My Bloom True Experience

As you may have noticed, recently I took Flora Bowley's online course called Bloom True.

You can see my previous Bloom True blog posts at the following links:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

The course was five weeks short and believe me, they went by quickly. Here are my canvases at the end of Week 5.

I started the course with the two larger canvases and added the other two around Week 3 or 4. I believe I am finished with the two paintings on the left. They still need a protective finish coat. The two canvases on the right are still works in progress.

My Thoughts About the Course

I will be honest with you, I was apprehensive about taking the course because I didn't want to create art that looks like so many other pieces out there. Flora teaches this course both online and in person and you can find photos all over the Internet with people sharing their results. So much of it looks similar to me. Of course I know that some artists are in the early stages of learning a process and that is usually when their work tends to be similar to others...they just haven't found their voice or style yet. So with keeping my own style/voice in mind, I took the plunge and took the course.

I'm glad I did. The lessons are not about painting like Flora. They are about finding yourself in your painting. Sure, some of the early steps in the process seem to make everyone's art look the same, but once you get past that, you are free flying and following your heart and gut.

I would highly recommend to anyone who has creative dreams to take this course. Even if you aren't a painter. I think that no matter what your art medium of choice is, you can benefit from what Flora shares. And who knows, you may find that you do like painting.

If you are interested in taking Flora's Bloom True E-course, please click the following link to sign up. Please note that the link is an affiliate link, which means that if you sign up for the course when following my link, I will earn a commission from your purchase of the course. If you do sign up through my link, I would like to thank you for doing so.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR BLOOM TRUE

Bloom True - Week 4

I'm making some progress with my Bloom True workshop paintings. The first one shown here is a before and after shot. The "before" is how it looked at the end of Week 3. The "after" is how it looked at one stage during Week 4.

And here is how it looks now, at the end of Week 4. This canvas has undergone the most dramatic change out of the two I'm working on for the workshop.

And below is the same before/after/current scenario with my other canvas.

There is one more week left of this workshop. It's gone by pretty darned fast!

Bloom True - Week 3

Here is my progression at the end of Week 3 of the Bloom True workshop.

While I consider myself mostly fearless when it comes to painting and creating, I am finding that I sometimes get set up to paint on these canvases and then freeze. I don't know where to start. What color should I put and where. Should I add some small detail marks or block some areas with color. The decisions to make are endless and I think that is why I sometimes don't know what to do. Eventually I just make a decision and go.

I keep telling myself that there are no mistakes. I don't have to love every bit I add to these and if there is something I do not like I can paint over it. Phew!

Bloom True - Week 2

The photos below show my painting progress from Week 2 of the Bloom True online course.

While I am enjoying the course, I can't help but wonder what my finished paintings will look like.

And the course is designed in a way that you really aren't supposed to know what the end result will be. No planning, no worrying, just going with the flow.

I am looking forward to Week 3 and what changes my canvases will undergo. At this point it is a mystery and will be fun to see where they go.

Bloom True - Week 1

The first week of Flora Bowley's online course, Bloom True, is over and the photos below are what I did throughout the week.

First is my painting set up. I placed a sheet of plastic over my flannel-covered design board in my sewing room. I then placed several T-pins into the design board and those are holding my canvases.

First layer of paint on the canvas. Warm colors. 

I wanted more red on my canvases so I went back and added some.

Next layer of paint added was cool colors. Lots of mark making with tools

And I just had to share my new studio helper. This handy dandy rolling cart. I've seen other artists with this particular model and I found out it was from Ikea. I don't have a local Ikea nearby so I went online and ordered one. The shipping wasn't too bad either. The thing is sturdy and made out of metal. I love it! It stores all my textile and acrylic paints. I can roll it to wherever I need it.

I hope you are having a brilliant weekend.