Draw with Me
Join Laura to practise your observational drawing skills. Working from simple objects and using basic materials we’ll learn to look closely and become familiar with our subject matter and find ways to record them accurately in our drawing.
Creative Online Courses
There are lots of individual workshops in the Classrooms, but here you’ll find our extended courses.
Here at DesignMatters Linda and Laura have been offering a range of creative art and craft courses for over 17 years. On this page you’ll find a free stitch-along, free art challenge, our hugely popular Sketchbook Challenge and 31 Days of Art Journalling. New for 2023 is Draw with Me where you can work along with Laura at your own pace to improve your observational drawing skills. Click on the links below to find out more and to sign up.
Running with Stitch
Join Linda for some slow stitching using free appliqué, running stitches and some simple couching and embroidery, all inspired by painters such as Paul Klee. You’ll make a stitched fabric that can be made into a variety of beautiful things from greetings cards, framed wall art and bags.
31 Days of Art Journalling
Work along with Laura in your art journal to establish a daily art habit. Together we’ll explore a wide variety of techniques to include in your book including using paint, drawing, stencils and collage.
Painting with Pencils – Birds
Learn to paint with water soluble coloured pencils (such as Derwent Inktense) to make a small painting of birds with foliage. Linda will guide you through from finding suitable reference material, organising a successful composition, to making the painting itself. Finally she’ll show you how to mount your painting for display.
Sketchbook Challenge
Work along with Laura to fill your sketchbook. There are eight practical video workshops packed with technique demonstrations and ideas. Choose your own theme and fill that sketchbook!
Learn to Paint – Watercolour, Still Life
In six video lessons learn to paint still life in watercolour. You’ll learn about washes, colour mixing, lifting out, using masking fluid, water-soluble pencils, and mixed media with oil pastel, negative painting and composition.
Creative Sketchbooks
This course builds a thorough understanding in sketchbook practice and technique. A substantial course with a printable PDF reference book and over 45 video demonstrations. Please note this course is currently fully subscribed and not open to new enrolments.
Advent Art Challenge
Take the Advent Art Challenge and make a little bit of art every day during the festive season. There is a video workshop to help you get started, printable worksheet and inspirational posts with more information and ideas. This course is free.
Bookwrap Stitch-along
Work along with us to me a stitched bookwrap. We’ll use a variety of techniques including English Paper Piecing, appliqué and hand printing. Embellish your bookwrap with hand quilting. This course is free.