This workshop invites students to reimagine abstract florals painted alla prima.

About this workshop

Students will embrace the unpredictability of the process, loosening control and allowing the painting to guide us. Through palette knife techniques, layered textures, and bold colour stories, participants will explore semi-abstract approaches that bring out their unique artistic voice.

What will I learn?

Working from a reference image provided, students will focus on capturing the essence of our subject in a single session, using dynamic brushwork, expressive colour choices, and confident mark-making to create fresh, immediate, and emotionally engaging work.

• Develop palette knife skills to create bold marks, texture, and movement
• Explore alla prima techniques, working wet-on-wet for immediacy and energy
• Experiment with layering techniques to create depth and richness
• Understand colour storytelling to strengthen the emotional impact of their work
• Let go of control, embrace risk, and paint intuitively

Who is this course suitable for?

This course is suitable for all skill levels.

{image name:"Todd_Whisson3"}

What do I need to bring?

Board or Canvas:

• Bring two (one for each day) of either stretched canvas or board to paint on. Approximately 45x 60cm. Primed and ready to go.

Palette knives:

• 1 x Large Straight-Edge Palette Knife preferred approx. 7.5cm in length

Suggested Brushes:

• 2 x Size 12 (25mm) Square Flat Hog Hair Brushes
• 1 x Size 6 Round Hog Hair Brush

Paints - Students can choose to work in oils or acrylics:

Suggested Oil colours:

• Titanium White
• Phthalo Blue
• Permanent Magenta
• Cadmium Scarlet or Spectrum Red
• Australian Red Gold
• Cadmium Yellow Light or Lemon Yellow
• Lamp black

Mediums and Solvents (for oils only)

• 100ml Art Spectrum Medium no.1 for the oils
• A tube of Langridge impasto medium 150ml
• Minimum 100ml of art spectrum odorless solvent and a container with lid to dispense it
• Mineral Turps to clean brushes

Suggested Acrylic Colours - Todd recommends the Matisse brand:

• Australian Sienna
• Cadmium Yellow Light
• Phthalo Blue
• Quinacridone Magenta Violet
• Cadmium Red Medium
• Mars Black

Acrylic Medium (for acrylics only)

• 1 bottle of retarder
• Matisse impasto medium

Other Items:

• Any paints or brushes you wish to bring.
• Roll of Viva paper towel
• Small rubbish Bag
• Apron

What is provided?

• Todd will supply reference images for you to work from
• Easels, tables and chairs.
• Tea and coffee (please bring your own cup)
• A friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
• Connection to the Bienarté art community

About the Tutor

Todd is the Winner of the Lethbridge Landscape Prize 2022.  He is a very successful Australian Modern Impressionist Artist whose work is uninhibited yet connected, which has emerged from his passion for Plein air and Alla Prima painting.
His recent work has developed markedly, taking an abstract approach that continues to reflect his skill in traditional techniques yet has enabled him to communicate more than a visual representation and has elevated his passion and vision to another level of skill and perception.

Unleash your creativity with Peter Griffen's Expressive Landscape Workshop. Join the dynamic artist, Peter Griffen, for an exhilarating weekend of hands-on experimental abstract painting in acrylic.

About the workshop

This workshop is all about freedom and expression, where we'll respond to free-form approximations and abstractions. Get ready to invent and explore newfound techniques under Peter's expert guidance.

Our process will blend the act of painting and drawing landscape with our own imagination, distractions, and incidental thoughts. The ability to replicate is not a focus but each will be encouraged to find their unique and inventive way to convey it.

During the workshop, Peter will demonstrate various acrylic paint techniques, including brushing, scraping, splashing, dripping, glazing, and collaging. You'll have the freedom to experiment with additional mediums like graphite, pastels, charcoal, ink, and whatever piques your interest.

You can work from photographs if it inspires you, Peter will encourage the creation of multiple paintings simultaneously. 

Get ready to let your creativity soar in this one-of-a-kind art experience.

Who is this workshop suitable for?

Suitable for all levels.

{image name:"peter griffen_landscape"}

What do I need to bring?

Paint:
Acrylic White - 250ml to 500ml - Peter will use this more than the other paints.
Black
Yellow - warm & cool
Red - warm & cool
Blue - warm & cool
Phthalo Green
Orange
Dioxazine Purple

Paper:
At least 20 sheets of cartridge or mixed media paper, at least 200gsm, approx. 60x40cm (Other painting surfaces, artist paper, canvasses are also welcomed, bring a few, but not too small!) 

Canvas:
Your choice, but around 60x40cm is good.  Bring as many as you'd like. You're welcome to bring something larger, bearing in mind that you may not finish a large painting.

Brushes:
A range of very fine to broad (approx. 6cms) brushes 

Other:
Derivan (or Matisse) Polymer Gloss Varnish 500ml 
Spatula 
Bucket 
Small plastic containers 
Rags and/or paper towels 
Scissos and/or Stanley knife 
Palette
4-8 Large bulldog clips
Masking tape
Gesso

Bring anything else you may want to use, such as: Found objects, old magazines (for collage), other acrylic paints,  left over water based house paint, crayons, pastels pens and inks, pencils, other painting surfaces, charcoal, inks, support board and tape, small paint rollers, gesso, trowel, impasto medium, acrylic painting medium, spray bottle.

Please bring your lunch and snacks or you can purchase from cafes close by.

What is provided?

• Tea and coffee (please bring your own cup)
• A friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
• Connection to the Bienarté art community

About the Tutor

Born in Adelaide in 1948, Peter Griffen has been painting for over fifty years. He lives in his warehouse studio in the inner west of Sydney and travels throughout Australia and overseas exhibiting and teaching. He enjoys painting outdoors but the bulk of his time is spent in the studio creating abstract images derived mainly from the landscape. Typical of his work is its playful, dynamic quality and strong use of colour.

He has had over fifty solo exhibitions in Australia, five exhibitions in London, three in Paris, two in St Tropez, one in Lyon, one in New York and one in New Zealand. His participation in group exhibitions is also widespread; art fairs in Canada, UK, Belgium, Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney, he has been a finalist in the Blake, Sulman, Dobell, Fleurieu, Eutick, Alice, Faber-Castell, Fishers Ghost, Biennale Internationale du Pastel (France) and has been invited to exhibit in the Tattersalls Landscape Exhibition and Messagers de la Terre (France).

Apart from continual studio explorations, central to his creativity is his love of en plein air studies of the world that he travels in. Central Australia and the coast, Paris, France, London and country, Italy, Portugal, USA and New Zealand.

Throughout the world he has tutored numerous workshop, he is the President of The Glebe Art Show and has judged many prizes.

Daniel Butterworth is a professional Australian artist with a highly successful career spanning over twenty years. He has exhibited extensively and won numerous awards.
Daniel has been a Finalist in the Doug Moran Prize and Archibald Prize. 
Take this unique opportunity to learn a range of new techniques and gain insight into the loose painterly approach with Daniel.

In this engaging two-day workshop, Daniel will share with you his tips on materials, mediums, scale and light.
Through demonstrations and one-on-one feedback, Daniel will guide you as you create the work of your choice - landscape, portrait or still life - on cardboard!

What will I learn?

In this weekend workshop, you will discover the power of composition and the effect it can have on a work. Daniel will show you how to reflect on your subject and look at ways of amplifying the use of light.
You will develop at least one painting, more strikingly vital and direct than you have produced before!

Throughout the workshop, you will be encouraged to draw on your own creative voice, with a final critique at the end of the day.

{image name:"db7"}

Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for beginners through to experienced.

What do I need to bring?

• At least three images of either the landscapes, or portraits or still life that you would like to paint - ideally on an ipad, tablet or phone
• 4B and 2B grey lead perncils
• Black marker
• Charcoal (willow or compressed)
• 3 sheets of A1 paper
• 3 pieces of cardboard in varied sizes. This could be recycled packing cardboard - the bigger the better as we can cut it down on the day. White goods suppliers have great cardboard as well as motorcycle shops
• Acrylic paint in warm primary colours and in black and white
• Palette
• Water tub
• Brushes: Size 2 to 2 inch brushes (preferably synthetic).

{image name:"db8"}

What will be provided?

• Tea, coffee and biscuits (bring your own cup)
• A friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
• Connection to the Bienarté art community

Useful Information

For Visitors FAQs

Do you find it hard to devote time to your painting practice?
Do you get stuck with a painting and don’t know where to take it next?
Do you have technical questions about your painting?
Are you looking for a group of likeminded artists to paint with?

The Studio Painting Practice casual courses provide:

• uninterrupted time to focus on your own work in a studio setting
• an expert tutor to help you extend your skills
• a small group of passionate likeminded artists

What will I learn?

Everything you need to know to complete your own painting project.

Who is this course suitable for?

Those who have completed Foundation in Oils and ‘Gain Confidence in Oils’ courses, or who have the equivalent skills and experience.

You could start a painting in this class, or bring one you're already working on.

Casual classes give you the opportunity to attend the ones that fit with your schedule without commiting to the Term

What do I need to bring?

Bring your painting materials with you. Limited art supplies are available for purchase at the studio if you need a top up.

Please bring odourless solvent only and avoid any strong smelling mediums.

Bring somehting, like an old towel or sheet, to cover the table

What is provided?

• easels
• backing boards
• chairs
• tables
• tea and coffee (please bring your own mug)
• a friendly and supportive environment
• connection to the Bienarte art community.