Artistic VENTURE

ARTIST HEIDI SHEDLOCK’S ONLINE CREATIVE COMMUNITY STUDIO TEACHES SKILLS WHILE BUILDING CONFIDENCE, WRITES CANDICE BOTHA

Durban North artist, Heidi Shedlock has been trailblazing online for years, starting with her Paintings in the Post project in 2013 when she painted small canvases daily and sold them via her blog. They were snapped up, many by international buyers and her online presence on social media grew rapidly as a result. She has sold paintings via her website and social media accounts and online galleries, too, and now, she has taken another step into the digital world by launching her online Creative Community Studio.

“After almost 20 years of teaching inperson art classes and creative workshops, I have been wanting to explore how I might reach and help a broader creative community. The idea had been on my mind for a long time,” she explains. “When lockdown arrived, I suddenly had the time to put it into motion as well as realising that South Africans were more interested in exploring online learning now.”

The idea behind the Creative Community Studio is to use her expertise and experience as a qualified teacher – who has run art classes from home for years – alongside her work as a successful professional artist, to create a community of people who want to get in touch with their own creativity and learn not only painting techniques but also how to maximise the creative process.

“I wanted to connect particularly with people who may not have the time, money or the confidence to attend an in-person art class,” explains Heidi. She certainly covers the skills required of an artist but also pays close attention to building confidence in her students and teaching them how to express their own artistic vision.

“If you have always felt too self-conscious, introverted or ‘not good enough’ to attend in-person workshops, this is the place for you. I am a natural introvert who works hard at this, so I understand completely. No art police here and you can interact as or when you want to, but obviously the more you join in, the more you will benefit.” says Heidi.

Heidi’s Creative Community Studio is an online, monthly membership with unlimited access to all classes and content (think Netflix for art) for as long as you are a member. “Membership includes access to a private Facebook group where you’ll be able to interact with our creative community, view all saved lessons and resources, participate in live events (or watch them later), and share your own work and ideas,” she explains.

Although she is a celebrated floral artist, Heidi’s intention with the community is not to teach people to paint in her style, but rather to encourage the development of members’ own creativity. “One of my favourite elements of the community is the monthly book club. Each month we focus on a book that is too inspiring not to share,” she says.

Although aimed at a South African audience, Heidi has been thrilled to have artists from the USA, Australia, Botswana, Mauritius and Spain join the community as well, with members enjoying getting to know one another, encouraging each other and sharing creative inspiration from their own experiences. “The teacher in me is so satisfied to see people developing skills and finding talents they didn’t know they had. Teaching is all about helping people to become better at something and the Community has been so rewarding,” she says.

Heidi hosts a weekly Zoom session where members can interact, and there is a lively Facebook group. “The supportive, private, Community Facebook group is where you can share work, ask for feedback or guidance and just generally connect with other like-minded creatives who have your back and want you to succeed!” she says.

FOR MORE INFO Heidishedlock.com; heidishedlock@gmail.com; Membership for new members reopens in November, so be in touch with Heidi to be added to the waiting list.