Author: illustratorlaura

What I’ve Learnt From Running Art Workshops

Creative workshops

Recently I had the opportunity to set up a private art studio and start running art workshops. I’ve been running or facilitating creative workshops for many years, on and off, from crochet through to watercolour but this was my first chance to do it in a dedicated space. I thought I was prepared and it would be a seamless addition to my working week. I was so wrong!

My sweet studio

Here’s what surprised me the most-

  • So much work needs to be done before I’ve even planned the date. I heard I was accepted for the studio rather unexpectedly, so I did have to hit the ground running. This is my third month, and I only feel like I’ve just about sorted out the literature, the order of play, and have a decent idea of what people expect out of the workshop. Despite starting a couple of weeks before I opened the doors, I’ve only just finished writing up all the handouts!
  • There will always be snags where you encounter problems during the pilot workshops, whether it’s the limits of the chosen materials, or different examples if my explanation is falling short. I have a wide demographic, so lots of different people with different abilities and expectations. But the good thing is: the sessions then instantly become group trouble-shooting sessions, and solutions are found that wouldn’t even have crossed my mind. These are creative people, after all!
  • Having your own physical space is tiring. I mean, I knew it was tiring, but there is a huge gulf between the energy it takes running a workshop once a month in a space someone else is taking care of, and having to swap out all the botanicals every time, keep everything dust free, and having to keep stock of everything right down to paper towels and washing up liquid. It adds a good couple of hours each side of each workshop, after which I need to decompress and recover from all the over-stimulation. I absolutely adore having complete freedom to arrange it all how I want though, and not having to figure out where the lights are or if we’ll be kicked out by the next class.
Some of the beautiful student work underway in the botanicals class
  • I am not cut out for marketing myself constantly, just like a lot of other creatives. I need to get on top of a consistent and achievable schedule and plan for this, as it’s one of the aspects I find most draining. I’d say: outsource this or find useful apps if you can! Luckily people are still managing to find me, but it’s still absolutely terrifying to have to promote myself and fill seats otherwise the rent doesn’t get paid. I just have to remember that at least I’m giving it my best shot!
  • I underestimated how rewarding and inspiring it would be. I have been raring to have my own space to teach for years, purely because of how inspiring it s to share knowledge, but I didn’t realise just quite how much being around all that enthusiasm and different creative approaches makes me want to undertake more of my own projects. Now to find the time!
  • Being able to set my own themes and workshops has absolutely scratched a creative itch. Even though I’ve only covered watercolour painting workshops, sketching and drypoint etching, its been a surprisingly varied experience, and to be honest I’m enjoying being the boss and deciding what it is I think the attendees need to hear most!
So many creative styles to appreciate!

If you’re interested in joint us at the studio for a session, whether for drypoint etching, drawing or watercolour, take a look at my Agenda page to see what’s on, or sign up to my monthly newsletter where I announce upcoming workshops.

Hope to see you in 2025!

Industrial beams for creative studio at Strijp S

New Studio+Workshops, a Dream Come True!

Creative life, Creative workshops, eindhoven, events, Markets and events

Big news: I have my own studio space now! Over the summer I cleared the application process plus won an actual lottery to gain my own studio space in Strijp S, Eindhoven.

I’ve been looking for a while for a space to give workshops, mingle with people in a creative setting and generally have a bit more room for my business. My living room was bursting at the seams trying to contain my business goings-on, necessaries AND just generally being lived in, so this is fantastic.

I was missing the chance to connect and teach in my own space. Being hosted by other creatives and venues is lovely and cosy, but I’m going to relish not having to lug my stuff around to each location each time. Plus I get easily overwhelmed by the cleanup process, and having to clear out immediately after teaching a group. Now I have a chance to slow down and recoup at a slower tempo.

I’m based at Studio 52 in the Apparatenfabriek, Strijp S. A lovely, ramshackle old Philips building with a history, that now houses a hundred or so creatives. It’s broken in, with an industrial, functional feeling. I’ve been enjoying primping it with my own bits and pieces. Big tables, big airy windows (natural lighting!) and good access.

The only downside is the building will be renovated end of 2026, which is the outermost our rent will be extended to. This does however mean I have an end-date to this endeavour, which gives a satisfying idea of how long I’ll be at this, and keeps it all in perspective instead of me getting a bit carried away with plans. It’ll hopefully be a lovely tenancy with some great workshops and meeting new people. Hopefully a learning curve, preparing me for another location after 2026 (give me a heads up if you have any leads on a new location!) because it would be a shame to downsize again.

Meanwhile, here’s the first look at my agenda for this workshop season (links are clickable to tickets for all currently listed events)-

I’m focusing on painting and manual printing workshops for now, but if you have suggestions or ideas for collaborations (especially eco/nature ones) then do send me a mail.

photo © colindahouwen
photo © colindahouwen
photo © colindahouwen

Above you can see some photos of a drypointing etching workshop done over the summer at Minimuc Architecture and Interior Design studio. I can’t wait to get nice and inky in my own space with some of you!

L x

Botanical Watercolour Workshops are Back On!

Uncategorized

UPDATE JUNE 24– We’re taking a break now with workshops ’til after the summer, to be notified when the next workshop is lined up you can ‘follow’ me as organiser on Eventbrite ‘here‘ and it’ll let you know when my next event is on!

The botanical painting workshops (just €2 suggested donation for materials!) are back at the Blokhut, Ehv.
Come and take some creative time for yourself, and all abilites are welcome. I’ll be giving tips and tricks!
The first date is Saturday 23rd March, 10.00-12.00. 

Open for beginners and experienced artists. This will be a guided workshop, with tips and tricks. Use the lovely garden, as well as spring botanicals, as inspiration! We speak both Dutch and English. Everyone is welcome!

They’re always fun sessions, with people from all different backgrounds.

Signing up first is appreciated (here), as it helps us set up easier.

Hope to see you there!

L

‘Biblioscapes’~ An Illustrated Journey Through Literary Landscapes

Art, illustration, product development
The ‘flavour’ page for the Biblioscapes project

I’m rounding up the first leg of what will hopefully be an expansive project for me, as it has so much life in it and covers some of my favourite loves: books, vintage ephemera, environments and the wonderful worlds we find ourselves in when we read. Here’s a look at some of the process…

The 2024 Biblioscapes wall calendar is about to become available to order (my newsletter will keep you updated!), and my favourite six of the illustrations will be released as prints and postcards in the shop.

I’ve looked at so much reference from vintage travel ephemera, maps, and guides that I was stumped with what not to include, and had a terrible time keeping the design simple.

The first video showing my first research stage is here, the development for the watercolour landscapes is here, and you can see more development here.

The actual illustrations were pretty straightforward, as some of these places have lived in my head for years, originating of course in stories and the works of others. I’m sure you can all relate to some of the locations and might be able to ‘place’ a book it might belong to. Using my experience of illustrating the natural world the scenes were fairly easy to realise, though I’ve never painted a ‘galaxy’ scene before.

Three unfinished landscape snippets

I found portraying ‘tourists and locals’ from each scene more challenging. I didn’t want to go in to the minutiae of the world too much, as so much of this is done in your own head whilst reading. I kept the canvas fairly sparse for the viewers imagination to populate. I’ve even played with the scale, as just with dreams, a literary world can become larger than life.

I developed the figures last, as a way to avoid adding too much detail. Here’s the process-

Character sketches
Tinted characters
Residents

I had to go and do a bit of urban sketching first to observe what sort of details are visible from a distance, as they would be quite a small scale compared to the size of the environments. Facial features disappear, and it becomes largely about silhouette and tone. I did laugh to myself drawing the characters! Tourists have a special something, don’t they? They were mostly worked from photos and my imagination. It’s been ages since I went to life drawing so it was quite tough.

As a trained illustrator and a life-long lover of books (my job working in a bookshop was often a dream come true!) this project has been a wonderful challenge. I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I did making it. The final illustrations will be found in the ‘Illustrations’ section of my Portfolio, once the calendar is available for sale.

There are so many more ‘genres’ of literary landscape I’d love to capture on paper, who know how extensive this series will become!

L x

Come join us for the last botanical painting workshop in Eindhoven this year!

Art, Creative life, eindhoven, events, Markets and events

We’re organising another botanical watercolor painting workshop in Eindhoven, in the lovely Irisbuurt Blokhut. Come join us on Saturday 30th September, from 10.00-12.00!

Please drop me a message or RSVP to the event on Eventbrite if you can, it helps with planning! The event is listed as ‘free’, but €2 donation on the day would be much appreciated!

English// (Dutch below)

Open for beginners and experienced artists. This will be a guided workshop, with tips and tricks. Use the lovely garden and prepared botanical elements as inspiration! We speak both Dutch and English. Everyone is welcome!


€2~ per person (cash or card), coffee/tea included.


Use our watercolour materials (10 sets available, first come first served) to make a couple of paintings of the lovely garden or the prepared botanical elements with an Autumnal feel that we will place on the tables for you to study. Alternatively, bring your own painting equipment and inspiration pictures. Materials for tonal sketching will also be available.
We’ll go ahead even if it’s raining, we can sit under cover and if it’s cold, inside.

PLEASE NOTE: It is paid parking in the neighbourhood, except the nearby Lucas Gasselstraat. The first hour of the Jumbo carpark is also free.

See you there!

Scenes from watercolour workshops
Previous painting workshops

NL //

Samen gezellig aquarelleren bij de Blokhut. Gebruik de prachtige  tuin en botanische elementen als inspiratie!

Voor zowels beginners als ervaren kunstenaars, iedereen is welkom!

Wij spreken zowel engels als nederlands.
10 sets materialen beschikbaar (op is op)

Schilderen wat je wilt, en ik ben er als professionele illustrator aanwezig om tips te geven.


Ook met slecht weer gaat het door (er is een overgedekte ruimte en binnenruimte beschikbaar)

€2~ per persoon (contant of betaalpas). Koffie/thee inbegrepen.

Alstublieft RSVP voor het evenement op Eventbrite, dat helpt met plannen, dankjewel (op Eventbrite staat dat het evenement gratis is, maar ik zal die €2 betaling op de dag heel fijn vinden)!

Let op: Betaald parkeren in de buurt, wel gratis parkeren op de Lucas Gasselstraat, en de eerste uur bij de Jumbo parkeerterrein is gratis.

Tot 30 september!

Top Tips for Artists Working From Home… with a Child

Creative life, Uncategorized

… or What I’ve Learnt as an Artist-Mama, Working From My Living Room, With a Young Child

My little studio assistant

We made it through to school age! I have a little school-goer! What a ride. Caring for small children is a job in itself. I honestly don’t know how we as parents have time to breathe sometimes, let alone focus on ourselves for part of the day and *gasp* HAVE A CAREER. All I know is, if you’re going through it (and you’ve all not throttled each other yet), hats off to you.

These tips are quite general. Having a young child around the house is a trying time for everyone. I’m sure all WFH (work-from-home) parents (and even those who work outside of the home) will relate, not just mamas. Read on for what I learnt, and maybe it’ll help you just to know it’s something a lot of people around the world are struggling with. I’m sure non of it is new or revolutionary, but a bit of solidarity goes down well with a cup of tea on a particularly trying day.

  1. Double box your art materials! And put up as much high, out-of-reach storage as you can

If they can reach it, they will touch it. Particularly the black. It’s always the black. There’s darkness in the souls of young children that simply must be expressed, apparently. All over your nice clean paper stock.

2. If you’re drawing nudey bits, and you leave it out on the desk, be prepared to explain.

Just saying.

3. Have a strict ‘no drinks’ policy around your desk, and your tech, and a no ‘sticky fingers’ policy…

Ok, this will be impossible. If you so much leave anything that can be made grubby, children will go out of their way to make it so. Even if you’ve just wiped their fingers. I don’t want to think about what they make half of those marks with.

That’s the practical side of things. Now on to how to save your sanity, self-esteem and some semblance of basic hygiene.

4. Don’t be under the impression that you will keep a professional appearance at all times.

Pj’s and comfies are just workwear here, barring the hours of maybe 10-2pm. If I have to be seen in public before or after that, well: that’s what coats are for. Maybe once a week I put on actual grown-up clothes first thing in the morning, even when I don’t have to meet anybody, and don’t I feel swish. I challenge you to do better.

5. Get a decent set-up, from the Get-Go.

My posture is awful. My chair is too high, my screen too low. I cram in between my desk and my shelves, whilst doing an awkward quarter turn towards my graphics tablet. Save your joints. I already have chronic pain: you’d think I’d have learnt, but no. I don’t need to advise regular stretching exercises, because you already have a toddler who ‘needs’ you to get down on the floor with them and play with that one little figurine. Again. And every two minutes after that. No use climbing back up to your desk actually. Maybe you don’t need that fancy set-up after all.

One half of my desk. Isn’t it a glorious set-up *eyeroll*?

6. You will Develop an iron Sense of Self Control…

… but not before you’ve gone through a period of unbridled self-indulgence, relishing the fact that you have an open plan living room/kitchen/work area, and love snacks. And The Child is asking for snacks constantly anyway, so you can’t avoid that short walk to the snack cupboard. No tips here. I still drink too much coffee, but I think I just got bored of the sugar highs.

7. It’s ok if you dont ‘have it together’ for a while.

My productivity levels are all over the place. It depends on if there are school holidays, if there’s a sick boy (or mama, or papa) resting on the couch, how much we’ve been up in the night… and that’s ok. We’re creative people, so I suppose we need to give in and apply that to our business schedule too. It’s tough not being able to apply myself full force when the muse hits, but I’ve been trying to be softer on myself and use any downtime to rest and contemplate, instead of wringing my hands in frustration. Ok, I still do that, but I’m getting better at it.

It also means I utilise what time I DO have really well, if I do say so myself. I managed to knock all these out in the two weeks before our first summer break-

Watercolour landscape painting
Background paintings, all completed in two weeks

And then once in the holiday, this was my entire plan for marketing my 2024 calendar (which was a huge project for me this year so I really need to put a lot of effort in to marketing)…

Scribbled on the back page of my planner, because I hadn’t bought a new one, and written in the five minutes my son was using the bathroom during an ‘at home’ day

… yeah, that was the best I had at the time. Once I write EVERYTHING down, and in multiple planners and calendars, I usually don’t need to look at it again because it’s filed in my brain. If I don’t write it down, however, I’d get to November then remember that I hadn’t finished the calendar yet. It doesn’t matter if you have an analogue or digital agenda system, but USE IT! Planning doesn’t have to be pretty (although I’m a major sucker for pretty stationery, especially as a visual person) it just has to be DONE.

So I hope that you at least feel a little bit comforted if you remember that the pressure we and society put on ourselves to be ‘switched on’ or pushing our career as soon as our children are barely able to mumble ‘mama’ is absolute nonsense, and absolutely not helpful when applied to the messiness of everyday life. Chuck that pressure out the window.

Also worth looking at is this fantastic book ‘The Motherhood of Art’ by Melissa Huber and Heather Kirtland. A look at lots of other artist mamas (but could easily apply to papas and carers) and how they make it through the day as a creative with little ones.

This book reminds me we’re not alone on this journey. ISBN 9780764359187.

(Not a promo: my sister gave it to me and it reassured me I wasn’t alone as a WFH creative on this parenting/work struggle).

I’ve also been hearing the idea going around a lot at the moment that you don’t stop being an artist (creative, crafter etc.) if you’re not actively making art. YOU ARE STILL AN ARTIST. This is just a season, and your creativity will re-kindle, and I hope you can be kind to yourself if things aren’t quite perfectly in balance.

Take care,

L x

Watercolour Painting workshop in Eindhoven

Art, eindhoven, events, Uncategorized

We’re organising another botanical watercolor painting workshop in Eindhoven, in the lovely Irisbuurt Blokhut. Come join us on Saturday 20th May, from 10.00-12.00!

Please drop me a message or RSVP to the event on Eventbrite if you can, it helps with planning! The event is listed as ‘free’, but €2 donation on the day would be much appreciated!

English// (Dutch below)

Open for beginners and experienced artists. This will be a guided workshop, with tips and tricks. Use the lovely garden as inspiration! We speak both Dutch and English. Everyone is welcome!


€2~ per person (cash or card), coffee/tea included.


Use our watercolour materials (10 sets available, first come first served) to make a couple of paintings of the lovely garden, or bring your own painting equipment and inspiration pictures. Materials for tonal sketching will also be available.
We’ll go ahead even if it’s raining, we can sit further under cover.

PLEASE NOTE: It is paid parking in the neighbourhood, except the nearby Lucas Gasselstraat. The first hour of the Jumbo carpark is also free.

See you there!

Garden painting at de Blokhut
Botanical painting
Work completed during one of our painting sessions

NL //

Samen gezellig aquarelleren bij de Blokhut. Gebruik de prachtige  tuin als inspiratie!

Voor zowels beginners als ervaren kunstenaars, iedereen is welkom!

Wij spreken zowel engels als nederlands.
10 sets materialen beschikbaar (op is op)

Geen les, schilderen wat je wilt, maar er is wel een professionele illustrator aanwezig om tips te geven.


Ook met slecht weer gaat het door (er is een overgedekte ruimte beschikbaar)

€2~ per persoon (contant of betaalpas). Koffie/thee inbegrepen.

Alstublieft RSVP voor het evenement op Eventbrite, dat helpt met plannen, dankjewel (op Eventbrite staat dat het evenement gratis is, maar ik zal die €2 betaling op de dag heel fijn vinden)!

Let op: Betaald parkeren in de buurt, wel gratis parkeren op de Lucas Gasselstraat, en de eerste uur bij de Jumbo parkeerterrein is gratis.

Tot 20 mei!

Review of my Garden Journal for a Tiny Balcony Garden

Art, eindhoven, product development, Sustainable design

This year I’m excited to be using the journal I designed for recording and planning my own tiny balcony garden, so I thought I’d review how well it works and share my thinking for further product development. I had a display copy sitting around so I thought I might as well put it to use. They’re almost all sold out ( one left in the shop, along with a couple of the plastic-free kits) and I’ve had great feed-back so far. Time to see if there’s room for improvement before I order another small batch! Sit tight for a glimpse of my actual gardening attempts for this year too, for a space approximately 2x3m.

Pocket garden journal with a vintage feel
My little journal, I’m so proud of the design!

I find the format very handy, it would slip nicely in a small bag if you have an allotment or need to carry it if you have a large gardening space, for example. I don’t have to carry mine far though, and I enjoy it sitting pretty on my desk.

Very tentative plans on the ‘sowing’ timeline!

I’m happy that a lot of the pages are versatile and adaptable to your own way of gardening. This timeline could be a blooming timetable, sowing schedule, or ‘to do’ list for example. The paper is smooth and thick, and I was able to erase my graphite notes when I changed my mind after trying to crowd too much in to April!

I would love to make a hardback book with replaceable pages, perhaps a clip-in folder style so you could use it year after year, but it wasn’t financially viable and also this version is more portable. If you only have a small space, as lots of Urban Gardeners do, this smaller style fits better. A small collection will still be slimline and showcase your efforts over the years.

A quick flip-through of the journal

I’ll put photos in when things start growing, but it’ll make a cute little photo album. There’s a rough seasonal progression to the images and colours from front to back, Spring to Winter, which I’m very happy I went with.

My ambitious plans for fruit and veg (a lot of which I have already) for this year

This page above I particularly love, and realise it would be handy to include more of, for example for a planting schedule for each season. At the moment this single copy is very handy.

If anyone has any suggestions for version two, I’d love to hear them, whether you have a copy or just have an idea. I would love suggestions on products to add to my plastic-free gardening range as well, as gardening is such a big passion of mine and I love it when people buy these as gifts for other gardeners. I’m hoping I’m bringing a bit more fun and satisfaction to any garden-lovers. I’m happy I’m managing to keep it locally printed, sustainable and lovingly designed and packaged too.

This journal started as a way for me to still live out my gardening passion, one story up and in the middle of a city. I hope I can encourage people others to keep at it and make the most of any space they’ve got even if it’s just a windowsill.

Here are a couple of snap shots of my balcony right now, with most things still dormant but a few signs of Spring.

I can’t wait for it all to wake up, and I hope to share my gardening (and illustration progress with you later in the season!

Laura

A New Focus for my Work

Art, Creative life, eindhoven, expat life, product development

I say new, it isn’t really, I have just had the mental space to sit down and really consider the why’s and the where to’s of my artwork, and what the connecting thread is. Obvious, once you see it.

Sunlit stilllife painting of an old book laid open and a vase of daffodils.
‘A Quiet Spring Read’- One of my images from next year’s ‘Simple Pleasures’ wall calendar. Each image in this series has a botanical flourish, a touch of nature in the everyday.

Anyhow, the botanical touches in this calendar series are a reminder that the beauty and seasons of nature can still touch us in our daily lives. Completing the series is a continuation of my study of ‘the cycles of nature and our connection to it’.

How Did It All Become Clear?

One evening in October I sat quietly on my son’s bed, his head in my lap, stroking his hair in the dark. We do this every night and it’s often the first chance we get to slow down after a busy day. This particular evening I sat and reflected on where I was with my art, where this year had taken me and where I wanted to go with it next year. I was taking a breather after assembling my exhibition for Dutch Design Week, and had already checked off most of my ‘to do’ list for this year.

I realised the chosen theme for our joint exhibition, a sort of ‘catch-all’ each of us was already using as a creative, was a thread I have always had running through my artwork for a long time. The theme ‘Nature Human Nature; exploring the state of our connection to nature as the organic beings we are’ is not exceptionally unusual but one I’m sure many creatives can relate to.

Nature is Magical, but…

Why would anyone want to hear that coming from me? Everyone knows the natural world is wondrous and important, so how am I sharing it in a meaningful way with people? What in particular about the natural world draws me in so I can draw it out?

My connection to nature was so obvious once I looked again at my work, and the theme for the exhibition.

It’s the cycles! The renewal of the seasons and cycles of nature that return and plough on even when shaken and disrupted by us. Just look at some of the works I’ve made in the last couple of years that physically use a ‘cycles/circles of nature’ theme~

Midwinter Frolic, fox painting
Midsummer Magic i
Fox painting

My work is a celebration of how grounded the rhythms of nature keep me, even when I’m living in a box apartment that vibrates with the superficial airco of the supermarket below. The symbols in my images are often widely acknowledged cultural representations of the seasons, a testament to the unity with nature many of us rejoice in throughout the years of our lives. The hopeful fresh tones of Spring, the bountiful blooms of Summer, the chilling angularities of Winter: I want to capture and honour it all. I want to portray the marks it makes on our psyches.

My brain has clearly been crying out for me to connect to nature in my current urban setting. I love people but I’m a nature lover and country girl at heart. I miss walks in the woods and fields, and will rekindle that feeling every way I can. What better way than capturing that magical awe and sharing it with others through my artwork? I hope you can feel the energy and feeling of ‘completeness’ that being able to portray it gives me. I just needed to slow down and pause to catch up with myself again.

Folklore, semiotics and cultural references to nature have long been a part of my work, but now I know I need to delve even deeper to grasp hold of that golden connecting thread running through my artmaking journey. If I’m lucky that thread will pass on beyond my reach to be grasped by others who feel the same connection. Others who find my artwork celebrates their own grounding connection to the natural world, that honours their own seasons.

Onwards!

Laura

Watercolour Workshop at the Blokhut~ Winter Botanicals edition

Art, Creative life, eindhoven, events, expat life, indie business, Markets and events, product development

Come join us Saturday 10th Dec at the Blokhut for a ‘Winter Botanicals’ watercolor workshop! All abilities welcome, I can give tips for those who ask, or just come along and do your thing. Botanics are one of my passions and a much-covered subject in my work. I’d love to share my process with you!

We’ll have some lovely botanical materials on the table to paint and draw from (donation jar will be on the table, much appreciated!), or bring your own ‘wintery’ reference photos.

Come join us on the 10th for a watercolor workshop in Eindhoven!

We speak both Dutch and English. Everyone is welcome!

Use our watercolour materials (10 sets available, first come first served) to make a couple of paintings, or bring your own painting equipment. Materials for tonal sketching will also be available.

This will be inside, so no worries about the weather. This will be our third edition, and the first two were really fun, with some good chats with fellow creatives.

PLEASE NOTE~ Please sign up to the Facebook event or send me a message to say you plan on coming if possible, so that I can make sure we have a decent amount of reference material laid out for everyone. It helps me out greatly with planning!

Here are some examples of the type of botanical illustrations I can show the process for in the workshop, if you want to follow along~

Winter berries painting

For the second image I used my painting as the background for a mini desk calendar, which is available to my peeps on Patreon (hence the smaller image size: it’s exclusively for the use of my Patrons).

Here’s a peek into my process~

Tutorial video for watercolor painting workshop in Eindhoven, December

Creating little spot images like these are a great way to make art for yourself, for journaling, to stick on your wall or to turn in to your Christmas cards this year. You’ll come away with something you love!

Hope to see you there!

Laura