How Jocelyn got her groove back with Out of this Earth.
“I stopped painting for several years because the materials didn’t align with my values... Now, I feel really good about the art I’m making.”
When Jocelyn Vache pressed pause on her art practice, it wasn’t because she lost interest. It was because the materials she loved – acrylic paint and silver for metalsmithing – no longer felt right. “I didn’t want to contribute to harming the earth and harming communities,” she shared. “So I pretty much put a full stop on my metal work... and eventually on painting, too.”
For years, ideas lived only in her head.
Jocelyn could see the pieces she wanted to make. But they never made it to canvas. “I was not very happy. I would come up with images and concepts that lived in my head… but I wasn’t painting anything.”
She even tried growing her own fibre – milkweed and dogbane – in her backyard, in the hopes of finding a sustainable creative outlet. But it just wasn’t enough. “I wasn’t putting any art out there. I stopped doing galleries and craft fairs. I just kind of entered stasis.”
That all changed when she discovered Out of this Earth.
A creative reawakening
Jocelyn had already completed From Form to Freedom with Harriet Goodall, so she knew the Fibre Arts Take Two community was a kind and generous space. When Claire Benn introduced a course exploring soy-based paints and earth pigments – materials Jocelyn could literally grow and forage –she felt something shift.
“Claire was offering the perfect solution to the problem I was having... it just felt liberating that I could be guilt-free painting again.”
That one shift didn’t just restart Jocelyn’s practice. It completely reframed how she creates.
“I’ve started showing in galleries again. I’ve sold paintings. But more than that—it just feels good to be making them.”
Unexpected lessons that made a big impact
It wasn’t just the materials that inspired her; it was the mindset.
“Claire burns the paintings that no longer serve her. That idea of letting go was really freeing.”
Jocelyn hasn’t burned her own work just yet (she’s composted a few though!), but that philosophy of impermanence changed how she approaches her practice. So did the practical skills she gained – like stretching a canvas after painting it. “That blew my mind,” she said. “And now I’m making my own float frames too – easy to do in my basement and they look great!”
She also discovered that working with natural pigments and stitching into her canvases gave her the tactile satisfaction she once got from forging metal. “It kind of melded both practices in one.”
Back in the art world - on her terms
Since taking the course, Jocelyn’s not just making art again, she’s participating in the art world in a way that feels meaningful. She’s applied to open calls, had pieces accepted into themed exhibitions, and started building back her gallery presence.
“There’s one piece I made recently that’s in a show this month called Symphony and Fibre. It combines music and fibre art – perfect for the path I’m on.”
She’s also connected with a global community of artists through the course forums and Q&A sessions. “You can post your work, ask questions, commiserate, celebrate… and connect with people all over the world.”
Jocelyn’s advice?
“If you’re considering a course with Take Two, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Whether you’re a beginner, mid-career, or advanced, there’s something for everyone in these courses.”
She’s already dreaming up her next creative chapter – perhaps experimenting with paper, or reintroducing a bit of oil paint. “I’ve got ideas brewing... and probably another Fibre Arts Take Two class in my future.”
Your creativity, your pace.
If you’ve ever felt like your values and your art practice are out of sync – or you’re searching for a more sustainable, soul-aligned way to create – Out of this Earth might be the invitation you’ve been waiting for.
