Flora Bowley to teach at Do What You Love retreat in England!

I am absoutely thrilled to share the news that American painter Flora Bowley will be teaching a three-day workshop at the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat in Yorkshire, England next May!

(Image: Tyson Robichaud)

Flora's painting style is gorgeously unique, bursting with colour and beauty, and she is an incredibly gifted teacher.  The one day class I took with Flora a while back was one of the most freeing days of painting I have ever experienced.  So you can imagine how exciting it is that Flora will be travelling to Europe specially for this workshop, where participants can sink into three days of indulgent creating with this wonderful free spirit. 

In "Bloom True - wild and delicious painting with Flora Bowley", the class will explore a whole new way of painting from a space of freedom, non-judgment and experimentation. This process is about loosening up, letting go of expectations, having fun and allowing paintings to unfold naturally. The class will paint on giant canvasses, with access to acres of stunning countryside for inspiration and outdoor classroom space.

If you are able to join us, I can promise you will never look at painting the same way again.

'Freed' by Flora Bowley, acrylic on canvas 36" x 36"

As part of the retreat's creative enterprise sessions, Flora will also share some of her experience in making it as an internationally-acclaimed professional painter, who has licenced some of her work with Anahata Katkin's 'Papaya!'.

'Thirty-six' by Flora Bowley, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 36"

Flora lives and works full-time as a painter in Portland, OR, where she is inspired by magical forests, abundant gardens and a thriving community of fellow artists. Flora’s love for life and spontaneous nature are clearly visible in her vibrant, easily recognizable paintings. Throughout the year, Flora enjoys travelling, teaching workshops and painting in colorful locations around the world.

More information will be available on the Do What You Love retreat website to be launched in early January.   This retreat will be cosy and intimate – small enough for everyone to get to know everyone - so places are strictly limited. Registration will formally launch with the new site in early January, but if you want to be the first to know about it (and get in on the early bird discount), sign up for the new Do What You Love newsletter up on the right hand side of this post. 

Internationally-renowned book artist Rachel Hazell and award-winning mixed-media artist Priscilla Jones will also be teaching at the retreat.  For more info see here

Bloom True class with Flora Bowley

Do you know Flora Bowley?  If not, you should!  Flora is an incredibly talented artist with a unique beautiful style, and a gifted workshop teacher.   She is a happy, spontaneous free spirit, and that is the way she paints.  She is also a ridiculously cool person who is great fun to hang out with.  I was so lucky to take a class from her in the US. 

Flora Bowley shows the second layer of a painting.  Flora's creation evolved into the bird below

It is hard to describe the workshop I took with her in the woods at Squam, I just loved it so much.  Although we were taught to explore a painting method very different to the way I usually paint, it felt really natural to me.  Rather than visualising something and painting it, we created layer upon layer, teasing out images that emerged organically. 

Layering it on

The lovely Jess Greene examining her creation

My paintings (above and below)

My paintings were really far from the kind of things I have created in the past, but I felt strongly connected to them, not least because they reminded me of my dreams the night before the workshop (wierd!)

It was also a lovely thing to see Lorrie Spotts living out her Mondo Beyondo dream by taking a class with Flora.

If you ever get the chance to check out an exhibition or take a class with Flora, do it! 

November 2010 update: Flora Bowley will  be teaching at the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat in Yorkshire, England, in May 2011!  For more details see here or sign up to the newsletter on the right hand side.

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More on my Squam experience here:
Reflections on Squam - I dreamed a dream
Open Your Eyes - photography class with Susannah Conway
Wabi Sabi paper class with Judy Wise
Squam round up

Bloom True

Thought I’d share a piece from a series I am working on – ‘Bloom True’. The smells and colours of the emerging spring made me want to paint flowers.

Acrylic on canvas (20"x16")

Recently I was introduced to the incredibly talented Flora Bowley in a post by Lorrie Spotts, and instantly loved her work.  I was intrigued to then discover she is teaching a workshop at Squam in the autumn, entitled… Bloom True! It felt like a sign so I have recklessly signed up for Squam and will be heading back to the US for more creative fun with lovely American gals later in the year. I have also signed up for a photography workshop with Susannah Conway and wabi-sabi paper with Judy Wise. Anyone else going? It’s going to be so much fun.

But for now, I am living in the moment of gorgeous sunshine, long mountain bike rides and painting – bliss. Happy weekend!