A review of "Find your creative voice : Fly your freak flag course"
Updated: May 26, 2022
When I come across something good, I can't stop myself from sharing it with others particularly if it is art related. This is a personal review of 'The Goodship illustration's
Find your creative voice : Fly your freak flag' course. I am not affiliated to them.
In my journey to become/call myself as an artist,I took many many courses on Skillshare, Udemy and whatever course that has promised me to make an artist. During this period I was boggled by the terms “Style” and "Composition". All these courses that I was taking taught me how to draw and how to see, but like the artist who was teaching the class and most of the artists used iPad and expensive art supplies (I thought for a long time to be an artist you had to use high quality stuff). I was able to draw misty mountains, floral wreaths, little kawaii characters, but they all felt rigid and exactly like the artist who was teaching the class. It felt good initially but it didn't feel me. On the top of this there were many posts/articles saying you shouldn't copy other artists, draw from your imagination and you should have your own style,currently this colors or topics are in trend etc etc.
I really felt suffocated, directionless and stupid with all these unanswered questions and scrolling through social media and looking at other artists did not help either.
sketches made before taking this course
Then The Good ship illustration happened. During the pandemic they started art clubs on Instagram. I saw people talking about it, posting their drawings and was naturally drawn to it. Initially I was very precious about the papers that I was using (expensive stuff) and I saw them drawing on bills, packaging paper with whatever materials that were available.
This is when I learnt about "drawing from life/Observational drawings". It was totally refreshing and the timed drawings helped me loosen up and improve my spontaneity. The hosts Helen and Katie were welcoming and hilarious (Tania takes care of the chat session during the art clubs). It was a good distraction during the lock-down and the art clubs were something I looked forward to.
Sketches made during the art club
Then they announced their course
I checked the reviews and everyone was raving about how the course helped them to play, have fun and find their voice. So after lots of dilemma and skepticism I finally boarded 'The Goodship and set sail in 2020!!
The first thing that surprised me was the simplicity of this course. I thought “nah!This wouldn’t work for me and I made a wrong choice again". But I kept coming back to it nevertheless, because of the weekly calls as they were fun and informative. Again I made the mistake of comparing my progress with other artists who were taking the course and how they were able to commercialize their work.
So I took a break from the course for around 6 months but I occasionally kept doing their timed drawings and listened to the replays as they were delightful. And when I got my first covid during April 2021 (second covid happened this march), this course became my lifeline. I did lots of sketch-booking and experimented with unusual materials like corona masks, sticks, salt, sticking bits of origami and drawing in the rain. I felt like a kid again!!!
These drawings were lively, fun,
spontaneous and the outcomes were a total surprise. I still couldn't recreate those sketches that I made during the first covid. It was a huge discovery for me and I was hooked. It became a habit for me and I started doing lots of observational drawings. I didn't wait for the perfect sketchbook or materials or a beautiful view to draw. My grandmother, parents, autos, buildings, streets, washing machine, kitchen, cow eating from garbage, crows (they are very curious, good posers, attention seekers and checks whether you had captured their essence well) and sleeping cats became my muse.
Sketches of views from my windows and still life
Sketchbooking time became my happy time. I started finally feeling that I was doing art for myself and it didn't matter whether I found my style or the final art was perfect or I made money or regularly posted on Instagram and received 1000 likes or followers. It finally felt good to draw out of curiosity and not know what the outcome is. When I flip through my sketchbooks I can clearly remember where I was, what I was doing and how I felt. All these delightful memories became my treasures.
I love this course for the many reasons which I have listed below:
As it is mentioned in their website the course is no nonsense,simple and to the point (do not underestimate simplicity).
The mentors Helen,Tania and Katie are fun, welcoming, wise and hilarious.
We have lifetime access to the course and we can attend the calls, receive new course content as they keep adding them.
They don't teach us "how to draw or what is the best way to draw (because there is no right or wrong in art)"but nurture our own sense of looking at life and give us tools and exercises that guide us.
The growth is slow, gentle and strong.
Lots of observational drawings are done which nurtures our pool of imagination and ideas keeps flowing.
The more I did the course the more I began to understand myself, like what are my likes and dislikes, what brings me joy, understand how i see my life and why I am attracted to certain views etc. So things finally started making sense and it felt like discovering a new person.
I feel happy and whenever I am stressed I put on their audio guide and do timed drawings and “poof!” all the frustrations vanish.
I am using whatever supply I have at hand and it is giving me a sense of accomplishment.
It's fun and playful!!
Mistakes are welcomed and considered important for our growth as an artist.
Sketches made for #theimaginedbookcover prompts
I have taken many courses in the past but no course has impacted me like this one did. I always kept coming back to it .
I still don't know whether I have found my voice or not, but I know that I have certainly found my curiosity and childlike wonder and enthusiasm to create and it makes me feel happy and confident in my work.
Yes the reviews are true,the course is magic and worth every penny!!
Check their art club replays on Instagram and sketchbooker's friend guide and see how it feels.
If you are planning to join this course the doors are now open. Jump aboard and see where it takes you.
From a fellow Goodshipper/artist
Aparna
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