We’re so excited to have Heidi Willis returning to the Sunshine Coast for a buzzing new 3-day workshop. Heidi will guide you through the full process of creating a beautifully rendered bee illustration, step by step, in a warm and supportive studio environment.

This popular workshop and subject present students with the ultimate opportunity to explore critical painting techniques with a focus on detail and dry brushing techniques.

“Bees are such a joy to paint, full of intricate detail, personality and beauty. From their fine hairs and delicate wings to the golden glow of their bodies and the structures they interact with, bees offer a world of creative and technical opportunity for artists at every level.... so for all my DRY BRUSHERS out there, my BEE lovers, and those wanting to improve your detailing work, this is one for you.”

About this workshop

Students will be creating a bee illustration (variety yet to be decided) measuring between 10 and 15cms in size for this deep dive into subject, medium and self. .

• Guided, Personalised Instruction: With full demonstrations, one-on-one guidance, and a relaxed, hands-on environment, you’ll have the support you need to explore and learn new things, and to grow your skills with confidence.
• A Unique Subject: Bees are a beautiful and meaningful focus, a favourite critter and subject, thats so artistically rich and endlessly inspiring. This workshop offers something different and rewarding for every student.
• A Creative Retreat: Held in the peaceful Sunshine Coast studio, this is more than just a workshop, it's a chance to step away for a wonderful, warmer winters break, to unplug, create, and reconnect with the joy of painting in a friendly, like-minded group.

What will I learn?

• Painting with Purpose: We'll dive into essential watercolour techniques, including wash and glaze, but with a stronger dry brushing focus, tailored to help you handle the fine textures and subtle tones that really bring such subjects to refinement and life.
• Build Confidence: We’ll break down the process of rendering our bee into approachable steps and stages, helping you to grasp a clearer path forwards, improve your accuracy, painting skills, and to build new confidence.
• Detail & Texture: Learn how to paint soft hairs, reflective wings, and all the beautiful nuances that make bees so captivating and realistic. Were all about technique, colour and texture in this.

Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for artists with any level of experience, whether you’re an experienced painter or picking up the brush for the first time. Yes, you absolutely CAN do it, you’ll see. So come along and enjoy learning more about this wonderful art form and medium.

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What do I need to bring?

You can supply your own paints or you can rent a paint pack for $35 for the duration of the workshop. Please pre order your paint pack in advance by emailing us at team@bienarte.com.au

Watercolours:
Heidi uses Artist quality Winsor & Newton. This is her full list: 
Winsor Violet                                 Perylene Maroon         Permanent Rose 
Permanent Magenta                     Winsor Red Indigo      French Ultramarine Blue 
Raw Sienna                                    Burnt Sienna                Olive Green 
Permanent Sap Green                  Cobalt Blue                 Cerulean Blue 
Green Gold                                     Winsor Lemon             Cadmium Yellow 
Scarlet Lake                                   Neutral Tint 

Other Items:
• Pencil - 2B 
• Mechanical pencil 0.5 mm HB 
• White plastic eraser 
• Scotch tape 
• Palette (a KLIK Palette) x 2 
• Masking Fluid (colourless) if you have it 
• Ruling pen if you can get one, or have one. If not, ill have some you can borrow 

Paper/ Board/ Brushes:
These supplies can be difficult to get as individuals, time-consuming at best, so Heidi will take care of it for you to make it easy. Heidi will bring a set of brushes (4 in a set) and the stock you will work on in the workshop. These items can be purchased in cash from Heidi on the day. The board is $10/sheet, brush sets and printed worksheets $35.  Heidi will bring a few ruling pens to share with the group. Masking fluid, one tip, if you are bringing a bottle, pop it into a Ziploc bag to save yourself any potential disasters!

• Bring your lunch and snacks or you can purchase from cafes close by.

What else is provided

• tea and coffee (please bring your own cup)
• a friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
• connection to the Bienarté art community

ARTIST HOUSE ACCOMODATION
If you would like to attend the Landsborough workshop and need accommodation you may like to consider staying at the Artist House at the same venue. There are three rooms to choose from and  price includes a continental breakfast.
Master Bedroom $170/night
Queen Bedroom $130/night
King Single Bedroom $110/night
To book, contact team@bienarte.com.au
See inside the Artist House here

We're excited to have Heidi returning to Bienarté for this brand new 2 day watercolour workshop, focused on the wonderfully ever popular, quirky and fascinating world of frog illustration. 

A fun and expressive subject to explore, offering  a rich combination of character, form, colour and texture. Frogs are beautiful, complex and this workshop is all about learning to capture this wonderful subject in realistic watercolour. Whether you're an experienced painter or completely new to the medium, this course is designed to give you new knowledge, skills and confidence in your painting journey.

Running solo or with another of Heidi's workshop options on her Brisbane and Sunshine Coast tour, explore the beautifully intricate world of botanical art and natural history in watercolour.

Australian born, Heidi Willis is an entirely self-taught Natural History watercolour artist, specialising in botanical illustration and bird painting. Her work intricately illustrates our native and exotic plants, flowers, fruits and seed capsules, whilst her powerful & distinctive portraits of our spectacular bird life offers viewers an insight into the world as she experiences it.

About this workshop

This is a 2 day painting workshop in a friendly learning environment, exploring this wonderful medium, craft and creative skill. 

It's for those who have a love of nature, watercolour, painting in general, with an eye for detail. 

• Clear, Supportive Guidance: As always, you’ll be fully supported with step-by-step demonstrations, one-on-one feedback, and a teaching approach that meets you where you are. I’ll walk you through the entire process with clarity and care.
• Unique Subject, A New Challenge: Exploring the new story frogs bring helps you grow your skills, expand your exposure to the medium and craft, learning to manage watercolour better with every new challenge, and this one is full of learning opportunity and unique fun.
• Create, Connect & Enjoy: Workshops are about more than just painting. They’re a chance to step away from the rush, dive into your creativity, and connect with other like-minded artists in a warm and inspiring environment... its a great unplug!

What will I learn?

In this workshop, students will immerse themselves in the world of watercolour painting as they focus on illustrating small birds. Through this detailed and intricate process, they will:

• Work With Watercolour Techniques: We’ll dive into washes, layering and dry brush techniques to help you build vibrant colour and texture, perfect for capturing the unique surface qualities of frogs.
• Observation and Process: We'll break this challenging subject down into digestible steps and processes, helping you to see, work and paint better!   
• Layering for Depth & Subtlety: Frogs offer the perfect opportunity to work with luminous glazes, creating subtle transitions of tone, colour and texture in your work. You'll learn how to see and layer you watercolour for more realistic, dimensional and improved results.
• Detail and Texture: Whether it's the glisten of a moist skin, the intricacy of markings or the softness of a shadow, this subject gives us the perfect playground for exploring naturalistic detail in your work. Learning to refine your work makes a big difference, all of these things bringing your painting to life!

Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for artists with any level of experience so come along and enjoy learning more about this wonderful art form and medium.

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What do I need to bring?

Students can supply their own paints, brushes, boards and paper or you can purchase in cash from Heidi on the day. Please pre order your kit in advance by emailing us at team@bienarte.com.au. You'll also need $1-$2 for the printed worksheets for the workshop.

Other Items to Bring:

• Pencil - 2B (PROGRESSO graphite stick, if possible)
• Mechanical pencil 0.5mm HB
• White plastic eraser
• Scotch 'magic' tape
• Small sketchpad, A4 Cartridge paper is fine, or just whatever you have.
• A Palette (KLIK Palette is recommended, Cavalier Art Supplies supplies stock these) Heidi uses 2 but 1 will be enough for a start.

Watercolours:

Below is Heidi's complete kit and any are likely to be used. You can share Heidi's for the workshop for $55.

Heidi uses Artist quality Winsor & Newton tubes:

Winsor Violet                                    Perylene Maroon                         Permanent Rose 
Permanent Magenta                        Winsor Red                                  Indigo                      
French Ultramarine Blue                  Raw Sienna                                 Burnt Sienna                               
Olive Green                                       Permanent Sap Green                Cobalt Blue                                  
Cerulean Blue (Red shade - the lightest one possible)                      Cobalt Turquoise (Light) 
Green Gold                                       Winsor Lemon                              Windsor Yellow Deep 
Scarlet Lake                                     Neutral Tint

Brushes:

Brush sets available from Heidi on the day. Brushes range from approx $4 - 7.50 each. A standard class set of 4 is around $30, but
you can buy more if you need/wish.

• Taklon nylon brushes (sizes 3/0, 1, 3, 5 with GOOD points and a cover sleeve on them)

Paper and Boards:

Boards are available from Heidi for $10 each (allow for half to 1 board a day) 

Heidi will bring the stock/paper you will work on in the workshop. 

Masking Fluid and Pen:

Bring these if you already have them. Heidi will bring a few ruling pens to share with the group. 

• Masking Fluid (colourless) - Pop it into a Ziploc bag to save yourself any potential disasters!
• Ruling pen or ink nib pen

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

What else is provided

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

Useful Information

For Visitors FAQs

Exclusive to Bienarté,. 

Llewellyn Skye is a contemporary Australian artist whose emotionally charged and expressive floral abstractions draw inspiration from nature.

If you are looking to loosen up your painting style, embrace bold marks and to learn to trust your intuition and decision making, you will be in good hands with Skye!

What will I learn?

Skye will teach you how to switch on the creative side of your brain, embrace paint, and trust your intuition. Working from still life set-ups and imagery, you will be guided through traditional techniques with a fast, loose, abstract approach.

You will be creating your own colour library alongside many sketches and paintings.

This will be a fun, energetic workshop with an emphasis on trusting your intuition, embracing loose gestural marks and not over-working your pieces.

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Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for people with some experience of their chosen medium. It will cater to early learners through to advanced.

While Skye usually works in oil colours, you are welcome to work in acrylic. For those who would prefer to work in oil, please use a fast-drying medium and acrylics to paint the backgrounds.

What do I need to bring?

Drawing Materials:

Visual Diary
Pencil
Eraser
Thick paper/card - to make colour swatches
Large clip seal bag - to keep colour swatches in
Paper - Pad of art paper
Willow Charcoal or pencils
Coloured pastels or conte pastels
Fixative spray
Scissors
Pen/marker

Surfaces:
You can choose any surface to paint on, from cardboard to ply to unstretched canvas to stretched canvas - 76 x 91cm (30”x36”) - You can pre-purchase canvases from Bienarté or from most good art supply stores.

Brushes:
A range of sizes from small to large.
Sea sponge/ artist sponge
rag 

Acrylic or Oil colours:
Titanium White
Black
Quinacridone Magenta
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
Cadmium Red
Ultramarine Blue
Cadmium Yellow
Phthalo Green/Blue

We have recently added a few new colours for you to bring:

Alizarin (cool red)
Lemon Yellow (cool yellow)
Phthalo green/blue or phthalo blue (cool blue)
Glow Pink (by Permaplastik) https://musgraveart.com.au/product/permaplastik-glow-pink-2/ (order in advance from Bienarte)

**Other colours if you prefer

Medium:
Oil painters - A fast-drying medium, for example ‘Liquin’ or ‘Odourless Lean by Archival’

Acrylic painters - Not necessary, but you may choose to play around with acrylic mediums if you prefer to.

Other materials:
Jars
Rags
Scissors
Pen/ marker
Large sized palette/s
Large clip seal bag (for colour swatches)
Palette knife
Water Spray (for Acrylic painters)
Odourless Solvent (for Oil painters)
Drop Sheet/ Bath towel

*Smart Phone or tablet

Optional:
Sea/artist sponge

What is provided

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

Useful Information

For Visitors FAQs

Bienarté is now offering new evening mentoring sessions with Kerry Daley, designed for artists with a basic understanding of either drawing or watercolour who would like to further develop their skills and build confidence in a friendly and supportive environment.

These sessions provide the flexibility to work on your own artistic goals while receiving personalised guidance, feedback and encouragement from an experienced tutor. Participants may choose to focus on drawing, watercolour, or a combination of both, depending on their interests and artistic goals.

Whether you would like to refine your drawing techniques, build confidence with watercolour, overcome artistic challenges, or further develop your own creative style, Kerry will help you progress at a pace that suits you.

Perfect for artists with some drawing or watercolour experience who are looking to continue their learning journey, these mentoring sessions offer the ideal balance of independent practice and expert tuition. Work on projects that interest you, strengthen your skills, and gain valuable insights tailored to your individual needs and artistic aspirations.

Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience, including those that are not able to draw a stick figure!

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What do I need to bring?

We take care of all the art materials for you so that you have all the right tools to begin!

Just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn!

What art materials are provided?

You will receive the following drawing materials kit to keep:

• A3 and A4 Drawing Paper (250g)
• Drawing pencils: 2H, H, HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B
• Eraser
• Putty Rubber

Access to the following drawing equipment during classes:

• Sharpener (or Knife)
• Sandpaper Point Sharpener
• 30cm clear ruler

What is provided

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

About the Tutor

Kerry Daley is a visual artist and arts educator based in Brisbane, Australia. She holds a Fine Arts degree with majors in Drawing and Art History, and a Higher Diploma in Education. Kerry maintains an active professional practice across multiple disciplines including drawing, painting, and ceramics, with a strong focus on technical skill, craftsmanship, and disciplined studio practice.

With extensive teaching experience, Kerry is known for her clear, structured, and supportive approach to instruction. Her teaching prioritises skill development, confident decision-making, and a deep understanding of materials. She helps students build both technical ability and independence in their practice. Her personal work explores themes of identity, environment, and the relationship between the natural and the constructed, informing a teaching approach that is grounded, thoughtful, and practical.

Useful Information

For Visitors FAQs