what people are saying …
This is our sixth year
and people can’t stop shouting about us!
“I have taken many painting courses with accomplished artists and been able to paint well in the style they teach, but I wanted to find my own style. With the Find Your Joy course, I have been able to delve deeply into myself, exploring, playing and experimenting. I frequent my studio almost every day now where I am finding freedom, joy and me!”
“I am finally an artist”
Mary found freedom through Find Your Joy and her whole approach to making art has changed. The results have been great too - she recently won first prize in an exhibition, something that had never happened before.
“It is the best money i have ever spent on myself in the realm of learning art. period.”
Diane grew up in an artistic family, but didn’t consider skilled as an artist. She felt like a failure, but Find Your Joy allowed her to break through that. As her mindset shifted to fun and freedom, her true self was able to shine through. She’s much happier with her artwork now and is able to enjoy the process of making art.
“I really learned to paint for myself and not others”
Hazel felt the desperate need to let what was inside her out, but didn’t know how. She wished to paint from the heart. Find Your Joy taught her how to tap into her passion and express herself, without worrying about what others thought.
“it’s massively changed my life”
Helen was a complete novice and doubted her ability to make art, but felt a strong urge to create. Not only did Find Your Joy give her a safe space to play and explore, it also led her to a journey of self-reflection that changed the trajectory of her life.
“Amazing! This is the course that I never knew that I needed!
I was feeling very stuck and unhappy with my work but had no idea how to make the changes that I wanted. Now I have the tools I need to create work that makes me truly happy and will allow me to finally find my own unique style!! Thank you so much Louise for finding a way to bring so much joy in to people’s lives.”
“I felt like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon”
Trayci had been a successful ceramicist for many years but had no experience with painting. In 2019, Find Your Joy helped her to gain the confidence she needed and before long, there was no stopping her! She now makes amazing figurative work in her studio in South Africa.
“I thought I was being experimental before ... but oh boy!”
Pam has been painting for 40 years. She has taken many courses and has a painting mentor. But Find Your Joy changed everything for her. At 76, she is painting with more passion and excitement than ever before.
“It really has given me confidence”
As an art history professor, Tess was always interested in art, but her own work didn’t feel free. Taking Find Your Joy gave her the confidence to discover her own original artwork that she truly loves to make.
“the course taught me to think differently”
MaryLou struggled with how to paint the “right” way and found herself getting stuck. In Find Your Joy, she learned to push past those barriers to create work she loves. She’s become more confident and learned what she likes and where she wants her artwork to go.
“you won’t regret it”
Teresa was unsure of her capabilities as an artist and unclear what it was she even wanted from her artwork. She signed up for Find Your Joy when she retired from her career as a teacher, and the course gave her a newfound confidence and strength in her artwork.
“I needed to get out of my comfort zone”
Representational artist Kim had been teaching art for years but felt a drive to be more creative in her own work. Find Your Joy gave her the courage to test out new ideas and to find her own way. She had always felt restrained by 'shoulds' and 'oughts' but she now knows how to simply follow the joy.
“Louise’s style is supportive, encouraging and enabling. She allows you to discover your own style, let’s you learn to be comfortable with your art when things don’t go according to plan....it’s normal.
I have moved so much further with Louise’s course than with anything else I’ve ever done.”
“I didn't know how to get where I wanted...”
June had been successful selling representational art, but she wasn't in love with her own work. She followed an intuitive sense after seeing an ad for the course and - after committing to trying new things - she took her art in an exciting new painterly direction.
“i never finished other courses”
Sarah is a photographer and blogger who always wanted to paint but didn’t feel equipped to start. A year ago she dove in with Find Your Joy and has improved her painting skills and learned how to weave her different creative passions together.
“I was a complete beginner not knowing how to start or what to paint. Ten weeks later I have gained confidence, found out what colours and textures I like and most importantly, I’m not scared of just trying things out. This course has been the start of something special for me. I can’t recommend Louise highly enough - a truly natural teacher.”
"I have a whole new mindset"
Sara had recently taken up painting and had taken online classes with several well-known teachers. She had learned all kinds of art-making principles and yet she felt stuck when she tried to put them into practice. Not any more!
“everything i did was not good enough”
Karla struggled with being overly self-critical. Taking Find Your Joy allowed her to open up and be okay trying new things. She is now retired, traveling the country while living and and painting from her RV.
“I was making what i thought was rubbish”
Julie was frustrated and on the verge of selling her art supplies on Ebay. During Find Your Joy, not only did she learn technical skills and gain confidence, but her mindset shifted. She learned to stop worrying about what others like and create work that she enjoys. She’s incorporated her new mindset into her tapestry and feels more like an artist now.
“I believe Louise is a very gifted, humane and courageous person and deserves some kind of accolade for her generosity, emotional intelligence, energy and expertise. She has brought light and peace into my life. After a lifetime of responsibilities I am free and determined to fly.”
“I feel that my creative world has just opened up...”
Libby had built a fairly successful career as a representational landscape painter but she felt she had more to give in her art - she came to the course hoping to loosen up and paint more freely.
“I struggled to find time”
Antonia could never find the time to paint—even letting a whole year go by without creating a painting! What was really holding her back was imposter syndrome. By taking Find Your Joy, she was able to stop worrying about the end result and start painting more.
"I wish i’d done this years ago"
Lynda was a successful representational artist but only painted what she thought others wanted her to paint. During Find Your Joy, she fell in love with abstract painting and stopped worrying about what other people liked.
“The Find Your Joy course has done for me what none of the other courses I attended did: tackling both mindset and technical issues, and tackling the artist’s mindset first and above all other things. And it has worked.
It is intuitive painting, but not touchy-feely, for those who may be afraid of that.”
“I never found a course that really hit the mark before”
Alyshia works in data and was worried the course might be for “professional” artists, but she found everything she needed in an art course in Find Your Joy. Not only did she make long-term friends in the community, she also found so much confidence and strength that it spilled over from her artwork into the rest of her life.
"I had a big idea, but didn't know how to express it"
Irene had been painting for 18 months when she discovered Find Your Joy. She had a clear idea of what she wanted to express, but no firm idea of how to do it. That all changed as a result of the assignments and the support of the community ...
“I could breathe again!”
Dianne had studied the formal principles of art such as composition, value and colour but she felt as if she had become stuck in her left brain. Find Your Joy freed her up and she is now painting more often, painting more freely, and working much larger.
"It just unlocked everything for me."
Amanda happened upon a style of painting that made the perfect gift ... which was great until she realised that in the process of making commission after commission, she had lost herself. But with the help of Find Your Joy, she is now back to making unique, exciting artwork that feels like her.
"by the end of the course, i was working in a completely different way"
Wendy was painting realistic landscapes she thought people would buy, but was getting frustrated by not being true to her own artistic voice. She needed a kickstart and found it in Find Your Joy. Now she paints more abstractly and has learned to be more relaxed and playful.
“I got better at saying no”
Through Find Your Joy, Jan learned to stop doing things that didn’t bring her joy—both in her artwork and in the rest of her life.
“I have done many art courses over the years but I can honestly say this one has been life changing and by far the best of any. I have lacked confidence in my ability, spent a lot of time copying other artists but never been happy with the outcome. Suddenly this totally different approach of Louises has given me confidence in my own ability to paint from my heart and express what is inside of me, to enthusiastically take on all the different processes and be excited by the outcome.”
"I feel like a changed woman. it really shifted everything for me."
Helen was hampered by self doubt and not knowing her own voice. After taking Find Your Joy, she is unapologetic about her work. She no longer beats herself up wondering if her paintings are any good because she’s found her own unique voice.
"my spirit feels lighter"
Sue was feeling unmotivated during lockdown. After taking Find Your Joy, she’s begun painting almost everyday, and became motivated to enjoy her old hobbies again. She now feels more alive in all areas of her life. Even her friends have noticed how much more energetic she is!
"Such a fantastic experience!"
Kathy did not know any artists in real life who wanted to make abstract art. She felt alone and unsupported in her efforts until she found Find Your Joy and finally found her tribe!
“The course is so meticulously thought out in every way to help you achieve what YOU want from your art without any stress or pressure whatsoever.
It’s a brilliantly designed course that suits all levels of ability. You gather an amazing tool bag of knowledge on this journey in a fun way.”
"A life-changing experience..."
Liz worked as an illustrator for many years, but found it hard to let go of constraints when it came to making her own work. She wanted to learn to express more in her art and she is now making evocative paintings that tell a story of the area around her home.
“i had come to a standstill”
Self-taught artist Judy had created a successful art career, but had reached a plateau and didn’t know where to go next or if she even wanted to continue. By taking Find Your Joy, she found a new excitement about painting and has enough ideas to never get stuck again.
“I have taken many art classes but nothing has come anywhere near the experience of the last 10 weeks.
The whole course was run beautifully - so easy to access and even the tech side was a breeze to navigate even for us over 70s.”
“I can’t say enough good things”
Tamara had never picked up a paintbrush until five years ago. After taking other courses, she quickly found herself getting bogged down in what a “proper” artist ought to do. Taking Find Your Joy allowed her to release these preconceived notions and become more confident in her own voice.
"I had so many different styles - I didn't know who I was..."
Kerry's brother looked at her artwork and said it looked as if lots of different people had made the work. She knew he had a point. So she set out to explore her own voice and to find out what she wanted to express.
“This course changed my life. At this point in my life I have been wanting to ‘live out my days’ doing what I love which is painting. I took workshop after workshop trying to find the magic, only to be frustrated, depressed and stuck. Louise Fletcher and this course convinced me that it was possible to find my authentic and unique voice. I wish I could describe the feeling of being freed from the old voices that kept me frozen from doing what I love.”