Artist | Teacher

If I say the words 'successful artist' to you, what immediately springs to mind? The classic equation of Fame + Money + Acclaim? And does that feel a bit unrelatable and out of reach? {Some of it might not even seem very appealing!} I heard someone talking about switching from 'only' to 'already' recently, and it's made a big difference in how I think and feel about things. If I'm investing in a success equation like that one above, it's very easy to think in terms of 'only'. I only get in the studio a couple of times a week. I've only made one collection this year. I only sell so much of my art. I only make so much money a year from it. I only show in x number of galleries. I haven't had a solo show and only exhibit in group shows. I only have however many followers or email subscribers. That 'only' is giving me a seriously limited perception of success. And because of that, it's going to limit what I can accomplish, because I will act in accordance with what I believe. Also, it feels pretty crappy! But what happens when I switch from 'only' to 'already'? I already get in the studio a couple of times a week. I've already made one collection this year. I already sell my art. I already make this much money a year from it. I already show in x number of galleries. I have already exhibited in x number of group shows. I already have however many followers or email subscribers. Try it! Think about what you're lamenting in terms of 'only' when it comes to your art, whatever it might be, and then substitute the word 'already'. Can you feel the difference? 'Only' shuts down possibility. 'Already' throws the doors wide open to it. If I've already done or have THIS, then what else is possible? What can I do next? Tell us an 'only' you're going to switch to 'already' in the comments! * * * * * #happyartistmovement #happyartiststudio #happyartistthoughts #inmystudio #artpractice #studioscenes #mystudiotoday #doitfortheprocess #artprocess #paintingprocess #creativeprocess #artiststudio #artistlife #lifeofanartist #ourstudiotime #inherstudio #homeinthestudio #createeveryday #artistatwork

Some new artist friends have joined us recently 👋 {hello! Welcome!} so I thought I'd do a little re-intro post. I'm Tara, creator of the Happy Artist Studio, paintings inspired by sea swims, and quite a lot of art courses. 🤣 Here are 5 things about how I approach my work helping artists do theirs: 🪸 I'm very big on encouragement. My first {entirely made up} job title when I started teaching online was 'creative encourager' - it was sort of a joke but it's still true 11 years later! 🪸 I do kind and constructive support.{ie. I don't 'critique' but I do offer positive, practical, and flexible ideas you can take into the studio and make your own}. 🪸 I'm basically obsessed with helping you uncover, develop and joyfully create the art you came here to make, beyond copying, beyond 'shoulds', beyond step by step paint by numbers. I'm interested in hearing what you have to say as an artist, and everything I make is devoted to helping you bring that out. 🪸 I'm a huge fan of an experiment. I do them often all across my life. They are forgiving, fun, light touch, low pressure, and can reveal insights and evolve into solid practices and processes that support us as artists. What's not to like?! 🪸 I believe that being a happy artist is about understanding and embracing that we are artists within the larger contexts of our lives. We don't all have swathes of time, endless inspiration, constant confidence, and that's ok - we work with what we have, we choose growth and evolution, we learn to deal with the 'demons' {typically the mindset issues that can really get in the way}, and we find our own way to be artists that work for who we are and how we live. If that all sounds good to you, I invite you to head on over to the link in my profile where you'll find all sorts of art goodness, free and paid, depending on what you need right now. I'd love to help you evolve into your truest, happiest artist self. 😊👩🏼‍🎨 * * * * * #happyartiststudio #happyartistmovement #artencouragement #artistsupportartists #artistlife #lifeofanartist #communityovercompetition #makeart #artcommunity #artistencouragement #artpractice #creativeprocess #beinganartist #artistsupport

"I've loved every one of your Artnotes Tara! Always so timely in that they seem to resonate with exactly what I'm experiencing or pondering at that moment! Love your courses, always inspiring - and - yes, certainly helpful!" - Judi R {Thank you Judi!} Artnotes are the email equivalent of a letter from one artist {me} to another {you}. They’re packed with thought provoking ideas, behind the scenes stories about being an artist {and how to fully embrace that}, blog post updates, and news from the Happy Artist Studio! I'd be signing up for these if I wasn't actually writing them. 😆 Head to taraleaver.com/artnotes, or link in bio to sign up and try 'em out! . . . . . . . . . #happyartiststudio #happyartistmovement #artnotes #artencouragement #artistsupportartists #artistlife #lifeofanartist #communityovercompetition #makeart #createeveryday #artcommunity #artistencouragement #artpractice #artprocess #artemails #artistemails

If you've seen any of my recent posts, you may know that doors to my course - Create a Collection - are open right now, and we start tomorrow! If you've been considering it, here are a few notes to help you decide either way. ⭐️ Who is Create a Collection for? It's for artists* who want to try working in collections, or develop the way they're doing that, so that they can build a solid body of work they can offer for sale in ways that feel good to them, and feel confident about the quality and distinctiveness of their art. And it's not just for painters! I'm a painter, so that's my lens, but this course would also work for any artist whose work could be created in batches. The principles apply across the board. For example, this approach works well if you work in charcoal, pastel, collage, mixed media, on paper, panel or canvas. It'll be particularly helpful for you if you: 👩🏼‍🎨 Want to develop your voice as an artist and be clear about what that feels and looks like 👩🏼‍🎨 Want to build a sustainable practice that feels good and is realistic for your life 👩🏼‍🎨 Know that your mindset is making it all harder than it needs to be but are not sure how to shift it 👩🏼‍🎨 Know that some gently structured guidance and a 'container' of time and focus works for you in accomplishing your goals 👩🏼‍🎨 Would benefit from feedback, answers to your questions, and guidance from an artist who's been there and understands the ins and outs {me!} 👩🏼‍🎨 Want to connect with a small group of kindred artists working on the same thing for support and friendship * If you have trouble calling yourself an artist, it's still for you! If you're still not sure, ask me any questions below or in the DMs - I'll be happy to help, and I'll be honest about whether I think this one's for you {or for you right now}, or not. In the meantime, head to the usual link for more info and to join us! taraleaver.com/collection * * * * * #happyartistmovement #createincollections #createacollection #createacollectioncourse

You might have seen that I reopened enrollments for my Create a Collection course recently. I've been talking about making art this way - in multiples instead of one by one - and how it can benefit us as artists in all sorts of different ways. But hang on a sec... 🤔 "Can't I just create a collection on my own? I mean, how hard can it really be?!" And of course, you totally can. 😊 It's not hard at all, but that doesn't mean it doesn't come with complexity. And some people find support helpful, especially if: 👉 it's something they haven't done before 👉 they struggle with their mindset around their art 👉 they find that they get more done with some accountability This course is for artists who have either considered creating in collections and not been quite sure how to go about it, haven't got round to it, or have tried it and got stuck for whatever reason. {Caveat: If that reason is that making your art in collections is just not for you, that's totally valid and you don't need this course!} The benefits of taking the course are that you're doing it with guidance, including: 🎨 how to use this way of working to build a process for your own best results 🎨 dealing with any mindset stuff that comes up {it usually does!} 🎨 getting clear on the entire process from first ideas through to finishing touches 🎨 thinking about, and/or preparing for, what you want to do with your collection when it's complete 🎨 actually getting started on creating a collection! {And potentially finishing it, although there's no pressure to do that.} All of that in an intentionally small group of other artists wanting {their versions of} the same things you do, going through the course with you. And access to me - as someone with years of experience in this - for questions and feedback too. If you don't feel you need any of that, then that's your answer. 😊 If you're curious though, and would like to create a new body of work that truly reflects YOUR voice and feels good to make - we start Monday! Find out more and join us: taraleaver.com/collection * * * #createincollections #createacollection #createacollectioncourse

I used to make one painting at a time. It’s a completely valid approach and works for many artists. It didn’t work that well for me though - I’d start a painting in a flurry of excitement and wild abandon, and gradually paint myself into a corner. {Literally!} Marks would get tighter, I’d obsess over a single area until it felt right, only to find it had thrown the rest of the painting out, and frustration and stuckness were frequent visitors. Not to mention the ever growing stack of Unfinished Ones, staring at me reproachfully from the corner. When I switched to painting in collections, it's not an exaggeration to say everything changed. Swipe through for just 5 of many reasons that making your art in collections can open up a whole new world for your practice. Curious if it could work for you? I've opened doors to my Create a Collection course this week, and you can find out all about it by going to the usual link, or DM me and I'll ping it over to you. I'm also happy to answer any and all questions about your unique situation and whether I think it'd be a good next step for you, so please just ask! We start Monday! taraleaver.com/collection * * * * * #happyartistmovement #createincollections #createacollection #createacollectioncourse

Many artists make one piece - be it painting, drawing, collage, sculpture - at a time. I used to do that too, and it worked for a while. But I kept running into the same sticking points - 👩🏼‍🎨 Not confident about knowing if a piece was finished 👩🏼‍🎨 Stalled out and unsure how to finish a painting 👩🏼‍🎨 Lots of paintings that looked very different from each other 👩🏼‍🎨 Confusion about what was 'my style' and what was heavy influence from those who inspired and taught me The solution for me was creating my art in collections - and it really did change everything. It's not for every artist, or every kind of art. But if you're struggling with the same things I was, and you'd like to try a new way - I made the Create a Collection course for you, and doors are open for our Spring Session.🌱 It offers: ⭐️ a gently structured process you can adapt to how you work and what you need. ⭐️ practical ways to navigate the mindset shenanigans {what I call the demons}, so you can move forward with purpose and confidence. ⭐️ a 6 week guided container that shows you how to go deep with an idea, and start to bring it to life in a group of artworks that hang together beautifully. ⭐️ a small group so you can get my best attention and support, plus the camaraderie of fellow artists travelling alongside you. If you're interested in learning more, head to the usual link - doors are open and we start on Monday! taraleaver.com/collection * * * * * #happyartistmovement #createincollections #createacollection #createacollectioncourse

Oooh it's been a while since I wrote a blog post! Sometimes you just have to sit down and bash the idea out, and to hell with the actual to do list. This one shares 20 experiences that are 100% usual and that all artists have at some point or another on the artist path. Because I want us all to just feel better about what we make, how much we make, our desire to be expressed in this way - all of it. Goodness knows there's enough already in the world to be struggling with. And more happy artists = incrementally better world, for so many reasons. So this is just one of my many calls to recognise that whatever troubles you when it comes to yiur art, you're TRULY not alone, and there ARE ways to make it easier just to do your thing and feel good about it. Read the post, see if any of it resonates, and you'll find a suggestion (it's free!) at the end. It's the first post you'll see at taraleaver.com/blog, or via my linktree. And since I was indeed writing that post as a procrastinatory device, I shall now depart forthwith to the studio. 🎨🖌

Before The Bold Move ... and after. I love a Bold Move because it changes the conversation. It gets the energy moving again, or refreshes a stale painting. A Bold Move takes courage, self trust, and openness to whatever comes. In this, as in so many things, what I learn in the studio teaches me about life, too. I recently finished a three week artist residency, and have emerged with a huge amount of learning, and quite a lot of new work! If you're curious about what a residency might be like, I've written about it, with a view to what I learned being applicable for all artists and creatives {and humans}. There's a link in the usual place if you'd like to read it! #artistresidency #happyartistmovement #artpractice #studioscenes #artprocess #paintingprocess #creativeprocessl #artiststudio #artistlife #lifeofanartist #artistatwork

📣 Last call for the Happy Artist Studio special offer this month! If you’ve been reading my posts {or emails} about it, switching repeatedly to the tab you have open, doing some maths, talking with yourself about it {I know all this because I do it too 😊} - there’s intel there. Maybe it's not for you, or not for you right now, and obviously that's fine. But if you’ve been telling yourself you’ll ‘come back to this later’ - hi, it’s later. 😊 Life isn’t likely to slow down, get quieter, or become less full, and no one’s going to give us permission to give space to the things that are important to us. But The Happy Artist Studio and I are here to support you in doing that for yourself, with your art - in the life you have now. Here’s a quick recap of what you get when you join this online artist 'wonderland' {as described by a member!}: ⭐️ The Artist Retreat - a gentle, guided monthly rhythm to build a sustainable and joyful practice without overwhelm ⭐️ The Course Library - excavate and develop your own art from amongst all you’ve learned so far, at your own pace ⭐️ The Way of the Happy Artist - guidance to develop a robust, resilient mindset when it comes to your art ⭐️ A curated selection of Bonus Materials, including the Q&A library, tutorials and workshops, and behind the scenes videos ⭐️ Responsive and thoughtful support from me, tailored to you Want to try it for a month? Use code 21DAYS27 before 11.59pm UK time today, January 31st, and join for just $27. Or join for a full 12 month immersion - with two months free. If you have any questions at all, you know where I am! And I’m happy to help you decide what’s right for you, either way. A new member messaged me recently to say - "Thank you for replying so quickly, and so comprehensively to my new member form. You have given me a lot of really helpful advice, and links to information... I am really looking forward to moving through what you offer in this membership - actually I’m pretty excited!" I'd love to support you too! 👇 {with code 21DAYS27} or the usual link. #happyartiststudio #artistssupportingartists

I have some feelings about making specific promises in my business. The work I do is not a step by step formula that brings everyone the same result at the end, and all artists are different. However! There are things available to you inside the Happy Artist Studio that will bring tangible results - here's what’s possible for you just within your first week: 👩🏼‍🎨 You’ll start a Studio Journal that’s specifically designed to support you in your practice. I’ll show you how you can set one up, with tips for what you can include and how you can use yours to stay in flow with your work. 👩🏼‍🎨 You’ll explore the different resources and create a path forward that meets you where you are now & points toward where you want to go. If you need help with this, you can use the simple form we send you on joining, and I’ll curate a selection of materials within the Studio that you can use to start moving towards your goals. Or you can just make a coffee, have a browse, and ‘favourite’ what you want to focus on first. 👩🏼‍🎨 You’ll start to just feel better about your art Sounds vague, but don’t underestimate the difference this can make! It’s why the energy of the Studio is first and foremost encouraging - a lot of artists really need a boost to their self esteem. If your mindset has been tripping you up lately, head to The Way of the Happy Artist. You can download the audios to listen on the go, watch the videos, print out the worksheets, and use the practical mindset tools it offers to unstick yourself and get back to your art. Need of some perspective about the artist life? Watch me create a collection, sharing the ups and downs along the way. Or check out our Q&A Library for in depth responses to the questions you’ve been carrying. {You can submit your own too!} So that’s a great start. There's no pressure to ‘produce’ or ‘perform’ in any of this, or work to any particular time scale. There are no tests and no one’s looking over your shoulder, although support is available every step of the way. Find out more at happyartiststudio.com or the usual link - and I'm here if you have questions!

One of the basic truths of being an artist is that we need QUIET. Which, in our noisy world, overflowing with information, fear, and that feeling that you're just never going to have a clear space for your art, can feel very hard to come by. Another truth is that when we're actively creating, we bring more powerful energy to the things and people we can actually impact. When I started hearing from other artists over and over that they, like me, were finding it hard to tune out the noise, I made some changes to the Happy Artist Studio to support artists in finding and using the quiet we need. 🎨 I took out the community, which felt counterintuitive, but it wasn’t being used - because it's not what many of us are looking for right now. In its place, you get a direct line to me. 🎨 I swapped adding fun but random new monthly lessons for a considered, month by month Artist Retreat that builds on itself to create a robust and sustainable practice for you. 🎨 I moved things around so you can still access past workshops & Q&As, videos about my own practice, workbooks etc, and can dip into those creative boosters anytime. But the core of this somewhat unusual membership boils down to: 👩🏼‍🎨 The monthly rhythm of The Artist Retreat - to build your real life, sustainable, joyful practice 👩🏼‍🎨 The direct support from me, available when you need it 👩🏼‍🎨 The Course Library, which guides you to make your art more ‘you’, and feel confident and clear about it 👩🏼‍🎨 The Way of the Happy Artist, to help you understand and manage the mindset side of things {not to be underestimated!} There’s no pressure, no keeping up with anything, and you absolutely don’t need to use every last piece of it to get what you need, unless you want to! You can do the 'out there' parts of life, AND the essential 'in here' explorations - you don't have to choose between them. If this feels like what you need this year, come and take a look at all the details. Join us before January 31st, & try a month for just $27, using the code: 21DAYS27 If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to help. 😊 Head to: happyartiststudio.com - or the usual link!