ARTWORKS IS A NEW ZEALAND BASED ORGANISATION FOUNDED BY AWARD WINNING ARTIST KIMBRA TAYLOR; OFFERING ONLINE DRAWING AND ART COURSES, WORKSHOPS AND UNIQUE PIECES OF ART FOR COMMISSION.
Kimbra is dedicated to helping individuals achieve mindfulness through learning how to draw. Her techniques and strategies enable people who have never drawn or painted to become competent in both fields. Competency in drawing and painting involves not only fundamental technique but also mind management skills and strategies. These techniques and strategies are transferable to our personal and business lives, empowering us to optimise outcomes by using more of our brain’s capacity.
Kimbra graduated from the Wellington School of design with a Diploma of Visual Communications. She has worked as an illustrator in publishing and advertising for several years and was employed by the Wellington School of Design as a tutor in illustration, graphic techniques and life drawing. She went on to work as a freelance illustrator specializing in magazine, fashion and book illustration.
As well as working for the Thomas Nelson publishing firm, Kimbra has many published children’s books and takes part in group exhibitions. Kimbra has tutored at Whitireia Polytechnic and Weltech where she taught life drawing and drawing & painting and has taught general drawing and perspective at the Wellington School of Architecture and Illustration at Massey University.
Kimbra was a finalist in the 2014 Parkin Award, held a student Exhibition in 2013, is a Studio Artist in the Kapiti Arts Trails, was a finalist in the 2010 Adam Award National Portrait Exhibition. Her portrait, “Girl with a Blue Hot Water Bottle” was one of forty selected to tour the country. She won a merit award at the 2010 Kapiti / Horowhenua Annual Review Exhibition – Select/ED, and was the 2009 winner of the Gordon Harris best painting award at the NZ Splash National Watercolour Exhibition.
ABOUT ARTWORKS COURSES
ARTWORKS is a New Zealand based organisation founded by award-winning artist Kimbra Taylor. Dedicated to helping individuals achieve balance through art, Kimbra offers online drawing classes and mindfulness education for people in all walks of life.
Why learn to draw?
There are many benefits of learning how to draw – and the good news is it is never too late to learn!
– Drawing is a natural stress reliever
– Encourages mindfulness
– Promotes good self-esteem
– Is an empowering form of self-expression
Even if you are currently limited to stick figures, you will be able to accomplish work you are proud of. It’s no harder than learning to drive a car and much safer!
A Classroom Environment
Artworks courses are run like a classroom with regular feedback from your award-winning teacher, Kimbra Taylor.
You will have the opportunity to make friends, contribute to online discussions and upload your artwork to share.
Drawing and Mindfulness
Did you know that drawing can slow down your heart rate and breathing and stem the racing thoughts in your mind?
“Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.” – Psychology Today
Research states that links are being found between art and mindfulness. Art therapist Sada Harouni writes that playing with colour can act as a de-stresser for adults, allowing them to relax and feel more present. Practising drawing can encourage you to focus on one task at a time, seeing the detail and the whole thing without being overwhelmed. It can slow down your heart rate and breathing and stem the racing thoughts in your mind.
For those of you who don’t like the sound of meditation or deep breathing, then drawing is a creative way to engage with mindfulness. When you draw something from the world around you, you gain a depth of experience and intimacy with it that is profoundly rewarding; an experience akin to deep meditation.
So, instead of reaching for the TV remote or turning on your tablet at the end of the day, consider taking up drawing and connect with that creative, mindful aspect of your own nature. You will be surprised at the ease with which the journey unfolds!
Our “Learning to draw for Absolute Beginners” online course is designed to cover the fundamentals – meeting the needs of the novice to the more accomplished.
Key Course Outcomes:
Discover line drawing and tone, (which is another word for shading) and learn the fundamental principles of proportion.
Be introduced to the Right and Left Hemispheres of your brain and the effect they have on learning this new skill.
Become part of a supportive online community and make connections that will sustain and inspire you throughout the course and beyond.
Be able to draw a realistic piece of fruit in 3 dimensions by the end of the course.
Drawing for absolute beginners
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. Classroom/blog environment
. Personal feedback on submitted assignments
. See other student work and feedback
FIND OUT MORE VISIT http://artworks.kiwi/