at home - with some tasks to encourage you to go out and enjoy what is around you.The course assumes no previous experience. Those with more experience can still get so much from the structure and encouragement of the course and working with a new approach. This course would also suit those who journal and want to integrate an art element.

You will finish the course with:

• a colourful mixed media sketchbook

• a range of ideas and techniques that you can revisit again

• the motivation to carry on drawing and collaging

• a closer connection to summer, and yourself

• confidence to get past creative block

• a sketchbook of ideas that you can develop into art or textile work

• a sense of wellbeing and connection

This online course offers you:

10 video tutorials - From the blank page to simple drawing techniques, to embellishing with print and collage - I will walk you through my processes. You can watch these whenever is convenient for you and stop and start them as you follow along. 

30 daily tasks delivered in blocks of 7 tasks - one to do each day.  These are themed and mix creative tasks with well being and journalling tasks. Access is ongoing so feel free to spread out the tasks over the season if you prefer

A 'Welcome' session plus sections with additional resources so you can lean-in to the wisdom of nature and get support for your creativity. 

A 'Goodbye' session with a summary of what you've learnt and where you can take your creativity next.

Access to an online group forum for feedback from me and other students - mutual support and motivation! 

I try to use basic art equipment that most will have already. Mostly I encourage you to use what you have. :)

Suggested kit list:

For drawing artmaking:

• A4 sketchbooks. Or use what you have! I use Seawhite stapled sketchbooks

• Posca pens

• Ink roller

• Plastic sheet or Perspex

• Erasers

• coloured ink

• Watercolour brushes

• acrylic paints

• Stabilo Woodies or other watersoluble pencils/sticks

• Sheets coloured or repurposed papers

• Long blade scissors

• cartridge paper 130gsm in A3 and or A2 (a few sheets)

• carbon paper (optional)

For self-care rituals:

• Essential oils

• Notebook and pen

What you will need to have:

• The materials on the materials list (see above)

• Access via a PC or laptop to my website where you can access the password protected pages

• Broadband wifi with sufficient speed to watch video content

• You will also need a willingness to have a go and try new ways of working - not focussed on the outcomes, but on devloping a creative flow and adapting new techniques

• Time - regular slots that you can set aside for yourself

• Commitment to fulfil the tasks and share with others in the group so that we can nurture each other.

What to expect:

• After signing up you will get email confirmation of your booking and can start immediately.

• Delivery is via video tutorials that you can start, stop and repeat as you wish. 

• There are tasks set for you to try what you have been shown in the videos as well as step by step photos of how I created the sketchbook pages in the course

• You are encouraged to take photos of what you create and upload them to the course Facebook Group.

• You can ask questions in the group, or by email.

Content filmed in 2023