Current Art Workshops
Nature, Awe & Artist – In This Place & Season
A delightful, informative, contemplative tuning in to where we are in the world.
Learn to see nature through the eyes of an artist. Deepen your connection to right here, right now.
Combining observation, foundational drawing exercises, seasonal discoveries, local awareness, and shared perceptions, we will spend the day immersed in being sensitive to this local place and this particular microseason.
Through artistic enquiry, we will be anchoring into the outside world that is so often a generalised passing background to our schedules and inner monologues. By slowing down and seeing the exquisite details and marvels of our everyday natural world, we give ourselves the gift of presence in, and appreciation of, the here and now – the place where we live.
For artists and total beginners.
Tea, coffee, nibbles, all art materials supplied.
Bring: phone camera & lunch. Please consider sensible shoes, sunscreen, hat and a water bottle.
You are welcome to also bring any paper, pens or paints that you like to draw/paint with.
Workshop dates
Coming to the Coffs Coast NSW from November 2024 and further afield by appointment.
Please join the art newsletter to be advised of upcoming dates and details.
Past Workshops
Any of these workshops are available by appointment for small groups. Just ask.
Participants: up to 20
Length: can be varied from 1.5 to 3 hours (half day) to suit
Love Letters to Trees
Everyone has a story about a favourite tree.
Trees have been revered by human cultures throughout time for good reason. They are majestic and serene. They give so much. Without trees we don’t have oxygen to breathe, and so much more.
We will go for a walk among the trees. Along the way we’ll listen to odes to trees and recite some together. We’ll share our stories of trees. We will admire the trees we meet. You’ll be asked to choose your favourite and write some words of appreciation, your own or someone else’s. Then we’ll publicly display these Love Letters so that passersby will also be inclined to notice, slow down and appreciate the trees.
Stop and marvel. Share the love.
A gathering to express and spread appreciation for trees.
Bring: yourself, sensible shoes and perhaps a raincoat. This workshop seems to induce rain!
Participants: up to 10
Length: can be varied from 1.5 to 3 hours (half day) to suit
Nature, Awe & Artist
Slow down. Reconnect with nature and your own creativity.
Beginning with a series of meditative exercises, we will first slow down to be present, and then open our eyes to the awe inspiring details of the nature around us. We will explore different ways of perceiving and appreciating the natural world through artistic ways of seeing. You will be guided through a series of gentle experimenting with mark making and drawing techniques. There is no pressure to create a ‘finished’ artwork. The doing is the destination.
Learn to see nature through the eyes of an artist. No artistic talent required.
Paper, ink and brushes are supplied. You are also welcome to bring any paper, pens, paints or materials you like to draw or paint with.
Bring: 3 things from nature that have caught your eye to contribute to the pool of objects for artistic exploration.
Participants: up to 10
Length: can be varied from 3 hours (half day) to a full day, to suit
Please note this is a workshop for adults. Yes, really! Kids don’t need a helping hand with noticing nature and letting their imagination out to play.
Found Creatures Environmental Art
Think you’re not creative? This workshop is made for you.
Based on my creation of The Found Creatures collection, I would like to invite you to a hands on day of reconnecting with your innate creativity. We’ll make art from nature. It will be playful and fun!
You will be gently guided through a series of warm up exercises, designed to ease you into lateral thinking and noticing the natural bounty all around to work with. We will fossick the garden for textures, shapes and colours and learn by sharing how we see. This is such a relaxing, meditative experience of slowing down in nature, too often pushed aside in our busy lives.
Before you know it, your inner child will be out and about, leading the way to your imagination. We’ll build your confidence in your creativity with evolutions of creatures. By the end of the day you’ll be off making your very own Found Creatures using materials and locations found on site. Nothing gets harmed; no rubbish is left lying around; your art will biodegrade. You only need to bring a digital camera, open eyes and be ready to be quietly, experimentally, playful.
Bring: a digital camera/phone camera. Take only photos & leave only footprints!
