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

"Anyone can paint if they are given the right instructions.” - Marcel Desbiens, Master Artist and Principal Tutor

This is a Landsborough Course, led by Marcel Desbiens

If you have never picked up a paintbrush before, this course will give you the technical skills and knowledge to help fast-track your painting process and produce stunning works of art of your own. All in a friendly and supportive environment.

The Course has been designed by Marcel Desbiens and has been developed over the years by the team including Ai Shah and Ros Danka.

All materials are included. All you need to do is turn up!

What will I learn?

• how to set up your workstation to minimise mess and maximise your painting time
• understand basic principles of colour mixing and paint consistency
• learn how to control tone to create the optical illusion of reality
• how to choose the right brushes and develop effective brush techniques
• how to clean and care for your brushes
• learn to paint in the traditional glazing techniques of the old masters

In each class, your tutor will give a step-by-step demonstration, and then it’s your turn for hands-on painting exercises. Each exercise builds on the previous one so that each week your skills and confidence will grow a little more.

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Who is this course suitable for?

This foundation course is perfect for absolute beginners or for those who want to brush up on the fundamental techniques of oil painting. 90% of students who enrol in this course either have never picked up a paintbrush or have minimal painting experience. However, others who have painted before have also come along and found that they learned so much more about oil painting techniques.

The Foundation in Oils course is a prerequisite for the Gain Confidence in Oils course.

If travel time is an issue for you, consider the Live Online Via Zoom workshop that runs in a similar way but without your needing to leave your home!

And if fixed learning times are an issue for you, consider the Self-Paced Learning | Foundations in Oils course that has easy-to-follow videos for you to watch at a time to suit you.

What do I need to bring?

• An old large towel to cover your table
• A notebook and pen are optional for note-taking
• Apron (Bienarte Aprons are available for purchase from our on-site shop)

What is provided

All the materials you will need for this course will be provided, including:

• prepared paper for painting exercises by a master artist.
• Digital Certificate of Attendance.
• PDF booklet, packed with painting tips and tricks.
• Free professional-quality oil colours
• Free pack of paint brushes
• Access to reference photos to practice at home.
• Tables, chairs, easels
• Tea and coffee (bring your own mug)
• A friendly and supportive environment
• Connection to the Bienarté art community.

Receive a FREE GIFT PACK of 5 Schmincke professional quality oil colours!

Receive a FREE PACK of Paint brushes!

Oil Painting Starter Kits also available for enrolled students

Once enrolled, every student will receive their FREE GIFT PACK of 5 Schmincke professional quality oil colours as well as their pack of brushes.
To practice at home, we have made it easy for you by putting together an Oil Painting Starter Kits which contains everything you will need to get started! Save time and money and pick up your art pack.

To purchase, see further below under "Related Products" and click on "Oil Painting Starter Kits" and "click "Buy Now"
You can also view all items that are included.

What Our Students Say About Foundations in Oils

"A great art course! Highly recommended for beginners or those that want to learn more skills. I did the 8-week oil painting course and was surprised with the quality produced by the class (including myself : ). A great teacher. Well-paced and a good atmosphere. Paint on!"

• Mark Allen, Bienarte regular student

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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