Fodder School Mixed Media + Collage Art Online Course
The most joyful mixed media art making starts here.
Create beautiful collage fodder & Transform it into art you never thought you could make.
Find your creative people & Build a practice you will actually stick with.
Whether this is your first year or your sixth, The Fodder Challenge and Fodder School are where inspiration, community, and creativity come together.
Join thousands of artists who have discovered that the secret is not talent.
It is showing up.
What is Fodder Challenge 2026?
Fodder Challenge 2026 is a month long mixed media collage experience designed to help you discover the joy of making art with your hands.
Throughout October 2026, you'll receive 10 fun, approachable mixed media collage projects from our talented group of Fodder School 6 instructors. Each project is intentionally bite sized, making it easy to fit creativity into your busy life.
You'll explore a wide range of materials, techniques, and creative approaches while building confidence and discovering what excites you most.
Whether you're brand new to mixed media collage or already have years of experience, the Fodder Challenge is designed to inspire, surprise, and delight.
Best of all? It's just $37 USD plus tax!
Fodder Challenge or Fodder School?
Think of Fodder Challenge as a creative test drive.
With Fodder Challenge, you'll enjoy 10 quick pre-recorded Mixed Media projects (delivered throughout October 2026), invitations to LIVE Q&A Zooms (with valuable giveaways from our favorite art suppliers!), and access to the lessons through November 15, 2026.
Think of Fodder School as the full journey.
With Fodder School 6, you'll receive this year’s Challenge PLUS 11 additional months of Make Fodder and Use Fodder project lessons, a vibrant creative community, and lifetime access to everything.
Many students start with the Challenge. Many others already know they want the full experience.
There is no wrong choice. The important thing is that you begin.
Choose Your Creative Adventure!
Option 1: Fodder Challenge 2026
Fodder Challenge 2026 is a month long mixed media collage experience featuring 10 fun, bite sized creative projects delivered throughout October.
Perfect for artists who want to: explore mixed media collage
Experience our teaching style
Discover what makes our community so special
Dip a toe into the world of Fodder School
Fodder Challenge 2026 (standalone) lesson access ends on November 15, 2026.
Early Bird Pricing for Fodder Challenge 2026 (standalone) is $37 USD + tax, and is available through September 30, 2026
Starting October 1, the price of Fodder Challenge 2026 (standalone) increases to $47 USD + tax.
You can purchase/upgrade to Fodder School 6 at a later time, but no refund/credit will be provided for the cost of Fodder Challenge 2026
Option 2: Fodder School 6 + Fodder Challenge 2026
If you decide to join Fodder School 6, you'll receive lifetime access to this year’s Challenge lessons along with everything included in the full year program PLUS:
11 more months of Make Fodder + Use Fodder lessons from our Fodder School 6 instructors
Access to our private creative community
Lifetime access to ALL lessons
If you already know you want the full Fodder School experience, this is the most affordable way to join.
Early Bird Pricing for Fodder School 6 (+ FC2026) is available through October 31, 2026. There are multiple options to enroll yourself:
The one-time payment option is $257 USD + tax
There is also a 3 part monthly payment plan of $89 USD + tax, billed once monthly until paid off
Starting November 7, the price of Fodder School 6 (+ FC2026) will increase to its regular, year-round price.
Not Sure Yet?
A Quick Note about Upgrading.
Many students choose to begin with Fodder Challenge and later decide that they want the full Fodder School experience.
You're welcome to do that. You will have November 7, 2026 to take advantage of the Early Bird Rate on Fodder School 6. After November 7th, the price will go to the regular rate of $347 USD plus tax.
However, if you purchase Fodder Challenge separately and later enroll in Fodder School 6 (either during the Early Bird Pricing or later after that ends), your Challenge purchase cannot be applied toward your Fodder School tuition.
In other words, if you already know that you want the full year experience, enrolling in Fodder School 6 during the Early Bird period is far and away the most economical option.
Challenge participants who later join Fodder School 6 will receive lifetime access to the Challenge lessons along with everything included in the full year program.
If you have been here before, welcome home!
You already know what happens:
A lesson catches your eye. You make a few papers. One project turns into three. Your creative spark comes roaring back. Before you know it, you've made art, made books, tried new techniques, and connected with artists from around the world.
Every October Fodder Challenge is different. Every Fodder School year is different. Every year brings new teachers, new ideas, and new possibilities.
And every year reminds us why we fell in love with making art in the first place.
Maybe you've been waiting for the right time.
Maybe you've been watching The Fodder Challenge or Fodder School each year from the sidelines.
Maybe you've thought:
"Next year."
"When life settles down."
"When I have more time."
"When I'm more creative."
"When I'm better at mixed media."
The truth is that most of us don't begin because we feel ready. We begin because we're tired of waiting.
There will always be laundry, deadlines, obligations, and reasons to put your creativity on hold.
Fodder School isn't for people who have everything figured out. It's for people who are ready to make space for joy, curiosity, and creative play.
It's a creative practice. It's a source of inspiration. It's a place to experiment, learn, and grow.
Every year brings new teachers, new projects, and new techniques, but the real magic is what happens when you keep showing up. One lesson leads to another. One project sparks a new idea. One year of creating becomes a habit you can't imagine living without.
That's why so many of our participants return again and again.
Why do people come back year after year?
Because Fodder School is more than a collection of classes
But don’t just take our word for it!
A quick glance at all the fun Fodder School 6 projects we have in store for you this year…
You won’t just learn. You’ll make art every single month!
The Simple Fodder School Method:
Step 1
Learn how to create beautiful handmade papers, fabrics, marks, textures, and embellishments that become the building blocks of your art.
Step 2
Transform those materials into journals, collages, books, cards, home decor, stitch projects, mixed media artwork, and more.
Step 3
Each month brings new teachers, new techniques, new inspiration, and new possibilities. Before long, you'll have a growing collection of skills, artwork, and creative confidence.
Learn from artists who see the world differently.
One of the most powerful parts of Fodder School is learning from a variety of teachers.
Each artist brings a different perspective, different techniques, different materials, and a different creative voice. Some lessons will feel comfortably familiar. Others will push you in exciting new directions.
You don't need to love every project. You only need one lesson, one idea, or one technique to completely change the way you make art.
And after five years of Fodder School, we've seen that happen again and again.
Beginning August 1st, we'll start revealing the incredible artists joining us for Fodder School 6 (and Fodder Challenge 2026).
Beginning August 1st, we'll start unveiling the talented artists who will guide us through Fodder School 6 (and Fodder Challenge 2026).
Every reveal brings a new creative adventure!
But here's what our returning students already know:
The magic of Fodder School has never been about a single teacher or a single project. It's the experience of spending an entire year making art alongside a vibrant, supportive community.
That's why so many raving fans enroll before a single teacher is revealed.
We’re happy to have support from these amazing brands!
I'm Ready to Ignite my Creative Spark! →
Register for Fodder Challenge 2026 (standalone) ↓ Here ↓
Register for Fodder School 6 (includes FC2026) ↓ Here ↓
The Fodder School Difference and how it Transforms YOU
Unleash your maximum Creative spark by Witnessing how our instructors play with each other's lessons.
Fodder School is a "Living Course" responsive to the needs of the community. Each month, opportunities arise as a result of the collaborative creative process. Bonus video content is created and arrives in the classroom. The learning opportunities and inspiration available within Fodder School are unparalleled!
"I soOoo appreciate how these bonus videos add to the featured artist's process, expanding it even further and encouraging creative experimentation which is such a hallmark of creativity. The comments and photos by the community take this even further and I'm also so grateful for those who pipe in. It makes FS such a rich and wonderful place to be!"
- Fodder School Student
What if life gets in the way? (It always does.)
Your creative journey doesn't pause for life's interruptions. That's why Fodder School is designed for real artists with real lives. Pick up where you left off, skip to what excites you most, or binge-watch during creative spurts. Lessons are recorded and placed into our Teachable classroom where you will get “lifetime access” to them.
Your lifetime access means your art evolves on YOUR timeline.
Can I use the Fodder School lesson content to inspire my YouTube or TikTok tutorial videos?
That's a hard no.
There's an endless amount of incredible art tutorial content in every year of Fodder School. For some creatives, it's tempting to want to use Fodder School as a well of inspiration for their own creative enterprise, YouTube channel, brand, etc.
Fodder School is not sold with permission for anyone to use it in this way--specifically, as a source of inspiration for any one's free how-to social media tutorial content, whether that be on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or any other social media platform.
If you are a creative who loves to share your work with the world, that's wonderful! We love it when participants share their finished collage fodder and finished Fodder School projects in photos and videos on social media. Please tag @fodder.school, the teacher of the month, and use our hashtag.
But making how-to videos of yourself while creating from Fodder School lesson content or obviously inspired and derivative of Fodder School content, and then posting those tutorials on any free social media platform, will get you banned from Fodder School with no refund issued.
When it doubt, please reach out and ask for permission instead of assuming that you aren't violating our boundaries.
All Fodder School videos, documents and other associated content are the property of Fodder School. Duplication, modification, distribution, transformation, or reproduction of any part of Fodder School educational content (i.e., filming yourself creating a Fodder School lesson or lessons in whole or in part and then posting your video on social media) is a violation of copyright and may result in your removal from Fodder School or legal action against you.
I'm Ready to Ignite my Creative Spark! →
Register for Fodder Challenge 2026 (standalone) ↓ Here ↓
Register for Fodder School 6 (includes FC2026) ↓ Here ↓
Still Have Questions? We've Got Answers.
Fodder School FAQs
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First, check out the General FAQs listed below. If your question still isn’t answered, please email us at wendy@willawanders.com
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Fodder School is a year long program featuring 11 in-depth projects released monthly. In addition to these lessons, members receive the full Fodder Challenge and lifetime access to all course content.
The Fodder Challenge is a month-long creative event that happens in October each year featuring 11 quick projects, one from each instructor and is a great way to experience what Fodder School is like at a much lower cost. Unlike Fodder School, however, students only have access to the Fodder Challenge for a limited time.
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None of the Fodder Schools are prerequisites for the others, so you can start with any year you’d like.
However, if you want to join a large, active community and follow along with monthly lesson releases, we would strongly recommend starting with the current Fodder School.
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You can view all of your Willa Workshops by going to our website, https://www.willawanders.com/ and clicking on the “Class Login” button at the top right of the page.
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All Willa Workshops lesson content is prerecorded video. Once your purchase is complete, you will have instant access to the classroom. Before the Fodder School 5 lessons begin dropping on November 1st, there’s plenty of video content in the classroom for you to start exploring the wonders of Mixed Media art!
You can access Teachable and watch the lessons in your browser (PC, Mac, Android) or download the Teachable app for iOS (recommended for iPhone and iPad)
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You will have “Lifetime” Access to all classes unless otherwise mentioned—"Lifetime" is relevant to the lifespan of the Willa Workshops business (I don't plan on leaving anytime soon!) or the longevity of the technology
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Most lesson videos have English, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Italian, and German subtitles. Some lessons may have more language options. Reach out to me if you’d like the video captions transcribed to your language!
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No, at least not available as local downloads to your device. The Teachable app for iOS allows you to download lessons for offline playback.
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Please do! Always tag @fodder.school, @willa.wanders, and the teacher who gave the lesson in your post description—use #fodderchallenge2025 on your posts!
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Yes! Please keep them for yourself, give them as a gift, or sell them.
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There are no refunds on online courses
Why I Created Fodder School
Many years ago, when I was in law school, I stumbled across Somerset Studio magazine for the very first time. I was completely captivated. The artwork was layered, complex, and beautiful.
I would flip through the pages thinking, "How on earth do people make this stuff?" I didn't even know where to begin. What I did know was that I loved the feeling I got when my hands touched art supplies.
I have never been the kind of person who walks around with elaborate artistic visions dancing in my head, waiting to be brought to life. What I love is the experience of making. The feeling of a pencil moving across paper. The sound of scissors cutting. The swipe of paint across a page. The simple joy of playing with materials.
Over time, I learned that mixed media art is not some mysterious talent that other people are born with. It is a collection of techniques, skills, and playful experiments that anyone can learn.
One painted paper. one stamp, one collage, one project at a time.
Fodder School was born from that realization.
It is the learning experience I wish I had when I first opened those magazines and wondered how anyone made art that looked like that.
"I've been crafter for nearly all my life, rubber stamp card maker and artist since 1993, and for over a decade at least I've been into mixed media collage and gelli plate prints (for collage and cards). I joined Fodder School to use my stash and do some "me time" commitments. I love your organization, instructions presented in pace for all levels, variations of topics which you all present in a way so it flows together down the road, the introduction to new techniques/arts/crafts to incorporate into your work, your selection of instructors, the price point, the ease of using Teachable..... you get the picture - I think your classes/program over all A+++"
-Cheryl P.
"Oh my goodness, where do I start? This would have to be the best course I've ever done . . . I don't want to stop."
-Cathy W.
"If you're not in Fodder School, you're missing out."
-Leona D.
"Joining Fodder School was the best choice I made for my art practice."
-@sarah.bird.studio
"I love Fodder School. I have learned something valuable and fun from every single instructor. I already know that I will enroll in [the next] Fodder School."
-Justine B.
"Dear people who have not signed up yet for FS . . . you will never regret attending on-line Fodder School. You will learn so much about art and having fun with it!!! If you don't feel quite like an artist when you start, you will be by the end! That's what happened for me . . . and I haven't even completed every course yet!!! Go at your own speed and just enjoy the process!!!"
-Jane M
"I've loved everything about it! The projects, the instructors, working at my own pace, learning new things, seeing everyone's interpretation of each project, the bonus lessons . . . so much to rave about!!"
-@Sojournbookarts
"I love Fodder School! Before I signed up I thought it would be too much for me but not at all. It really fills me with joy watching the videos, finding ways to make my projects."
-@la_fee_uk
"Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the past and future teachers in Fodder School and to all the behind the scene workers keeping it running. What a feast of creativity! A full buffet of techniques! I am going at my own pace as I want to savour it all and life does get in the way every now and again. There is so much to learn and develop from each really full lesson. You teachers are so very generous with not only preparing the lessons, but taking time providing feedback as we post. My head is exploding with ideas and my heart is full. "
-Kaye S.
Real words from real students!
Let’s Make Art Less Intimidating and Way More Joyful!
Register for Fodder Challenge 2026 (standalone) ↓ Here ↓
Register for Fodder School 6 (includes FC2026) ↓ Here ↓
