COLLEY WHISSON
LOOSELY DEFINED:
THE POWER IN PAINT


Colley Whisson's new mentoring course is here, and we couldn't be more thrilled to share it with you.

As one of our online teachers for almost seven years, Colley knows what it takes to help his students achieve their art dreams. That's why he's designed this brand new course with YOU in mind, packed with videos guiding you step-by-step. The best part is that Colley will be your mentor throughout the entire process, from Australia to the comfort of your studio.

Are you tired of putting in a lot of effort painting without achieving your desired results? If so, you will love this new course!

CoLLEY WHISSON
365 DAY ACCESS
MENTORING COURSE
$895 USD

COURSE REOPENS
MARCH 6, 2025
(Spaces will be limited)


WHAT’S INSIDE

MODULE 1 | COLOUR

Colour is one of my favourite subjects. Personally, I would call myself a colourist, but for many artists, it can be a troublesome subject to approach. That’s why I want to take a good look at it. The important aspects are reflective light, the illusion that colour can create, how a painting is mostly grey in low light conditions and why this effects the colour temperature you choose. I cover these ideas extensively in order to help each student create an enhanced colour balance, depth through cool and warm colours, and colour saturation for any subject they choose to paint.


MODULE 2 | EDGES

Our edges have a huge impact on how our painting will appear to a viewer, and I feel this area of our painting is crucial to our success. I will discuss lost and found edges and the one-edge rule. I’ve found when a student is armed with this information, and they put it into practice, their paintings tend to reach another level.

MODULE 3 | CONTRAST

With years of teaching, I find contrast is one of the biggest areas of our painting that rarely gets the focus it deserves. That’s why I wanted to turn a spotlight on this subject. I will cover how and why we need to look and consider our big shapes. Plus, how to learn to see and look through the fog. This is an old term meaning that we need to look at our darkest tonal values. We need the widest range of dark to light, even on a cloudy, smoky, or foggy day. Our tonal contrast is one of the most important things to consider.

MODULE 4 | FOCAL POINTS

“If it ain’t on the page, it isn’t on the stage”. I love this saying; it refers to having a good idea in mind before we start our work day. Composition and Design are so very important. I’ve always placed a high level of importance on subject selection. I also delve into the subliminal directional lines and how to direct the viewer to where we need them to look.

MODULE 5 | CREATING DEPTH

I believe that creating a 3-Dimensional effect on a flat surface is what painting is all about. Perspective, mark-making, the Art of Diminishing Returns, and the Power of Blue are powerful ideas I cover in this module. How we apply our paint is crucial in achieving the desired illusion of distance.

MODULE 6 | X FACTOR

I’ve combined all of the information from the earlier modules into our final module. I will cover how to use flair and confidence in our work, the importance of foregrounds, and how all these combined shape our work. I always say, "I prefer a confident and correct brush mark to a tight and careful brush mark.” There are many ways to maximize the visual impact of our paintings, especially if they're missing that extra spark. I will guide you through the process with multiple ideas that you can implement effortlessly and perfect along the way.

SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST

{Although Colley has a preference for oil paint, he is happy to help students explore and work with their preferred medium, whether it's acrylics, pastels, or watercolors.}


"


The mentorship with Colley has truly been exceptional at providing an expansive library of material. I have learned so much and found the materials’ organization especially helpful. The way Colley picks meaningful topics to cover using short videos to help students visualize and understand the concept he is teaching has been the most targeted teaching method I have experienced. I just cannot say enough to express my gratitude to Colley for his willingness to give students everything he has, he doesn’t hold back!! Colley has the most pleasant personality, his kindness shows through in his teaching style. He is so positive and gentle when he critiques the student’s work on FB. He is a breath of fresh air and inspirational to all the art community in growing quality artists!!
— DUSTINE
Your TAAO courses have been such a life-altering experience for me. I have enjoyed my years with Colley and have learned more than I can put into words. At first, I didn’t know if I could learn oil painting virtually, but I could not be more satisfied with your TAAO format. I feel like I am doing my master’s degree in painting with your TAAO courses. Your instructors are masters in their field and are so patient and generous with their time and experience ... invaluable. Colley’s course has taught me more than I will be able to practice in my lifetime, but I plan on having fun trying!
— BARB
Colley’s teaching style is like no other.  Maybe it’s his charming Aussie nature, but he helped me to become more aware of the language of brushwork. I now try to work on creating simple, big shapes, and value patterns which are clearly the springboard for creating expressive paintings that have more control of light and form. Thank you TAAO so much for bringing Colley to us Online.
— Lucinda

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  1. You have access to Colley for a FULL YEAR. This is not a class or a workshop; it’s 365 days of study and mentoring with Colley Whisson.

    We want you to enjoy the learning experience and not feel pressured by time constraints. We understand that life can be unpredictable at times. That is why everything is pre-recorded, granting you time to learn at your own pace and from any corner of the world! Our website is accessible round-the-clock across all devices with internet, so you can log in, participate, and receive feedback from Colley anytime!

  2. There are more than 15 hours of finely crafted over-the-shoulder pre-recorded video oil demonstrations. Each module has suggested assignments and photo references to help you apply what you learn. You can watch, rewind and paint as many times as you like for a more comprehensive understanding. We are confident you will have a new 'aha' moment with each viewing!

    {Additionally, you will gain immediate access to a comprehensive archive of Colley’s previous critiques of student work, along with each monthly video lesson that spans the entire duration of the course}.

  3. Every month, new video lessons are added, keeping the course ever-growing! Colley dives into specific topics with tips and techniques that you can apply to your paintings. Students rave about these lessons because they inspire them to try new things.

  4. If having Colley and a community of students as your support team sounds like a great asset to your art journey, you will want to join Colley’s private student Facebook group while enrolled. You'll be part of a community of students, with Colley leading the way. Get your burning questions answered and receive feedback on your paintings from Colley himself. With tailored guidance, you'll never feel like you're going at it alone, and accelerate your progress!

  5. Apart from a private student Facebook group, Colley holds group sessions every other month, where he offers invaluable feedback and critiques on student submissions. These sessions are recorded, and you can log in to watch him digitally color-correcting the students' work. This process fosters growth and learning with even more actionable tips you can apply to your paintings.

  6. You can ask Colley anything if you're struggling with a problem and need help. The course has an ‘AI-powered search feature' designed to be your personal guide through Colley's extensive knowledge and expertise. This feature is exclusively built using only Colley’s words and video content that expands over seven years of rich, educational content at the academy. Imagine how much progress you could make if you didn't have to search for solutions in the course by yourself. Just ask Colley’s AI. It instantly delves into hundreds of hours of Colley's course videos, pinpointing the exact moment your question is answered. Plus, with the automatic transcription, you can choose to read or watch the solution – it's learning tailored to your preference. Get specific and get a response right away so you can get back to painting. Come experience the future of course mentoring. Get further, faster, and accelerate your progress with Colley’s personal AI at your fingertips!

  7. The best thing about this course is the knowledge that keeps on working and working, whether you’re just starting or a well-established artist. Colley's Online course works for EVERY artist who puts in the effort.



HERE’S A BENEFIT FOR YOU

As an art student, you know the value of in-person workshops and classes for gaining new skills. But once you return home, you might feel lost and unsupported. We understand the importance of ongoing connections and feedback, so we've created our mentoring course with 365-day access so you can have support every day for a full year.

Our course is designed to provide you with the support and guidance you need to succeed in your artistic journey. With your mentor and a community of like-minded students by your side, you'll never have to face challenges alone. Your mentor is dedicated to helping you overcome any obstacles and keep you motivated when self-doubt creeps in. We welcome you to join us and experience why numerous students keep coming back for more.


 Loosely Defined: The Power in Paint
$895 USD

COURSE REOPENS
MARCH 6, 2025
(Spaces will be limited)