Create Art School

🎨✨ Looking for a little more creativity, calm and inspiration in your life?

Welcome to Create! Art Hub… an online art membership run by Helen Woodford where art meets wellbeing. 🌿🖌️

Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to grow your creative skills, Art Hub gives you the space to relax, unwind and create beautiful artwork from the comfort of home.

🖍 Live Monthly Art Skills class
🎨 Artist-inspired workshops
💻 Live online sessions + catch-up recordings
📚 Access to a growing archive of classes
💛 A supportive creative community

This month we have an exciting New York in Ink and Gouche art skills workshop live on Zoom!

Wednesday 17th June – 12-1pm

Ready to unleash your creativity? ✨

Find out more, join or book here: https://www.createartschool.co.uk/art-hub

🐚✨ Sometimes the paintings we’re least sure about while we’re creating them turn out to be the most beautiful.

This week our Friday Painters tackled these stunning seashell studies using gouache paint.

Now, I’ll be honest… gouache isn’t everyone’s favourite medium! It’s a funny one. It can feel a little unpredictable, a little chalky, and it behaves very differently to watercolour or acrylics. More than once there were comments of “I’m not sure about this…” around the room!

But that’s often where the magic happens.

These shells challenged us to look closely at shape, colour and light, and to be brave with unexpected colour combinations. Instead of painting what we thought a shell should look like, we explored violets, pinks, blues, turquoise and lilac tones to create something much more expressive.

And just look at the results. 💜🩵

Every painting is different, every shell has its own personality, and together they make such a beautiful collection.

A lovely reminder that growth often happens just outside our comfort zone.

WestBridgford LearnToPaint SeashellArt

Happy National Creativity Day 🎨✨

What’s in your creative trolley?

Mine is a mix of practical essentials and little things that spark inspiration - the kind of items that help ideas flow and creativity feel effortless.

Here’s what I always keep close:
✨ Stamps, stickers & post-its
✏️ Pencils for sketching ideas on the go
📦 Double-sided tape (a must!)
📚 Books on women artists for inspiration
🎨 A “pot of tricks” filled with creative bits and pieces
🦚 A peacock feather — my little lucky symbol

Because creativity isn’t just about what you make… it’s about the tools, rituals and little sparks that keep you coming back to it 💛

So, in the spirit of today — what’s in your trolley? And do you have a lucky symbol too? ✨

Helen x

🎉✨ And the winners are... ✨🎉

A huge thank you to everyone who entered our competition and shared the things that bring you joy.

We absolutely loved seeing your photos and reading your stories… they brought so many smiles to our faces! 💛

Congratulations to our Create! Art Hub Membership winners:
🌟 Hannah Marsh - Hannah Marsh
🌟 Felicity Barnes - Felicity Barnes
🌟 Catriona Hynes - sorry Catriona, it doesn't let us tag you
🌟 Kate Tyler - Kate Tyler

Please send us a message so we can get your memberships set up and welcome you into our creative community! 🎨✨

Thank you again to everyone who took part. If you didn't win this time, don't worry… there will be more opportunities to join us soon.

Keep creating, keep sharing your happy places, and keep making time for creativity. 💕

Helen x

i’ll post this and if anyone says anything we can say already joined members posted? 🎉✨ And the winners are... ✨🎉

A huge thank you to everyone who entered our competition and shared the things that bring you joy. We absolutely loved seeing your photos and reading your stories… they brought so many smiles to our faces! 💛

Congratulations to our Create! Art Hub Membership winners:
🌟 Hannah Marsh
🌟 Felicity Barnes
🌟 Catriona Hynes
🌟 Kate Tyler

Please send us a message so we can get your memberships set up and welcome you into our creative community! 🎨✨

Thank you again to everyone who took part. If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry… there will be more opportunities to join us soon.

Keep creating, keep sharing your happy places, and keep making time for creativity. 💕

Helen x

🎨 Looking for a reason to join the Create! Art Hub?

Well, we’ve got 3:

Here’s why you’ll love being a member:

1️⃣ Learn and grow – Enjoy live monthly 1 hour art classes that help you build confidence and develop your core technique.

2️⃣ Connect and create – Take part in 2-hour monthly Artist Workshops where you take inspiration from exciting artists and explore their style together

3️⃣ Relax anytime – Access on-demand videos and an ever-growing library of past classes whenever you need a creative break. Think of it as your personal online art studio, filled with classes ready whenever you are.

Create! Art Hub is flexible, fun, and perfect for anyone who wants to make beautiful art while supporting their wellbeing.

Find out more about us 👉 https://www.createartschool.co.uk/art-hub

Helen x

Getting started on your art journey… here are 5 things you need to get started!

My essentials are:
✨ pencil, rubber & sharpener
✨ a pot to keep them in
✨ waterproof fine liner pens
✨ watercolour pencils
✨ charcoal

You really don’t need loads of expensive supplies to get creative. Sometimes just a few simple tools are enough to get you started again.

I’d love to know… what art material do you always return to? Or what’s currently hiding in your art drawer? 👀

And if you fancy using those materials a bit more regularly, I’d love to welcome you into the Create Art Hub (and thank you if you’re already part of it 💛)

Remember… your art journey does not need to start perfectly..

It simply needs to start ✨ Click link in bio to find out more about the Create! Art Hub or send me a message…
https://www.createartschool.co.uk/art-hub

❤ Helen

Don’t miss your chance to win 🎨✨

Our Create! Art Hub Membership giveaway is still open, but not for long…

We’re giving away 5 memberships to our online art Hub: a calm, creative space where you can make beautiful art from home, whenever you need it.

How to enter:
1️⃣ Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/678341446078933
2️⃣ Share a photo of something that makes you happy on our Facebook group wall
3️⃣ Tag/mention us in your post and use the hashtag

It could be anything — your pet, your favourite place, a cosy moment, your morning coffee… 💛

💡 Already a Hub member?
Post a photo on our Facebook and we’ll gift you a FREE month of membership!

⏳ Closes Wednesday 27 May
🎉 Winners announced Thursday 28 May

A quick post could be all it takes… go and enter before it’s too late ✨

Helen x

Make space to create…
Thinking about setting up your own home art workspace? 🎨

You don’t need a big studio or lots of equipment, just a small space, a few materials, and the motivation to start creating. Having a dedicated spot at home can make it so much easier to pick up a pencil or paintbrush and enjoy a little creative time whenever you can.

🎨 Let in that natural daylight
🎨 You only need a small corner
🎨 Be close to a plug socket (and kettle!)
🎨 And more!

Check out our tips for setting up your home art space! Which ones will you try? Let us know in the comments below.

Did you know!

Our ‘Create! Art Hub Membership’ gives you access to a supportive, inspiring space where creativity can grow… with art workshops, art theory lessons, community and ongoing support all under one roof. It’s the perfect way to make use of your art corner!

Join our amazing Create! Art Hub community for:
♥️ Two live online art classes every month
♥️ A huge library of art tutorials to enjoy anytime
♥️ Relaxing, mindful creativity to help you unwind
♥️ A warm, friendly community to inspire and support you

Whether you’re building confidence or deepening your practice, the Hub is designed to support you every step of the way.

Join the ‘Create! Art Hub’ and make creativity a habit, not a hobby.

Explore more here by clicking the link in our bio or visiting https://www.createartschool.co.uk/art-hub

Helen x