Ok, I have only just really cottoned on to the wonder that is Facebook! Since i got an ipad ( yeah, it ROCKS) i have really started enjoying ‘social networking’.
Tweeting, facebooking, forum chats… Loving it! Because it’s convenient now… Not intrusive in my work space.

This morning At 8am I was able to join in a live event with one of my favourite art teachers as she taught in New Jersey!

The camera was set up at the end of the communal workshop table, as if I was a real life participant. I was surrounded by the art supplies and class chatter and SuzIBlu would come and talk with ‘me’ every so often. We Also had a lively comments chat going on in the sidebar for the virtual participants! We were from all around the world and talking like we all knew each other.

It was cool! The future is looking very connected…I am so going to invite you all on a virtual photo shoot with me! Or how about coming to my next gallery opening? I’m soooo excited by all the possibilities!

Friend me!

Ps I am typing this on my iPhone as I walk along on the beach… Sooo blame any typos on that please…. Oooooh, look! Dolphins!!

This Follows on  from my last post of my top online creativity classes. I had to split the post this way, because it was getting too loooong!

oh, how I love a good workshop (read about my 70 plus courses here!). My ideal one would be more Matrix-like with the ‘dentist-chair-plus-spike-in-the-back-of-the-head-instant-download-into-brain-i-know-kungfu’ type deal… but then I would miss out on added bonus info from other participants in the group.

I would love to know of any classes/courses you recommend or are leading!

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1. Blogging Your Way
Summary: Blogging in your authentic voice
Course Leader: Holly Becker  blogging superstar of Decor8 and and Leslie Shewing from Color Me Pretty
Why I liked it: Holly herself is very endearing and likable and she somehow magically manages to translate that through her writing. She started each week with a podcast, and then some fantastic, in depth posts about her experience.

Her co- creator, Leslie Shewing also posted each week with photography information and lots of beautiful,inspirational images as examples. Holly had a stroke of genius by organizing a technical whizz to answer all the uploading/ downloading HTML/ blog questions. The whole look, feel and experience was very stylish, ans completely in keeping with the madly popular Decor8 blog.
The forums were incredibly active and the energy created a real buzz. I couldn’t wait to read the forums each morning. There was a huge amount of homework really, but it all related completely to our own blogs, so each student was making refinements and changes and able to get feedback throughout the course.
Our final assignment was to be split into teams and critique everyone’s blogs in our group. As a prize, for groups that did this ( our group had over 20 blogs – that’s a lot of reading!) we went in a draw to have Holly critique our blogs. My team won!

What I got out of it: excitement for blogging and confidence in putting my voice up here.
Where to find:

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2. Flying Lessons
Summary: Inspiration and insider tips to give your creative business wings!
Course Leader: Kelly Rae Roberts
Why I liked it: Kelly Rae is another blogging superstar. Her book is a best seller for the mixed-media category on Amazon. Her attitude and writing is a real joy to read. Her posts throughout the course were inspirational.

I didn’t get very involved in the comments in this course, I was too busy at the time and I regret that I wasn’t able to fully participate. But I absorbed the information and the very relaxed, down to earth way it was presented.

What I got out of it: Extreeeeeeeme gratitude for having the success I have had so far! The class was a refresher for many of the hard won life lessons i have have had. My experience of a Creative Business is very similar to Kelly Rae’s. How I wish I had a resource like this when I first started my crazy business, sorry creative business.
Where to find: I’m not sure she will be running it again for a while, but her site has an ebook edition of the course materials.

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3. SmArtist
Summary: Business tele summit for artists. “Listen, Learn, Earn”
Course Leader: Ariane
Why I liked it: Ariane invites very knowledgable speakers. It runs as a tele summit and forum. All the materials were downloadable and also sent to us on CD at the conclusion. A very professional class with lots of intense information

Ariane ‘s skill is keeping her guests on track and interesting. She asks pertinent questions and really presses the best information out of people. And it was complete information, not a bunch of speakers flogging their wares. We had a lot of course materials which have been extremely beneficial to me.

What I got out of it: most of the participants were practicing artists with a lot of diverse experience. The forums were full of lurkers ( love that phrase for a non- participant!), but those of us that did get involved, were passionate about creativity. Lots of kindred spirits from all over the world.

This year the emphasis was on Social Media and how artists can use it to share our work, getting in to galleries and ideas for ‘expanding the canvas’. There have literally been dozens of changes, refinements and actions I have made because of this valuable course. And because it was in the USA, I had to get up at 4.30am to tune in to the live sessions, so it must have been good!

Where to find: http://smartist.com/live-telesummit/home-study-edition/

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4. Artist Goal Wheel

Summary: Getting your self motivated, inspired and on target. Ebook self study with 12 months of email tip.
Course Leader:Tara Reed
Why I liked it: Tara Reed has an engaging style and is a natural teacher. her examples and real world experience make this course a pleasure to do. I really enjoyed it and I did find it very helpful…Her whole art licensing site is definitely worth checking out!

Tara Reed :www.artlicensinginfo.com

http://www.thegoalwheelforartists.com/

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Aside from just loving learning, I do keep telling myself that I will eventually have my own ecourses right here one day! Creative Photography with moi. No traveling, study as and when you please….meeting kindred spirits from a round the world…no projector for me to wrangle with to show some washed out examples on a wall. What do you think? Subscribe and I will let you know when it’s live!

P.S. I have no affiliation with any of these courses – just a genuine sharing of the LOVE!

Have you ever considered an ecourse?  Or done one?  I can’t recommend them highly enough! I have been involved in some excellent classes . These are my favorites including the why’s, where’s and who’s!

I’d love to hear your favourites and suggestions!

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1. World of Whimsy 2
Summary: Mixed media art classes with an emphasis on whimsical character drawing.
Course Leader: ‘Willowing ‘ aka Tam Lapote
Why I liked it: Tam is incredibly generous with her time. Lessons consist of  videos each week, PDFs, live upstream chat and critiques. This is where Tam really shines as he takes each persons uploaded drawings and gives very specific visual suggestions by manipulating the images in Photoshop. Can you imagine the time this must take?

I am currently doing this class, am super engaged and really enjoying the whole Group experience. There are some wonderful artists involved, lots of beginners and people rediscovering their artistic talents. It is a nurturing experience. The forum around the lessons is very active and Tam is completely involved. Having the course leader putting energy into the discussions makes such a huge difference. I have so much admiration for her. She really has created a happy place for making art.

What I got out of it: I am really having fun just being free and drawing whimsical characters! I have at least one that wants his own book…I have started experimenting with techniques…incorporating my photography – I am having so much FUN!

Where to find it:

Tam has announced that she will be offering a free art ecourse later in the year, and there are other free groups you can join on the Ning site for Mixed Media and Art Journalling. LOVELY STUFF!  If you are QUICK, you can probably join WOW 2 now – highly recommended!

Where to find:willowing.org

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2.Drawing tutorials online
Summary: hard core drawing! Chicken scratching begone!
Course Leader: Matt Archambault
Why I like it:  Matt teaches at the School Of Visual Arts in New York. His site has dozens of fantastic videos. He is a proper Illustrator with a capital I. The drawing tutorials are challenging – he makes it look easy, but drawing a skull is hard work the first time! But the anatomical lessons are JUST SO GOOD FOR YOU.

You can watch some for free before you decide if it suits you – search itunes for his free podcast.  He regularly does iphone videos of his student’s sketchbooks too, which is soooooo interesting. Every time I complete one of the videos I can feel my drawing improve. I believe that confidence and skill in drawing has a huge impact on all creative processes.
This is a subscription based site – aprox $12 per month.

What I got out of it: madly improving drawing skills.
Where to find:drawingtutorialsonline.com

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3 and 4 ‘Petite Dolls‘ And ‘Poet and Goddess‘
Summary: Mixed Media art classes.
Course Leader: Suzi Blu
Why I liked it:  SuziBlu is a bit crazy – but in a very, very good way! She is authentic, swears and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. And for a drawing class there was a lot of situational comedy.  Do a search on Youtube for suziblu and you will get a feel for her.

The classes are feature packed with video, PDF’s, and weekly critiques. Suzi calls them’Homework Appreciation Days’ now – isn’t that cool? The open semester format allows for students to join anytime. And it is run on Ning which I LOVE.  ( yep, I am a Ning-a-ling!). The way she teaches is encouraging and fun. She takes it from the absolute basics and builds from there.

What I got out of it: the simple joy of drawing and using color pencils again. Suzi included 6 bonus videos from a previous class for woodburning, which i fell in love with and i have the burns on my fingers to prove it! These classes also introduced me to a bunch of art supplies that I didn’t even know existed and I will be forever grateful!

The format of the school is under review with not as many classes being offered, but more variety within the class. So if you are reading this before the end of August 2010, and like drawing whimsical characters, get your caboose over to Suzi’s site before some of the classes are gone forever!
Next up is Mermaids… I am registered already… Splishy splashy!

Where to find: The Petite Academy.

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5   .’Mixed Media and the Girls‘
Summary: mixed media techniques
Course Leader: Wyanne

Why I liked it: I think Wyanne’s youtube videos are the best of their kind. The mixed media techniques were interesting and I love watching Wyanne create her beautiful work. Plus, her voice is very cute!

Look on Youtube for her regular videos to see if you like her style.

Her next class will be the Resin workshop – I am signed up for August – can- wait.

Where to find:www.wyanne.com

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Aside from just loving learning, I do keep telling myself that I will eventually have my own ecourses right here one day! Creative Photography with moi. No traveling, study as and when you please….meeting kindred spirits from a round the world…no projector for me to wrangle with to show some washed out examples on a wall. What do you think? Subscribe and I will let you know when it’s live!

P.S. I have no affiliation with any of these courses – just a genuine sharing of the LOVE!

I love taking a workshop that leads me in a new direction. I acquire new skills, explore and experiment. I have never painted using acrylic paint before and I am really enjoying using it. Last week in class, we started  by creating a collage to use as inspiration for the underpainting. I didn’t finish it and don’t like it really. It isn’t resonating with me..yet…maybe it never will! Bit rather than turn my back on it and get on with something else, I am going to perservere!

My Acrylic painting class is with Bernadette Curtin (Bernie!),

It is still a work in progress….And I worked a little more on the ‘Collage’ painting today, and don’t really want to post it …but as this is in the spirit of expanding my boundaries…Courage my Love! Here goes…

The plan for this painting is to add text across it, so that the colours, bubbles and textures form an underpainting. So that will be the next step. eeeeeeeek!

………………UPDATE – I finished this painting! Look for Courage my Love part 2!

Angus gave me a huge H frame easel and giant canvas for Christmas. It is a lovely object, even before it gets beautified with paint splatters and creative juices! I have been saying for a while now how I would love to paint again, and now there are no excuses!

But it has been so long since I picked up a paintbrush, that I felt I needed a bit of  refreshment at a workshop or two, or three….I discovered that the wonderful  Still at The Centre, which is an Art Gallery just down the road from my studio ( that I had a solo exhibition at), had created a plethora of art classes. So I am attending just about all of them!

I have been re-familiarising myself with acrylics, gouache and ink; life drawing, still life drawing and creative drawing. I have discovered Art Journalling (love.).

I adore my teachers, all of them are successful local artists with so much to share. I respond well to the time pressure of the three hour classes. I really, really enjoy creating works in the company of my classmates. And working in a different studio is fun (I don’t have to worry about paint spilling on my divine new carpet!). And then there is the art supplies store in the gallery…delicious den of delights…how I love to browse through all the pastels, pencils, papers and paints.

I am at a different class nearly every day. I load up my gear, and ride my bicycle there,  carrying my canvas like a shield! And you would think that I would be burning up creative energy and not have space left for my photography and projects…but no! I have never been so prolific. I am  art-ing everyday. Oh bliss, bliss, bliss!

If you are in Byron Bay, you must, must, must come and participate in an art class. You can just join in for individual classes, come to a few, or attend the whole term. They are challenging and relaxing in equal measure, and always fun. And if you are not in Byron, well, go and find an art class near you, and do life drawing, or painting or whatever takes your fancy. (do it!, do it! do it!  ; )  )

Last night I did a quick little count of  how many classes I have done since leaving school…I have listed over 70 so far. Yes. SEV.EN.TY.  Most of them are art or creativity based. From international workshops : fashion illustration in Paris, fashion photography in London, Children’s book illustration in Bologna, PhotoShop in Sante Fe, Fine Art printing in Maine, and nature photography in San Francisco.  To my time in Sydney where I studied at the Australian Centre of Photography (and still do go from time to time), The National Art School, UNSW and COFA and the ESE College. I even did a year at the School of Colour and Design (wonderful!). In Byron Bay I have done a few computer courses – Illustrator and DreamWeaver, plus screen printing, ink press. I have taken French classes all over ( I keep on trying!!), stand-up comedy, acting and singing! Then there are the online courses…

You know what? I am a workshop wizard. Permanently curious. Too busy to commit to full-time study. I just love discovering a new class, planning for it and anticipating what will happen. The light social interaction. The mentorship from the teacher. Of course, I love some more than others. Sometimes I discover that I am just not ‘into’ whatever it is I signed up for, and even that is a valuable lesson. Sometimes the class leads me to discover something entirely new about myself!

I will be in Sydney over Easter, and have been scouring the internet to find an interesting class I can go to while I am down there! Nothing has leaped up yet

What about you? Are you a ‘continued education’ junkie? What are your recommendations for me!

The Macro Workshop in my Byron Bay studio was a cram-packed day! I set-up all the shots, but I did not get a chance to take any photos on the day….and when I saw the images my students had made…well!..I was just so inspired to get my own take on each ‘set’. So I recreated them all again the next day and then I let my beautiful subjects bugjects go.

Of course, I couldn’t re-magic the shots we found outside, but I did have a few lovely hours outside with the dragonflies. Which was lucky as it turned out, because the next day the council came and did some major works on dredging the waterway…and wrecked my dragonfly hunting grounds! : (““

Ok, in case you haven’t guessed I am brand new to blogging and I really felt as if I had no idea what I was doing… so rather than feel like that, I decided to do something about it!  Through blind chance I found my way to a blogging Super-Star’s front step and lo! and behold she was about to launch in to a three month long e-class called ‘Blogging Your Way’.

Holly Becker’s  http://decor8blog.com/ has approx a billion readers a day ( OK, exaggeration, but she IS a Cyber-Star), and is the first blog I ever subscribed to. Her daily posts arrive in my email box at the start of the day, and I really look forward to them. As a professional artist, working in my Temple of Creativity (cue tinkling music and choir voices),  is a chiefly solitary pursuit. I need the space to experiment, play and thinki-poo. So Decor8′s beautiful daily message fresh from Germany of the lovely nests and cocoons people are snuggling into from around the world, is really very nice indeed. Makes me feel part of the world and ‘in-touch’ and instantly erases the distaste from horrid spam that still slips in my good mail.

Sooo…what am I trying to say? I will remain a bit quiet while I am recombobulating my blog while the classes are on the go….I will begin posting again soon, promise! Heh, I may even surprise you and begin mad blogging, who knows? ( I dont!)

workshop image - fiddler beetle

What a Day! Lots of energy and fun! I set up lots of shots with beautiful, sculptural flower shapes and my students were able to experiment with different lighting techniques, lenses and approaches to each subject. We worked outside and photographed dragonflies and I found a delightful lime green preying mantis that performed like a true superstar!

Here is the information about the workshop, just in case you feel like joining in!

Macro and Close-up Photography Workshop
Saturday, January 16, 2010

9am-4pm

Cost $350 inc GST per person.

Jane Davenport is an internationally renowned photographic artist based in Byron Bay. Her large-scale outdoor art installations have toured across the world, been enjoyed by millions and featured extensively in the media. Jane’s is Australia’s most successfully licensed photographic artist with card, stationery books and poster ranges available globally.

Jane has taught many photo workshops, but this will be the
first in her spacious Byron Bay studio. This is a very rare chance to work alongside her. You will leave full of inspiration, new skills and the courage to fully embrace your image making potential!

Jane will focus on the close-up and macro world of photography as there are many elements that relate only to this fascinating genre of image-making. Of course, many of the skills you will learn can be applied to any type of subject from landscapes to portraits. You will work with creating arresting still-life compositions and move on to the very challenging and rewarding realm of live subjects. You will work inside the studio and outdoors.
This intensive workshop suits photography lovers of all skill levels!

You will be creating images throughout the day and Jane will conduct a review of your work.

To book click here!

To see more of Jane Davenport’s work visit the gallery or click here for her Limited Edition prints. You are welcome to call the studio (AEST 10 to 6pm) 02 6680 8550, or use the email link in the sidebar.