I have something very special to tell you about.
Today, my newest (free!) art course launches, called
Redrawing Black History, and I promise you’ll love it. It’s featuring the lovely
Tamisha Anthony, an educator, former performer, Black history maven, a dear friend, and an illustrator with commissions for five picture books.
It all started when we met during the early days of the 2020 BLM movement, and enjoyed a series of inspiring Zoom conversations over many months.
At one point, after a particularly fabulous conversation, I said to her, “I wonder why the universe put us together”, and then it hit me. “We are meant to do a course together. You need a platform for your joyful, deep, beautiful insights on Black history.” She was thrilled. I was thrilled. (And I would get to work with her for many months on this meaningful course!)
|
|
At one point, after a particularly fabulous conversation, I said to her, “I wonder why the universe put us together”, and then it hit me. “We are meant to do a course together. You need a platform for your joyful, deep, beautiful insights on Black history.” She was thrilled. I was thrilled. (And I would get to work with her for many months on this meaningful course!)
|
|
Above: My co-teacher, Tamisha Anthony
|
|
We spent much of 2021 working on it, and I know that you’re going to love this fascinating and visually lush online course. It begins today and will run for four weeks, ahead of Black History Month in the USA.
It’ll give you a deeper understanding of the richness and beauty of Black American history. From loads of vintage images of clothing, hairstyles, and environments, this course will help you to broaden your visual toolkit, expand your awareness of the unbelievable creative accomplishments made by Black people in the face of abject adversity, plus it’ll increase your range of subject matter when drawing diverse characters and environments.
|
|
Here are the four key eras that are covered in Redrawing Black History:
- The Fight for Freedom: the 19th Century
- The Jazz Era: 1920’s and 1930’s
- The Dress and Protest Era: 1940’s and 1960’s
- Black is Beautiful: The 1960’s and 1970’s
Beth, my co-founder, felt that it was important that everyone to be able to take this extraordinary course, so we’ve made it free for all. Please go ahead and share this mind-opening, creative celebration of Black lives.
Not only will you love Tamisha and her weekly videos featuring lush Powerpoints of each era, you’ll expand your drawing repertoire with a four drawing assignments. One of my favorite parts: at the end of each weekly video, Tamisha shares a book, video and podcast that she thinks you’ll enjoy.
What’s more, there are weekly Lilla and Tamisha Unleashed videos (we loved filming these!), plus we will be doing a live Zoom review at the end of class of work submitted to the gallery.
We will help you to produce four stunning pieces of art that celebrate Black history. I know students are going to be enthralled with the visuals and be so inspired by Tamisha.
I hope to see you there.
xo
Lilla
|
|
