I recently started the Evolve Artist online course. I’d been considering it for quite a while, but put it off because I was busy with my colouring books and other stuff. But I know there will always be other things to do, so decided it was time to take the plunge!
Evolve is an art fundamentals course, and is taught using oil paint. I can draw realistically, but there’s a big gap between what I can do and the kind of art I want to make. I knew I needed to fill the holes in my knowledge and experience, and for me, Evolve is a good way to do that. I have a lot of art books, and have followed online videos before, but it’s all very piecemeal. Evolve brings everything together in one structured program, and provides feedback too. There are other art courses out there, but this one appealed to me the most.
Evolve Artist Block 1, #4 – Two Cubes. Oil on canvas.
I might write a proper review when I’m done with the course, but for now I thought it would be fun to post some of the paintings I make as I go through the program. This is the first painting I’ve completed, after doing some basic exercises (painting gradients etc – I’m not going to post things like that!). It’s very simple, and later exercises will introduce new concepts and become more realistic. I’m not used to oil painting, and there are a bunch of mistakes in this piece, but I won’t point them all out 😀
Evolve’s curriculum currently has two parts, Foundations and Advanced, and each of these is split into four blocks. Right now I’m working on Block 1, which focuses on value and edges. It’ll probably take me a year or more to complete the Foundations course. I’m enjoying it so far, and am looking forward to seeing how it goes.
Edit: I’ve created a gallery page for all the paintings I do as part of this course. You can see it here.
