The Inspire Community

Missed our latest session and creative challenge?

Once a month · Open Mic · Feedback · A new challenge

Once a month our community sits down together, shares the work, talks it through honestly, and takes on a fresh creative challenge. Here is a look at what you have been missing.

Join our community See what came back

You are not alone

Making art on your own is quietly hard

Most of us photograph in our own bubble. The camera comes out, the images pile up, and there is nobody to talk to about any of it. No honest eye on the work, no push to try the thing that scares us, no one who simply understands why we keep doing this. It is easy to drift, and easy to lose heart.

Are you working entirely on your own, with no one to show the work to?

Do your photographs pile up without honest feedback from anyone?

Has the spark gone a little quiet, with nothing pulling you forward?

Do you miss being around people who love this as much as you do?

This is exactly what our Open Mic sessions are for. Once a month, you are back in a room full of like minded artists, being seen, being challenged, and growing in your art of photography.

From our last challenge, Streets and Fields of Gold

The work, and what we said about it

This is the heart of every session, and this is exactly how our members saw it. Click any picture to see it larger.

Ann Baret

6 Inspired

In their own words

While the Gold Remains. Autumn in Clarens, with tall trees in golden hues, dry grass beneath and a wide clear sky above. Watercolours and chalk, layered over her own photograph.

The photograph by Ann Baret, Streets and Fields of Gold — The photograph

The finished piece by Ann Baret, Streets and Fields of Gold — The finished piece

Our suggested version of Ann Baret's piece, more field below, less sky, and the tree on the left taken out — Our suggestionmore field below, less sky, and the tree on the left taken out

A very commendable transformation, and we particularly love what has happened in the sky. The gold needs to be more lavish though, especially in the field below the trees. The golden colour is there, but the field itself has to stand out, and gold leaf would have worked well. From a composition point of view, more field below and a little less sky. We have also taken out the tree on the left, because that side felt too heavy, and losing it gives the row of trees some breathing space and brings the balance back.

Lize du Plessis

1 Inspired

In their own words

A landscape built from fragments of gel plate printed papers, layered on a wooden panel and photographed. Blended and edited, then embellished with gold leaf, rephotographed, and finished.

The printed base by Lize du Plessis, Streets and Fields of Gold — The printed base

The finished piece by Lize du Plessis, Streets and Fields of Gold — The finished piece

Our suggested version of Lize du Plessis's piece, more foreground, to settle the composition — Our suggestionmore foreground, to settle the composition

An interesting workflow, photography taken through to printing and then used as the foundation to build the field. A very creative process. The gold in the field is a perfect colour, it could simply be more lavish. A little more foreground would help the composition.

These are two of twenty four entries. Inside, our members see the full feedback on every one.

Your once a month creative fix

One evening that keeps you on a creative path

Every Open Mic session follows the same warm rhythm. It is relaxed, it is honest, and it is the thing our members say they look forward to most.

Inspiration

We open with ideas, images and a bit of encouragement to get everyone seeing again.

Discussion

An open conversation about the questions on our members' minds, from craft to why we make art at all.

Challenge feedback

We look at the work from the last challenge together, with honest, encouraging notes on every entry.

The next challenge

We set the next creative challenge and hand it over, so you always have something to reach for.

The session itself

This is where it all happens

A relaxing evening with Ralf Armbrüster, Martin and Samantha Lee Osner. The full recording lives inside the Inspire Community.

See the featured piece, by Gillian Mager

This month's challenge is live

Give me the good news

Our current challenge is open now. One artwork, with real newsprint worked into it, carrying a story worth telling. Take the bad news apart and build something hopeful out of it. Join us, accept the challenge, and you are on your way.

Take on this month's challenge

Our members receive a brief like this every month. The full brief is yours the moment you join.

Join the Inspire Community

Come and be part of it

One evening a month with people who love this as much as you do, honest feedback on your work, and a new creative challenge to keep you moving. This is our once a month fix, and it is simply good for you.

$29per month Best value$290per year, two months free Join our communitystart today

Already doing a course with us? Many of our courses include complimentary access to the Inspire Community, so you may already be able to join us at no extra cost.

The art of photography is better shared. Come and make yours alongside a community that will see it, challenge it, and cheer it on.

Art Photography Academy · The Inspire Community