Paint From Home
Join our growing community of online painters…
who value the powerful practice of process painting as a tool for their ongoing creative development, personal growth, and transformation. Gathering in this way provides a much-needed respite, reduces stress, and connects you to the creative community of women you’ve been looking for.
Magic happens in the studio but it's times like these when we need our creative practice and ONLINE community more than ever.
Here's what we know:
Magic happens online also!
Community matters. Staying in contact with others exploring their creativity stimulates you to keep your own creativity alive.
Accountability works. Reserving a date and time on your calendar makes it much more likely that you'll consistently show up for your own self-care.
Technology rocks. And now it’s easier than ever to continue to connect in this way.
When you paint online, you’ll experience the same supportive, empowering, and creative environment that you find in the studio.
Share your process. We begin each session with a brief check-in, end with a sharing circle and paint for more than one hour in between. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
Ask questions. As we paint, Elissa checks in with each painter and offers plenty of time for personal facilitation.
Discover, explore and create. Elissa works with one individual at a time, while all painters are hearing the facilitation that is offered. Painters find this to be an added benefit that adds deep value to their experience.
In order for us to connect online please be sure to:
Download Zoom on the device that you intend to paint from. Zoom is the application we will always use to connect.
Download Zoom here:
https://zoom.us/download
Click on “Download” under Zoom Client for Meetings.
Then follow prompts to install.
If you are having trouble downloading Zoom there are many “How To” Videos available on YouTube.
Go to www.youtube.com and search “How to download zoom for (enter your specific type of device, ex: mac desktop, ipad, etc).”
Easy At Home Prep
Here are some simple tips to help you put together the supplies you’ll need.
Set up a cozy painting nook, point your device toward your painting, join us on a Zoom call and experience the same intimate level of connection with our community as you would in a physical workshop. Prior to each start time, you will receive an email with a Zoom link inviting you to join our workshop. Click the link and you will be automatically directed to our creative space. I’m SO EXCITED to see you there.
Use What You Have
If you’ve attended a Wild and Free Painting Workshop, you know the supplies we use are simple and always the same: same paints, same brushes, same paper. We do that to minimize distraction and keep the focus on deepening your practice. Any materials will work when used in the spirit of process.
It’s not necessary to have paint when joining from home. We do encourage you to work with color, but there are many options for that: colored markers, pens, crayons, pastels—or any kind of paint you have that you find easy to work with.
You also have many options for paper. Choose whatever will support your paint, markers, pens, or crayons. Paper, paper taped together to make it larger or cardboard. For a pallet, you can use a lid from a plastic tub; think big yogurt container. For a pallet knife, any plastic knife will work.
Links to Materials
✔ Paint
In the Studio we use Crayola Premier Brand Tempera paint or Dick Blick Premium Grade Tempera paint. This is not your nursery school tempera. It is rich, opaque, smooth, luscious and creamy. Crayola brand has a more consistent consistency but either brand will do. We use tempera paints since they dry quickly and are SO fluid.
If tempera is not an option any Acrylic paints will do too. We like Golden, Dick Blick, and Liquitex Basics Brands.
✔ Paintbrushes
In the Studio we use a wide variety of brushes. Brushes are fun to shop for and it’s helpful if you can get to know them before purchasing them for the first time. However, Amazon sells a good starter set here.
✔ Paper
In the Studio we use a heavy weighted, 80-pound, 20” x 26” smooth paper (only sold in bulk). We paint on paper instead of canvas since it’s not seen as precious. It supports the idea that we are focused more on the process rather than the final art product. Think of it as a rough draft or journal entry. We also have the option of adding sheets of paper to each other to create a larger surface to create on…if that’s what’s calling you. It is recommended to paint on AT LEAST 80-pound paper or heavier.
Here are a few of our favorites:
With that said, painters at home find themselves painting on paper, cardboard, canvas, and canvas board too. We welcome it all.
Paper plates or palette to lay and mix paint on
Container of water for washing brushes
Rags/paper towels are great to have close by too
Please note that these are guidelines. Feel free to get creative with your materials and setup.
Easily purchase materials on Etsy here.
Setting Up Your Space
Please do not feel the need to do anything fancy! You can easily sit down at a table with your paper, markers, and device. Be sure to have your device facing the surface that you are working on. Take a look at these basic, yet very functional set-ups for some ideas.
