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Black. 🖤
After I finished Senior School, I went to an Art Academy in Amsterdam for a year. I was massively proud to have been accepted into two art academies in Holland because it was pretty hard to get into them, only about 30/ 40 people got selected out of 100nds of applicants each year. To be accepted into two Art Academies was a huge deal. Sadly the experience was not one I enjoyed much at all.
Coming from a vibrant, colourful senior school where art classes were uplifting and fun, I was shocked to discover that at the academy, it almost seemed sport to the teachers to ‘break down their students emotionally’, supposedly to make us better artists. Even the building itself was grey, devoid of any joy or colour. It was baffling; a place meant for creativity felt so grim and dark. 😔
The professors, too, each had their own peculiar ‘rules’. I remember being told things like, “Never use black in your paintings, it’s not a colour,” or, “Don’t use purple, I hate purple.” Looking back now, it’s almost comical; if every teacher had a forbidden colour, soon we’d be left with none! The arbitrary rules piled up, until it seemed like you could break one just by picking up a brush.
But the ‘never use black’ rule really stuck with me for years. I avoided it religiously, until this painting.
Yes, black can be a tricky colour. It’s bold, sometimes harsh, and can easily overpower a piece. But, when used with intention, I think black adds a beautiful sense of depth, contrast, and harmony. In this painting, I love how the black brings weight and grounding, making the other colours sing even brighter. ✨🙌✨
I remember painting this piece in 2016 and feeling a sense of freedom. I let myself be looser and wilder; not only did I dare to bring in black, I also used fluorescent pinks, which can be just as challenging! Suddenly, all those ‘forbidden’ elements became a celebration.
I left the Art Academy after a year, feeling confused and a bit lost. For a while, they made me believe maybe art wasn’t for me after all. How sad, isn’t it, when a place meant to nurture creativity ends up clipping your wings? ... (continues in comments)
In and amongst all the admin work and all the prep there is little to no time for art but managed to grab a small hour to create a quick sweet thing. 😊 🐱 🐈⬛ 😍😍😍
Frensies! I’m SO MEGA excited because it’s nearly time! On 1st September, A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales will open for enrolment, and for the first 1,000 magical souls, you can join at the lowest price available (these always go fast, so keep an eye out!).
If you’ve been longing for a year of creativity, comfort, and everyday enchantment, this is your gentle nudge. We’ll wander through glowing forests, meet enchanted creatures, and rediscover the magic hidden in the ordinary, with a sparkling taster event to start our adventure! 🧚✨🦄
We are deep in the trenches of prepping this magical event, I can’t wait to share it with you! 😍😍😍
If your heart needs a warm, creative hug and a sprinkle of fairy dust, this is for you. Full details, teacher line-up, and taster info are coming very soon; watch your inbox!
If you`re not on the newsletter, now is the time to join! Join the newsletter here: https://bit.ly/WillowingNews to be the first to get all the deets!! 😍😍😍 (or link in my bio/ linktree/ stories)
Celebrate Joy. In 2014, I went on a retreat in Bali with the wonderful Flora Bowley, and for some time afterwards, I found myself playing with the techniques and ideas I learned from her in my own art. I loved discovering all the luminous colours and acrylic brands Flora used; Quinacridone Magenta, Cobalt Teal, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold (sadly discontinued, I think), and Turquoise Phthalo have all become favourites over the years!
This painting is one of those where I experimented with methods and ideas from Flora, but you can definitely still see the ‘Tamness’ shining through. The whimsy and quirkiness are classic Tam! I love learning from other artists and weaving little pieces of their style into my own. Over time, this process gradually transforms into something that’s uniquely yours.
That’s why I always reassure my students not to worry about ‘copying’ a teacher’s style too much. In the beginning, you might follow closely; eventually, you’ll drop the bits that don’t resonate, and keep the things that do, putting your own spin on them until, voilà, a whole new style emerges! It’s such a beautiful thing, because we’re all interconnected as humans; we learn from each other in so many ways, and it’s lovely to have a legacy of teachers leaving gentle traces within the art you create.
For me, it speaks to a kind of spiritual oneness. It reminds me how connected we all are to the whole. ✨🙌✨
Have you ever noticed little hints of your favourite artists peeking through in your own work, or a moment when something you learned from someone else transformed into something uniquely yours? I’d love to hear your stories!
This is day 17 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱
When I was a teenager, I collected elephant statues; by the time I was 18, I must’ve had hundreds. I’ve always adored elephants. There`s something about their grounded presence and quiet wisdom that feels profoundly comforting. I love that they’re matriarchal, that they mourn their dead, that they move through the world with a seeming intelligence and heart.
When Andy and I lived in Sri Lanka for three years, we visited an elephant sanctuary and it was honestly one of the most magical experiences of my life. Watching the gentle connection between carers and elephants moved me deeply. They had a beautiful closeness I silently envied!
So it’s no surprise that elephants have wandered their way into my art again and again. I love painting them both whimsically and realistically. Their shapes are so satisfying to work with: cute chonky feet, soulful eyes, those expressive trunks and giant ears; it’s like they’re built for art! 🎨🖌️
This piece, painted back in 2014, is a special one. I was exploring how to bring more “grunge” and texture into my work; layering deeply, playing with contrasts. The rough, earthy background felt like the perfect contrast to the milky-white skin of the elephant, who gazes out with such a soft, knowing expression. Even here, she seems to whisper: be gentle. be wise. be still.
I hope she brings some of that same quiet comfort to your day, too. 🤍 🐘
This is day 16 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱
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