Class Date & Time

Immediate Access

Cost: $20

(replay available after class with lifetime access)

About Book of Flowers

I love teaching in-person art workshops. An immediate sense of community and creative energy floats through the space. It is important to me that everyone walks away feeling inspired, nurtured, and loved when I teach an in-person art workshop.

How do I make this happen via Zoom? 

For starters, I have a little "Welcome Gift" waiting for you once you register, along with a lovely little workbook with printables, reference photos, and a place to take notes during the class. 


The best part is we can all chat, ask questions, share our work, and have fun creating together. Just thinking about it makes me bubble over with excitement. And there will be a little surprise once we say goodbye to keep you inspired and creating. 


Let me tell you a little about the class.


We will transform an ordinary sketchbook into a rich tapestry of ideas filled with contour drawings, botanical sketches, color studies, painted flowers, stitched collages, pressed flowers, and use a mix of papers you have on hand. 




During our two hours together, I will share a few lessons I've created, especially for this class.

  • Creating a beautiful color palette inspired by flowers
  • Contour drawing
  • Quick Sketches
  • Small Expressive Florals that you can tuck into your book.
  • Collage
  • Stitching
  • Painting on Fabric
  • Pressing flowers and adding small elements of collage papers inspired by vintage botanicals
  • Altering our ordinary sketchbook with fun papers


We won't fill every page but plant the seeds to allow new ideas to take root and bloom.

Art Supplies


MY THOUGHTS ON ART SUPPLIES

It is easy to get swept away with art supplies, especially when you begin a new class. You don't need everything on the list! I suggest that you substitute with what you have on hand. I've made my best discoveries through substitution.

Please feel free to substitute any color, brand, or supply for something you already have.

Sketchbook -- I suggest a smaller sketchbook that you can keep when you're out and about or on a trip. I like the Handbook Sketchbook. The paper is a high-quality cream drawing paper that will stand up to watercolor sketches, acrylic paints, pastels, collages, etc. The size I will be using is approximately 8.5 x 5.5

Papers - Gather the paper you have on hand. I will use kraft paper, wrapping paper, vintage paper, handmade paper, tracing paper, and watercolor paper. The idea is to use up your stuff!! Get creative, reuse packing materials, gift bags, etc.

Pencils & Pens - anything you have on hand. Charcoal pencils, micron pens, paint pens, graphite, colored pencils -- anything you love to make marks with.

Paint -  You can use what you feel comfortable using. I will use a combination of Golden's high-flow and regular heavy-body acrylic paints. You don't need to use the same colors I use, but if you're interested, I've included the links.

Alizarin Crimson

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Raw Sienna

Yellow Ochre

Caribbean Pink  -- any light pink will work

Olive Green

Sap Green

Green Gold

Payne's Gray

Titanium White

Black

Golden's High Flow - Sap Green - you don't need it, but I will demonstrate how I use it.

Adhesives:

Elmer's Craft Bond Glue Stick is great for what we will do with our pages.

Yes Paste OR Goldens Heavy Body Medium

Mediums

Goldens Gloss (or Satin) Glazing Medium. This works excellent with Acrylic Paint and creates layers and movement with your paint.

Fabric, ribbons, and other textiles you have on hand. I will be using a small piece of linen, cotton fabric, a few pieces of unprimed cotton canvas (you can use pieces of a cotton drop cloth), and a few small bits of ribbons in colors I love.

Embroidery Thread & Needle (optional)

Ruler

Scissors

Assorted Paint Brushes

And most importantly -- A few fresh flowers.


Disclosure of Material Connection: Some or all links in this supply list are affiliate links. We will receive an affiliate commission if you click the link and purchase the item. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.




Instructor

About Me Renee Mueller

Thank you for choosing to take my class, I'm so thrilled and honored that you're here. I want to tell you a little about me. I hold a BFA from the University of Michigan where I studied Art History, Dance, and Choreography. I danced professionally and had the honor of teaching dance at the University of Michigan's Musical Theater and Theater Departments. Most of my life has been spent in the dance studio and the theater. Because of this, I have had the privilege to work with many talented dancers, costume designers, set designers, lighting designers, and musicians. One of the many things that I learned from this experience in the performing arts was to honor your ideas and devote yourself to a subject. Also, to share, support, and collaborate. Once I decided to "exit stage left", it was challenging to find another creative outlet. Like many of us, I loved to draw, paint and create as a child, but never really invested a tremendous amount of time in cultivating that practice. About 10 years ago I began drawing again and decided to commit to a daily practice. I was challenged and inspired!. So, I continue to practice, experiment with materials, and allow my ideas to guide me through the process. When creating art, I draw upon the many methods I learned as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Research, gathering inspiration, honoring my point of view, and sharing ideas. It is my hope that by sharing my creative practices, my process, techniques and what inspires me, you will find something that works for you.