First things first - I would just like to state that I am in NO way affiliated with Flora Bowley and all her amazingness (although I wish I was!). All of the following thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
I first learnt about Flora when I bought her book "Brave Intuitive Painting" - if you haven't read it then you need to! (Her second book is out soon, and I've already got it on pre-order! Yes, I'm a super fan!). A couple of pages into the book I was so inspired to find out more about the woman that wrote it that I jumped onto Google and quickly found her amazing website: https://florabowley.com/ (Seriously, her website is pretty incredible). I then signed up for her e-course and her monthly studio diaries - I kid you not, this literally all happened within about an hour!!
Her e-course is called Bloom True and honestly it is probably one of the BEST courses I've ever done, online or otherwise. To be honest, I was a little bit wary of signing up to an e-course because I felt that it just wouldn't be quite the same as being in a classroom environment. It does take a while to get your head around a new way of working, but I love the flexibility that you get in being able to take things at your own pace, and to absorb all of the information as slowly (or quickly in my case!) as you feel comfortable with.
The course is literally PACKED full of videos, interviews, playlists, meditations, Q&A sessions and exercises to really focus your intentions and find your inner voice. Flora describes and demonstrates her entire process from start to finish in such an approachable and supportive way that you instantly feel as if you've not only made a new friend but also, and perhaps more importantly that you CAN do this! Plus you automatically get access to a Facebook group where you can share your work with other course members as well as get advice, motivation and inspiration whenever you need it.
Bloom True has had such a huge impact on all aspects of my art practice. It has not only given me new tools and ways of working, but has also changed the way I feel about my work, and how I approach it on a daily basis. Flora shows you the way that she works but also gives you the freedom and the encouragement to find your own voice. This for me has been life-changing!
I have been drawing and painting and making art from a young age but this course also has so much to offer to people who have toyed with the idea of learning to paint but just never actually started. It is equally perfect for those of you that are wanting to take a leap into the unknown, or those that are already artists but need a large dose of inspiration!
At the time of writing this, Flora is celebrating the one year anniversary of her website with a week of giveaways and special offers! (Yes, she is kind of cool like that!). And what amazing offers they are! You can now sign up for Bloom True at a significantly reduced price!!! There are only a couple of days left though, so if you're on the fence just DO IT! I promise you won't regret it!!!
Flora also has a monthly subscription offering called Studio Diaries. Each month she takes on a new topic such as "Finding Your Style" or "Making Peace With Your Inner Critic" and provides videos, interviews and exercises based around the theme. These are the perfect companion to the e-course (in my opinion it is better to do the course first), and can be bought on a one-off basis or you can sign up to get them at a reduced price. As part of her week of giveaways you can get a Studio Diary of your choice for FREE! (Seriously, what are you waiting for!?)
As you may have gathered by now I am a HUGE Flora-fan! But don't take my word for it - go to her website and have a look for yourself ( https://florabowley.com/ ) !
P.S. Flora, if you happen to be reading this and you ever find yourself in Dubai please let me know because I'd love to say hi! ;) (that rhyming was so unintentional, but I'm just going to go with it!)
As always, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions then I'd love to hear from you!
Sara xo
