Welcome to this second instalment of my Indigo a gogo courses structured as a 3-day self-paced online workshop.

Out of the Blue is an expressive drawing and painting course designed to give you the opportunity to develop abstract work from your imagination, the process or your preferred subject or starting point, all the while leading the way, naturally and methodically, from initial drawings to fully realised paintings.

From first studies created with dry media we will layer up the materials and approaches in a way that will guide you gently through your ongoing investigative process. You will build up a series of studies, paintings and collages that will culminate in a final piece, while also providing the stacks of work and inspiration from which you can develop a body of work.

As Carolyn Roberts says:

    “If the first course (Indigoagogo) was the warm up, then Indigoagogo Out of the Blue is the main event.
From delving into the history of our fascination with all things blue, to a quick ‘chemistry’ lesson on how our favourite indigo/chunk is made, this course follows on from the first, taking us from mark making through ‘ripping & joining’ to look at our work with fresh eyes, utilising the full range of the indigo…fabulous!!”


I designed the first course as a fun investigative workshop, encouraging you to discover the unique qualities of the indigo chunk all wrapped up in my exploratory teaching style. This sequel pushes the possibilities of the blue into the full colour spectrum. I continue to encourage play and curiosity with a set of exercises and a carefully selected combination of materials. From charcoal, graphite and chalk through to inks and watercolour, this mixed media approach, when combined with an insight into my personal creative process, will gently encourage you to dig a little deeper and increase your awareness of the possibilities just waiting to be discovered.

With the opportunity to purchase various kits of the Wallace Seymour materials that I work with in this course, you too can be seduced by the alchemy…

I was so inspired by the gestural work that was created by so many people in response to my first course that I invited artist Liz Ackerley to contribute to this sequel. She has produced an inspirational film with insights into how the indigo has influenced and enhanced her own approach to mark making, specifically on location, and as she says:


      "I originally signed up for Janette’s first Indigo Course and loved it. I was so inspired by the way we were encouraged to explore the media and get the most out of it. But in this second course, Janette takes things to a whole new level. She generously shares exercises to enable you to transform your ability to use indigo alongside other media in your work. She introduces inspired techniques to enable you to have fun as well as digging deep and getting the most from the materials. Janette’s creativity and ability to facilitate your explorations shines through. Most importantly, this course goes beyond techniques. Having watched Janette’s rigorous and creative approaches in the videos, I am left with a renewed enthusiasm for my own subject matter with lots of ideas stimulated through the explorations she shares..now let the magic happen!!"


You will be able to tap into my wealth of painting and teaching experience, which is revealed in the full-length demonstration painting films and ongoing reviews. Having worked through the entire course myself, filming every stage and thought process as I go along, this experience has actually given me a group of studies and ideas for developing my own body of work beyond this course.

Out of the Blue incorporates the indigo from the get go. We will work through a series of guided exercises, layering on the other materials with an increasing awareness of the ongoing conversation that is arising out of the process. Literally from ‘the grounds’ up, I will encourage you to become more attuned to what is evolving as you progress through the course, and then how to run with your results.

Working with a loose nod to landscape , my ‘reaction to abstraction’ approach will lead you to fully explore the art of composition and help you realise a body of strong authentic work.

           Observe, sense, act, react, create and reflect… repeat...


So, join me on this magical alchemical mystery tour and commit to a creative journey with an awareness of subject, materials and yourself.


Let the conversation begin...

Janette Phillips 2021