Makings and Musings Community

I think I made the skin too dark. The skin was darker than the shoes in the photo, but…I do like the pink colored pencil over the ink on the slippers.

I am going to Lisbon for first time this weekend, so I wanted to do this tutorial. I am letting it “rest” for now. I kind of like the blobby texture of my forest as contrast to my wonky architecture. Maybe when I come back I might add colored pencil to the forest.

This is the recording from last night’s session, and it was such a lovely, busy Zoom to be part of. I always really enjoy these moments of working together in real time, but I also know many of you prefer to come back to the recordings at your own pace and I love seeing all your artwork.

I really love these limited colour palette sessions and I wanted to show that you do not need to stick to natural colours from the reference photo in order to create a convincing landscape. I often find that moving away from reality is where the real joy comes in. I adore a pink sky, and I think it brings such a playful energy to a page. I also have a soft spot for warm yellow or orangey skies, so I may explore that with you in a future session.

Next week we are…

The oil pastels I have are not water soluble. For that, reason I couldn't blend the colour of the trees' leaves.

Hi everyone! 👋

The recording from last night's session is now available in the community library — you'll find it as the first video under the Mixed Media heading, alongside lots of other classes.

A little behind-the-scenes note: I was so glad I recorded it twice — both in my usual programme and as a Zoom backup — because for some reason the sound didn't come through on the main recording! Thankfully the Zoom backup had the audio, so all is well! 😅

I really enjoyed playing with mixed media last night, and from your reactions I think you did too! I love that moment when you start experimenting with different art materials and layering combinations on top of each other — yes, it can go a little bit wrong sometimes, but that's honestly part of the fun. When you take that risk and play freely, you can discover the most…

Class was SO fun today. I am coming to a greater understanding of trusting the process and my own developing instincts to choose the media that is most fun to apply. Thanks Irene for making art so accessible to this perfectionist in recovery! ✍️🎨❤️

I painted a few schools of fish on my way to fishie mastery. I am now ready to add it to my background. I am having a lot of fun with this process! Thanks, Irene!

In this spring-inspired mixed media class, I guide you through creating a soft, atmospheric landscape filled with light, colour, and texture. We begin by building a loose foundation with watercolours, focusing on fresh greens and a slightly moody sky, before gradually layering in details using a range of other materials.

You can also find the recording in the library under 'mixed media'.

I share my approach to mixed media as something playful and freeing rather than complicated. We use each material for what it does best, allowing the process to unfold step by step. You will see how to block in colour first, then slowly bring the scene to life with texture, contrast, and small details.

Just a little reminder to share your artwork in the group, I love seeing all the beautiful creations and it truly makes the space feel so alive; everyone who shares is entered into my…

Last night we painted the wild primrose, that delicate little spring flower that appears quietly in hedgerows and along woodland paths. If you are watching the recording now, I am so pleased you are here. Take your time and enjoy moving through the process at your own pace.

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I began by talking about what mixed media really means. It is simply the layering and combining of different materials to build richness and texture. With our wild primrose, we first took time to understand its structure. I showed you how to begin with the small star shape in the centre, then gently build the soft, pale petals around it. We kept our sketch light at first, refining the lines once we felt comfortable. The rounded leaves helped anchor the flower and gave balance to the composition.

From there, we moved into paint. I started with a loose watercolour background…

You are in for such a lovely, playful session with this one.

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In this class recording, I guide you step by step through creating a mixed media panel drawing made up of three interconnected scenes. We work with a simple but powerful idea of “zooming in” – beginning with a wider view, moving closer, and then finishing with a detailed close-up. In my demonstration, I use a house, some pots and plants, and finally a hedgehog, but you can absolutely adapt this to your own references.

We begin by lightly sketching the layout and planning how the three panels will sit together. I show you how to create rounded corners for a softer, more playful feel, and how to think about visual connections between each scene so the whole composition feels cohesive rather than separate pictures stuck next to one another.

Materials I use

I really loved doing this today. It gave me a warm glow and using these colours was super healing 🥰

Class today referencing Erin Hansen painting. This one is watercolor and guache. I bit too bright. Will leave it till tomorrow and work on it again.

In this class I take you through a relaxed and colourful still life drawing.

I work from a winter themed reference photo and I show you how I break it down into simple shapes and playful lines. I focus on enjoying the process rather than getting things perfect, so you can feel free to be a bit wobbly and expressive in your own work.

The artists I showed you art the start are:

Susanne Rose: https://www.instagram.com/susannerose_sketchbook/

Sandi Hester: https://www.instagram.com/sandihesterart/

In this class I invite you to slow down and paint a quiet winter scene with me. We focus on a calm night landscape with the northern lights and a small house glowing in the snow.

January’s theme is winter quiet, and that feeling runs through the whole session. I show you how I build a painting in gentle layers.

We start light and soft.

Then we slowly add darker colours and details. I use watercolour as a base and combine it with crayons, coloured pencils, markers and brush pens. I explain why I choose each material and how they work together.

If things feel messy at first, that is part of learning. I guide you through it with care.

In this class, I invited you to slow down and explore a loose watercolour background technique.

We began by letting go of detail and control. I showed you how I start with simple blobs of colour using a large round brush, allowing the paint to move and mix naturally on the paper. By letting colours touch, beautiful textures appeared without any effort.

I talked you through how water changes everything in watercolour. I demonstrated how more water creates soft, pale washes and how less water gives stronger, more intense colour. I also showed you how to lift paint back out using clean water and kitchen paper to create lighter areas.

These abstract layers became the base for our winter forest scene. Once the background was dry, we moved on to adding details with pencils and pens. I showed you how I use a white pencil on darker areas to create…

In this session we created a cosy little village in line and wash. I guided you through the process from the very first ink lines to the final touches of snow and glow. We worked from a simple seasonal display photo, and I showed you how you can turn an ordinary scene into a magical winter moment.

I walked you through the waterproof pens I love to use and how you can get lovely results without needing anything fancy. We talked about choosing the right paper, how to keep your ink safe once you add water, and how to build your picture in simple steps. You started with gentle shapes, then added more depth, texture, bricks, cracks and little surprises. I shared some inspiration from the German illustrator Gabrielle Carasusan and we had a look at her charming villages and her circular backgrounds. https://www.carasusan.art/pages/watercolor-illustration

You then added colour with watercolours.…

In this Floral Still Life Mixed Media class, I’ll guide you through creating your own beautiful floral arrangement using a playful mix of materials.

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We’ll start with a simple reference photo, but you’ll have plenty of freedom to make it your own. I’ll show you how to build layers, mix colours, and use line and texture to bring your flowers to life.

This session is all about looseness and joy—no need to worry about perfect petals or exact shapes. I’ll demonstrate different ways to combine materials and encourage you to explore what feels right for you.

You can use whatever you have at home, but here’s what I’ll be working with:

In this relaxed zoom class, we explore how to sketch beautiful landscapes together. I’ll guide you step by step as we create a drawing inspired by a reference photo. We’ll start by breaking the scene into simple shapes — looking at the foreground, middle ground, and background — and I’ll show you how to build up your composition with confidence.

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We’ll talk about perspective and how things appear smaller and lighter in colour as they move into the distance. I’ll demonstrate how to use fineliners to add detail and texture, and we’ll play with mixed media techniques — combining ink, watercolour, and coloured pencils to bring your autumn scene to life. I’ll encourage you to make your drawing your own, perhaps by adding a few personal touches or a different kind of house or tree.

This class is all about enjoying the process, experimenting with your materials, and…

In this session, I will guide you step by step as we create a mixed media autumn landscape together. We will begin with a soft and colourful watercolor background, using bold washes for the sky and land. From there, we will gradually build up our scene with layers of pencils, pens, and other materials to bring texture, detail, and depth.

Watch Here:

✨ Materials you will need ✨

• Watercolour paints (a basic set is fine – include yellows, browns, greens, and blues)

• Watercolour paper (hot-pressed or cold-pressed, whichever you prefer)

In this class we painted a big, bold sunflower together. I guided you step by step through the sketching and painting process, starting with simple shapes and building up the petals, leaves and seeds.

Watch here:

We explored how to bring a sunflower to life using different materials and I encouraged you to experiment, to play with texture, and to enjoy the process rather than worrying about perfection.

Along the way, I shared tips for layering colours, creating contrast between foreground and background, and adding those little details that make the flower glow. We also looked at how to use mixed media to our advantage—blending watercolours, adding depth with pencils, and finishing with highlights from oil pastels or markers.

This is a relaxed and mindful session, so feel free to pause, rewind, and take it at your own pace.

This workshop aims to provide tools for participants to create their own travel records beyond just photos.

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Writing down and preserving our thoughts has always been a very human thing to do. Just as with drawing, writing is a way of creating images and symbols that carry meaning. It helps us make sense of the world and leaves behind traces of who we are.

Think for a moment about your own handwriting. The size of your letters, the space you use on the page, the tools you prefer – all of these little choices tell a story about you. In this workshop, we will take time to reconnect with the practice of writing and reflecting, this time through the lens of travel.

You may have seen travel journals that come with pre-made pages for notes, expenses, or itineraries. They can be useful, but today I want to invite…

BLOB Technique: Mixed Media Swallow

In this special class, I will take you step-by-step through the full BLOB technique to create a little mixed media swallow. I know we have explored this method before, but this time we are slowing down and giving ourselves the time to enjoy the full process—without rushing to finish in just one session.

We begin with a playful layer of watercolour, using the BLOB method to lay down loose shapes that suggest our swallow's form. Once dry, we move on to coloured pencils to bring in finer details and tidy things up. Finally, I use water-soluble oil pastels to cover little imperfections and add that extra character and richness to the piece.

You can use any art supplies you have at home. The focus is on layering, experimenting, and taking our time. It is a relaxing and joyful process, and I cannot wait to see…

In this class, I will guide you in drawing your own personal map. Together, we explore how to turn your experiences, memories, and dreams into a beautiful and imaginative artwork. You will learn simple drawing techniques that help you shape islands, forests, mountains, and other landmarks—each one representing something meaningful in your life.

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You can follow along with me, or you can make the map truly your own by adding symbols and stories that matter to you.

I created five themes to help get you started:

• A meaningful journey

In last night’s art class, we created a mixed media landscape of the colourful castle in Sintra, Portugal. It was a slightly more challenging piece than usual—but such fun to explore! We started with big, loose blobs of watercolour and slowly built up the painting with layers of detail using mixed media.

Watch the recording here:

You can add whatever you have—coloured pencils, pens, markers, crayons, or fineliners.

After the live session, I looked at my painting and felt it needed a little more work, so I finished it this morning and filmed that part too. I’ve added that second video here for you.

I finished the painting this morning in another 45 minutes:

Thank you so much to everyone who joined me for last night’s art session. I have just uploaded the recording, so if you missed it or want to revisit that calming, creative flow – it’s ready for you now.

Watch Here:

I really want to say thank you for the lovely feedback you shared at the end. So many of you said how meditative the class felt. Some of you told me you completely zoned out and forgot about the world around you, which honestly made me smile. That peaceful feeling is exactly what I hope to bring into your homes with these sessions.

We focused on soft, abstract shapes and slow, repetitive patterns – a bit like painting your own dreamscape. I used a mix of watercolours, fineliners and my trusty gold pen, but you’re welcome to use whatever materials you have. The joy of this class is that…