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  • Blog
April 06, 2019

Ever After 2019 – Blog Hop & Give Away (Closed)

By Tamara Laporte  |   in art workshops  | Tags: ever after 2019 , style development , fairy tales  

Hello magical creative friend!

Exciting news! :) Ever After 2019 is now open for registration AND we are running a blog hop and many give-aways to kick off this fun news! (Scroll down for blog hop and give away info!)

Please note: this is the last year we will run Ever After! 

So if you ever wanted to join Ever After in the past but couldn’t, this is your last chance to join this wonderful course which is all about finding your unique creative style, diving deep into fairytales and stories (including your own) and making wonderful magical art!

Join HERE NOW
if you’re sold already. :)

Be sure to use your Early Bird Discount code to get 20% off!

MAGIC2019

Or read on for more info and a chance to win a spot on this course!

If you’re new to me and the blog, let me tell you a little about Ever After:

Ever After my newest collaborative course! We ran it for the first time in 2016 and then in 2017 and 2018 too and it’s been a great success! It is a rather magical course because it has a ‘Fairytale Theme’ AND we focus on style development in depth! I’ve been running art courses for so many years now and really love offering an in depth course where students can focus on developing their own style!! (The question: “how do you develop your own style” is the top nr 1 most frequently asked question in my inbox!). Ever After runs over 4 months, starting July 1st.

If you’re not ready for style development yet then you can just buy the ‘Ever After Fairytale Bundle’ offer on its own (without the style development element) which simply is an awesome mixed media art class with a fairytale theme taught by some of your most favourite artists and fabulous teachers in our beautiful mixed media community! Each teacher has chosen a fairytale and will let their fairytale (or myth/ magical story) inspire their lesson. I’m excited to let you know who will be involved today! We will let the fairy tales inspire our paintings and our story telling. The messages and symbolism of these tales and myths can help us develop our own voice, to be truer to ourselves and creative story telling abilities, I’m so excited to share the beautiful lessons with you! :)

Additionally we’ll look at how we can start telling new and different stories based on the original fairy tales (eg: how about Snow White saves the prince instead?) Or how about Alice on a motorcycle? How about twisting and changing the fairy tales so that your wish comes true? The options are endless and super super fun!! :)

The style development segment is full of information, hints and tips, special assignments, a big juicy workbook, informative videos, demonstrations on how to derive inspiration and then take ideas to develop your style, self discovery (style development is all about getting to know yourself and telling the story of YOU, you know) and so much more. I’m super excited about this course – the students LOVE it! :)

I hope you’ll join this course. It’s suitable for beginners and the more experienced! I’ve been running many courses since late 2008 and have made MANY students happy over the years! :) Read all the love, positive feedback and testimonials on THIS PAGE.

You can find out all the details (and sign up with the Early Bird price) by clicking here.

This year I’ll be working with the story: Pete’s Dragon, it was one of my favourite stories and films when growing up! I named my second child, Elliot after Pete’s dragon (also called Elliot, obviously!) :)) I will also add some bonus sessions to my lesson inspired by a different story and I’ll also include 2 time lapsed bonus videos of 2 projects that appear in my up and coming 2nd book based on Ever After! :) It’s going to be full of goodies this course!

For my main lesson we will include a dragon of some sorts that will look something similar to this painting (which is a project from my book:)


So who will be teaching on Ever After 2019?

An amazing group of artists and teachers! Check ‘m out! ->

Please note: Visionary Artist and Teacher Flora Bowley, will be contributing to the Style Development Segment only.

I’m very excited about this fabulous group of people who all have varied yet related styles which lend themselves well to the fairy tale themes of the lesson and also the style development segment of the course. :) Are you getting as excited as meeeeee?! :)

Stories we will be working with this year are: Pete’s Dragon, Thumbelina, The Children of Lir, Frau Holle, The Witches of Eastwick, Harry Potter (Hedwig), Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White & Rose Red, The Blessed One’s Advice, The Secret Garden, Muse Polyhumnia, Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, and Swan Lake.

Want to read more about these gorgeous artists
and see some examples of their beautiful works?

Read all about them in this document: Teacher Profiles Ever After 2019


Registration is NOW OPEN and the class begins on July 1st 2019!
(Get 20% off with the discount code: MAGIC2019)

So if you want to start your summer drawing and painting fairy-tales, exploring your own personal story & style and hang out with a wonderful creative community of like-minded souls, be sure to join us now! :)

Now then, onto the give-away and blog hop! :) The teachers and I are giving away spaces on this year’s Ever After, yay! :) The blog hop with all the give aways starts today and it starts here (scroll down)! You can up your chances of winning a space by entering all the other give-aways also!

Have a great time following the blog hop! :) xoxo


Blog Hop & Give Away Information!

To celebrate the launch of EA2019 we’re running a super fun blog hop with all the teachers who can each give away 1 space on Ever After 2019! Want to win a space? Follow the blog hop along and make sure to follow the instructions on the teachers’ pages to get entered into the draws.

I’m kicking off the blog hop today with running my own give-away!!

I am giving away

3 spaces on Ever After 2019

To enter the give-away please do the following:

*Be sure to sign up to my newsletter*

* Share this blog post on your Facebook page/ Twitter or Instagram *

* Leave a comment below, letting us know what your favourite fairy tale (or magical story/ myth) is *

Winners! 

Tam’s Winners: 

Kyrstin Gibson 

Nancyfangles Brown 

Heidi Michele

Lora Murphy: 
Sheila AR

Effy Wild: 
Jill Fine

Andrea Gomoll: 
Marielle Hoogeboom

Patti Ballard:
Julie Stancato

Marieke Blokland:
Sharon Finkbiner

Renee Mueller:
Bonita Hendriks

Natalie Mecham: 
Ronda Conley

Shilpa Lalit:
Debbie Smith

Maria Pace-Wynter:
Jeanne C

Angela Kennedy: 
Natalie Gorgona

Natalie Neumann:
Michael Blackerby

Alena Hennessy:
Laura Reading Roth

Danita:
Chantelle Venter

Tanya Cole: 
Carolien Klapwijk-Buchner

Pamela Vosseller: 
Tracie Brackins


The Ever After 2019 Blog Hoppalong :)

To up your chances to win and to learn more about the amazing EA2019 teaching team, be sure to follow the BLOGALONG:

Date Teacher Blog URL
1st May Tamara Laporte willowing.org/blog <- you are here
2nd May Andrea Gomoll andrea-gomoll.de/blog
3rd May Danita Art blog.danitaart.com
4th May Effy Wild effywild.com
5th May Natalie Mecham nataliemechamart.com/wall
6th May Angela Kennedy pennystamper.blogspot.com
7th May Marieke Blokland bloknote.nl/tag/blog
8th May Pamela Vosseller pamela-vosseller.squarespace.com/
9th May Renee Mueller reneemuellerart.com/blog-1
10th May Lora Murphy facebook.com/lora.murphy.9
11th May Maria Pace-Wynter mariapacewynters.com
12th May Patti Ballard pbsartstudio.blogspot.com
13th May Natalie Neumann instagram.com/moonshadowgarden
14th May Shilpa Lalit (Artyshils) artyshils.com/blog
15th May Alena Hennessy alenahennessy.com/blog
16th May Tanya Cole tanyacolearts.com/blog-2

Thank you

for celebrating with us you guys, I SO SO hope we will see you on Ever After 2019! :)

Registration is now open! :D

See you there!

You may also like:

  • Ever After 2019 – Blog Hop & Give Away (Closed)

  • Get 20% off! -> Ever After 2018 – Registration Now Open!

  • Ever After 2017 – Blog Hop & Give Away – Yippee!

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Mixed media artist, teacher and author. I don’t see all IG msgs. For enq pls email hello@willowing.org - Join Creating Cuties:

Wings of the Butterfly. 🦋

When I look at this painting, created back in 2014, I find myself wondering just how many of those tiny butterfly wings I’ve painted in my life. Likely hundreds by now! They’ve become such a recognisable thread in my work, and I still love drawing them.
There’s something tender about embedding little symbols that hold personal meaning for me into my art. It feels like I’m leaving behind intimate, whispered notes (small drops of myself) woven into each piece.

The butterfly wings, for instance, often symbolise freedom, lightness, whimsy, and ease. Sometimes transformation, yes, but for me, more often they speak to the longing for lightness. A wish to be unburdened. I love how butterflies flap about in their unpredictable, carefree way. So lithe. So unencumbered. I rarely feel like that myself. But how I wish I did.

This painting is layered with symbols I still use to this day:

* The whimsical little houses, speaking to my deep need for belonging and community
* The hanging hearts and stars, evoking love and wisdom; I’ve always wished for them falling from the sky in buckets
*The sweet creatures perched on shoulders, hands or other body parts, partly for whimsy, partly as symbols of ever-present little unconditionally loving guardians.
I wrote recently about how I tend to paint *what I need for my pain*, rather than painting the pain itself. This painting is such a perfect example of that.

I needed sunshine, rainbows, unconditional love, friendship, community, belonging, wisdom. And so; here it is, all wrapped up in this tender, hope-filled image.

Colour-wise, I still love that glowing orange aura around the girl, contrasted against the deep teals. The washi tape and collage on the dress felt rough and playful in just the right way. And I remember feeling especially delighted by the butterfly wing drawn onto the collarbone; it’s that kind of strange, poetic detail that lights up the right side of my brain, the place where all the good magic lives. ✨

I’m curious; how does this painting speak to you?

This is day 9 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

Open
Wings of the Butterfly. 🦋

When I look at this painting, created back in 2014, I find myself wondering just how many of those tiny butterfly wings I’ve painted in my life. Likely hundreds by now! They’ve become such a recognisable thread in my work, and I still love drawing them.
There’s something tender about embedding little symbols that hold personal meaning for me into my art. It feels like I’m leaving behind intimate, whispered notes (small drops of myself) woven into each piece.

The butterfly wings, for instance, often symbolise freedom, lightness, whimsy, and ease. Sometimes transformation, yes, but for me, more often they speak to the longing for lightness. A wish to be unburdened. I love how butterflies flap about in their unpredictable, carefree way. So lithe. So unencumbered. I rarely feel like that myself. But how I wish I did.

This painting is layered with symbols I still use to this day:

* The whimsical little houses, speaking to my deep need for belonging and community
* The hanging hearts and stars, evoking love and wisdom; I’ve always wished for them falling from the sky in buckets
*The sweet creatures perched on shoulders, hands or other body parts, partly for whimsy, partly as symbols of ever-present little unconditionally loving guardians.
I wrote recently about how I tend to paint *what I need for my pain*, rather than painting the pain itself. This painting is such a perfect example of that.

I needed sunshine, rainbows, unconditional love, friendship, community, belonging, wisdom. And so; here it is, all wrapped up in this tender, hope-filled image.

Colour-wise, I still love that glowing orange aura around the girl, contrasted against the deep teals. The washi tape and collage on the dress felt rough and playful in just the right way. And I remember feeling especially delighted by the butterfly wing drawn onto the collarbone; it’s that kind of strange, poetic detail that lights up the right side of my brain, the place where all the good magic lives. ✨

I’m curious; how does this painting speak to you?

This is day 9 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

I bristled recently when I heard a prominent psychologist claim that empathy can be a bad quality in people. I half-chuckled, half felt bile rise in my throat, wanting to throw up at the notion.

Now, I get that I must first define the term in order defend that response. Empathy is not lenience. It’s not passivity, or tolerance for harm. True empathy doesn’t excuse; it understands. It gets close. And from that place of understanding, love, connection, repair, restoration, and justice can flow. 💕

As a child, I was often told that kindness was a weak, even foolish quality. The world, I was taught, required ruthlessness, cunning, efficiency; cut-throat ambition. But my little soul disagreed. I longed for softness, gentleness, warmth. I felt safe around true kindness. Even then, I bristled at the suggestion that love and compassion were naive or useless.

Years later, I met Andy (my beautiful soulmate) and he introduced me to the work of Marshall Rosenberg and Nonviolent Communication. It was a profound homecoming. Rosenberg`s work validated what I had felt all along: that empathy and compassion are not just lovely ideas; they are powerful tools for healing trauma, transforming conflict, and creating a more just and loving world.

This is why love, compassion, and empathy are such central themes in my art. Today I’m sharing one of the first paintings I created with this focus, back in 2014. It’s whimsical and folk-arty, simple but strong in message. I still love it.

Let this be a reminder: kindness is not weakness. Empathy is not indulgence. These qualities are fierce and world-changing when we let them guide us.

This is day 8 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

Open
I bristled recently when I heard a prominent psychologist claim that empathy can be a bad quality in people. I half-chuckled, half felt bile rise in my throat, wanting to throw up at the notion.

Now, I get that I must first define the term in order defend that response. Empathy is not lenience. It’s not passivity, or tolerance for harm. True empathy doesn’t excuse; it understands. It gets close. And from that place of understanding, love, connection, repair, restoration, and justice can flow. 💕 

As a child, I was often told that kindness was a weak, even foolish quality. The world, I was taught, required ruthlessness, cunning, efficiency; cut-throat ambition. But my little soul disagreed. I longed for softness, gentleness, warmth. I felt safe around true kindness. Even then, I bristled at the suggestion that love and compassion were naive or useless.

Years later, I met Andy (my beautiful soulmate) and he introduced me to the work of Marshall Rosenberg and Nonviolent Communication. It was a profound homecoming. Rosenberg's work validated what I had felt all along: that empathy and compassion are not just lovely ideas; they are powerful tools for healing trauma, transforming conflict, and creating a more just and loving world.

This is why love, compassion, and empathy are such central themes in my art. Today I’m sharing one of the first paintings I created with this focus, back in 2014. It’s whimsical and folk-arty, simple but strong in message. I still love it.

Let this be a reminder: kindness is not weakness. Empathy is not indulgence. These qualities are fierce and world-changing when we let them guide us.

This is day 8 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

25% Off Early Bird Ending Soon!
Hey friends, I wanted to remind you that the 25% off early bird price for my new course Creating Cuties ends soon! Be sure to join soon if you want to grab it at the lower price!
Sometimes… the world feels too loud, too fast, too much.
That’s when I turn to cute art — to soften the edges and reconnect with calm. 🎨🕊️
Creating Cuties is an online art course for your soul.

Together we’ll paint sweet, soft-hearted animals — like little kitten in a woolly jumper (sweater) or a gentle dog with a butterfly on her nose.
💖 Let this be your moment to:

🌸 Slow down and reconnect
🎨 Create soothing, happy art
🐾 Paint 7 beautiful characters with my step-by-step support
🎁 Save 25% (or £22 / $30) with early bird
📥 Lifetime access + PDFs + traceables
Feel better through brushstrokes. 💗

Join us here: https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in my bio/ link tree/ stories) xoox

Open
25% Off Early Bird Ending Soon! 
Hey friends, I wanted to remind you that the 25% off early bird price for my new course Creating Cuties ends soon! Be sure to join soon if you want to grab it at the lower price!
Sometimes… the world feels too loud, too fast, too much.
That’s when I turn to cute art — to soften the edges and reconnect with calm. 🎨🕊️
Creating Cuties is an online art course for your soul.

Together we’ll paint sweet, soft-hearted animals — like little kitten in a woolly jumper (sweater) or a gentle dog with a butterfly on her nose.
💖 Let this be your moment to:

🌸 Slow down and reconnect
🎨 Create soothing, happy art
🐾 Paint 7 beautiful characters with my step-by-step support
🎁 Save 25% (or £22 / $30) with early bird
📥 Lifetime access + PDFs + traceables
Feel better through brushstrokes. 💗

Join us here: https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in my bio/ link tree/ stories) xoox

Facts. ♥️♥️♥️

Open
Facts. ♥️♥️♥️

Just leaving this little guy here on my timeline here for your moment of serotonin release. It`s the boy version of the other kitten I did the other day. He has such a sweet quality to him! 😍😍😍 - Make this painting with me? --> https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in bio/ link tree). ♥️♥️♥️

Open
Just leaving this little guy here on my timeline here for your moment of serotonin release. It's the boy version of the other kitten I did the other day. He has such a sweet quality to him! 😍😍😍 - Make this painting with me? --> https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in bio/ link tree). ♥️♥️♥️
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