Introducing Loosen Up + Let Go
Express Yourself Beyond References
An Online Workshop
with Marla Baggetta
Welcome to this transformative pastel workshop, where we’ll journey beyond the conventional, exploring new realms and depths within the art of pastel painting. Dive deep into the nuances of value, harness the emotive power of color, and embrace groundbreaking techniques that will revolutionize your approach to pastels. Here, we’ll venture into realms where judgment and over-analysis have no place, channeling deep, subconscious wellsprings of creativity. This is not merely a follow-along workshop. It’s a heartfelt invitation to explore, invent, and define your unique artistic voice in the world of pastels. Empower yourself with newfound confidence, breaking free from the constraints of over-reliance on references. Embark on a journey where your art becomes a raw, uninhibited reflection of your soul.
Over 9 Hours of Video
We have worked hard to bring you high quality instructional videos that provides easy to follow, clear and detailed instruction. You’ll have lifetime access to all the videos enabling you work at your own pace in the comfort of your own home from any device for a seamless and modern online experience.
Beautifully Illustrated PDF
Our 66+ page detailed coursework presents you with an illustrated guide to materials, theory and wisdom from an expert instructor and professional artist covering everything you need to get started with Loosen Up + Let Go Divided into 8 highly structured chapters, Marla will guide you through all of the necessary groundwork, reinforced with exciting exercises and step-by-step demonstrations, providing you a roadmap to becoming an accomplished artist.
Private Facebook Community
Course Contents
Each chapter focuses on a Study or a Step By Step Demo
Chapter 1:
Introduction
This workshop is a sanctuary where conventions are challenged and creativity is unhinged, allowing you to tap into the profound emotional power of color and form, free from dependence on photo references.. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced artist, I invite you to embrace this opportunity to invent and refine your unique style, to paint with more freedom and authority, and to discover a more expressive, authentic, and uninhibited form of artistic expression. Welcome to a world where your art can truly resonate and be a mirror to your soul.
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Guided Learning: Welcome
Orient for Joy + Contemplation - Video: Introduction to Design Compose and Draw
Chapter 2:
Free Up Your Mark Making
Embark on a transformative journey with this series of enlightening exercises to enhance your mark-making vocabulary, fostering a distinct and personal artistic style. Explore various pastel brands, experiment with pressure and velocity, and play with scale and direction for comprehensive artistic development. Whether it’s expressive apple drawings or intricate landscapes, this chapter provides a playful and insightful exploration into the diverse world of mark-making. It’s an invitation to leave your comfort zone and delve into the joy of artistic discovery and expression!
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Guided Learning:
Pencils
Paper
Templates
Chapter 3:
Open Up Your Eyes
Delve into the art of distillation and simplification, essential skills before advancing to intricate artworks. You’ll learn to dissect landscapes into paintable shapes and patterns, transforming vibrant scenes into structured compositions. Carlson’s Theory of Angles is introduced as a key tool for interpreting light’s interaction with different landscape planes, offering a nuanced perspective on portraying natural elements. Through exercises focused on distilling value masses and exploring value positions, discover boundless interpretative possibilities, opening the door to inventive approaches to any reference and enriching your artistic perception.
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Guided Learning:
Distilling + Simplifying
Carlson's Theory of Angles
Making a Value Scale
Massing Values from 6 References
Carlson's Theory on It's Head
Chapter 4:
Color Unbounded
You are welcomed into a realm of creative exploration and self-expression, delving deep into the essence of color: hue, value, and saturation. The journey is painted with exercises that bring color to life, allowing you to explore and understand its three aspects independently, pushing boundaries to see color as the language of emotions and character.
Here, landscapes become more than scenes; they morph into canvases of expressive color variations and emotional reflections, a symphony of self-expression and inventive color schemes.
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Guided Learning:
3 Aspects of Color
Color in Action
Landscape Variations
Color Expressions
Chapter 5:
Underpainting Explorations
Discover the versatile technique of using pastel as underpainting, a creative approach to laying the foundation for your artwork. This method blends pastels with water or alcohol, creating a stable base and allowing a seamless integration of various pastel types. Here, underpainting is not just a foundational layer but a transformative tool, helping artists overcome the intimidation of a blank canvas and providing a starting point during moments of creative block. Whether experimenting with abstract grounds or depicting the final subject, this chapter offers a playground for innovation, texture, and color, inviting you to explore the myriad possibilities underpainting presents in your artistic journey.
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Guided Learning:
Pastel as Underpainting
Wet Media Underpainting
Chapter 6:
Compositional Clarity
Delve into the subtle art of composition, understanding the delicate balance between arrangement, detail, and the overarching unity of a piece. This chapter is a guide on how to be the director of your artistic creation, deciding what the piece is about and what elements take the lead or play supportive roles. It introduces essential composition hacks like the Rule of Thirds and guides artists on how to create visually arresting images with unequal divisions of shapes, values, and colors. The exercises provided explore the transition from realistic to abstract, encouraging artists to gradually simplify and abstract elements in their work.
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Guided Learning:
Composition
Using Photos
Inventing Color
Landscape Progressions
Chapter 7:
Putting it All Together
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Guided Learning:
Single Large Object
Floral Bouquet
Keeping Focused
Chapter 8:
Conclusion
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Guided Learning:
Challenge Yourself
Resources
References
LOOSEN UP + LET GO
24/7/365 Lifetime COURSE aCCESS
Get started with Loosening Up + Letting Go in this incredible Online Workshop!
Beautifully Designed Ebook
66+ pages of in-depth content
In Depth Theory and Guidance
Marla isolates the complex principles of painting and investigates them practically and simply so any student can comprehend and execute even the most difficult problems. Moving from simple to more involved concepts, each lesson builds on the previous so you’ll gain a sound foundation to further your study and practice of painting.
Step by Step Guided Demonstrations
Marla guides you through the time-tested fundamentals step by step, stroke by stroke from the very beginning stages of a drawing to the finish line in a logical and enjoyable path. Marla stresses the need to develop your own judgement and individual voice as an artist.
A Lifetime of Artist Experience
At Your Fingertips
Over 30 years as a professional artist and teacher
Stunning Artwork, Photographs and Illustration
Following Marla's Instruction is a Pleasure and A Breeze
thanks to Creative and Beautiful Design
Marl a Has Thousands of Satisfied Students
What people say?
World Class Video Instruction
Like having a teacher at the easel with you, no matter where you are
Fun and Easeful Instruction
With a lifetime of experience as an artist and educator, Marla brings an unparalleled combination of joy and wisdom directly to your home. We have worked hard to offer beautiful and clear video instruction, providing valuable education and insight, that will keep you inspired for months and even years.
Up Close and Personal at the Easel
Following along while learning has never been easier! The demonstration view shows the progress of each painting, the reference photo and thumbnail when appropriate, so you get to see how each piece is built from start to finish. Marla narrates her progress in real time as she is painting, so you won’t miss a thing!
Loosen Up + Let Go
24/7/365 COURSE ACCESS
Loosen Up + Let Go with this incredible Online Workshop!
Frequently Asked Questions
You need to log into the site to participate in the workshop so you will need an internet connection. Workshops and Subscriptions are accessible on iPads, tablets, computers, laptops and even phones – any device you can watch access the web on.
If you have any problems with playing a video or hearing a video, try these steps:
1) Check your internet connection and reset your internet connection if necessary.
2) Clear your browser cache and history.
2) Update your browser, or try another browser (like Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer).
Sure, you can open a support ticket and we’ll help you right away. Just Email Suport and we will reply within 24 hours! If we don’t know the answer to your question, we’ll ask Marla and she’ll reply as quickly as she can.
The workshop assignments are online accessible 24×7 – you can take the lessons any time you want. You are not required to complete the course in a specified amount of time. You get access to all the assignments in the workshop at once in a secure member’s area on PaintingLessonsWithMarla.com
When you register for the workshop, you’ll get a Student Account which gives you access to the My Courses area on the PaintingLessonsWithMarla.com website. Your Student Account will allow you take lessons and complete assignments any time you want.
You get lifetime access to the workshop and lessons you pay for so you can finish your painting any time. It’s fun to keep up with your fellow artists and see how they are doing too but you can stop and come back to it any time, 24×7. Assignment reminders are sent via email but you can complete them at your own pace – no problem at all!
100% Digital Online Course
Works With All Devices
24/7 Access No Matter Where You Are
Easy To Follow
Our Site has been carefully designed to be easy to follow. Our simple learning system tracks your progress and takes out the hassle, allowing you to focus on panting!