I thought I’d give you a little peek behind the scenes of my new online course. How it came to be, what the process actually looks like, and what filming day is really like.

It’s been a long time in the making, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your patience while I’ve been putting the finishing touches on it.

Wearing all the hats

If you’ve ever run a small business, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say there are a lot of hats involved.

When I’m creating an online course I somehow become producer, researcher, lesson planner, graphic designer, website builder, book editor, marketing manager, social media person, financial officer, runner… and about twenty other jobs in between.

There are a lot of moving parts behind what eventually becomes a few hours of relaxed painting together.

How the ideas begin

I filmed and launched my last two online courses before my second little bub, Ned, came along. Since then life has been wonderfully full in other ways.

I always knew I’d make more courses. I just needed the right time.

For me, course ideas start as tiny little seeds. Then, almost without warning, I get completely bitten by the bug. Once that happens I can’t stop thinking about it. The idea keeps growing, collecting little pieces along the way until it becomes something much bigger than where it started.

I was well and truly in that phase early in 2025.

Then disaster struck. I broke my ankle. Really badly.

Everything went on hold while I navigated what was easily the most challenging period of my life. Recovery was long, frustrating and unpredictable. It wasn’t until around six months later that I finally felt like I could stand for long enough to even think about filming again.

Finding the right course

The process always starts with pages of rough ideas.I write lesson plans, chat with past students and slowly work out which concepts have legs. Eventually I’ll have three or four ideas that all feel promising.

One of the biggest turning points happened during my Tasmanian Art Retreat with Artable.

Many of the students there had completed several of my online courses (some had done every single one!) so I thought, “Perfect. Let’s see what they think.”Well… apparently I was barking up the wrong tree entirely! I’m so glad I asked.

Those conversations completely changed my thinking. They didn’t just shape this course, they also planted the seed for the next one. I left Tasmania with so much more clarity and excitement than I’d arrived with.

Building the course

From there the real work begins.I research, test projects, experiment with different approaches and slowly build out the lesson plans. There are giant sheets of butcher’s paper spread across the studio (still my favourite way to think), rough schedules stuck everywhere and endless notes scribbled in the margins.

At the same time I’m organising filming dates, booking the videographer, arranging hair and makeup and pulling together the rest of the team..

I’m one of those people that need a deadline. So when the timing feels right (or almost right!) I book the filming day and then work backwards. It keeps me accountable and somehow everything manages to come together.

The focus groups

About a month before filming I run a couple of online focus group workshops with existing students.

By then the course is usually about 80% complete. There’s still room to reshape things, but there’s enough structure to test whether it’s working.

This is one of my favourite parts of the process. Some ideas land beautifully. Others… not so much. But having others to bounce off in a kind of testing ground has been a game changer for me.

Sometimes I make a few small tweaks. Other times I head back to the drawing board and rethink entire sections.

For this particular course I made quite a few changes after the focus groups, and I honestly think it’s a much stronger course because of it.

Preparing for filming

Once the focus groups are finished everything starts feeling very real.

I finalise the lesson plans, lock in the video titles, paint all of the demonstration pieces and prepare any extra examples I want to show throughout the course.

I don’t work from a script. That wouldn’t feel like me. Instead, I make sure I know exactly where we’re heading and then teach the same way I would if you were standing beside me in the studio.

One of the biggest challenges I faced while prepping to film was flower selection! As I wanted to work with fresh flowers. I used a totally different three flowers for the focus groups because with the filming date a full month later, none of the same flowers were in bloom. Unfortunately it was a very bad time of year for my beloved natives so I had to give up on that idea. I was fortunate enough though, that it was peony season! So that was the beginning of 'Spring Florals'.

Filming day

The only thing that can really derail filming day is the weather. My studio has a tin roof, so if it’s pouring with rain or howling with wind, the microphones pick it all up. Thankfully we were lucky this time and the forecast behaved itself.

Filming day starts very early.I’m usually up around 5am for hair and makeup before heading back to the studio to make sure everything is ready. Once the crew arrives there’s a bit of waiting while cameras, lighting and audio are all set up. There's four cameras all up to ensure every moment is captured!

My pal Miyo arrives too, although “production assistant” doesn’t even begin to describe what she does. She’s organiser, caterer, problem solver, cheerleader and generally keeps everything running smoothly.

Once the cameras start rolling we film the entire course in a single day.

Each lesson is filmed individually with very few retakes. Funnily enough, I always stumble over the introduction. Every single time. It’s hands down the hardest part and feel a lot of pressure to get it right,. Once I get to the materials and the painting begins, I’m completely in my happy place.

This filming day was a little different because I was still recovering from my ankle injury.

I was using forearm crutches and couldn’t properly weight bear on my left leg yet. Standing all day was a challenge and I needed regular breaks to sit, rest and elevate it. I even used these fancy compression boots Miyo brought in!

I probably could have taught sitting down, but it just wouldn’t have felt like me. I’ve always painted standing up, it feels far more natural.

After Filming

When filming wraps I’m usually equal parts exhausted and excited.

Of course I replay all the little things I wish I’d said differently. That’s probably inevitable. But I also remind myself that perfection isn’t really the point!I want these courses to feel like we’re painting together in the studio. Relaxed, conversational and real. The little imperfections are part of that. Even the occasional ‘whoops’.

Then comes the editing…

Once filming is finished the footage heads off to the editing team.

That process usually takes a couple of months, and while they’re busy editing I’m certainly not sitting around waiting.

I’m sorting through photos, editing images, writing course descriptions, creating thumbnails and slowly building everything that supports the course.

Once the videos return there’s another round (or two) of reviews. Usually it’s tiny adjustments, slightly different zooms, another camera angle, little details most people would never notice. But I’m incredibly particular because I want the finished experience to be the best it can possibly be.

The final stretch

Most people probably think that once the videos are finished it’s simply a matter of pressing “publish.”

If only.

This is actually where one of the biggest jobs begins.I write the companion eBook from scratch, then design the entire thing into a beautiful workbook. At the same time I’m creating behind-the-scenes content, planning the launch, writing newsletters, updating the website and juggling all the usual day-to-day work that comes with running a business. It’s a busy season. But it’s also one of my favourites.

The eBook has become such an important part of my courses. Some people learn best by watching. Others love having something they can read through afterwards, scribble notes in and refer back to whenever they need.

I want every student to learn in the way that suits them best. And that’s why, even though it takes a little longer, I think it’s worth every minute.

I genuinely can’t wait for you to see what we’ve created. Watercolour Explorations: Spring Florals in Mixed Media is coming your way.

The biggest heartfelt thank you to my small and mighty team who help bring these mammoth projects together, it's not possible without you!