Echoes of Earth:
An Expressive Portrait and Figure Exploration
part of the Medicine Circle Membership
This ancient earth has much wisdom to share with us, when we are quiet enough to listen. Creating art is a great way to tap into that inner knowing. We are all of this earth-- we belong to this earth. It connects us, holds us, and has teachings to share.
create your own earth inspired series
enjoy playful journal explorations
integrate earth’s teachings through story
find your own artistic voice
Build your expressive portrait and mixed media art skills.
Let’s move into our imagination, listen to ancient wisdoms, and immerse ourselves in our creative energies.
Hello creative friends,
I am so very excited to be offering this earth inspired course in expressive portraits and figures!! The earth has many medicines and wisdoms to share with us. Stones, earth, trees, moons, ocean, wind, seasons, cycles, and transitions— their medicines echo to us through time.
We will begin your story with playful journal explorations to find imagery/symbols that resonate for you and to find your own colour story. Each earth project will unfold step by step bringing its teachings and medicines with it. We will capture these teachings and the stories of each piece through journalling and guided writing activities. Bring it all together into a cohesive series and then we will celebrate!
I’d love for you to join me in this soulful course. Learn new portrait techniques and design composition tricks. We will also be kind to ourselves, and find our own unique expression of the echoes of earth.
Melanie/Tiyaltelwet
Story beginnings…
Playful journal explorations
Unfolding..
3 Earth inspired paintings with in-depth portrait and figure lessons
Integration…
Capturing the story, the teachings, and the medicines from each piece through gentle guided writing activities
Completion
Bringing them together into a cohesive series…. frame them, create an ebook, a slide show… Let’s celebrate together and hold a mini art show celebration in the FaceBook group.
Your Journey
create a cohesive series of three earth inspired paintings
listen deeply to the land and bring it’s wisdom to each piece
include symbolism meaningful to you
create your own colour story
find and bring your own style and voice
capture your unique stories in your pieces
build your portrait and hand skills
build your confidence in painting a front facing and a 3/4 turned portraits, and a figure
learn different mixed media techniques
design pieces meaningful to you
be inspired and connect with your own inner knowing
celebrate your series
This Course Includes…
Guidance and support from Melanie
Stories and teachings about earth and its medicines with a guest appearance from my husband, Aaron Nelson Moody/Tawx'sin Yexwulla/Pulxtn
8 hours of in depth video lessons
Downloadable videos
Downloadable PDFs with step-by-step instructions
Downloadable supply lists
Library of short 3-5 minute technique videos (includes colour mixing, tracing a reference photo, placing features on the face)
Bonus:
2 virtual live Zoom sessions (30 min each) for ceremony (my hubby will drum and sing for us!), sharing, technique demos, asking questions and celebrating our work. (Replays available. Held at different times suited for Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and North America).
Private Facebook group for support and encouragement
dive into ancient medicines
listen deeply to the land
build your artistic style
“Melanie is such a gentle soul with so much to give. She is very inspiring to a healthy practice involving mind/body/spirit in an artful way.”
Warm Ups and Inspiration
Your Unique Color Story
Project 1: Water Wisdom
Project 2: Patterns in Nature
Project 3: Earth Woman
Gentle Guided Writing Activities
I'm here for you.
As are the long line of ancestors that stand behind you.
Sisters of this earth. WActivites:uided
Come sit with me.
Lightly tough your finger tips to the ground.
Our sister tree, brings her rings of wisdom.
Shows us a deep rootedness
And at the same time a reaching upwards, ever slowly, surely.
Her strong centre reminds us of our own footing, our own resilience.
This time has challenged us--
One ring in this tree.
One cycle around the sun.
Remember you are loved.
Remember you have inside the strength to stand with your sisters.
Our fires burn bright.
All held by this earth.
Remember, I am here for you.
--- love Earth Mother
Techniques Learned
Where to place features for a front facing and 3/4 turned face
Utilizing a reference photo for placement of features and shading
Mapping darks and lights and finding the ‘shape’ of the face
Creating a realistic looking nose (front facing and 3/4 turned)
Creating soulful eyes
Depth and shape in the lips
Painting a hand! Yes, we can do it!
Appealing design compositions
Bringing cohesion to a piece and a series
Blending techniques
Seated figure with foreshortening
Adding patterned papers and text pages
Your Unique Artistic Voice
Our artistic style is present from day one and is continually evolving. Finding your unique artistic voice will be a part of the course journey— even if you utilize the same design, reference photos and colour scheme as me. If you are new to your artistic journey, or new to portraits, I will walk you through step by step. If you have been on your painting journey for a while, I will encourage you to find imagery that resonates with you and explore your own colour story and design compositions. There is no wrong way to go through the course.
“Melanie is REAL and amazing. She truly understands the human spirit and the need to become part of nature and life even in this challenging time. I feel so happy to take her Spirit Medicine course, and I look forward to many more of her classes and teachings.”
Suggested Supplies
Main supplies:
Patterned paper and text pages
Journal (90 lb or heavier)
3 wood, paper (140 lbs) or canvass substrates (various sizes and shapes)
I used wooden cradle boards: 9” x 12”, 11” x 14”, 24” x 8”, all were 2 “ deep
Acrylic paint of assorted colours
Suggested face colours: titan buff, titanium white, paynes grey, raw sienna, raw umber, red oxide (I use Golden Open paints)
Black micron felt pen
Pencil 4B and kneaded eraser
Charcoal pencil in white and black, stabillo all
Acrylic matte gel and Fluid Matte Medium
Assorted brushes
Suggested face brushes: filberts in various sizes (2-12), spotter 5/0
Optional:
an extender to extend blending time of acrylic paints
Scissors
Pastel pencils in favourite colours
If you want to do some color mixing: Cadmium Yellow Medium (cool), Diarylide Yellow (warm), Alizarin Crimson Hue (cool), Cadmium Red Medium (warm), Phlalo Blue (cool), Ultramarine Blue (warm)
White gesso
Clear gesso (if using a wood substrate)
Brayer
White gel pen
Palette knife and/or old credit card
letter stamps and Distress ink acid free. I used Ranger.
About Me
I am an Indigenous mixed media artist who teaches online art classes to women around the world. I help women build a joyful and self-compassionate art practice. I am trained in Expressive Arts.
Creating art brings me into the present moment, into stillness. In this space I am not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. In stillness, I find myself. I find peace, clarity and connection with my real emotions.
I am from the Squamish First Nation in Vancouver, Canada. I live in my community with my wonderful husband of 19 years (and our sweet kitty) and I draw from my traditional ancestry and teachings in my art practice.
In my art, I depict the strength, realness and vulnerability of women. Art has many medicines to share with us—stillness, joy, connection-- and by building a self- compassionate art practice, we can experience these medicines on a regular basis.
“I thoroughly enjoyed learning. You were very precise with your instructions. You gave unstintingly of your self and of your knowledge. Your videos were full of details and information. I also liked the pace with which you explained and approached the class. I liked the two projects. I didn’t feel overwhelmed trying to do them nor felt burdened that I had to “get” it. I came across your mini-class by pure accident. I was and are very pleased that I signed up. I learned a lot. Thank you for your care. I look forward to your next class.”
Q & A
Do I need to have an art background?
No, I love introducing people to art, creativity and portraits. The focus of the course will be on enjoying the process and experiencing the ‘medicine’ of creating art — stillness, joy, play, quiet, connection… There will be a library of short technique videos and portrait references as well as how to trace the portrait or figure on to your canvas.
When do I get access to the lessons?
The course open again in fall 2021 and will run over 5 weeks. Each Tuesday, you will receive the next set of lessons.
What if I don’t have time right now to do the lessons or get behind?
You have lifetime access to the course, so you can go at your own pace. You can also download the videos and view at your own time.
What does life time access mean?
As long as the course is available, you will have access to the course pages. If the course is brought out of circulation, you will have four months notice to complete the course and/or download the videos.
Can I download the videos?
Yes.
What does “Live Run” and “Self-Study” mean?
A live run means that the course opens on a specific date so students have an opportunity to go through the course lessons together. Some find the energy of the group inspiring and motivating. There will be 3 live Zoom sessions during the first 5 weeks the course opens and if people can’t make the time, the replays will be available after. If you find yourself too busy during the time period the course opens, there is no pressure to do the lessons during that time. All videos are downloadable and you have life-time access to the course.
Do I need to share my work in the FaceBook group?
No. It is completely optional. The group is a place to share our fears, inspirations, and be connected with each others creative journey.
Do I need to have all the supplies listed?
No. I’ll share suggestions for different types of supplies. You are welcome to utilize what you have on-hand and if you do want to purchase a new supply, I can offer suggestions.
What if I can’t afford it now, when might it be available again?
I’ll be offering this course 1-2 times per year. Next registration will be in the fall.
What currency are the prices in?
The prices are in Canadian currency and will be converted with the daily exchange rate with the method you select to pay with (credit card or PayPal).
Do you have payment plans?
At this time, I am not able to offer payment plans.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
Contact me within 7 days of the course start, and I will refund you your money.
For the live sessions:
Do I have to be on camera or audio?
No, if you want to participate via the chat box, you are welcome to do that! Or have your camera on some of the time.
What if I can’t make the time of the session?
We would miss you! You can catch the session on the video replay. I’ll hold the live sessions at different times of day to capture different time zones.
How will we be connecting?
Via Zoom (or through video replay).
““Many people here had spirit helpers who spoke to them, and not just bears and wolves but trees and rocks and water and moss. In order to hear them, a Squamish person would go away from other humans and simply sit and listen. After days or weeks or even years they would let themselves hear what had been around them the whole time. The sound of the world.”
”