Paint loose, layered abstract botanicals, without worrying about getting it right

A self-paced mixed media course with nearly 2.5 hours of step by step video. Made for complete beginners, and for artists who want to loosen up.

Enrol Now, £45

“It’s on my gotta-do-that again list. Loved it!” ~ Kim

TAKE A SHORT LOOK AT THE COURSE HERE:

does this sound familiar?

  • You stand in front of a clean canvas for ages, because the first mark feels like a big decision.
  • You start a painting, then stop halfway because it isn't turning out "right".
  • The voice in your head goes crazy, and you put the brush down feeling worse than when you picked it up.
  • You work hard to keep everything neat, and the painting ends up feeling stiff.

If any of that rings true, you're in good company. I lived there for years.

Enrol Now, £45

hello, I'm carla

For years I made careful, tightly controlled artwork. Every line was planned, and I felt stressed the whole time I was making it.

What changed things was play. I started layering paint and ink, letting drips happen, and stopped deciding how a painting had to end up. The mistakes slowly became the parts I liked best.

Painting is my happy place now, and I no longer worry about the results.

I'm a full-time artist based in Cornwall, and I made this course to show you the process I use, one layer at a time, so you can give yourself the same permission to play.

painting with less pressure

I built this course around one idea: 

You can enjoy the process and still finish something you love.

You don't plan the whole painting before you begin. You start with a loose shape and a few layers, and let the paint and ink do some of the work.

When something unexpected happens, a drip in the wrong place or a colour that surprises you, you keep going. Those moments often turn into the best part of the painting.

By the end, painting feels less like a test and more like something you look forward to.

from white paper to a finished painting

Although I walk you through the process, step by step, your creativity & energy lead the painting.

We begin with a reference photo and turn its shape into a loose abstract design. 

Then we build the painting in transparent layers, with ink, stencils, drips, hand drawn pattern and coloured pencil, until it feels finished.

You can pause any video, paint at your own pace, and come back to the course whenever you like. 

Many students work on two pieces at once because it prevents you from overthinking, giving your style more freedom and your work more depth.

Enrol Now, £45

what students of the course say

  • From tiny, neat drawings to a big, loose painting

    "Way out my comfort zone of tiny, neat ink drawings - I created a huge (for me!) A3 mixed media extravaganza in a day going large, loose and layered with Carla and her Abstract Botanical course. It's on my gotta-do-that-again list! Loved it!"

    - Kim

  • Permission to be free

    "I thoroughly enjoyed Carla's course. Through guided demonstrations, I was able to build upon the layers of work, ending with a beautiful finished piece (or two) of art. I loved learning about mark making whilst being given the permission to be free, break the rules and take risks whilst having fun with paint and inks. Such an inspirational and thought provoking course."

    - Nicola

  • Calm and relaxing

    "Carla's abstract botanical course was wonderfully relaxing. Carla is generous in sharing her knowledge and skills. Her enthusiasm for exploring colour and design is inspiring. I'd thoroughly recommend the course for anyone wanting to try something new and mindful."

    - Linda M.

  • Easy to follow

    "The online course is so easy to follow and so inspiring. I enjoyed every minute! I loved learning new techniques and experimenting with mixed media."

    - Jacqui

  • Clear, calm and full of tips

    "Carla's teaching style is calm and clear and the emphasis is very much on exploration and play. This course is filled to the brim with brilliant tips that will enable you to explore a wide range of mixed media techniques."

    - Mary Price, @artistintheshed

paintings by students of the course

  • Alison

  • Dee

  • Sarah

1 3

each painting follows the same process, and each one looks different

  • Kim

  • Clare

  • Jacqui

1 3

what you will learn

  • Expressive mark making with acrylic paint & acrylic inks
  • Colour mixing that gives you a harmonious palette
  • Using colour and light to bring energy and movement into a painting
  • Building depth with transparent layers, coloured pencil & Posca pens
  • Stencils and drips, and how to make the most of happy accidents
  • Hand drawn pattern, to create focal points that draw the eye
  • Pushing back the areas you don't like, and bringing forward the parts you love
  • Turning leaves and flowers into abstract shapes, loose and layered
  • A repeatable process you can use again with any subject matter!

what is included

  • Nearly 2.5 hours of video, in eight lessons
  • Reference photos to inspire your first botanical shape
  • A supplies list guide as a PDF, which you can read before you buy
  • Subtitles on every video (select CC at the bottom of the video)
  • Lifetime access, so you can watch and paint whenever suits you

what you will need

Acrylic paint, acrylic inks, Posca pens, coloured pencils and stencils.

You don't need to buy everything on day one. The supplies list shows exactly what I use, and you can see it before you enrol.

[ See the supplies list here ]

see how a painting grows

  • what we do

    The course is a set of six lessons, nearly 2.5 hours in all. The introduction video and the supplies list are free to preview, so you can meet me and see how I teach before you decide.

  • part 1 - making a start

    Begin with a reference photo and your first loose shapes & expressive marks. (23:10)

  • part 2 - adding stencils & drips

    Play with stencils and drips, and let the unexpected in. (15:17)

  • part 3 - adding depth & painting the background

    Paint the background and start building depth within the transparent layers. (30:30)

  • part 4 - adding line & more depth

    Add expressive linework & coloured pencil to deepen the layers. (33:33)

  • part 5 - adding pattern

    Add hand drawn pattern to create places for the eye to land. (24:46)

  • part 6 - finishing touches

    Use the techniques you've learned to enhance your paintings, including adjusting colours and contrasts to finish strong. (11:36)
Enrol Now, £45

is this course for you?

A FEW HONEST ANSWERS:

  • I've never painted before. That's fine. The course is made for people with no painting experience, and for practised artists who want to loosen up their style.
  • I'm not sure I'll have the time. The course is self-paced, so you can watch a lesson, pause, and paint whenever it suits you. You keep access for life, so there is no deadline to finish.
  • Do I have to buy lots of materials? You will use acrylic paint, acrylic inks, Posca pens, coloured pencils and stencils. The full supplies list is free to read before you enrol, so you can see exactly what you need.
  • I mainly paint in watercolour. The process is easiest to learn with acrylics, but you can take the principles and use them with watercolour. Many students have gone on to make layered work in watercolour and mixed media from what they learnt here.
  • What if I don't like it? If the course isn't right for you, for any reason, I'll refund you in full within 14 days of purchase.

THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE FOR YOU IF:

  • you want to know exactly how a painting will turn out before you start
  • abstract art isn't your thing
  • you don't enjoy trying new ways of working
  • you would like personal feedback on your painting
  • you want to learn as part of a community, as the course doesn't come with a Facebook or community group

more beautiful work from previous students

  • Louise

  • Linda M.

  • Kate

1 3

  • Julie

  • Julia

  • Nicola

1 3

kind words from students of carla's workshops

  • "I love Carla's workshops, she has this calm and gentle way of teaching with clear instruction. She is confidence giving and I love her unique style of work. The adding of layers brings in so many dimensions which you can achieve even if you're a complete beginner."

    - Clare

  • "I have now been on two of Carla's workshops and have enjoyed each immensely! It really doesn't matter if you are a beginner or more experienced. Carla is generous with her knowledge, very patient and her enthusiasm is contagious."

    - Linda F

  • "Carla’s workshops are a complete delight. Her kind and calming nature comes across in her teaching methods. You are made totally comfortable to be yourself and explore your creativity without any pressure. Carla encourages you step by step, to find new ways of incorporating nature into your artwork, with new techniques and ideas, enabling you to produce more than you ever imagined possible. Above all, it’s a mindful few hours, where you can switch off and reconnect with yourself."

    - Susan

abstract botanical course

£45, one payment

Nearly 2.5 hours of video in eight lessons. Reference photos. A supplies list PDF. Subtitles. Lifetime access.

14 day refund. If it isn't for you, I'll refund you in full.

( Watch the free preview here )

Enrol Now, £45

FAQ

  • How long is the course? There is nearly 2.5 hours of video content.
  • How much does it cost? £45, paid once when you enrol. You get lifetime access.
  • How does the course work? It is self-paced, and you can start as soon as you enrol. The videos are hosted on YouTube, but you watch them inside your course page (without ads!). To turn on subtitles, select CC at the bottom of any video.
  • Who is it for? People who have never painted before, and practised artists who want to loosen up and try mixed media.
  • Who is it not for? The list above sets this out. In short, it suits people who enjoy trying new things and don't need to know how the painting will turn out in advance.
  • What's included? Nearly 2.5 hours of video where I guide you through my process of building transparent layers with different media. I give you reference photos to inspire your first botanical shape. We use acrylic paint and acrylic inks to create happy accidents, add stencils and hand drawn pattern, and build depth with coloured pencil. You'll also learn how to push back the areas you don't like and make your favourite parts stand out.
  • What materials do I need? Acrylic paint, acrylic inks, Posca pens, coloured pencils and stencils. A full supplies list comes as a PDF at the start of the course, and you can read it before you buy.
  • What if I don't enjoy the course? If you're not satisfied for any reason, I'll refund you in full within 14 days of purchase.

come and paint with me

Your first mark doesn't have to be the right one. It only has to be the first one.

Start with a flower, a bit of ink and a willingness to see what happens.

Lifetime access. 14 day refund.

Enrol Now, £45