Inspired by Avalon
CLASS IS OPEN!
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{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
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This Class is also available in Art Soul Living – Creative Academy – read more here
EXPLORE THE MYSTERY AND MAGIC OF AVALON THROUGH ACRYLICS + MIXED MEDIA PAINTING!
Hello, dear creative soul! I’m Sue Young, a mixed media artist based in Cornwall, UK, and I can’t wait to take you on this creative journey.
Inspired by the legendary tales of Avalon, these lessons weave together mystery, magic, and art, inviting you to explore the deep symbolism of The Lady of the Lake, Lady Morgan le Fay and the Raven—creatures of wisdom, transformation, and power.
As an artist with a background in fashion, textiles, and fine art, I love to push materials to their limits—layering acrylics, metallics, and oil pastels to create work that feels rich, expressive, and full of energy. I will guide you step by step, helping you embrace the magic of mixed media, explore experimental mark-making, and bring these legendary themes to life in your own way.
Whether you are new to mixed media or a seasoned artist, you are warmly welcome. You don’t need all the same materials I use—this is about exploration and discovery, using what you have to create something unique and magical.
I can’t wait to see what you create!
With joy,
Sue
Inspired by Avalon
CLASS IS OPEN!
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
***
This Class is also available in Art Soul Living – Creative Academy – read more here
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL CLASS!
“For this is the truth behind the legend: that Avalon was no fairytale, but a place of deep magic, where the power of the priestesses shaped the world.”
— Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
Here’s a description of each of our special projects:
LESSON 1 – THE LADY MORGAN LE FAY
A richly layered, expressive portrait inspired by Morgan Le Fay—woven with deep, earthy colors, bold textures, and intuitive mark-making. This lesson invites you to explore oil pastels, palette knife techniques, and loose, fearless brushwork to bring out her powerful, mystical presence.
* * *
Much like Cornwall itself, Lady Morgan Le Fay is wild, mysterious, and complex. She is a figure woven with legend—a healer, an enchantress, a force of nature. And to capture her spirit, we will paint her boldly and intuitively, allowing her presence to emerge through layers of color, light, and shadow.
In this mixed media portrait, we will feel our way through—starting with soft charcoal shadows and building up texture upon texture, letting the portrait reveal herself when she is ready. We’ll embrace the unpredictability of the process, trusting each mark, each stroke, each decision. Using a mix of palette knife work, oil pastels, and sweeping brushstrokes, we will sculpt her features with both precision and freedom—allowing the raw, expressive energy of the piece to breathe.
This is a lesson in patience, in trust, in letting go of control. You will learn how to build depth and intrigue in your layers, how to create movement and life in your brushwork, and how to bring out that defining moment—where she looks back at you from the canvas, powerful and undeniable.
And as a final touch, we will add something symbolic—perhaps a mark, a Celtic knot, a hint of magic woven into the painting. A detail that connects her to her legend and makes this piece uniquely yours.
As with all of these lessons, if you don’t have all of the supplies, I encourage you to be adventurous and see what you can do with what you have. The magic is in the process—not in perfection, not in specific materials, but in the journey itself.
Join me as we bring Morgan Le Fay to life.
Key Learning Points:
- Expressive portrait techniques – Working with bold brushstrokes, palette knives, and oil pastels to build depth and movement.
- Layering for texture & mystery – Soft charcoal beginnings, building upon layers, letting the portrait emerge in her own time.
- Sculpting features with light and shadow – Carving the face into the painting rather than overworking details too soon.
- Creating eyes with presence – That moment when the portrait clicks and comes to life.
- Adding symbolic storytelling elements – A final touch that connects the piece to myth and meaning.
“Avalon calls those who are ready to walk the path of transformation, where the soul unfurls like the petals of an ancient rose.”
— Jhena Telyndru (Avalon Within)
LESSON 2 – NIMUË, LADY OF THE LAKE
A whisper on the water, a vision of light and mystery—Nimuë appears and vanishes like the mist over Avalon. In this lesson, we’ll bring her to life with fluid layers of color, soft edges, and delicate mark-making, capturing her ethereal presence through luminous paint and misty washes.
* * *
In this gentle, immersive lesson, we bring forth The Lady of the Lake, capturing her elusive, otherworldly presence. Nimuë is powerful yet soft, a guardian of deep wisdom, seen only when fate allows. Her image is fluid—ungraspable yet radiant, shifting like ripples on the water.
This is a session of flow and intuition, working in soft layers of translucent color, allowing the form to emerge like a vision through mist. We begin with a dreamy, ethereal background, building atmosphere with washes of paint that blend seamlessly into one another. Then, with delicate strokes and fluid mark-making, we shape her ghostly figure, refining only as much as the image wishes to reveal itself.
Using a limited palette, we explore gentle contrasts, playing with highlights and shadow to suggest movement, presence, and magic. We will build texture and depth with water-soluble pencils, acrylic layers, and interference medium, enhancing the sense of light glowing from within. This is a portrait that asks us to let go of control, to allow the process to guide us, and to embrace the beauty of the unknown.
As always, if you don’t have all the supplies, be adventurous and work with what you have. This lesson invites you to explore the art of suggestion, of storytelling through subtle marks, and of capturing the seen and the unseen within your work.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- How to create a glowing, ethereal figure using soft washes and delicate layering.
- Techniques for painting misty, atmospheric backgrounds that blend seamlessly.
- How to use water-soluble pencils and Inktense for depth and definition without hard lines.
- Working with interference medium and acrylic ink to add a subtle, magical glow.
- The art of suggestion and implied detail—capturing mystery without over-defining.
- How to embrace intuition in your portrait work, allowing the figure to emerge naturally.
“The mists that veil Avalon are not of water, but of time—lifting only for those who remember.”
— Unknown
LESSON 3 – RAVEN ON BLACK
Dark wings, deep wisdom. Raven Spirit emerges from shadow—mysterious, magical, and full of transformation. In this mixed media lesson, we paint a striking raven on a black background, blending luminous blues, rich blacks, and shimmering metallics. Through expressive mark-making, layered textures, and glowing highlights, you’ll bring this powerful figure to life.
* * *
Lady Morgan has a strong affinity with animals and birds, and in this lesson, we reflect on that deep connection by painting a powerful raven on a black background. The raven, often seen as a messenger between worlds, is a creature of intelligence, transformation, and mystery—a perfect subject for exploring contrasts between shadow and light.
We begin by working on a black-primed surface, a dramatic starting point that enhances contrast and allows deep blues, blacks, and iridescent highlights to shine. The round format of the painting invites a stylized approach, embracing movement and design over strict realism. Using chalk for sketching, we’ll lay down loose guidelines, keeping the process intuitive and expressive rather than rigid or overly anatomical.
As the painting develops, we explore layering techniques with Prussian blue, black, and phthalo turquoise, blending them into a rich, velvety surface that shifts in tone and texture. The raven’s eye becomes a focal point—piercing, intense, and full of mystery, while its feathers take shape through dry brushing, glazing, and loose mark-making, creating the illusion of movement and wind-ruffled texture.
To elevate the mystical quality of this piece, we introduce metallic accents, oil pastels, and iridescent details, adding a subtle shimmer to the feathers and enhancing the raven’s ethereal glow. The background takes on an atmospheric quality with golden washes and resist techniques, creating an almost otherworldly aura around the bird. Finally, inspired by ancient rune symbols, we incorporate meaningful marks into the painting—representing Nature, Magic, and Transformation—honoring the raven’s role as a guide between realms.
As with all of these lessons, if you don’t have all the supplies, I encourage you to be adventurous and see what you can create with what you have. This is an intuitive and expressive session—trust your instincts, let the raven emerge, and allow the magic to unfold.
What You’ll Explore in This Lesson:
- Reflecting on the deep symbolism of ravens in mythology and magic.
- Working on a black-primed surface for bold contrast and rich depth.
- Using chalk as a flexible sketching tool to establish proportions and shapes.
- Blending deep blues, blacks, and iridescent highlights to create a luminous, layered effect.
- Expressive brushwork and dry-brushing techniques to bring feathers to life with movement.
- Defining the eye as a focal point, using subtle color shifts to create intensity.
- Exploring mixed media with metallics, oil pastels, and acrylic inks to enhance texture and mystical energy.
- Using oil pastels for highlights and resist effects, making edges dynamic and textured.
- Creating a golden wash background for added atmosphere and contrast.
- Incorporating rune symbols to depict the connection of Nature and Magic, adding a layer of meaning and depth to the piece.
- Trusting your instincts and allowing the painting to evolve, embracing the balance between structure and creative flow.
WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?
This class is open to everyone, regardless of experience. Whether you’re new to mixed media or have been creating for years, you’ll find something here to inspire you.
I guide you step by step through the materials and techniques, showing you how to layer, experiment, and bring depth and atmosphere into your work. No matter your skill level, you’ll be encouraged to explore, take creative risks, and make this process your own.
We’ll journey together from a blank surface to a finished piece, working with acrylics, metallics, oil pastels, and expressive mark-making—building up layers of meaning, texture, and light. The beauty of mixed media is its versatility; these techniques can be adapted to any level and style, making space for both structure and creative freedom.
If you are drawn to symbolism, mythology, and the magic of nature, you will feel right at home in this class.
Inspired by Avalon
CLASS IS OPEN!
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
***
This Class is also available in Art Soul Living – Creative Academy – read more here
Supply List
This supply list gives you a general idea of the materials I use throughout the lessons. You don’t need a huge range of supplies, and the class is easy to adapt to what you already have.
I always encourage you to use what’s in your collection, pick up a few new things if you feel inspired, and make adjustments as needed. The list isn’t brand-specific—there are many fantastic materials out there! If you’re purchasing new supplies, artist-grade materials can make a difference in vibrancy and ease of use, but it’s all about what works for you.
The most important thing? Have fun, explore, and make the magic happen with what you have!
(These are the materials used across all lessons. Feel free to substitute with what you have!)
Surfaces & Primers
- Substrate options:
- Unstretched canvas, canvas panels, watercolor paper, or mixed media paper
- For the Raven lesson: You can use a round canvas or a pre-primed black canvas/panel as an alternative to black gesso
- Primers:
- White gesso (for prepping surfaces)
- Black gesso (for the Raven lesson)
Brushes & Tools
- A variety of brushes:
- A couple of flat brushes (around ½”)
- A couple of small pointed brushes for details
- An old brush for applying gesso (recommended to avoid using your best ones)
- Palette knife (plastic is fine, or use an old plastic card)
- Willow charcoal & white chalk (for sketching)
- Water, palette, tissues, or cloth
Acrylic Paints (Use any brand you prefer!)
- Light Olive Green
- Cadmium Yellow Deep Hue
- Alizarin Crimson
- Burnt Sienna
- Phthalo Turquoise
- Prussian Blue (or any dark blue)
- Quinacridone Magenta
- Black & White
Specialty Acrylics & Mediums
- Acrylic Interference Medium – Green (Cryla brand used, but metallic acrylics can also create a similar effect)
- Bright Gold Acrylic Ink (Alternative: gold acrylic paint or marker, or metallic watercolor for background washes as demonstrated)
- Maya Gold Acrylic Paint – Petrol (Or use any metallics you have)
- Acrylic Matte Medium (Mod Podge Matte is a great substitute)
- White Acrylic Ink (Optional – you can also use white acrylic paint or a white Posca pen)
Water-Soluble Media
- Derwent Inktense Pencil – Payne’s Grey
- Derwent Water-Soluble Pencil – Prussian Blue
Oil Pastels (For additional texture and details)
- Burnt Sienna
- Rose Pink
- Turquoise
- Sage Green
- Light Green
- Pale Terracotta
- Salmon
- Purple
- Black & White
View a selection of Sue Young´s Personal work below
In Inspired by Avalon, Sue will teach you her unique approach to creating stunning mixed meda artwork.
