Art educator, award-winning professional gallery-represented artist, and author of Paint in Your Pyjamas.

About my Courses

I specialise in teaching beginners to draw, paint, express themselves and get started on a journey of self discovery through art. I also help more experienced artists hone and refine specific areas of the their existing skills.

I've been a professional artist for more than eighteen years and have been teaching and continually developing my art courses for around eleven years. Now that I've teamed up with Drawspace I'm very pleased to be able to personally offer all of my courses to you, no matter where you are in the world.

Many people long to be able to draw, paint and express themselves through art and yet somehow they just never get around to it. There's never the ideal time, it's hard to know how to get started, and they're not sure they can do it anyway! With this in mind I have especially designed my courses for beginners, to motivate and inspire you to 'just show up at the table', overcome procrastination and give yourself permission to discover your 'Pyjama Time'.

I believe that almost everyone has the natural gifts needed for learning to draw and paint, and that art has the ability to help us heal and to reach our full human potential.

It is my life purpose to share my love of art, through inspiring and motivating my students to realise their own natural gifts for drawing and painting. I invite you to join your new class mates and myself in our wonderful drawspace online classroom.

 

About My Book

Paint In Your Pyjamas is my own autobiographical story of how I set out on a journey of self-discovery and changed my life forever by 'painting in my pyjamas'. The book also contains lots of basic art tips that I wish I had known when I started out on my journey eighteen years ago (tips that other books and courses tend to assume you know already).

Upon request I offer each and every student enrolled in my course the eBook version of my softcover book. This is my personal gift to you. The original softcover edition is also available from http://paintpj.com

About My Art

When I first discovered my artistic talents I painted in a photo-realistic style, however, when I set out on a quest to express myself more honestly I began formal art study and my unique contemporary hard edge semi-abstract style began to evolve.

After eight years of serious art study and winning several awards including government scholarships and sponsorships, I became recognised as one of the city of Port Lincoln's most valued artists. I was regularly commissioned by many of the local business moguls, with my artworks gracing the walls of major hotels, public spaces, corporate offices and private homes.

One of my career highlights was a joint commission (along with my husband and fellow artist Stuart Wider) for the Microsoft Corporation.

I became renowned for my bright, bold colourful interpretations of the industries and lifestyles that supported the city such as fishing and farming. I also painted images inspired by memories from my childhood growing up in the Westen Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

My realism pencil drawings are equally important to my artistic self-expression and I believe that drawing is a fantastic foundation upon which other art skills can be built, whether you are painting, using pastels, making sculptures or using any other medium. Good solid realism drawing skills allow us to fully express the ideas that are inside our soul.

In my pencil drawings, I continue to explore similar themes that relate to industry and record our daily lives. Living in Noosa Queensland I am lead to explore 'the holiday' and the tourism experience.

Pencil drawings satisfy my analytical mind and my stylised paintings allow me to express my joyful celebrations of life!

My art is represented by the Cooper Gallery, Noosaville, Australia.

Read Cindy's full bio (PDF format).

Testimonials

---

Just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed (and am enjoying) being a student in your Draw in Your Pyjamas class!

For most of my life, I have had a compelling desire to learn to draw well, with a particular interest in realistic drawing. However, like many people, I was unsure that these skills could be learned, because most people think of art as something done by "gifted" people with innate talent, not something that can be taught effectively to a person of average abilities.

I was attracted first to your class by its unpretentious approach, and then by your absolute conviction that me and my fellow students could - and would - learn to draw realistically.

After only three months, I have learned to create graphite drawings that are realistic and detailed, and far exceed even my most optimistic expectations! Your clear, practical approach and supportiveness have enabled me and my classmates to achieve spectacular results.

As a graphic designer, I have worked with a number of people during my 20 year career who have attended art school and have advanced degrees in fine art, but the drawings I have produced in your class exceed any of the illustrations I have seen them do in quality, despite the years of training my colleagues have received.

I heartily recommend your course to anyone with a sincere desire to learn to draw well - and I am positive that as your students, they will be equally successful!

Amy Bryan - Brooklyn, NY (Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

...I also want to tell you again how delighted I am with this course. I worked for so long in a field that consumed and exhausted me and was looking forward to having time to get back to more creative endeavors but couldn't seem to get my artistic mojo working. Just a few weeks of "showing up at the table" has helped me to focus on everyday things around me in a creative way -- to see the angles, shapes, highlights and shadows that make the commonplace unique and beautiful... I'm sitting here on a rainy day thrilled with the prospect of spending a few hours doing something that I truly enjoy and laughing out loud. Life is good!

I've had several "ah ha" moments while reading through your book and have seen numerous parallels in our respective journeys... I'm so pleased to have stumbled across Drawspace and your story!

lcmac - NYC USA
(Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

'Thank you very much, dear Cindy! It has been a pleasure working with you, along with my wonderful "international" group members! I am loving it!'

Adobeiro - Macau China
(Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

"Thank you so much for offering these courses Cindy! At first I was wondering what I was doing making pretty scribbles on paper, and then it just keeps building. With this week's assignment I can see where it is going and am seeing how each project builds on the previous one."

tonicangel - California USA
(Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

"I am so excited about my grade!!!!...thankyou!I could only reach this far with your constant encouragemnt and support and u made things so easy...... that it was achievable!!
I still cant believe i did the painting....:)"

Capstar - Dubai
(Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

“I started Cindy’s beginning art class,’how to draw’, this is my first e-class, from the beginning, I wasn’t to sure why we were doing all of the lines, squiggles, etc, then towards the middle of the class, It became apparent, this is Cindy’s method of teaching control of the tools, the pencil, of learning to see, and of simply slowing down to do the current project. After I finished each project, we down loaded our work to Cindy, Cindy then reviewed the work, making very constructive comments and drawing with a purple pencil to correct my project. Once seeing the purple lines from Cindy, this again helped me to ’see’ the project in a more precise way.

Cindy spent a lot time with me, both in email and on her drawing site “Paint in your Pyjamas”, I really appreciate Cindy taking the time to help me refine my drawings. Cindy is very supportive, explains how to make the drawings better…Take the time to learn Cindy’s method, like Cindy says ‘just show up at the table”.

jackg - USA
(Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

“I do want to say a personal thank you to you, after years of trying to find a course that taught me actually how to paint, I’m so delighted to be doing your painting course…The way your course is written and structured is brilliant and I love the concept of the virtual classroom.

It’s the best course I’ve come across and exactly what I have been looking for. So I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to you, I’m really enjoying finally learning how to paint and having the joy put back into my life!!”

Apollonia - UK
(Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

I have to tell you… I was a little worried about how difficult it might be to learn by correspondence and how the Interactive part of the course would work… I am pleasantly surprised that I am finding the instructions to be clear and concise. I am confident that you’ll pick up on any errors that I’m making and correct me… So thanks, and I am glad that I signed up!

tannis - Canada
(Drawspace.com online classroom student)

---

“For the beginner initial learning can be a struggle (or it might just be me) but Cindy is unfailingly on hand to help, commiserate and support. She is a wonderfully dedicated teacher and both the quality of the teaching material and the level of support for my learning have exceeded all my expectations. To summarise: For me, Paint in your Pyjamas has been about more than just successful learning, it has been a life enhancing and deeply affecting experience.

My whole life seems richer for it and I can tell you it’s the best thing I have done in years.”

Carol Cassell - Australia

---

“Cindy is a great teacher… Her teaching methods are amazing. All the students achieve outstanding results… I must admit sometimes I think to myself, ‘I can’t do this’ but the continued encouragement we all get from Cindy makes it easier for all of us to complete our projects. We all realise that whatever we do is a challenge, we never give in and we all love the end results. Keep up the great work Cindy.

I do not hesitate to recommend you to anyone who is looking for guidance with their art. Pyjama Time is a new way of life, thank you. I am so blessed that you came into my life.”

Cathy Baker - Australia