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Canvas & Soul Art Education & Poetry
Based in Heidelberg, Victoria, Ellen shares her journey as a professional artist and dedicated art teacher, offering insights into the world of oil painting and the transformative process of learning to paint. Whether you're looking for painting workshops, private art lessons, or simply want to immerse yourself in stories that celebrate the beauty of artistic expression, this blog is your gateway to a richer understanding of art and the joy of painting.
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Alla Prima and Glazing
Here I will discuss guide to four consistencies oil paint with various technical uses.


Overcoming the Hurdles to Discover the Artist Within
Getting started at anything new can be daunting and starting out as an artist is no different. If you have the passion to create you should do all you can to release the artist within.


Painting Technique: Unlocking Intention, Precision, and Style
My daughter said to me recently, ‘Mum technique in painting is not considered important these days, so throw them away they do not help painting today. Techniques were the foundation and of all painting of the past, technique is obsolete, it is time to let go’.


Oil Paint Qualities Opacity & Transparency
Throughout time artists have continually challenged the way they make paintings. Subsequently they have developed techniques and materials that will best articulate their ideas. This has been an on going process.


Ellen Michel
Ellen Michel, celebrated Heidelberg Artist, Teacher, Art Therapist, Writer, Mentor and Shaman devotes her amazing breadth of skills and...


Creating a Studio or Artist Space
So you are thinking about creating a studio or artist space at home for the artist in you.


Through the Looking Glass – the Prism – Breaking the Pattern – Igniting Curiosity for a new vision.
Technology of Enchantment Leonardo Di Vinci says: Art is the Queen of all sciences communicating knowledge to all generations of the...


My painting teacher should moonlight as a management consultant. Here’s why…
Art Blog | Guest Articles Here is an insightful article written by my student, Kirsty Crowly. Ellen Michel Indulging in my passion...


An Ongoing Commentary on the Importance of Observation of Nature to Painting
The world loves Monet and his peers – bringing colour and light into the world – an optic sensation. Like all great movements, the French...


Observation of Nature as a Basis for a Painters Training
Over the coming weeks I will explore the strong case for the observation of nature as a basis for a painters training. From Giotto to...


The Importance of Under Painting
With all my years of teaching and painting experience, there still remains a fascination for the use of under painting. By under painting...


Realism
Continuing on our quest to unravel and demystify the different styles of art we come to Realism. Generally defined, Realism is the...


The health benefits of getting involved in painting
Painting can have a positive effect on your mind, body and spirit. The participation and involvement increases your focus and attention, on both the work you are creating and the beauty around you and from there the benefits flow.


What Type of Art do You Like?
On her Facebook page last week Ellen posed the question ‘What type of Art do you like? That turned out to be a tricky question for me. I...


A New Year’s Resolution Idea
Every year I make a New Year’s resolution along these lines: get fit, become more organised, clean the kitchen floor every day regardless of how a feel or what else I have to do and each time I have failed to stick with it. Last year I even tried the new trend of making a micro-resolution, the idea being that since it was smaller I could stick with it. I decided to try putting my keys in the same place every day so I could easily find them on my way out again; I failed with t


Oil Paint Brushes
The most common brush shapes are filbert, flat and round. They also come in other shapes like fan and angular chisel. I’m very reluctant...
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