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July 02, 2024

Should You Pick An Art Style? 🤔

By Dan Tanner  |   in art journal  | Tags: art musings , art journal , tamara laporte , Willowing Arts  

Should You Pick An Art Style? 🤔

Hello Creative Friend,

Hey ho there fellow creative travellers! How are you hanging in there over there? I hope you’re ok and that you are finding moments of joy and creativity in your days and that you take time for breathing and sitting still.

I’ve been busy preparing the final EVER Kaleidoscope 2024 course and prepping a little trip to Scotland with the fam while reminding myself to breathe and sit still for some moments in my days too. Even with all this chaos going on, it’s important, if possible, to take moments for grounding and centring. Not always easy to do but it’s keeping me going, that and spreading kindness, painting my heart out and lately; sending contemplative poetic pieces of writing into the world.

I wrote this on my facebook last week:

“I try.

I keep trying to see the sacred in everything but shadows blur my vision. She said: “When all is dark, consider you might be the light.”

I used to be, the light, but I’m so thin now, emotionally, that is. I’m thinned out by carrying the weight of the world, the weight of the shadows, the weight of myself; too thin to hold it, old bones about to crack, wispy like mycelium but untethered, maybe candy floss in the wind, is the better description, easily melted by a few drops of water, ghostly, transparent. I fear I’ve almost fully faded.

But I keep trying to see the sacred. To *find* the sacred and sometimes I do.

I catch the divine sometimes; it’s on my tongue in a word I speak, or in a paragraph of a book which makes me cry uncontrollably, in a crinkly smile wrinkle on someone’s face, in the lavish rawness of a singer’s voice, in a soft breeze that kisses my cheek, in mysterious concepts like string theory, in silver worn around wrists, in the intricacy of eyelashes, in orange & teal watercolour paint, in someone’s random act of kindness, in loyalty, in my dog who will not give up on trying to get me to pet her furry head, her body language so comical it’s an instant awakening.

Sometimes I’m attuned to the magic that is in every single moment, it’s as if each second is dripping with delectable manuka honey, magic everywhere, buzzing with intelligent electricity, and I am struck by a sense of ‘how could I not see this all along’ and it elicits a chaotic, explosive and colourful galaxy of euphoric emotions in me. It suddenly all makes sense, the profound everything of it all.

And finally, when the shadows come again, and I can feel myself sinking, there is that whisper; “you are the light, you are the light”. And the shadows? They are divine too.”

– Tamara Laporte

And I painted this owl to go with the piece of writing:

Both were very cathartic to create!

And because I’ve not been on youtube for a while, I made another rambly but fun vlog/ studio update/ paint an owl/ warble about things type video for you all the enjoy! 😜

I share a bit about my days, the art I’ve been creating, the books I LOVE reading and I answer the question: ‘Should You Pick An Art Style’? 

WATCH THE NEW VIDEO HERE


And a little heads up:

  1. Expressive Soul Portraits has finished running live, but is now available as a standalone!
  2. Summer Sale: if you wait until August 9th, you can buy Expressive Soul Portraits at a discounted price and many other good deals will be included in this sale too!
  3. Missed the Kaleidoscope Taster Week? You will be able to enjoy a 5 day replay early next week, yay!
  4. Kaleidoscope 2024 – is the final ever Kaleidoscope I will run! Don’t miss out on it, join here if you haven’t already. ♥️♥️♥️

Much love,
Tam ❤️🌟💕

PS. If you have a question for me you’d like answered in one of my youtube videos, pls leave me a comment or simply hit reply on this email and I’ll try to answer it in the next video! 😊

You may also like:

  • I Went Live for the First Time!

  • My Fav Art Supplies – Updated! :)

  • Tea and Cake with Gracie featuring Melissa Dinwiddie

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:

This little princess came for a visit this evening. 😊 I love her so much! Spot the tiny kitty cat, too! 😍🥰🤩

Open
This little princess came for a visit this evening. 😊 I love her so much! Spot the tiny kitty cat, too! 😍🥰🤩

Bookworm Girl - In late 2014, I created a painting that became one of my favourites of all time. Not only for its cute quirky bookish girl and delicious textures in the background but because I felt it captured the pure magic of getting utterly lost in a good book really well.

As a kid, I was a ‘bookworm girl’, I read and read and read to the point my parents felt I was ‘too secluded’ and ‘should go out more’! But! I had books and friends in books and stories and excitement and adventures and wisdom and joy and humour and laughter and intrigue and mystery. Books provided so much solace for me, especially as someone who felt like an outsider who didn’t belong anywhere.

I belonged in the books with the weirdos, the heroes, the vampires & witches (hello Anne Rice!), the artists, the outcasts, the lonely ones hiding in secret gardens, the wise and wild old crones that lived in the forests with deer and cats, the seekers, the fighters, and the fierce souls who wore their hearts on their sleeves and never gave up.

I continued reading pretty much throughout my life though when smartphones entered the scene; I too became entranced by apps, games and social media and reading books got interrupted by the wave of technology. Until about 2 years ago I decided that I was no longer allowed my phone in my bedroom at night (my god the endless doom scrolling on TikTok did me no good) and so I ended up back on kindle and now I read again and I’m so so happy about it. I love disappearing into fantasy and letting the stories carry me away from the stresses of every day life for a while!

If you’re also a book lover (or recovering bookworm -haha), what stories swept you away? Which books still live inside you? Tell me your favourites, I’m always hunting for the next world to disappear into. 💫

This is day 19 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

PS: I painted this before certain things came to light about J.K. Rowling and Neil Gaiman, which is why their books feature here.

Open
Bookworm Girl - In late 2014, I created a painting that became one of my favourites of all time. Not only for its cute quirky bookish girl and delicious textures in the background but because I felt it captured the pure magic of getting utterly lost in a good book really well. 

As a kid, I was a ‘bookworm girl’, I read and read and read to the point my parents felt I was ‘too secluded’ and ‘should go out more’! But! I had books and friends in books and stories and excitement and adventures and wisdom and joy and humour and laughter and intrigue and mystery. Books provided so much solace for me, especially as someone who felt like an outsider who didn’t belong anywhere. 

I belonged in the books with the weirdos, the heroes, the vampires & witches (hello Anne Rice!), the artists, the outcasts, the lonely ones hiding in secret gardens, the wise and wild old crones that lived in the forests with deer and cats, the seekers, the fighters, and the fierce souls who wore their hearts on their sleeves and never gave up.

I continued reading pretty much throughout my life though when smartphones entered the scene; I too became entranced by apps, games and social media and reading books got interrupted by the wave of technology. Until about 2 years ago I decided that I was no longer allowed my phone in my bedroom at night (my god the endless doom scrolling on TikTok did me no good) and so I ended up back on kindle and now I read again and I’m so so happy about it. I love disappearing into fantasy and letting the stories carry me away from the stresses of every day life for a while! 

If you’re also a book lover (or recovering bookworm -haha), what stories swept you away? Which books still live inside you? Tell me your favourites, I’m always hunting for the next world to disappear into. 💫

This is day 19 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

PS: I painted this before certain things came to light about J.K. Rowling and Neil Gaiman, which is why their books feature here.

I sold the previous version of this painting already but filmed a lesson for creating cuties for it so I have another version of this cute doggo visited by a butterfly. It’s for sale too. Original painting by me! 😊 Email me on hello@willowing.org if interested xxx ♥️♥️♥️ 🐶

Open
I sold the previous version of this painting already but filmed a lesson for creating cuties for it so I have another version of this cute doggo visited by a butterfly. It’s for sale too. Original painting by me! 😊 Email me on hello@willowing.org if interested xxx ♥️♥️♥️ 🐶

Great glittering goblins! The first 1000 places have already sold out! Thank you for all your love, enthusiasm and excitement in response to this magical new course!! I’m befuddled with joy and thrilled to have such an amazing response!
Now, if you had hoped to join for the lowest price ever, then don’t worry; we have opened up another 500 spaces at the super low price of £109 GBP. So please get in there quickly if you want to grab A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales at this hugely discounted price, as spaces are selling fast!

Do not dilly dally, my dear, adventure favours the nimble-footed!
A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales
is waiting for you!
🧚✨🦄
JOIN ‘A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales ’ NOW!:
https://bit.ly/AYOM-Tam

Open
Great glittering goblins! The first 1000 places have already sold out!  Thank you for all your love, enthusiasm and excitement in response to this magical new course!! I’m befuddled with joy and thrilled to have such an amazing response! 
Now, if you had hoped to join for the lowest price ever, then don’t worry; we have opened up another 500 spaces at the super low price of £109 GBP. So please get in there quickly if you want to grab A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales at this hugely discounted price, as spaces are selling fast!

Do not dilly dally, my dear, adventure favours the nimble-footed!
A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales
is waiting for you!
🧚✨🦄 
JOIN ‘A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales ’ NOW!: 
https://bit.ly/AYOM-Tam

✨ The Magic Begins! ✨

Friends, I am SO THRILLED! We’re finally opening the enchanted gates to a new amazing creative experience! ✨🙌✨

A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales is here! For a limited time, the first 1000 magical souls can join for just £109 (normally £179). Crazy good deal!! ♥️♥️♥️ Hurry though, these spaces usually go fast!!

Explore over 65+ mixed media art lessons, dive into fairy tales, myth, folklore and every day magic! Paint dragons, castles, and everyday enchantment; all with the support of 30+ beloved artists and a kind-hearted community.

Secure your spot and let’s create a year of magic & wonder together!

See you there!!

(Link in comments)

#AYearOfMagic #MixedMediaArt #ArtClass #EarlyBird

Open
✨ The Magic Begins! ✨ 

Friends, I am SO THRILLED! We’re finally opening the enchanted gates to a new amazing creative experience! ✨🙌✨ 

A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales is here! For a limited time, the first 1000 magical souls can join for just £109 (normally £179). Crazy good deal!! ♥️♥️♥️ Hurry though, these spaces usually go fast!! 

Explore over 65+ mixed media art lessons, dive into fairy tales, myth, folklore and every day magic! Paint dragons, castles, and everyday enchantment; all with the support of 30+ beloved artists and a kind-hearted community.

Secure your spot and let’s create a year of magic & wonder together!

See you there!! 

(Link in comments) 

#AYearOfMagic #MixedMediaArt #ArtClass #EarlyBird
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