New online course

Layered Movement

with Sarana Haeata

New marks, real depth — in acrylic.

Join Now

Lifetime Access | Online Course

Launch Discount Expires In:

Days

Hrs

Min

Sec

Bring Depth and Fluidity to Your Acrylic Painting

Sarana Haeata builds her paintings intuitively — no sketch, no plan — starting from a single grounding mark and layering outward until the work finds its own depth and movement. Layered Movement is her complete process for building a figurative painting in acrylic and oil pastel: mixing color, opening up your mark-making, moving through the “ugly phase,” and finishing a resolved piece. It’s made for acrylic painters who want to loosen up, build in layers and try new marks and textures — without spending a fortune on materials.

“The paintings where I’ve made the most mistakes are the ones that turned out to be the best.”

What You'll Experience

Step into Sarana’s studio and follow one painting from a single grounding mark to a finished, resolved piece. You’ll watch her mix color in real time, build layers you can see through, move through the “ugly phase” without starting over, and shape figures from memory and feeling rather than reference. You’ll also see exactly which materials she uses — most of them inexpensive, from the hardware store or a local art shop — so you can follow along without a big investment. It’s less a set of techniques than a way of working: intuitive, forgiving, and entirely her own.

What You’ll Learn

How to start a painting without a sketch or a plan — from a single grounding color outward

How to mix color into harmonious “journeys,” and when to break them with a pop of pigment

How to build layers you can see through, so the story underneath stays present

How to expand your mark-making — layering acrylic and oil pastel for line, texture and movement

How to move through the “ugly phase” — and why your mistakes are necessary

How to paint the figure from feeling and memory, not from life or reference

How to find inspiration outside your own art form and translate it into your work

How to set up an affordable, rental-friendly studio with hardware-store materials

How to know when a painting is finished

Get Access

What's Inside

Carefully crafted modules that take you inside Sarana’s complete process — from a blank canvas to a finished, resolved painting.

Welcome & Introduction

What the course is, and how Sarana approaches a painting.

Creative Approach

The ‘why’ behind her work — from ceramics to painting, and learning to relinquish control and follow the material.

Inspiration & Visual Language

Looking beyond your own art form for inspiration, and translating what you feel into words you can paint from.

Tools & Materials

The paints, pastels and tools she actually uses — and why cheaper is often better.

Color Mixing Foundation

Mixing harmonious color ‘journeys,’ and using pops of pigment to offset them.

The Undercoat

Laying the grounding anchor the whole painting grows out from.

Sketching the Figure & Composition

Starting from one point and letting the composition proliferate, without a plan.

Building Color & Layers

Layering intuitively, so you can still see the story underneath.

The Ugly Phase & Problem Solving

Moving through the ‘ugly phase’ — and why the mistakes are necessary.

Texture, Resolution & Finishing

Mark-making, sealing oil pastel, and bringing the work to a close.

Summary & Closing

Reflecting on the finished piece and the process behind it.

Meet The Artist

Sarana Haeata

Sarana Haeata is a Māori-Australian artist based in Margaret River, Western Australia. She came to painting through years of ceramics, and it shaped everything: a way of working that listens to the material and lets go of control. Her gestural, figurative work sits between representation and abstraction — women falling and floating, painted from memory and feeling rather than reference — and carries a deep belief in storytelling, accessibility and belonging. Her paintings are held in private collections across Australia, the US, Denmark, France and the UK.

“There are no rules. You can express yourself however you would like to.”

This is the first time Sarana is teaching her full process, from the first mark to the last.

Who This Is For

Acrylic painters who want to loosen up, build in layers and open up their practice

Anyone who wants to try new marks and textures without buying expensive materials

Painters who freeze without a plan or a reference to work from

Artists whose paintings stall in the “ugly phase” and get abandoned

Painters drawn to gestural, figurative, layered work

You don’t need to paint the way Sarana does — but if you’ve ever wanted to follow the work instead of forcing it, this is a process you can make your own.

What’s Included

Instant & Unlimited Lifetime Access

Two bonus modules to go deeper into Sarana’s practice

Ask Sarana questions directly in the comments

Downloadable materials list

Private student community

Join Layered Movement

Save for a limited time only

Normal Price: $147

Today's Price: $67 USD

Launch discount expires soon!

Days

Hrs

Min

Sec

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

We're confident you'll love this course. If you give it a try and feel it's not right for you, just contact us within 14 days of purchase and we'll take care of you. Enroll with confidence.

Organic Abstracts | Money back guarantee badge

FREE! Bonus ($70 value)

Included with every order

Materials & Canvas Prep

$35 value / FREE!

Mounting an unstretched, pre-gessoed canvas to the wall — an affordable, rental-friendly setup.

Formative

$35 value / FREE!

The three forces — a lived experience, an artist, a technique — that most shaped how Sarana sees and works.

FAQ

I already paint in acrylics — is this course for me?

Yes — it’s built for acrylic painters who want to loosen up, layer intuitively and expand their mark-making. You’ll work in acrylic and oil pastel throughout.

What materials do I need?

Acrylics, cheap student oil pastels, a few flat brushes, unstretched pre-gessoed canvas and spray sealant — most of it from the hardware store or a local art shop. A full list is included and provided at course sign up.

Is the course live or pre-recorded?

Pre-recorded and fully self-paced.

Do I need a big studio?

No — the canvas-prep bonus shows an affordable, rental-friendly wall setup.

How long do I have access?

Lifetime — the course is yours to revisit whenever you like.

WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY?

If you give it a try and feel it’s not right for you, contact us within 14 days of purchase and we’ll take care of you. Enroll with confidence.