Willowing Arts
Join Us Now! Login
0
Willowing Arts logo
Menu
  • New here?
    • Back
    • Where to start
    • Apply to teach
    • You Matter
    • FAQ
    • Hearing Impaired Support
    • Free Resources
    • Philanthropy
  • Tam
    • Back
    • About
    • Contact
    • Tam’s Books
    • Tam’s Team
    • Meet in person
    • Tam’s Art Gallery
  • Creating Cuties
  • A Year of Light
    • Back
    • Join A Year of Light
    • Taster Replay – A Year of Light
  • Art Classes
    • Back
    • Buy Art Classes
    • Access Your Classes (Member Area)
    • Suggested Art Supplies
    • Free Classes
    • Testimonials
  • Shop
    • Back
    • Everything
    • Calendars
    • Original Art
    • Giclee Prints
    • Tam’s Books
    • gift cards
    • Notebooks
    • Pocket Mirrors
    • Post Cards
    • Stencils
    • Partner Products
  • Blog
  • New here?
    • Where to start
    • Apply to teach
    • You Matter
    • FAQ
    • Hearing Impaired Support
    • Free Resources
    • Philanthropy
  • Tam
    • About
    • Contact
    • Tam’s Books
    • Tam’s Team
    • Meet in person
    • Tam’s Art Gallery
  • Creating Cuties
  • A Year of Light
    • Join A Year of Light
    • Taster Replay – A Year of Light
  • Art Classes
    • Buy Art Classes
    • Access Your Classes (Member Area)
    • Suggested Art Supplies
    • Free Classes
    • Testimonials
  • Shop
    • Everything
    • Calendars
    • Original Art
    • Giclee Prints
    • Tam’s Books
    • gift cards
    • Notebooks
    • Pocket Mirrors
    • Post Cards
    • Stencils
    • Partner Products
  • Blog
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 painted another owl!

  • New Tote Bags & More! Yay! 🤩

  • Instagram Round Up: Flower Girls

Comments:

New Courses!
Sponsors
Blog Categories
  • art workshops
  • online art courses
  • mixed media
  • life book
  • artist interviews
  • free stuff
  • parenting

Join my newsletter to access the

Latest Courses & Discounts

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Your data will be used with unicorn care. It will not be passed on to 3rd parties and will only be used to send you Tam's magical love notes and Willowing Arts products and news. To learn more about how we protect your data check out our 'care and privacy policy' here.

Instagram

Tamara Laporte

willowing

4,856 48,324

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

Mental health struggles and trauma made me a seeker. I’ve been drawn to the spiritual from a young age. I started dabbling in ideas like astral travel at 15 (attempted doing it but never managed it, by the way 😅), read books about out-of-body experiences (hello, Robert Monroe!), and devoured stories by hypnotherapists who regressed their clients to past lives. It was (and still IS) deeply fascinating to me. A part of me was always looking for deeper answers through the spiritual.

Though I never felt called to the major religions (aside from a soft spot for Buddhism and Zen), I became intrigued by the more modern spiritual teachers of our time. I follow(ed) Eckhart Tolle, Matt Kahn, Ram Dass, Gangaji, Teal Swan, Adyashanti… and perhaps most notably, Byron Katie. I also loved listening to Alan Watts wax poetic about the nature of existence and the universe. For a while I worshipped these people in many ways and felt they held the answers to all of life’s mysterious problems.

Many of these figures have since fallen from their pedestals a bit, but their ideas and approaches to life helped me enormously in times of distress.

Byron Katie, in particular, was a huge influence on me for a time. I even interviewed her for my YouTube channel (the video is now private). During that conversation, she gifted me a scholarship to her "9 Days for The Work" program. I was deeply honoured, jumped on a plane... only to discover that the experience didn’t resonate with me at all. In fact, I found parts of it quite harmful.

I haven’t spoken publicly about this much, but those memories have been resurfacing lately. It feels important to acknowledge how easy it is to place ‘beloved gurus’ on pedestals, forgetting that they, too, are human. Flawed. Sometimes even dangerous.

In my own journey, I’ve learned to take what works from a teacher or teaching, and leave the rest behind. This painting (2014), featuring a powerful and beautiful quote by Byron Katie, reflects the love I had (and still have) for parts of her work. I still find some of it deeply helpful. But now I hold it all through a more balanced, humanised lens.

What about you? Have your gurus ever `fallen`? ♥️♥️♥️

Open
Mental health struggles and trauma made me a seeker. I’ve been drawn to the spiritual from a young age. I started dabbling in ideas like astral travel at 15 (attempted doing it but never managed it, by the way 😅), read books about out-of-body experiences (hello, Robert Monroe!), and devoured stories by hypnotherapists who regressed their clients to past lives. It was (and still IS) deeply fascinating to me. A part of me was always looking for deeper answers through the spiritual.

Though I never felt called to the major religions (aside from a soft spot for Buddhism and Zen), I became intrigued by the more modern spiritual teachers of our time. I follow(ed) Eckhart Tolle, Matt Kahn, Ram Dass, Gangaji, Teal Swan, Adyashanti… and perhaps most notably, Byron Katie. I also loved listening to Alan Watts wax poetic about the nature of existence and the universe. For a while I worshipped these people in many ways and felt they held the answers to all of life’s mysterious problems. 

Many of these figures have since fallen from their pedestals a bit, but their ideas and approaches to life helped me enormously in times of distress.

Byron Katie, in particular, was a huge influence on me for a time. I even interviewed her for my YouTube channel (the video is now private). During that conversation, she gifted me a scholarship to her "9 Days for The Work" program. I was deeply honoured, jumped on a plane... only to discover that the experience didn’t resonate with me at all. In fact, I found parts of it quite harmful.

I haven’t spoken publicly about this much, but those memories have been resurfacing lately. It feels important to acknowledge how easy it is to place ‘beloved gurus’ on pedestals, forgetting that they, too, are human. Flawed. Sometimes even dangerous.

In my own journey, I’ve learned to take what works from a teacher or teaching, and leave the rest behind. This painting (2014), featuring a powerful and beautiful quote by Byron Katie, reflects the love I had (and still have) for parts of her work. I still find some of it deeply helpful. But now I hold it all through a more balanced, humanised lens.

What about you? Have your gurus ever 'fallen'? ♥️♥️♥️

✨ One Week to Go! Come Join the Cutie-Ful Fun ✨
Friends! Here a joyful reminder that Creating Cuties starts in ONE WEEK!

I’m so excited to begin this adorable, joy-sparking journey! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be painting the cutest animal characters, exploring playful colour palettes, and learning how to infuse our work with charm, expression, and warmth.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time! Doors will be closing soon and so does the 25% off early bird discount code, and I’d so love to welcome you in before we begin!

Here’s what Creating Cuties is all about:

🌈 You`ll learn to draw and paint whimsical animals in sweet, joy-filled scenes
🎨 I’ll guide you step-by-step with accessible, mixed media techniques
🐾 It’s beginner-friendly, playful, and full of feel-good vibes
💖 Most importantly, it’s all about creating art that lifts your spirit
The course officially starts on 12th August and you’ll get instant access to the classroom as soon as we begin.

✨ Don’t miss your chance to join this heartwarming, creativity-boosting adventure!

👉 Click here to sign up now:

https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties

Let’s paint some cuteness together; it would be an honour to have you in the class. ♥️♥️♥️

Big hugs and sparkly paws,
Tam
@everyone

Open
✨ One Week to Go! Come Join the Cutie-Ful Fun ✨
Friends!  Here a joyful reminder that Creating Cuties starts in ONE WEEK! 

I’m so excited to begin this adorable, joy-sparking journey! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be painting the cutest animal characters, exploring playful colour palettes, and learning how to infuse our work with charm, expression, and warmth.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time! Doors will be closing soon and so does the 25% off early bird discount code, and I’d so love to welcome you in before we begin!

Here’s what Creating Cuties is all about:

🌈 You'll learn to draw and paint whimsical animals in sweet, joy-filled scenes
🎨 I’ll guide you step-by-step with accessible, mixed media techniques
🐾 It’s beginner-friendly, playful, and full of feel-good vibes
💖 Most importantly, it’s all about creating art that lifts your spirit
The course officially starts on 12th August and you’ll get instant access to the classroom as soon as we begin.

✨ Don’t miss your chance to join this heartwarming, creativity-boosting adventure!

👉 Click here to sign up now: 

https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties 

Let’s paint some cuteness together;  it would be an honour to have you in the class. ♥️♥️♥️ 

Big hugs and sparkly paws,
Tam 
@everyone

I`m doing final preps for my new course (Creating Cuties) and just bumped into this super sweet image, totally forgot that I`d made this cute little character with funny speech bubble. One of the perks of perimenopause BRAIN FOG, is that you also forget the fun stuff you did for others and then are pleasantly surprised when you find random funny/ sweet things you did! 😂😁😆

Open
I'm doing final preps for my new course (Creating Cuties) and just bumped into this super sweet image, totally forgot that I'd made this cute little character with funny speech bubble. One of the perks of perimenopause BRAIN FOG, is that you also forget the fun stuff you did for others and then are pleasantly surprised when you find random funny/ sweet things you did! 😂😁😆

"Angels Are Always With You" - This painting, created in 2014, was loosely inspired by the mystical works of Susan Seddon Boulet. Her art whispered to me of protection, connection, and unseen realms; and I was quietly enamoured by it all.

Looking back on my childhood, I realise that I grew up with a strong sense that I had to be independent, resilient, and self-reliant; a kind of emotional armouring that still echoes through me today. It’s something I’ve worked on in therapy for many years, but a streak of avoidant attachment still lingers. Being bullied in childhood and not receiving much support for this; I learned early on that depending on others often led to disappointment, so I built my safety through self-dependence.

My beautiful love Andy, and many of my close friends these days, continue to show me (again and again) that this belief doesn’t always hold true. That some people can be safe harbours and that is why kindness and true support heals me a bit, every day.

Still, you can see in this painting a deep yearning, perhaps even a knowing, that I’ve always held: a longing to be surrounded by protectors. Angels. Guides. Mentors. Elders. Ancestors. I feel them, both the ones in spirit, and a few very special ones in the flesh. 💕

I remember once, in my twenties, feeling so ready for a teacher that I approached a real, board-certified Zen master. I was prepared to be devoted, to be led. He invited me to meet at a pub and promptly spilled beer on my trousers. 😂 At the time, I was slightly horrified. Now I see: perhaps that was the lesson. (Very Zen.)

And so, I kept walking my own path. But even now, I believe those angels (seen or unseen) have always been with me. In whispers, in wings, in laughter, in love. Somehow, some way.

This is day 10 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

Open
"Angels Are Always With You" - This painting, created in 2014, was loosely inspired by the mystical works of Susan Seddon Boulet. Her art whispered to me of protection, connection, and unseen realms; and I was quietly enamoured by it all.

Looking back on my childhood, I realise that I grew up with a strong sense that I had to be independent, resilient, and self-reliant; a kind of emotional armouring that still echoes through me today. It’s something I’ve worked on in therapy for many years, but a streak of avoidant attachment still lingers. Being bullied in childhood and not receiving much support for this; I learned early on that depending on others often led to disappointment, so I built my safety through self-dependence.

My beautiful love Andy, and many of my close friends these days, continue to show me (again and again) that this belief doesn’t always hold true. That some people can be safe harbours and that is why kindness and true support heals me a bit, every day. 

Still, you can see in this painting a deep yearning, perhaps even a knowing, that I’ve always held: a longing to be surrounded by protectors. Angels. Guides. Mentors. Elders. Ancestors. I feel them, both the ones in spirit, and a few very special ones in the flesh. 💕 

I remember once, in my twenties, feeling so ready for a teacher that I approached a real, board-certified Zen master. I was prepared to be devoted, to be led. He invited me to meet at a pub and promptly spilled beer on my trousers. 😂 At the time, I was slightly horrified. Now I see: perhaps that was the lesson. (Very Zen.)

And so, I kept walking my own path. But even now, I believe those angels (seen or unseen) have always been with me. In whispers, in wings, in laughter, in love. Somehow, some way.

This is day 10 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

In case you missed the newsletter! --> Coming in 2026: A whole year of magic & fairy tales! 🧚‍♀️📜

So many of you have asked about this…

“What’s the theme for your next year-long course, Tam?”
“Will there be another Year of Light or will we do something else?”

Well, I’m so excited to finally share it with you! 🌟 Ready? 😊

Next year’s magical, joy-filled, heart-expanding journey will be called:

✨ A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales ✨– a magical adventure through magic, story, wonder, and everyday enchantment.

This course is a heartfelt offering; not just for your creative practice, but also for your spirit. ✨🙏✨

I know that life can feel heavy sometimes (hello understatement). The world has been challenging for so many of us for a long while now. Personally, I’ve often found myself longing for comfort, softness, a sense of wonder… and that’s exactly what I’ve poured into this new course.

This course will offer a way to come back to yourself, to spark imagination, and to gently hold the parts of us that feel weary or overwhelmed. It’s balm for the soul; a little candle in the dark. 🕯️

In this course, we’ll explore magic in a broad sense, but also story, myth & lore and subjects like glowing forests, storybook characters, enchanted creatures, shimmering moons, and everyday objects or experiences turned magical. We’ll look for magic in the ordinary and extraordinary and paint it to our hearts’ content!

Expect a beautiful blend of my signature mixed media lessons, a stunning team of guest teachers, and a touch of playfulness, nostalgia, and wonder throughout. 🎨🦉🌙

I’ll share full details, the teacher line-up, and the early bird details & launch date very soon, but I wanted you to know the theme ahead of time, in case it resonates deeply and you’d like to save your spot.

If you’re craving magic, softness, enchantment and art that feels like a warm, whimsical hug; this one’s for you. 💛

With fairy wings and love,
Tam x ✨💕

PS. More details and all sign up info will launch near the end of August/ Early Sept ♥️♥️♥️

PPS. YES!! There will of course be an AWESOME taster event for this course too, can’t wait to share the details with you!!

Open
In case you missed the newsletter! --> Coming in 2026: A whole year of magic & fairy tales! 🧚‍♀️📜

So many of you have asked about this…

“What’s the theme for your next year-long course, Tam?”
“Will there be another Year of Light or will we do something else?”

Well, I’m so excited to finally share it with you! 🌟 Ready? 😊

Next year’s magical, joy-filled, heart-expanding journey will be called:

✨ A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales ✨– a magical adventure through magic, story, wonder, and everyday enchantment.

This course is a heartfelt offering; not just for your creative practice, but also for your spirit. ✨🙏✨

I know that life can feel heavy sometimes (hello understatement). The world has been challenging for so many of us for a long while now. Personally, I’ve often found myself longing for comfort, softness, a sense of wonder… and that’s exactly what I’ve poured into this new course.

This course will offer a way to come back to yourself, to spark imagination, and to gently hold the parts of us that feel weary or overwhelmed. It’s balm for the soul; a little candle in the dark. 🕯️

In this course, we’ll explore magic in a broad sense, but also story, myth & lore and subjects like glowing forests, storybook characters, enchanted creatures, shimmering moons, and everyday objects or experiences turned magical. We’ll look for magic in the ordinary and extraordinary and paint it to our hearts’ content!

Expect a beautiful blend of my signature mixed media lessons, a stunning team of guest teachers, and a touch of playfulness, nostalgia, and wonder throughout. 🎨🦉🌙

I’ll share full details, the teacher line-up, and the early bird details & launch date very soon, but I wanted you to know the theme ahead of time, in case it resonates deeply and you’d like to save your spot.

If you’re craving magic, softness, enchantment and art that feels like a warm, whimsical hug; this one’s for you. 💛

With fairy wings and love,
Tam x ✨💕

PS. More details and all sign up info will launch near the end of August/ Early Sept ♥️♥️♥️

PPS. YES!! There will of course be an AWESOME taster event for this course too, can’t wait to share the details with you!!
Load More… Follow on Instagram
©WILLOWING ARTS   |  Terms & Conditions   |   PRIVACY POLICY
DESIGN COLLABORATION BY WILLOWING ARTS & IRENE SOLER   |