Animal Artists Academy
The Animal Artists Academy is your dedicated space to grow as a confident animal artist, no matter where you’re starting from.
Inside the membership, you’ll gain access to step-by-step drawing tutorials, live monthly coaching calls, Q&A support, and a warm community of like-minded creatives who share your passion for wildlife art.
You’ll receive guidance, structure, and encouragement to help you develop strong artistic foundations, build consistent habits, and continue advancing your skills with coloured pencils and graphite.
If you're ready to deepen your artistic ability, stay motivated, and enjoy the journey alongside supportive fellow artists, this is where your artistic growth truly begins.
ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN BUY INDIVIDUAL COURSES BY CLICKING ON THE BUTTONS BELOW
A selection of courses to help you grow
Start Changing Your Life Today
Let me help you create art and nurture your confidence as an artist
A Coloured Pencil Course for Beginners
Begin your coloured pencil journey with a beginner's course designed to make drawing animals feel easy, achievable, and inspiring.
This course takes you step by step through the fundamentals of using coloured pencils, understanding layering, pressure control, colour selection, and simple blending while guiding you through projects that build real confidence.
You’ll learn how to create believable fur, accurate anatomy, and natural colour transitions without feeling overwhelmed by the medium’s complexity.
With supportive instruction and practical techniques you can use right away, this course gives you the skills and structure you need to progress from unsure beginner to capable artist, ready to bring animal subjects to life with colour and clarity.
$37
Drawing Animals in Graphite for Beginners
Start your graphite journey with a beginner's course designed to build confidence, clarity, and real drawing skills from the very first lesson.
This course gently guides you through the foundations of drawing realistic animals, teaching you how to observe shape, form, value, and texture with purpose and accuracy.
You’ll learn how to use graphite pencils effectively, how to develop clean light areas and rich shadows, and how to create believable fur, eyes, and features without overwhelm.
With clear instruction, supportive structure, and achievable projects, this course gives you the essential tools to progress from hesitant beginner to capable, confident artist, ready to create animal drawings you can be proud of.
$37
The Complete Coloured Pencil Toolkit
The Complete Coloured Pencil Toolkit is a powerful mini-course designed to support beginners with clear guidance, practical resources, and everything you need to start your coloured pencil journey with confidence.
Inside, you’ll find a collection of easy-to-use templates, helpful worksheets, and focused video tips that answer the common questions every new coloured pencil artist faces.
From understanding colour choices to layering, blending, and building a simple, reliable workflow, this toolkit gives you the structure and clarity to avoid confusion and start experiencing real progress.
Whether you’re just starting out or wanting a stronger foundation, this resource-packed toolkit will help you create more vibrant, successful artwork from the very first lesson.
Great value at only $17.
How to use drafting film with coloured pencils
Using drafting film with coloured pencils opens up an entirely different artistic experience, offering clarity, precision, and a unique luminous quality that’s difficult to achieve on traditional papers.
Its smooth, non-absorbent surface allows coloured pencil to glide effortlessly, making fine details, fur textures, and crisp edges incredibly sharp. Because the pigment sits on the surface, colours appear clean and vibrant with minimal layering, and you can work on both sides of the film to build subtle depth and soft shadows without overworking the drawing.
Lightweight, durable, and ideal for realistic animal art, drafting film is a favourite for artists who want control, refinement, and a beautifully modern, polished finish to their work.
AUD $17
Using Pastelmat with Coloured Pencils
Using Pastelmat with coloured pencils offers a transformative drawing experience, especially for artists wanting rich colour, smooth layering, and beautifully controlled detail.
Its unique velvety surface grips pigment effortlessly, allowing you to build depth and saturation with far less pressure than traditional papers. This not only makes blending easier but also opens the door to soft backgrounds, refined textures, and stunning realism in your animal drawings.
Whether you’re a beginner exploring new surfaces or an experienced artist seeking more vibrancy and control, Pastelmat provides a reliable foundation that supports both expressive mark-making and precise, delicate work.
AUD $17
Using Black Paper with Coloured Pencils
Using black paper with coloured pencils is a powerful way to create dramatic, high-impact artwork that immediately captures attention.
The dark surface expands your imagination to new horizons by allowing your subject to emerge from the darkness.
Black paper also encourages more confident mark-making, helping you focus on building light rather than shading darks. For beginners and experienced artists alike, it offers an exciting, expressive surface that brings coloured pencil work to life in a striking and memorable way.
AUD $17
Mastering Coloured Pencils on Three Surfaces
Unlock a complete coloured pencil experience by exploring all three of the most versatile and inspiring surfaces in one curated package: drafting film, Pastelmat, and black paper.
Each surface offers its own distinct strengths: drafting film delivers crisp detail and luminous clarity, Pastelmat provides rich depth and effortless layering, and black paper creates dramatic contrast and striking vibrancy.
Together, they form a powerful trio that expands your creative possibilities, allowing you to explore different techniques, textures, and visual moods with confidence.
This package is designed to help you grow as an artist, experiment boldly, and discover which surfaces bring out the very best in your coloured pencil work.
Great value at $47
Beyond Paper: Coloured Pencil Techniques on Two Surfaces
Expand your coloured pencil skills with this curated two-surface package featuring both drafting film and Pastelmat, two of the most rewarding and versatile supports for realistic animal art.
Drafting film gives you exceptional precision, crisp details, and a clean, luminous finish, while Pastelmat offers rich depth, smooth layering, and beautifully soft blends.
Together, they provide the perfect balance of control and creativity, allowing you to explore different techniques, textures, and visual effects with confidence.
This package is ideal for artists who want to broaden their experience, refine their style, and discover the unique strengths each surface brings to coloured pencil work.
Bonus eGuide included.
$27
Mastering Fur Drawing: Essentials of White and Black Fur
Bring your coloured pencil skills to a new level with this two-part tutorial package, designed to help you master both white fur and black fur, the two most challenging extremes in animal drawing.
These in-depth tutorials guide you step by step through the unique techniques required for each: creating luminous, clean whites without muddiness, and achieving deep, rich blacks with dimension and subtle texture.
Together, they provide a complete skill-building experience that strengthens your understanding of value, layering, pencil pressure, and fine detail. Whether you’re a beginner ready to grow or an experienced artist refining your craft, this paired package gives you the knowledge and confidence to create beautifully realistic animal fur.
Only $25
How and when to create a background with coloured pencils
Knowing how and when to use a background can completely transform your coloured pencil artwork, elevating your subject from a simple drawing to a cohesive, expressive piece.
This guide shows you exactly how to make those decisions with confidence. You’ll learn when a background enhances depth, mood, and storytelling, and when a clean, simple space allows your subject to shine on its own.
Through practical examples and clear techniques, you’ll discover how to plan backgrounds that support your composition, choose colours and surfaces that harmonise with your subject, and apply soft edges, smooth transitions, and controlled layering for professional results.
Whether you prefer subtle atmosphere or more detailed environments, this resource helps you use backgrounds with purpose, clarity, and artistic impact.
$9
What every Animal Artist ought to know about Photographs and Artwork
Every animal artist relies on photographs, but understanding how to use them well is what separates a good drawing from a truly compelling artwork.
This resource reveals the essential principles every artist should know, how to choose strong references, interpret lighting and anatomy accurately, and avoid the common pitfalls of copying a photo too literally.
You’ll learn how to read a photograph with an artist’s eye, identify distortions or colour shifts, and make creative decisions that strengthen your composition rather than limit it.
This course covers taking high-resolution images with a DSLR indoors and outdoors, and how to get the best images from your smartphone.
With clear guidance on ethics, originality, and building a reference library you can trust, this guide empowers you to use photographs as powerful tools that support your artistic voice, not replace it.
$17
30 Ways to Find & Keep Artistic Motivation
30 Ways to Find & Keep Artistic Motivation is a 30-day challenge designed to help you reconnect with your creativity, strengthen your mindset, and build the habits that keep you moving forward with purpose.
Each day offers a focused video tip that guides you toward clarity, confidence, and positive momentum, helping you overcome self-doubt, stay consistent, and rediscover the joy in your artistic practice.
This step-by-step journey gently reshapes how you think about your art, giving you practical tools to stay inspired, committed, and creatively fulfilled.
If you’re ready to regain direction and share your creativity with the world, this challenge provides the structure and support you need to make lasting change.
Includes printable workbook
$27
My Blog
My blog is dedicated to helping aspiring and experienced animal artists build confidence, skill and joy in their drawing practice. Here you’ll find practical tips, thoughtful guidance, and insightful articles on coloured pencil and graphite techniques, artistic mindset, and creative growth.
Each post is designed to support you on your journey, whether you’re choosing colours, improving realism, developing discipline, or simply looking for fresh inspiration.
Visit the blog to explore a library of helpful resources that will strengthen your skills and deepen your connection to your artwork.
About Kate
Let's introduce Kate and her team!
That's right, Kate's two offsiders are Teddy (lapping it up) and Gus (big and beautiful).
How does that work?
In Kates's words:
"My two trusty companions keep me grounded and I try to follow their philosophy on life.
That is:
*they have unconditional love for me and are always happy to see me even when I'm late home
*they live in the moment
*they are loyal and trustworthy
*they keep me fit, we love our morning walk
*they stretch first thing in the morning 😂
These are great guidelines to live life by and I apply them to my business as well."
