Workshops | Shiny Happy Art

If you want to learn how to draw with no stress, take this class.

August 31, 2018 | How To, Online Paint Alongs, Video, Workshops

That’s exactly what Brannan Lawson said when she finished the last module of Shiny Happy Drawing earlier this year.

Now, the long and short of it is that I truly believe that drawing makes life better – more colourful, more detailed, more vibrant.

So I invite you to join me for SHINY HAPPY DRAWING!

It’s 6 weeks of online drawing instruction, complete with videos and photo stories, projects, printable pdfs and a private facebook group.

Not only will I get you started with ‘how to draw’ you’ll learn how to make drawing a part of your day to day life. It’s all about learning by doing.

New lessons are released each Sunday for 6 weeks from Monday 1 October 2018 (but there’s no hurry as you’ll have ‘forever access’!) And no matter when you join – all the previous lessons will be available immediately!

Week 1 – Why Draw?
Week 2 – Space
Week 3 – Big and Small
Week 4 – from 2D to 3D
Week 5 – Colour
Week 6 – Projects to fit into your everyday

Each week I’ll also be doing a Facebook Live video related to that week’s projects. Videos will be uploaded to the website afterwards. To accommodate different time zones (and my kids!), I will alternate times for these sessions.

The purpose of this online course is to challenge, guide and inspire you to draw more and often. All without freaking you out! It’s suitable for artists of all levels, but beginners are especially welcome.

Just a large scrap book or two, a couple of pencils and a ballpoint pen will start you off.

Of course, I’ll demonstrate with more things (and you probably have more drawing tools in your house right now), but it’s all optional.

Any more questions? Check out my FAQ list here.

The complete Shiny Happy Drawing eCourse is $132 AUD including GST. That’s about $99 USD and it should convert when you pay (let me know if you have a problem with it).

So welcome! And let’s go!

PS. If you have any questions, please drop me a line and I’ll get right back to you – it’s going to be a lot of fun 🙂

Find out more

Reserve your place today

Here’s what previous Shiny Happy Drawers had to say:

If you want to learn how to draw with no stress, take this class.
BRANNAN LAWSON

Fun – fun – fun! Anna presents the exercises in an easygoing, insightful manner. She puts you perfectly at ease with what you are doing.
ALICIA HARVEY

I loved how each project was approachable to me (a beginner) and how I got amazing outcomes! I never thought that would happen. Anna is an excellent teacher, even though these are videos I feel like I’m right there next to her learning.
ALEXIS GORHAM

Just try it! It’s great fun. It doesn’t matter if you want to show anyone or not. It’s training me to look for more detail in the things around me which I’m really enjoying. Also you don’t need to go and buy a whole lot of things. I scratched around the house and found a surprising amount of art supplies (mostly belonging to the kids). If I didn’t have something Anna was talking about, I just used something else.
KATHLEEN FLANAGAN

Love the short, informative videos, your friendly approach and the way you make it look so easy and achievable.
LAUREN WRIGHT

This class is fun, interesting, informative, and you learn so much. The subjects that we draw are easy to find. Jump in have a go, it’s fun.
KIM KATH

Join me for Shiny Happy Drawing

The FAQs about Shiny Happy Drawing

June 8, 2018 | How To, Online Paint Alongs, Workshops

I’ve had a few questions about my upcoming drawing eCourse… (and most were from my Mum – thanks Mum!)

I’m talking about ‘Shiny Happy Drawing’ . It goes live on Sunday 1 July and includes 6 weeks of videos and projects (one will be released each week).

(If you’ve already signed up, thank you! You can go have a cuppa and relax. You’re in. )

If you have questions and would like to know more, keep reading, or just click through.

Do I have to be at my computer on Sunday 1 July?

No, you absolutely don’t. That’s just the day I’ll be releasing the first videos on our private website (you’re given access to that when you sign up). You can watch it whenever you wish.

The second set of videos will be released the next Sunday, and the third, the Sunday after that, but whether it takes you a day, a month or a year to get around to watching and learning, it’ll all be there, ready when you are (so there’s no pressure!).

Can I watch the videos more than once?

You sure can. Once they’re online, you can watch them on the site as many times as you like. That’s one of the advantages of this online thing – it’s like a real-life class, but with the benefit of a pause button!

Do I have to be on Facebook or join the Facebook group?

No, the private Facebook group is simply an added bonus that I offer with the class. It’s a place to share your drawings if you want to, and I can share feedback or ideas with the group more easily there.

I will be checking in often during the 6 weeks of the live course, and the group will continue beyond that, but no, if you don’t want to be on Facebook, you certainly don’t have to be. The main course is hosted on a password protected website and you’ll have full access to that.

What supplies will I need?

You really don’t need much for drawing and I’m trying to keep the supplies to a minimum for this class. I encourage you to look around your house or office and see what you already have before you go out and buy anything.

That said, it would be great to have a couple of HB and softer (2B, 4B) pencils, a ruler and eraser, a sketchbook of some kind, and some coloured pencils, felt pens and maybe some watercolours on hand.

I’ll be demonstrating with and explaining a lot of different materials, but there’ll always be options to do each project with different supplies.

What happens once I buy the course?

You’ll receive a welcome email straight away, and it will include a link to the online classroom. You can take a look around before the class starts and the videos will start being added on 1 July, and for five weeks after that.

My goal is to inspire you to make drawing a part of your everyday. I’ll explain the basics, and how I think and feel about drawing, and then invite you to ‘fill your book’ with me (whether it’s a small book or a large book is up to you!).

I’m a big believer in ‘learning by doing’, so the weekly projects are designed to improve your knowledge and make you keen to draw more. And ‘drawing more’ is what’ll make you a better drawer, so it’s a win/win!

I’m an absolute beginner, is this the course for me?

Now, this wasn’t one of Mum’s questions but it was asked by a person in Scotland (!)… and you know what? The beginning is the best place to start. Grab and pencil and paper and join in. You just might love it.

Any more questions spring to mind?

I’d be more than happy to answer any other questions you have. Just email me and I’ll get back to you asap.

See you in the online studio on 1 July!

Bookings are now open for Norfolk 2018!

May 21, 2018 | Art Holiday, Workshops

We had such a great art holiday last year I’m going back just one more time!

Join me on beautiful Norfolk Island from 16 to 23 October, for art, culture, food and relaxation. It’s a wonderful getaway and you can do as much or as little art as you like (I like a lot!). Non painting partners and friends are also welcome.

Take a look at this video I made with some pictures from last year’s trip 🙂

Click the picture below to find out more ($200 deposit with the balance due 7 July 2018) 🙂

And I’ll see you on the Island in October (or in the airport!)

My first podcast interview

May 3, 2018 | Press, Workshops

And it was fabulous to speak with Patty Palmer of Deep Space Sparkle.

I have been following Patty’s blog for years, and regularly recommended her site to teachers who asked me about art for kids, and last year I signed up to be a ‘Sparkler’ on her membership site.

As a result of an instagram message when she was preparing a bundle of Australian themed lesson plans, Patty saw what I do and invited me to teach on her upcoming Draw Paint Make online workshop (it’s on 7 July – here’s the link for more info).

So I seriously have to pinch myself.

Now, it IS a long interview. I usually listen to podcasts while I’m painting or in the car or setting up my studio space for a class, so that’s highly recommended.

And yes, it’s VERY HARD to listen to myself speak and there’s definitely a few sayings that were my ‘favourites of the day’ and I hope weren’t too bothersome – but there’s a learning for next time!

Thank you so much to Patty for having me. I do love talking about art and acrylics, so what can I say? It was grand!

Can’t wait til ‘Draw Paint Make’ now!

Come and draw with me

April 16, 2018 | Online Paint Alongs, Video, Workshops

I truly believe that drawing makes my life richer.

It’s also the basis of good painting, so that’s handy from an art point of view.

So let me introduce you to Shiny Happy Drawing.

It’s 6 weeks of step-by-step drawing instruction, complete with videos and photo stories, printable pdfs and more.

Not only will you learn how to draw, you’ll learn how to make drawing a part of your day to day life.

We’ll be taking off on Sunday 1 July, 2018, with new lessons released each Sunday for 6 weeks.

The purpose of this online course is to challenge, guide and inspire you to draw more and often. It is suitable for artists of all levels, but beginners are especially welcome.

Once you’re in you’ll have ‘forever access’ to the course and videos. We’ll be using a private Facebook group for show and tell, feedback and mentoring.

I might even try that ‘Facebook Live’ thing all the cool kids are doing!

Materials

I’m recommending that you start with a large scrap book or two (splurge on the ones with the bright white 100gsm pages – they’ll be a dollar or two!), a couple of pencils (maybe a 2B and a 6B) and a ballpoint pen. Of course I’ll demonstrate with more things (and you’ve probably got more drawing tools in your house right now), but it’s all optional.

Cost

Shiny Happy Drawing costs $99 including GST.

Click here to find out more (and book!)