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October 26, 2021

Self Empathy Portrait

By Tamara Laporte  |   in art journal  | Tags: art musings , art journal , tamara laporte , Willowing Arts  

How have you been doing since the Life Book Taster Sessions finished? Going through art withdrawal symptoms? I totally understand! When I don’t art for a while, I really feel it! Art withdrawal symptoms tend to manifest as feeling grumpy, ungrounded and stuck! Luckily there are always solutions to art withdrawal!

Firstly; come join us on Life Book 2022! That way you get access to all 35 tasters sessions again PLUS you’ll get access to 80+ mixed media lessons throughout 2022 and you’re given a super cool Virtual Gift Bag too! :) We’ll have an awesome 2022 together and you’ll never go through art withdrawal again, ha!

Secondly, I have some super fun & free tutorials on my youtube channel! So, if, in the meantime you need something immediate and NOW, come make a ‘self-empathy portrait’ with me.

As many of you know, one of the things I LOVE about creating is that it can be so therapeutic and meditative. Simply creating can have that effect, but sometimes I go into the creative process with an intention and a conscious process to experience some cathartic healing, self connection and transformation.

This self empathy portrait process is one of those projects that has an intentional healing element to it that can be really helpful when you are struggling with something or if you are going through something painful (hugs to you if that is the case!)

This video was first published a while ago as part of the Art & Soul Emergence Retreat, but is now available for free on my youtube channel, yay!

Oh, and in case you missed it! Last month I also posted another episode of my series ‘Finish A Journal’. I had so much fun! Watch it HERE. And watch me create this new spread:

If you love making art too and want to dive really deeply into all things creativity and wellbeing and really support yourself with self care and kindness, then do join us on Life Book 2022. You can currently join it with 30% off! Use: ARTJOY30 at the checkout! (Payment plans are available). Let’s make 2022 a year of self love and self care through creativity. I gotchoo! ♥️

Please enjoy the rest of this email with some of my ‘favourites this month’ and some other updates, you are loved!

Much love, Tam 💕


 

Things/ People Tam Found Inspiring this Month

Some times I like to share things that have made me laugh, inspired or moved me this month. In these difficult times, it can be supportive and uplifting to look for the positive and good in life! Hope this little list gives you a bit of a smile and that’s it’s helpful for you!

  • This made me laugh! 
  • No affiliation but I need this rug in my life, it makes me so happy! :)
  • An important reminder.
  • Did you know this about owls?
  • Took some super pretty autumnal photos of our garden.
  • October Mood.
  • My son Elliot drawing my elephant from the taster sessions! so proud!
And this quote by Jacob Nordby:


 

You may also like:

  • I’m going on a retreat, will you come! 🤩

  • Embracing Yourself Fully

  • Free Downloadable Print: The wound is the place where the light enters you.

Comments:

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Tamara Laporte

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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 A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales:

Posting this one again now that I`ve properly scanned it! --> I’ve been playing with chiaroscuro lately — that dramatic dance between light and dark you see in old black-and-white portraits. Never painted just in black and white before (well, a little indigo crept in 👀). I love how moody it feels!

Open
Posting this one again now that I've properly scanned it! --> I’ve been playing with chiaroscuro lately — that dramatic dance between light and dark you see in old black-and-white portraits. Never painted just in black and white before (well, a little indigo crept in 👀). I love how moody it feels!

For my next Year of Light lesson we are exploring `chiaroscuro` (which is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition). I`ve always loved the black and white photos of people like Marlene Ditriech and wanted to try achieve that type of effect in a painting! I don`t think I`ve EVER painted just in black and white before, but really loved doing it! (Well, I say black and white, but this also contains indigo blue and paynes gray). 😊 Really pleased with it, it has such a `vibe` (as my teen kids would say haha). ♥️♥️♥️

Open
For my next Year of Light lesson we are exploring 'chiaroscuro' (which is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition). I've always loved the black and white photos of people like Marlene Ditriech and wanted to try achieve that type of effect in a painting! I don't think I've EVER painted just in black and white before, but really loved doing it! (Well, I say black and white, but this also contains indigo blue and paynes gray). 😊 Really pleased with it, it has such a 'vibe' (as my teen kids would say haha). ♥️♥️♥️

The wonderful Jennifer (@therapistsanctuary) and I filmed another episode for our series on the tubes (up soon!). Here are some of the pages that came out of that session for me. 😊 Loved working with fluorescent pink and in the end adding in the teal! 😍😍😍

Open
The wonderful Jennifer (@therapistsanctuary) and I filmed another episode for our series on the tubes (up soon!). Here are some of the pages that came out of that session for me. 😊 Loved working with fluorescent pink and in the end adding in the teal! 😍😍😍

Art Oasis! Another fun free art event!

Hello my friends! Exciting news!

I know we’ve literally just finished the tasters for A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales but I wanted to let you know about another amazing free art event I’m sure you’d love to join and it’s starting in only 2 days! 😊

So, I’m super excited to let you know that I am part of Art Oasis, a FREE online creative retreat starting October 18 2025. Yay! 🥳🎉🎊 (organised by the amazing Jessica Swift).

For 7 days, artists (including me!) will be sharing lessons, stories, and creative inspiration to help you slow down, refill your creative well, and remember how good it feels to make art just for YOU.

Here’s what you can expect each day:

💕 Fresh, inspiring art lessons (all levels welcome)
💕 Cozy Conversations – real, heartfelt chats with artists about our creative journeys
💕 Daily creative prompts to keep your ideas flowing
💕A friendly, global, online community of fellow creatives

How It Works

🎨 Watch online – anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. Watch one lesson or all of them – there are no rules and no risk. It’s completely FREE!
🎨 Fit it into your schedule however works best for you!
🎨 Grab inspiring free gifts from the featured artists.
🎨 Want to extend your stay in the Oasis? Grab the VIP Pass!

I’ll be teaching a session on ‘play and the inner child’! Attached is the painting you`ll make with me (or something like it) 😊

… and I’d love for you to join me! ♥️

To join click here:

https://bit.ly/ArtOasisTamx (or find link in story/ bio/ linktree)

This event is all about permission; to play, to explore, to create without pressure. If you’re craving that kind of creative joy, I hope I’ll see you inside the Oasis!

Much Love,

Tam 💕

PS – After you sign up, you’ll have the option to upgrade to the VIP Pass – this gives you forever access to every lesson (including mine!) and some incredible bonus content. If you grab it during registration, you’ll get the lowest price.

Open
Art Oasis! Another fun free art event! 

Hello my friends! Exciting news! 

I know we’ve literally just finished the tasters for A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales but I wanted to let you know about another amazing free art event I’m sure you’d love to join and it’s starting in only 2 days! 😊

So, I’m super excited to let you know that I am part of Art Oasis, a FREE online creative retreat starting October 18 2025. Yay! 🥳🎉🎊 (organised by the amazing Jessica Swift). 

For 7 days, artists (including me!) will be sharing lessons, stories, and creative inspiration to help you slow down, refill your creative well, and remember how good it feels to make art just for YOU.

Here’s what you can expect each day:

💕 Fresh, inspiring art lessons (all levels welcome)
💕 Cozy Conversations – real, heartfelt chats with artists about our creative journeys
💕 Daily creative prompts to keep your ideas flowing
💕A friendly, global, online community of fellow creatives

How It Works

🎨 Watch online – anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. Watch one lesson or all of them – there are no rules and no risk. It’s completely FREE!
🎨 Fit it into your schedule however works best for you!
🎨 Grab inspiring free gifts from the featured artists.
🎨 Want to extend your stay in the Oasis? Grab the VIP Pass!

I’ll be teaching a session on ‘play and the inner child’! Attached is the painting you'll make with me (or something like it) 😊 

… and I’d love for you to join me! ♥️

To join click here: 

https://bit.ly/ArtOasisTamx (or find link in story/ bio/ linktree) 

This event is all about permission; to play, to explore, to create without pressure. If you’re craving that kind of creative joy, I hope I’ll see you inside the Oasis!

Much Love,

Tam 💕 

PS – After you sign up, you’ll have the option to upgrade to the VIP Pass – this gives you forever access to every lesson (including mine!) and some incredible bonus content. If you grab it during registration, you’ll get the lowest price.

Haven’t done any abstract in a while and it called me this evening! I’m loving the combination of red and teal! 😍😍😍

Open
Haven’t done any abstract in a while and it called me this evening! I’m loving the combination of red and teal! 😍😍😍
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