An Autumn Sketchbook Retreat - a 30 day project

This course takes you on a journey of noticing and recording the autumn and your connection to the season. It is about personal expression through art and words. Video lessons will introduce you to techniques and ideas to take you through the stages of filling a mixed-media sketchbook whilst multi-sensory tasks and rituals guide you to notice, harvest and distill what you see into a meaningful expression that helps you build your own 'voice' with your creativity. There is a celebration of abundance and an invitation to bring projects to fruition and get you beyond procrastination into flow.

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 wish.

This course is for you if:

• You want a supported creative connection to channel you past creative block

• You believe making and art are good for the soul

• You want a regular practice to help you stay on track and feel accomplished with your artistic output.

• You like working with colour, shape, line and pattern

• You want to bottle up autumn as a tonic to refer back to in the darker days

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

• You want a gift for your creative soul

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 and to set boundaries and a time for you 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 very much suit those who journal and want to integrate an art element.

You will finish the course with:

• a calm and soulful 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 nature 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 to the changing seasons.

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.

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! (forum opens on October 1st 2024)

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, art making:

• coloured card in autumnal colours

• block-printing ink

• acetate sheets (or plastic A4 folders - the pocket type that go in ring binders) these are for printing

• water based block printing ink

• A brayer (roller) for the printing ink

• a selection of painted papers - painted with autumn tones, or use magazine papers or scrapbook supplies

• A3 paper for drawing.

• Gold posca pen or gold ink/gold paint

• black or sepia drawing ink

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 developing 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 2024