Printing - the Methods of Etching

This course offers an intensive introduction to the methods and materials involved in the traditional techniques of copper plate etching, including hard ground intaglio, drypoint, and chine collé. You will learn how to prepare plates, explore drawing and etching techniques and discover how to ink and wipe your plates to print a small edition.  Participants will be encouraged and guided in translating their ideas directly on to the plate. The course is suitable for students of all levels.

King is nationally renowned for his unique interpretation of the Australian landscape and his work is represented in public collections including the British Museum, London, National Gallery of Australia, state and regional galleries throughout Australia.

Exploring the Immediacy of Painting

The first marks you make are the cleanest and surest simply because they are made without hesitation. In this workshop Angus will explore the idea of creating gestural imagery with a free and dynamic approach. Using figurative references the students will do quick paint/charcoal/gouache studies. It is through this energising process that discoveries are made that can never be realised with a measured hand. When Angus was in Antarctica it was so cold that all the studies he made were done rapidly in goache, sometimes in 5 minutes.

Artist comment - "By doing this over a month I soon learned how to get down imagery quickly and with some precision - however it was the fast and free approach that made the pieces work as the urgency throws up marks and passages in the paintings that were fabulous. I now use that process to make underpaintings for my tight realist work."

Angus McDonald studied first at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney, winning the school’s Brett Whiteley Scholarship in 1995, and at the Florence Academy in Italy in 1999 & 2000.  During the past 12 months he was selected as a finalist in the Archibald Prize, the Dobell Prize, the Blake Prize, the JADA Drawing Prize, The Montalto Sculpture Prize, the Country Energy Landscape Prize & the Australian Studio Furniture Design Awards. His work is represented in public and private collections in Australia, Europe, Japan and the United States.

Expedition Series - Exploring Kakadu National Park Area

After our inspirational journey with Jo Bertini earlier in the year, Artworkshops Australia and the award-winning Anthology, are excited to follow up with a unique art experience to Wildman Wilderness Lodge on the border of the Kakadu National Park.

Set amidst the lush wilderness of Australia’s breathtaking Top End, Wildman Wilderness Lodge is a new nature-based travel experience, situated in the Mary River Wetlands. Recently opened in April 2011, Wildman is a small-scale, high quality wilderness retreat. An unforgettable journey to an incredible destination.

For further details please refer to our Expeditions page.

Expedition Series - Exploring the Flinders Ranges

The expedition is led by Emma Walker - an abstract landscape painter and wonderful teacher, will lead a small group of artists to traverse the incredible beauty of one of the earth’s oldest landscapes.

Emma will lead the group on a Plein Air based expedition into the Flinders Ranges. The experience is designed for artists interested in landscape, both painting and drawing and for those involved with a conversation about the nature of art making and different approaches to the Australian environment. By immersing yourself in this spectacular landscape you will have direct contact with your subject matter through the interaction with nature and the environment.

For complete details please refer to our Expedition page.

Safari Series - Sabi Art Safari

Elisabeth Cummings is going on Safari. Join us on the trip of a lifetime where we will combine an art adventure with wildlife, wilderness and the culture of this world renowned destination - South Africa. Teeming with a huge variety of animals and birdlife, the continent is home to the giants of the wild – elep hant, rhino and hippo , the fastest (Cheetah) and of course the king of them all - the African lion. The animals roam freely around the two private, but very different bush camps we will visit and which adjoin the famous Kruger National Park.

Elisabeth says:  “I am captivated by the primeval power of the African animals set against the soft meandering pa lette of the bushveld. It has been a lifelong dream to visit Africa.”

Due to the use of bush airstrips and charter flights, numbers are strictly limited. This unique trip which gives you the opportunity to explore, travel and paint with Elisabeth Cummings offers only 10 places at this stage.

For further details please refer to our Safari page.

The Depth of Watercolour

The methods used are not conventional or traditional watercolour techniques.

Working from photos Hood demonstrates how she makes her large scale watercolour paintings and then helps each participant prepare their colours, draw the image and apply the paint.  Students who which to venture into large scale works will be encouraged to pour watery paint onto the paper which is flat on the table. A drying period is needed during which time student go on with another painting. Students are encouraged to use large brushes to achieve quick, loose flowing marks and then by contrast put in the details of the facial features with smaller brushes and concentrated observation.

Hood gives several demonstrations of how to draw and paint the eyes, helping some students to finish the work with the detail of the eyes, nose and mouth.

Participants from all levels of experience usually achieve at least two good paintings in the style of Cherry Hood - ie a large human face- by the end of the second day.

Cherry is represented by Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney, Arc One, Melbourne, Heiser Gallery, Brisbane, Paul Greenaway, Adelaide and Turner Gallery, Perth. Hood attained a Master of Visual Art at the Sydney College of Arts in 2000. Her thesis investigated gender politics in art and cultural mores and taboos. She is represented in major Australian institutional and gallery collections; and has won the Arhcibald Prize in 2002.

Contemporary Landscape in Mixed Media

Using the concept of landscape as a staring point this workshop will look at the idea of exterior space and form, challenging the confinements of traditional, idealised, and in some instances ‘abstract’ practices in landscape painting . Drawings and reference material will be sourced from the surrounding area and used in experimental process that will focus on layering techniques in collage, tonal control ,glazing and creative mark making. Ideally the workshop will stimulate creative intuition and personal expression.

Judith White was born in Sydney, trained at the National Art School, gained a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Fine Arts throughSydney University, and is a member of the Australian Watercolour Institute. Judith has been a practising professional for 30 years with 38 solo exhibitions, in Australia and in Nagoya, Japan in 1993.

Major commissions include, the Olympic Co-ordination authority, Walker Corporation, Southern Pacific Petroleum/Central Pacific Mineral P.L, JLW Sydney, Attorney General Department of NSW, and in 2004 Judith was commissioned to complete a major work for the refurbished Hilton Hotel, Sydney.

Judith has won over a dozen major awards including the Mosman Art Prize twice, the Margaret Fesq Memorial Art Prize twice, the Manly Daily Art Prize, the Maitland Art Prize and in 2004 the Fleurieu Peninsula McLaren Vale Prize.

Watercolour - Allowing yourself to Evolve

We all have a special connection to our environment. Through different mediums we will explore the way to best describe our own story. One of the biggest hurdles in the creative process is having the confidence to let go. Through this workshop Patrick will open doors that will take you down your own path less travelled.

Patrick Shirvington is a practicing artist who will bring forty years of experience to this workshop. Patrick’s work comes from a traditional beginning and has been pushing the boundary of abstraction through his mark making to this day. The workshop is suitable for all levels of artist, and will take you to the next stage in your creative journey.

Patrick has been involved in many exhibitions including -  Kedumba Drawing Award, Tattersalls Landscape Prize , The Archibald Prize and The Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, awarded  Artist in Residence at the Arthur Boyd Studio on two occasions and is represented in many private and public collections including – The Kedumba Drawing Collection, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Macquarie University, Arthur Boyd – Bundanon Collection. His work was recently included in both the Drawing and Landscape shows at Defiance Gallery and at present Patrick is preparing for an exhibition in Americain 2012.



Print, Paper, Paste

With Christine’s extensive knowledge on non-toxic dry point etching from cardboard along with collage and monotype, you have the beginnings of an exciting process. Her studio setting will inspire and excite you for a weekend of paper, print and paste. This workshop is open to all levels.

Christine is a well-known artist and printmaker, having won many awards both nationally and locally. Her work has been collected by a number of city and regional galleries, universities and schools as well as Artbank, Canson Australia, The Print Council of Australia, 2 State Libraries and many private collections in Australia and Overseas. Christine is currently teaching at Lismore TAFE and Southern Cross University.

The Body, Tone & Local Colour

This two day workshop will focus on the use of charcoal and pastel to develop observed tonal and colour values in drawings of the human figure in settings of both natural and artificial lighting.

On the first day we will draw directly from the model in a set using charcoal in order to construct tonal scales associated with the body and surrounding space. We will develop small scale studies into larger, more complex works of increased ambition using tonal scales as the equivalent of colour.

The second day we will use dry pastel to explore the tonal value of colour in the skin and surrounding space by utilizing grey scale grounds and white grounds. By the end of day two we should have two fully realized drawings.

Chris has held 25 solo exhibitions. His work is surveyed in major exhibition at Art Gallery of South Australia. Chris is currently Head of Drawing at Adelaide Central School of Art 1997-2007 and active supporter of professional development for young artists. Chris is represented in Adelaide by BMGArt; in Sydney by Harrison Galleries and in New York by Stephen Rosenberg Fine Art.

ArtWorkshops Australia in conjunction with Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art Enterprise is proud to offer this workshop on the faculty’s Southbank Campus in Brisbane. This collaboration continues to deliver QCA’s commitment to the Arts of “leading the delivery of professional art development in Queensland”.

Immerse Yourself in Painting

Explore the creative, imaginative and mysterious process of transforming ideas into tangible paintings. Using a nude/costumed model Wendy will help students to learn how to compose and build up a painting. They will explore the  use of paint through a series of quick expressive paint sketches through to a more developed canvas.

Wendy Sharpe is acclaimed as one of Australia’s most significant and awarded artists. She has won the Archibald Prize and is known for her strong figurative paintings, her use of narrative and the sensuous use of paint. She is the quintessential romantic painter, uncompromising, dedicated, and unconcerned by fad and fashion. Her work addresses universal human issues such as relationships and the human condition.

Wendy is represented by King Street Gallery in Sydney, Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane, United Galleries of Perth, MARS in Melbourne and Chapman Gallery in Canberra.