The Happy Artist Studio
Create an
algorithm-free art practice
that feels like coming home
Tune out the noise
Find your voice
Make art feel fun again
LET'S GET STARTED
It’s time to declutter your creative practice and make
S P A C E
for your best work yet
Because the art that feels like you won’t be found at the bottom of your Instagram feed
(When did doom-scrolling ever help your creativity?!)
It’s not hiding in the news articles, the social media posts, the blogs and videos you’ve been meaning to get to.
You won’t find it by 'just checking' what your favorite artist has been up to lately (cue the comparison spiral)...
Every artist’s world is loud by default.
(It’s a human thing. We’re all struggling with it!)
But for the sake of your art…
If you want to hear what your voice has to say - and if you want to know what you really want to make, and how to go about making it…
You need a way to tune out the noise.
The Happy Artist Studio is like a volume button for your brain
So you can tune into yourself and cultivate a space for your creativity that actually works for you.
Whenever you need it.
In just a few minutes a day.
The world is noisy.
Your art needs quiet.
Let’s create it on purpose.
Austin Kleon said that creativity is subtraction:
the more space you make, the more room there is for your creativity to unfold.
And it’s true.
But, hard to do in a noisy world!
And when it all feels too much, you might be tempted to hermit yourself away and shut out the noise by closing yourself off.
Stop consuming - anything.
Stop connecting - with anyone.
{Including yourself.}
Stop feeding yourself with the inputs your artist soul needs to make your next (or first!) great thing…
Until weeks or months go by and you realize you haven’t created anything.
Because it’s so hard to strike the balance between sourcing inspiration, and soaking up the world’s problems - and other people’s opinions.
(Which can be creative kryptonite, if you let it).
It’s normal to want to escape from it all at times.
It’s why so many artists dream of a peaceful place to slip away from the world and make their art…
But what if you didn’t need a literal private studio (at the bottom of the garden) to find the space you crave?
What if you could turn down the outside volume and turn up the inner voice that you really need to be listening to… whenever you like, and wherever you are?
What if you could reduce some of that friction, so there was less noise, less mind chatter, less fighting yourself …
… and more quiet space to hear yourself think?
...to let your art speak?
It would mean you could:
Stop
Thinking about art a lot, but not making very much of it, and →
Worrying about what everyone else will think (or if they’ll like it), and →
Believing the story that you’re too busy, uninspired or not creative enough to make art you really love, and →
Start
Making more art and have more fun doing it
Finding joy and fulfillment in showing up for the process (which makes the outcome better anyway!)
Creating a practice for making art that works for the reality of your life (not an idealised version of you)
You can close all the tabs. You can uninstall the apps...
But it’s almost impossible to shut off the voice that says you’ll never be good enough.
Walk with me a minute, if you will.
Imagine a garden
...with a meandering path that wends its way past little green corners
where you might spot a swing seat shaded by roses,
a pond surrounded by willows, or a labyrinth for quiet contemplation.
And at the bottom of the garden is the art studio of your dreams.
A space that’s just for you, where you can disappear from the world, and immerse in creating new ones.
That is the dream for many artists - maybe for you, too.
Here’s the thing though.
Having the studio doesn’t offer any guarantees.
Upgrading from your spare bedroom or the end of the kitchen table to the long cherished ‘room of your own’ won’t automatically remove the challenges you experience as an artist.
If you question your validity or value as an artist, you’ll take that with you into your beautiful garden studio.
It's hard to turn off the internal newsfeed - the never-ending blahblahblah of
- What will they think?
- Is it good enough?
- Is it finished?
- Am I just wasting my time?
- Can I really do this?
Because the truth is, what makes you an artist isn’t the external accoutrements - although they can be lovely - but what’s going on on the inside.
An algorithm-free art practice isn’t just about turning down the external volume, but changing what happens on auto-play inside your head, too.
One of the key pieces of becoming a Happy Artist is about learning to
be on your own team, so those nagging voices don't get to be in charge
- and that’s what we’ll do, together.
"The Happy Artist Studio has helped me reconnect to my creative process and I have found your posts to be inspirational, authentic and multi layered. I have been quietly honouring the uniqueness of my own creative voice."
Kim Power
The Happy Artist Studio is your personal retreat.
It's portable and there for you, wherever you are.
It's how you'll tune out from the never ending to do list of life...
And tune in to the deep quiet inside yourself where the art comes from.
It's a private membership that gives you the nudge you need to show up, the perspective you might be missing, and the tools you need to make art that feels like yours.
Plus, personalised support tailored to you, whenever you need it, from an experienced artist walking the path alongside you.
That would be me. :)
Each month, you’ll unlock new materials, including:
practical tools
mindset-focused lessons
creative prompts
and behind-the-scenes insights
to build your real life artist’s practice.
Here’s exactly how it works:
Inside
The Happy Artist Studio
The Monthly Artist Retreat
In the comfort of your own home
With a gentle monthly rhythm of carefully selected materials, this is an opportunity to nurture your relationship with your artist self with a regular, low key artist date.
With a combo of essays, audios, prompts, and the occasional mini course, you can settle in with your studio journal and a cup of something delicious, and we’ll explore one great idea that will shift your practice this month.
From the stories you tell yourself, to identifying your voice; from sorting out your creative space so it really works for you, to developing the essential resilience all artists need, you’ll discover a combination of tools to expand and deepen your practice in tangible ways.
Personalised Support
aka access to me :)
No more getting lost in a noisy group, hunting around for another log in, or trying to find a time zone friendly call option.
To keep you focused and using your precious time for your art, you’ll have direct access to me for the inevitable questions that come up along the way.
If you can’t find the answer in the Q&A library, you’ll have two easy options for submitting your questions, any time.
I’ll then respond either in writing, audio, or video, with thoughts tailored to you and your situation.
It's like having a mentor in your back pocket.
The Way of the Happy Artist
The mindset program
Conducted over a cup of coffee at my kitchen table. Because mindset changing doesn't have to be heavy! But it is a key part of being a happy artist.
First, we explore and expand your artist mindset so it works for you instead of against you.
Then we bring that new thinking into your process and practice as an artist, to support your happiest, most thriving artist life for years to come.
You can watch the videos, download the audios to listen to on the go {or in the studio}, or print out the worksheets - you choose how you'd like to explore and absorb the material, at the pace that suits you.
The Course Library
A selection of the best of my self paced courses
All intentionally designed to point you back to your own voice and your own inner knowing, you'll find courses like:
Abstractify - Explore a range of approaches and subjects to get to know what feels and looks most like you
Artist inspired II - Turn inspiration into uniqueness with the help of a diverse selection of powerful female artists
Loosen Up - Stop painting yourself into a representational corner and discover how to make that expressive, loose art you’ve been wanting to make
Find a complete list in the Question & Answer section below.
Plus
The Q&A Library
You’ll get access to our library of recordings from past Q&As.
Find answers to your questions, answers to questions you didn’t know you had, and discover that it’s never ‘just you’!
We cover all sorts of topics, from plein air painting to working with galleries; from dealing with criticism to social media - I bring my experience and encouraging vibe to your questions.
And if your question hasn't been answered? Just ask me!
'My Creative Year' Planner
A flexible, printable artist planner you can adapt to suit your unique and specific needs, so you can:
✔ Map out possibilities for the year ahead {any time}
✔ Create black and white evidence of your progress and successes along the way
✔ Track challenges, plan collections and projects, make checklists, and much more
And no community ... on purpose
We're all about creating the essential quiet and space for the inward journey of the artist path here,
so your support comes in the form of a private through line to me, your resident mentor. :)
Everything you'll find inside the Happy Artist Studio has been carefully chosen to take you in one direction - into your truest, most fully expressed, happiest artist self.
What our members say
"Tara is a brilliant facilitator with a warm heart who brings out the best in people who love making art. I’ve gained so much by playing, working and learning in her Happy Artist Studio. I highly recommend this excellent online learning place."
— Carol-Lynn Bond
"The Happy Artist Studio membership is packed with Tara’s wisdom as an artist's guide, which will benefit any artist wanting to get more out of their art practice... The in depth teaching and support that Tara provides is both motivating and encouraging.
— Jen Oldknow
"I have found it to be so insightful, so clearly organized and presented, and I am just barely into all that it has to offer! I consider myself a very introspective person but just because I look inward, it doesn’t mean that I make sense of all that I find. Thanks for helping me to understand myself better and for reminding me that I don’t have to deal with the demons all by myself."
— J.W.
"I've been participating in YouTube University for years, following tutorials and such and learning to produce an artwork that looks like the instructors', but I've not come into my own voice and expression. I'm so happy to be here ... I feel like I'm where I need to be."
— Kathryn Lee
"There have been so many times where I've felt lost or unmotivated with my art and I feel like Tara has been able to give me that burst of energy I needed, direction, encouragement and support. Also she is so thoughtful with her answers whenever I have a question. She truly cares about us and takes a lot of time to give great content and lessons too!"
— Jennifer Zardavets
"A Wednesday win for me: it may seem small in reality but it feels BIG for me! I've started working through the first couple of lessons in the Mindset module [of The Way of the Happy Artist] and already feel I've made a good decision by joining the Happy Artist Studio. I've felt confused for a while on my artist journey and the questions that are arising are helping me to drill down and begin examining my artist self."
— Clare
What this all means is...
MORE ART
You’re in your creative space more often, making things that make you happy
{It can be that simple}
LESS DRAMA
Less self doubt, second guessing, feeling like a fraud, and fear of not being good enough to be a ‘real artist’
MORE YOU
You know what’s yours, what you want to say, and how to make art that shines with your distinctive aesthetic and energy
With the support of the Happy Artist Studio (and me!)
"Thank you for reminding me of who I am"
- Jacky
What You Get Inside
The Happy Artist Studio
𑁍 The Artist Retreat
A gentle, guided monthly rhythm to build a sustainable and joyful practice, without the noise and overwhelm
𑁍 Personalised support from Tara
A bespoke map at the start, and direct access to thoughtful and encouraging answers to your questions, tailored to you
𑁍 The Way of the Happy Artist
The comprehensive program which shifts your thinking to develop a robust, resilient mindset when it comes to your art
𑁍 The Course Library
Excavate your own art from amongst all you’ve learned so far, with courses designed to help you uncover your own voice
𑁍 Bonus Materials
Including Behind the Scenes videos from Tara's own art practice; the Q&A Library; art business materials; guest workshops; workbooks and planners
Hello, I'm Tara
I created the Happy Artist Studio because I spent a long time struggling with the same things you do:
- Feeling confused about what my ‘style’ was {when what I needed was to discover my artist voice - not the same thing!}
- Self doubt around my abilities and the value of my work
- Uncertainty about whether I was ‘good enough’ to be a ‘real artist’
- Looking to others to tell me what to do, and not trusting my own opinion or choices
- Getting stuck and frustrated while painting, and not knowing how to move forward without help
- Feeling underqualified and ‘not as good as’ [insert favourite artist here]
There was a lot of noise getting in the way of hearing my own artist voice - from within and without.
So I dove deep into exploring, experimenting, learning, and charting my own inner territory.
With support, a lot of missteps, and perseverance, I found my way to my own voice and vision, to create the happy artist life I live now.
Over the past 17 years as a practising artist, I’ve repeatedly noticed a truth that seems to be hidden in plain sight.
⭐️ If we don’t believe in ourselves and our art on the inside…
⭐️ If we don’t cultivate practices that serve who we actually are, rather than who we think we should be or are told to be by what we see ‘out there’...
⭐️ If we don’t take the time to listen within, clear out what’s holding us back from our artist dreams, and bring forth what is true in us that wants to be expressed…
… we can have the fanciest studio in the world, and all the people praising and buying our work, and it won’t make us happy {fulfilled, thriving} artists.
Why wait till that dream manifests, when we could be living the dream of being a happy, fulfilled, inspired and thriving artist now, today, this year?
The Happy Artist Studio offers the opportunity to:
Step away from the noise and bustle of the outside world
Spend peaceful time exploring your inner world
And cultivate it - just like a garden - into a strong, clear
channel for your voice to come through
Your time in the Happy Artist Studio really looks how you want it to look.
The whole point is to remove pressure, to step away from the frenetic, anxious energy that’s so prevalent everywhere, and to provide a quiet, art focused space that’s just yours.
You log in, and there’s your peaceful playground.
✔️ If you have 15-20 minutes
... you can watch a video demonstrating an idea for loosening up your art, or play it in the background while you paint.
✔️ If you only have 5 minutes
... you can download a few audios offering insights and pep talks, to listen to while you run errands, or print off a workbook to fill in later on the sofa.
✔️ With 30 minutes
... you could spend some time plugging in some dates for art sessions over the next month, using the prompts to write in your studio journal, or getting inspiration from a course, so you can make the most of that precious creative time.
"The formerly almost abstract idea of 'being an artist' has become so much more down-to-earth and tangible.
The lessons and exercises approach the whole concept from all angles, and especially taking a look at our own demons about it is eye-opening."
- Meri K.
"What feels different about the Happy Artist Studio from other memberships I've read about is that it's not just about process and techniques and selling your work.
The most significant breakthrough for me so far {and which I hadn't realised was fundamental to everything} is asking myself "What do I want to say?" with my art. I still don't know but at least I can start thinking about it."
- Clare
Questions & Answers
Who is the Happy Artist Studio for?
I'm an artist but not a painter. Is the Happy Artist Studio going to be able to help me?
How do I know if this is right for me?
Can I join if I don't want to sell my art?
How much time will I need for this? I already have so much going on and so many half finished courses.
Can I see a full list of the courses in the Course Library?
What if I can’t keep up? I don’t trust myself to follow through.
Does it matter what part of the world I'm in?
Do you accept payment in GBP/Euros/AUD/CAD/another currency?
Can I download the content?
How does billing work?
What if I find the Studio is not for me?
Can I switch from monthly to the 12 month membership?
What happens if I want to cancel my membership?
I have a different question
“While a life full of distractions might be beneficial for initial inspiration, creativity usually flows from quieter, uninterrupted spaces.”
Jade Angeles Fitton
Becoming a happier artist isn’t about going off-grid and disappearing into the wilderness.
(Though that might be tempting!).
You don’t need to overhaul your life.
You don’t need to wait till you have that dreamy garden studio.
This is about learning how to create a quiet, grounded, clear space within yourself — even if you’re making art at the kitchen table while the laundry’s drying.
If you want for this to finally be the season of your life where you
... Stop getting distracted by the noise
... Show up for your art and your artist self
... Stop letting your own stories dictate what you make, and how you make it
(and if you get to have any fun in the process)
... Make more art
{There's a notion!}
Join the Happy Artist Studio.
You’ll get instant access to your first retreat and the entire library - plus a line of connection to me for the questions that inevitably come up along the way.
Decide that your art is allowed to take up more space in your life.
Noise is a non-negotiable.
But you don’t have to let it decide whether you get to be an artist at all.
See you
in the Studio
"3 months ago I was a very frustrated artist battling with chronic ill health. Everywhere I looked I saw obstacles, complications and overwhelm.
There is this sense of trust in my process and art practise now. I have much practical work to do that I'm looking forward to. Though where I would approach with fear before I now delight in it. I always had this sense of anxious urgency, time running out, and was fighting circumstances.
It feels like things are falling into place, and I really trust myself and the process, and feel that sense of agency you talk of, where before I only felt doubt and fear."
- Anna L.
