Makings and Musings Community

Hi everyone,

I have just uploaded the recording from last night's urban sketching class to the library. It is the first video under the Line & Wash Header Here

I thought it was such a fun session. I absolutely love urban sketching, and if you are watching the recording later and joining in at your own pace, I just want to remind you that your lines do not need to be perfect. They do not need to be straight. The whole point is simply to enjoy the moment, notice what catches your eye, and quickly put it down on paper.

There are so many different styles of urban sketching. Some people enjoy working in a very meticulous and precise way, but for me it is all about messy lines, quick splashes of colour, and capturing the feeling of being somewhere rather than creating a perfectly accurate representation of what I…

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.

When i first finished the trees I didn’t like it so I walked away for a day without adding leaves. Then I liked it so I added some leaves using my sponge. And I’m satisfied with it. I really need to practice with the old credit card on a practice piece of paper lol.

Hi everyone,

The recording from last night’s watercolour painting class is now available in the community library. You will find it as the first class under the Watercolours section.

Watch Here

I really enjoyed this painting session so much. I thought the whole ancient forest theme had such a lovely atmosphere to it, and I absolutely loved seeing all your beautiful creations at the end of class. It has already been so lovely seeing more paintings popping up in the group today as well. Everyone approached it so differently, which is always my favourite part.

Just a reminder that next week will not be a formal class, but more of an informal creative gathering together on Zoom at our usual time of 6pm UK time. Bring along anything you would personally like to work on. You might want to do some sketching, journaling, painting, or perhaps finish off a piece…

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…

My first session with you, and I really enjoyed it. First time I've actually had fun and relaxation with watercolours. Thankyou!

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! ✍️🎨❤️

This week, as part of our monthly theme of nature’s patterns, we focused on the beautiful, repeating patterns found in ocean waves.

The video is available in the library - it is the first video under the topic "watercolour Classes"

FIND IT HERE

You can paint along with me as we explore the movement and textures of the sea using watercolour. You will start by building soft layers of colour for the sand, sea, and sky, before adding white foam details that follow the natural rhythm and flow of the waves. I’ll show you simple techniques like dry brushing, layering, and adding shadows to create depth and texture, while encouraging you to follow your own instinct rather than aiming for perfection.

This class is all about experimenting and enjoying the process. You might leave areas unfinished or try something unexpected, and that is part of the fun. The waves give…

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…

In this class we paint a soft and joyful spring scene using the wet-on-wet watercolour technique.

Remember you can watch this recording and Loads and Loads of other class recordings in the Library Here

Together we create a glowing background and then slowly build up the painting in layers, finishing with delicate cherry blossoms and the suggestion of a tower in the distance.

I start by showing you how to prepare your paper with water so the colours can move and blend naturally across the page. Using gentle washes of colour, we create a loose background where yellows, pinks and touches of green softly merge together. This is the magic of wet-on-wet painting: letting the water and pigment do some of the work for you.

In this class, I guide you through an artist study inspired by Erin Henson, an American painter known for her bold, colourful landscape paintings. I introduce you to Erin’s work and talk a little about her style, which she calls open expressionism, where the focus is on feeling, movement and expressive brushstrokes rather than realism.

https://www.erinhanson.com/portfolio

Watch here:

We work from one of her paintings, Ruby Beach, and I show you step by step how I build up my own version. I start with a simple sketch and then move into blocking in colours, layering paint, and adding texture using different brush strokes. I demonstrate how I use both watercolour and gouache, and I explain the difference between them, especially how gouache allows for more opacity and easier layering.

This session is very practical and hands-on. You can paint along with me in real time, or pause and rewind as…

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.

Another delve into the archives, with a watercolour sunset. Love how the layers build up

I have a new art materials video for you this month.

This time I show you what liquid watercolours are and how you can use them.

I use the Ecoline paints, but the ideas work for most liquid watercolours, you can also join in using 'normal' watercolours. Liquid watercolours have that extra push effect that creates such soft shapes, and it is lovely to watch them settle.

In the video I paint a dark abstract landscape and a gentle spiral in warm reds, greens, and oranges. Both pieces show how expressive this medium can be.

If you are curious about trying liquid watercolours, I think you will enjoy this.

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 class, we painted a calm and misty forest scene in watercolour.

Watch here:

I used mostly watercolours from tubes, but if you prefer pans, that works just as well. It’s all about enjoying the process. I showed you a few simple techniques, including one where I used a broken bank card to apply the paint – a lovely way to add texture and those soft, uneven edges you find in nature.

We built our forest up slowly, layer by layer, using five or six gentle washes to create that misty depth. Once the soft blues and greys were dry, I added a few deep black silhouette trees in the foreground. And of course, the finishing touch – a tiny red fox painted in gouache to bring a little warmth and story to the piece.

This class was recorded on Zoom, so the video quality is a little lower…

This week, I led an art session exploring sunset-inspired drawings using oil pastels, coloured pencils, and other media.

We focused on blending, layering, and creating gradients, with a relaxed pace so everyone could experiment and share their work. I demonstrated techniques for texture and colour harmony, and we discussed how different materials—like baby oil or Vaseline—can help with blending.

We also spoke about the history of oil pastels, and I shared tips for adding silhouettes and reflections to create depth.

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.

Watch Here:

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 workshop I share one of my favourite mediums with you – watercolour pencils. They are such a joy because they combine the precision of a coloured pencil with the softness and flow of watercolour paint.

Watch Here:

I begin by showing you different ways to use them: sketching dry, adding water afterwards, and even dipping the pencil straight into water for stronger marks. I explain why these pencils are wonderful for travel sketching and why I prefer starting with colour instead of graphite.

Together we explore a peaceful countryside landscape. I guide you through placing the horizon, hills and a lake, and we add a little sheep in the foreground using very simple shapes. You will see how I block in colours, layer greens and blues to create depth, and keep the sheep light so we can return with details later.

I show you how adding water brings…

Oil Pastel Blending & Lavender Field Drawing Workshop

In this joyful and colourful session, I shared lots of oil pastel techniques with you—from how to blend colours smoothly, to creating vibrant skies and dreamy lavender fields.

Watch Here:

We explored ways to mix and layer colour to build depth and atmosphere, using both oil pastels and wax crayons.

You saw me demonstrate how to use cotton buds, tissue paper, and even the back of a pencil to blend, shape, and highlight. We talked about layering light colours first, how to approach tricky tones like purple, and how to play with texture to bring your scene to life.

Hello lovely creatives, In this recording, you are joining me for a peaceful painting session where we explore the wonders of outer space using watercolours.

Watch Here:

This workshop is part of our July theme Places and Spaces—but this time, rather than choosing a travel destination, we are taking inspiration from the night sky and the beauty of the universe.

I show you step-by-step how I approach abstract painting using NASA photographs as my starting point. We play with deep blues, purples, and shimmering accents to create something expressive and personal. You will see how I layer paint, blend shapes, and add textures to bring movement into the artwork.

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…