I've spent way too many hours lately looking into andrea garvey classes because I desperately needed a way to get my hands messy and forget about my to-do list for a while. If you've ever felt like your creative side has been sitting in a dusty corner for too long, you probably know that specific itch to just create something without the pressure of it being a masterpiece. That's exactly where Andrea's approach comes in, and honestly, it's been a bit of a breath of fresh air.
The first thing you notice about her style is that it isn't about being perfect or following rigid rules. It's very much a "permission to play" kind of environment. I think a lot of us carry around this weird baggage from high school art classes where we were told our proportions were off or our colors didn't make sense. Andrea pretty much takes all that "seriousness" and tosses it out the window. Her classes are all about mixed media, vibrant colors, and finding a flow that feels good rather than one that looks like a photograph.
The vibe of Andrea's teaching style
When you sign up for one of these sessions, it doesn't feel like you're sitting in a lecture hall. It feels more like you're hanging out in a friend's sunny studio while they show you some cool tricks they've learned over the years. She has this very calm, encouraging presence that makes you feel like you can't actually mess it up. Even if you end up with a giant brown smudge in the middle of your page, she's usually got a way to show you how that smudge is actually just the "first layer" of something better.
One of the big draws for me was the focus on mixed media. If you aren't familiar with the term, it basically means "anything goes." You aren't just stuck with one set of paints. In many of the andrea garvey classes, you'll find yourself using acrylics, oil pastels, collage bits, and even markers. There's something incredibly liberating about layering these things together. It takes the pressure off any single stroke of the brush because you know you're just going to add more "soul" to it in the next step anyway.
What's actually inside the classes?
Most of the courses are broken down into manageable chunks. This is a huge plus if you're like me and have a pretty short attention span or a schedule that doesn't allow for a four-hour marathon painting session. You can hop in for twenty minutes, watch a video on "mark-making," try it out on your paper, and then walk away while the paint dries.
Finding your flow with mixed media
A big part of what she teaches involves "layers." She often starts with these really loose, messy backgrounds that look like nothing at all. To a beginner, it might look like a disaster, but as the lesson progresses, those messy layers become the depth and history of the piece. It's a great metaphor for life, really, but even if you aren't looking for a deep life lesson, it's just plain fun to slap paint around.
She walks you through how to use stencils and stamps in ways that don't look "crafty" but instead look like fine art. There's a specific way she blends colors that prevents them from turning into mud—unless, of course, you want mud. But usually, she keeps things bright and soulful.
Painting faces without the fear
If you've ever tried to paint a face, you know it can be terrifying. One eye ends up higher than the other, or the nose looks like a potato. In the andrea garvey classes that focus on "Creative Faces" or "Soulful Portraits," she breaks the anatomy down into much simpler, more stylized shapes.
The goal isn't to paint a portrait that looks exactly like your cousin Sally. The goal is to capture an emotion or a "vibe." By using mixed media techniques on the faces—like adding patterned paper to the hair or using bright teal for the shadows—it removes that "uncanny valley" fear. It becomes expressive and whimsical. Honestly, it's the most fun I've had with a paintbrush in years because I finally stopped worrying if the ears were level.
Who are these classes for?
I get asked a lot if you need to be "good at art" to take these. The short answer is a hard no. In fact, if you haven't picked up a brush since the third grade, you might actually have an easier time because you don't have as many "rules" to unlearn.
These classes are great for: * Recovering perfectionists: If you struggle with starting a project because you're afraid it'll look bad, Andrea's "layering" method is a total game-changer. * Busy people: The online, go-at-your-own-pace format is perfect if you're squeezed for time. * Mixed media fans: If you have a drawer full of random art supplies (we all have that one junk drawer of dried-up markers and scraps of paper), she will show you how to actually use them.
It's also worth mentioning the community aspect. Usually, when you join one of her programs, there's a way to connect with other students. It's a very supportive crowd. People share their "ugly" first layers as much as their finished pieces, which makes the whole thing feel a lot less intimidating.
Supplies you'll actually use
One thing that usually scares people off from art classes is the supply list. You see a list of forty different shades of professional-grade paint and suddenly your wallet starts crying. While she does have her favorite tools, andrea garvey classes generally encourage you to use what you have.
Sure, she might use a specific brand of matte medium or a certain type of Stabilo pencil (the ones that write on anything), but she's very big on the idea that the "best" supply is the one you're actually going to use. I've found that I can swap out a lot of the fancy stuff for the random acrylics I bought at the craft store years ago, and the results are still pretty cool.
She does introduce some neat tools, though. I never thought I'd be obsessed with using a brayer (the little roller thing) to apply paint, but it's strangely satisfying. It gives you this flat, textured look that you just can't get with a brush.
Why this style of learning works
There's a lot of "noise" in the online art world. You can find a million tutorials on YouTube for free, but they often lack a cohesive journey. You end up with a finished project that looks just like the teacher's, but you haven't actually learned how to make your own art.
What I appreciate about Andrea's curriculum is that she teaches you techniques that you can then apply to your own style. She doesn't want a thousand clones of her paintings; she wants you to find what colors make your heart skip a beat. It's more about building a creative practice than just finishing a single canvas.
Final thoughts on jumping in
If you're on the fence about trying andrea garvey classes, I'd say just go for it. Life is way too short to be afraid of a blank piece of paper. Whether you're looking to paint some whimsical flowers, dive into a soulful portrait, or just spend an afternoon getting paint under your fingernails, there's something there for everyone.
It's not just about the final product that you end up hanging on your wall—though, let's be real, it's nice when that happens. It's more about that hour or two where you can shut off your brain, stop worrying about your emails, and just watch how two colors blend together when they're wet. It's basically therapy, but with more glitter and less talking.
So, grab some paper, find some old pens, and don't worry about making a mess. In these classes, the mess is usually the best part. You might just find that you're a lot more creative than you've been giving yourself credit for.