Introduction to Drawing
& Painting through the
8 elements of Design
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
ART COURSE
ART COURSE
TURN YOUR
ARTISTIC DESIRES
INTO A REALITY
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A beginner's art course
for home schoolers and
creative enthusiasts
Become a CREATOR
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Brushes With H Art
ACADEMY
™
WELCOME
TO MY
ART COURSE
This introductory course consists of 10 weeks of practical engagement with the exercises set out in the course modules in sequential order. I understand some participants may find it difficult to put aside a set time each week, therefore I have extended the completed time to 6 months. Given the course is self pacing, you will know better than me how to pace yourself during the allocated time.
There is no prior experience required and no one will be left behind provided you ask for help if needed. The prescribed exercises will certainly give you all the confidence and skills to begin your journey as an artist and mentor.
Remember your goal is to become confident and competent with your abilities in the art area to help your children or your friend's children in the home schooling arena or in becoming a confident and well respected artist in your own right.
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Home schooling has taken off in leaps and bounds in the last five years and one has to question why this is so, as if we didn’t have enough to keep us occupied throughout our lives without having the extra responsibility of delving into something we are not trained to do, or so we are propagandized to believe.
Who are we to buck the established authorities on what is best for our children? If you are one of these individuals congratulations on taking this important step in your life and for some of you the lives of your family as a whole.
For those of you who have taken the step to home school your children, you will have realised by now that it is a huge paradigm shift in a world that doesn’t necessarily support that decision. We live in a society that is very structured and following the rules is part of the game of life to make us all feel ‘normal’ in some sense of the word. I describe it in artistic terms as ‘colouring within the lines’ .
ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE YOU WILL:-
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be able to demonstrate your knowledge of the importance and significance the 8 elements of design play in expressing art in your medium of choice.
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be confident with the knowledge you’ve acquired to teach friends and groups of art classes.
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be confident and competent in producing works of art without any intimidation from outside sources and be able to critique your own work.
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be able to demonstrate to a group or individual home schoolers who wish to give their children the best opportunities in developing core art skills in primary and high school levels.
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be able to exhibit with confidence your art works.
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be a source of knowledge in application to friends and groups who wish to paint a canvas to hang in their homes.
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feel confident in the knowledge you have acquired to act as a mentor to other aspiring artists who wish to express their creativity in a confident manner.
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feel a great level of achievement and an accelerated level of self esteem knowing you are now armed with the essential tools to become the artist you always wished to become.
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feel a real connection to like minded people where you can swop and share ideas within the private Facebook group operating during the course.
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feel a great sense of achievement after completing each module.
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feel uplifted and motivated to express your creative abilities in a wide range of areas.
Introduction to Drawing & Painting through the 8 Elements of Design
SAMPLE CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A welcome to the group with an overview of the course for the following 10 weeks ( for some participants it may be
6 months ). A purchase list of materials that you will need to complete the 8 modules. All items can be purchased from Office Works or similar office stores or art supplies to keep things simple and economical.
MODULE 02
Module 2 presents the second of the elements called ‘Value’. In these exercises you will be using different techniques of shading and using lines to create contrast in your drawings. You will complete a greyscale chart and use this as a reference throughout the course.
MODULE 03
Module 3 presents the third element of 'Colour'. Knowledge of the colour wheel and how it works is essential and must be completed before experimenting with the mixing of your purchased colours plus black and white.
MODULE 04
Module 4 presents the forth element called ‘Form’. Exercises will be completed with the introduction of overlapping shapes, contrast, diminishing sizes, simple perspective to name a few of the techniques to turn your drawings into 3 dimensional forms.
My course is for all the 'would be' artists, who have spent most of their adult life wishing they could draw or paint just enough to be confident in sharing their attempts with family and friends.
'I can't even draw a straight line,' I hear you say. Let me assure you, at the end of this course you will probably say the same
thing, because that is not the aim of this course or the outcome of the adventure I am going to present to you.
Take A Glimpse
How to access the course with ease:
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See the course icon when you save the web page to your 'Add to Home Screen' on your phone/tablet.
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Sign in and create an account
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Add the course page to your bookmarks in your browser.
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Save the course url where you securely save your course login details
02
Module 2
VALUE
Exercise 2 cont....................
When you have chosen an interesting view for your landscape hold the frame in front of you and depending on how much of the landscape you want in your final drawing, move the frame backwards and forwards and sideways in front of your eyes until you have captured the most interesting view. Remember to squint as you look through the frame to compare the different values. By using the white card for your viewfinder you can also judge the values of the subjects next to the lightness of the white cardboard.
03
Module 3
COLOUR
Exercise 3 cont...........
Another way I use complementary colours is with shading or in situaions where I want to mute the colour. In this case a small amount of the complementary colour can be added to the initial colour. For example, when I am painting my oranges or mandarins ( what other subject matter can I choose when I live on a citrus orchard ), I add blue to the orange mix to depict the shadow area.
The more of the blue I add the darker the shade. I avoid using black, unless under certain circumstances as this tends to dull colours down too much. A good substitute is Payne’s Grey. While red and green are complementary colours, some artists like to use a splash of what is called ‘Split Complementary’ just to give the painting a ‘Zing’ effect.
04
Module 4
FORM
Exercise 4 cont....................
Choose any organic subject and firstly do several contour drawings. They will look very flat as they are depicted in 2D. However, many of these contour drawings will be very beautiful and sensitive and can stand alone as finished drawings because they convey an emotional response by the artist: That’s you.
Modified Contour
Drawings
Monstera Leaf
IMAGINE!
How would you feel if you became your children’s hero in always being able to help them with their drawing and painting activities?
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Would your life change if you had the right tools to be able to create artistic works in the spaces around you? - How would you feel if you became the expert in helping other people with their creative art ideas?
About Christine Benham
your Academy teacher
Brushes With H Art
Brushes With Heart Academy came to me as an idea several years ago when I discovered a lot of people’s dissatisfaction with the status quo in educational institutions. Mind you that wasn’t the only organisation of structure and authority that people were slowly but surely losing faith in.
Given my years of experience in the art industry I felt there was a need to create an educational atmosphere that went beyond the traditional delivery of creative art skills and along with that, I wanted to create an atmosphere of sisterhood: a place where women at the time could meet and create together; after all men have had their ‘men’s shed’ going here in Australia for many years.
Because I was a practising artist with my own studio, I was keen on opening that up to small groups who wanted to come together under those circumstances as well as enjoy the large landscape gardens I am lucky enough to have in the centre of a large citrus orchard, which provides me with lots of inspiration for creative ideas.
Fast forward those circumstances several years and because the idea I had at the time did not eventuate due to circumstances out of my control I set about creating an online course that would offer a large percentage of the same outcomes without the garden background, although any students are welcome to visit. To see my gardens please visit
There are many reasons for you taking this path or thinking seriously about it and not everyone does it for the same reasons. However, I congratulate you for arriving at this space and wish you all the success for the following years.
My current situation sounds strange coming from someone with my background because I have been involved in the formal educational institution framework for decades as a high school and college visual arts teacher; also with writing school curriculum and policies and procedures for TAFE and the commercial industry arena.
In my student days, I was lucky enough to have been heavily involved in sport, music and the visual arts. This was my saving grace as I never considered myself to be a true academic although I seemed to breeze through most things in life that didn’t require remembering too many facts or math equations. If I had to nominate one of the most important skills to learn throughout life, it would have to be CREATIVITY. The ability to be able to create is a gift given to us by the Creator.
Having said that, I have to add DISCIPLINE and DETERMINATION as a close second and third, to the most important skills. The Home School and Creative Enthusiasts online course I have developed has grown from many decades working in the art industry. It is not solely for home schoolers but also for people who would like to learn skills to enable them to be creative and confident in the art area.
Obviously there is a discipline involved in working through the modules but also great satisfaction in accomplishing the required tasks. I am only an email or a Facebook communication away if help is needed. As you progress through each module you’ll find there is more room for your creativity to shine and on completion, you’ll see the evidence of the outcomes I am offering you.
Connect with me on Instagram
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UPON JOINING THE CLASS you may like to be part of the private community Facebook group where support and friendship will be exchanged.
YES! I WOULD LIKE
TO JOIN
If you would like to join this class and meet with other likeminded people as well as have contact with an artist who has had decades of experience in the art industry, just click the link below.
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Now is a great time to step into your creative shoes and learn something that will not only enrich your life and those around you but also give you the opportunity to share your talents within your community.
If you're a creative enthusiast, this course is designed to help you refine your skills and inspire others with your passion.
If you're responsible for home schooling, this course will equip you to confidently deliver engaging, flexible art lessons that seamlessly integrate with your children’s broader learning, ensuring their creativity thrives.
Brushes With H Art
ACADEMY
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Do I need prior experience in art to enrol in this course?There is no prior knowledge or experience required to enrol in 'An introduction to Drawing & Painting through the 8 Elements of Design©'. I will take you through the 8 core elements in sequence so you have a thorough understanding after completing the course.
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How do I access the course lessons?Please follow the prompts to the enrolment payment page and fill out the details. You will be asked to create a login to access the programme page at some stage. You will receive several emails following enrolment. If you feel you haven't received these , check your Junk mail as that could be a likely scenario. Please note the course notes are copywrite protected and therefore cannot be shared around. Once you are directed to the course page you may like to add it to your home screen where an icon will appear for future access. If passwords are forgotten you have access to reset .
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When do I get the course curriculum?Once you click the link to the course page you will be able to access the 10 modules immediately. Please do not feel overwhelmed with the amount of practical exercises required as you can progress at your own pace. The course was originally written to complete in 10 weeks, however not all participants have the time with other family commitments to complete in that time frame, therefore it has been extended to 6 months.
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How do I contact technical support during my course?I am no technical wizard to help if you are having difficulties with your computer, however if the issue is related to not receiving passwords or access, by all means contact me at chris@benyenda.com.
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What is the duration of the course?The course is ideally completed in 6 months or sooner. You will have access to the course material for this 6 month period. I do envisage adding extra material notes and illustrations as the student's progress through the course and you will have access to that new material as soon as you log into your account within that timeframe. Over time I would like to add more student examples to the course material, as from this moment 99% of the illustrations have been produced by myself. If you would like to have your illustrations includes as examples for future students to gain inspiration from, please don't hesitate contact me on chris@benyenda.com.
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Do I need to complete the modules in sequence?Yes. Each module has been developed according to the experience you will acquire in the previous module. The first module on 'Line' is quite lengthy, but I would like you to stick with it and complete all the exercises as this will help you with your drawing techniques later throughout the course. It will also be extremely beneficial if you decide to take on an art teaching role in the future.
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Will I receive a certificate?At this stage there is no certificate at the end of the course as it would be very difficult to assess the practical exercises online and whether one has even completed the course. I would love to acknowledge the hard work that participants have put in and it's something for me to address in the future. For any students that live close enough to have face to face contact where assessment can be carried out, a certificate would definitely be an option. My goal is to keep the Brushes With Heart Academy held in high regard and recognized as a quality provider, therefore certificates would be authentic and not be treated lightly.
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Will completing the course help me with home schooling my children or friend's children?The course will show you the core essential tools in art practice. There is no set curriculum set out for the children, however there are plenty of examples in your practical exercises which will give you inspiration to set your own particular tasks which may or may not integrate with other learning outcomes. This course follows a 'train the teacher' approach, enhancing your confidence and competence to deliver engaging lessons. Your children will benefit from a more supportive, flexible and enriching learning experience.
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Is this course mainly for home schoolers?Definitely not! It's the old saying: 'Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will be fed for life'. The knowledge you will gain by doing this course will escalate your creative skills across a whole range of mediums. Anywhere from painting a canvas to sell or hang in your home to decorating your home with colours and textures to give it a personal touch that you would never have contemplated previously. Also designing your gardens or your office workspace. The aim is NOT to teach you how to copy a flower or a landscape and end it there. You will have the skills to continue long after the course ends with experimenting with your own authentic signature style.
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What materials do I need to buy to complete the course?A list of the materials will be found in the introductory module of the course. I have kept the items to the bare minimum because I am very conscious of the expense of art materials. Often times you may already have some items like colour pencils or oil pastels, especially if you have children at home. By all means include the use of these. However, the set five tubes of paint, four brushes and 220 gsm art block are set requirements.
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What are the terms and conditions?The Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy appear in the link at the bottom of all the webpages.
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What are the payment options?We offer secure payment processing through Stripe, where you can complete your purchase using any major credit card, payment is required upfront. Once your payment has been successfully processed, you will receive an email containing your course login details, granting you immediate access to all modules and materials. As the entire course is provided digitally upon purchase, we operate a strict no-refund policy. Given that full access is granted shortly after payment is processed, please carefully consider your situation and commitment before proceeding with your purchase, as all payments are final.
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Is there a final exam for this course?There is no final exam and therefore no pressure will be placed upon you. This will be your time to experience in your own way, it is not going to be judged by an outsider. By all means share your work throughout the course in our private Facebook group. At the completion of the course you will have a portfolio of work that I'm sure you will be very proud of. I have developed the course structure and exercises with this unexpected gem in mind. A reminder, assessment for certification is not available at present. However, I'm more than happy to receive any expressions of interest for this capacity in the future, just drop me a line to chris@benyenda.commailto:chris@benyenda.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
NEW
NEW
ART COURSE
ART COURSE
TURN YOUR
ARTISTIC DESIRES
INTO A REALITY
Become a CREATOR
Become a CREATOR
Home Schoolers & Creative Enthusiasts
6 months $975 AUD