ANNOUNCEMENTS

Having already nurtured the development of over 15,000 new artists, Bienarté is offering a series of
Life Drawing Workshops throughout 2024.

Starting Soon

• • Abstract Painting with Acrylic, Texture & Glaze | Kerry Rushton

    Join Kerry Rushton in this action packed abstract painting workshop as you feel your way through her playful layering process. Kerry has been honing this layering processes in her own professional practice, liking to ‘mix it up’ and find new ways to evolve as an artist. Her supportive and demonstrative tutoring will give you the tools you need to keep experimenting and find what feels right to you. 

    What will I learn?

    In this hands on workshop, you will work on multiple pieces at a time as you build up your work throughout the day and take home with you a sense of play and curiosity.

    • Different ways of applying texture, acrylic paint, glaze, crayons and use of sandpaper.
    • How to apply composition and value among the chaos 
    • Small exercises to build colour combinations and utilise shades and tints

    Being a one day workshop, you may or may not completely finish a piece, this can depend on the size of your canvas (or board). 

    Who is this course suitable for?

    This workshop welcomes beginners through to experienced, although some understanding of using paints and brushes is essential.

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    What do I need to bring?

    Canvas and Boards:

    • Bring between 2 and 5 of these to work on multiple pieces at once You can work on canvas or board. 
    • Min. 30 x 30cm to Max. 60 x 60cm.
    • Boards can be cradle mount, MDF or plywood. If bringing MDF or plywood, please prime on both sides prior.

    Acrylic Paints:

    • In a variety of colours including old pots or house paint
    • Must have Burnt Umber

    Medium:

    • Bring a minimum 250ml of clear painting medium or glaze medium (used for glazing)

    Brushes, Sponges and Mark Making Items:

    • Bring an assortment of brushes, small to large, flat to round. (Please see photo example below).
    • Sponges - sea sponge and/or handled sponge
    • An assortment of mark making items. (Please see photo example below)

    Sanding Equipment:

    Kerry will bring two electric sanders for you all to use, please bring hand sanding equipment as well:

    • 1 x piece of 60grit sandpaper
    • 1 x piece of 120grit sandpaper
    • 1 x sanding block

    Other Materials:

    • Masking tape - anything between 24mm to 48mm
    • 550g Calcite (Marble dust). (not essential) 
    • Stencils if you have them. (Please see photo example below)
    • Hairdryer

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

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    What is provided?

    • Easels 
    • Chairs 
    • Tables
    • Cardboard for practice 
    • Tea and coffee (please bring your own mug) 
    • A friendly and supportive environment 
    • Connection to the Bienarté art community
  • Fresh and Loose Landscapes in Acrylics | Craig Penny

    About this workshop

    Immerse yourself in the wonderful medium of acrylic painting.

    Enjoy learning more about this wonderful art form with guidance and teaching through painting landscapes with energy.

    Using photographs as his muse, Craig will show you how to achieve a modern, fairly loose and Expressionist painting.

    You will be encouraged to complete 2 paintings over the course of the weekend, one per day, both 76x61cm (30"x24"). You will complete a third, smaller, painting (no more than 46x61cm (18"x24") within a 1 hour deadline! This will be for fun and just to help you loosen up your style under Craig's guidance.

    Please note, you must prime your canvases in a very pale blue in advance of the workshop.

    Craig will provide printed photos of the landscapes to work from.

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    Who is this workshop suitable for?

    Artists with any level of experience, including beginners, are welcome in this workshop.

    What do I need to bring?

    Canvases: 
    Two 76x61cm (30"x24")
    One 46x61cm (18"x24")
    Please prime your canvases in a very pale blue in advance of the workshop. 

    Brushes: 
    A range of fine to broad brushes 

    Acrylic Paint:
    Suggested Matisse Colours - Prussian Blue, Cadmium Red, Primary Yellow, Sky Blue, Australian Sienna, Titanium White, Olive Green, Permanent Light Violet, Australian Blue gum, Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna

    Other: 
    Acrylic Palettes 
    Spray Bottle 
    Something to draw with 
    Palette knife 
    Impasto Medium, Gel Medium 
    Water Bucket 
    Rags 
    Drop Sheet 

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

    What is provided?

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

    About the Tutor

    Craig studied art at Federation University, where painting and graphic design attracted most of his attention. Craig pursued a successful career as an illustrator in the advertising industry and became a member of the Illustrators' Association of Australia.

    His career has progressed into a range of mediums. As a result, Craig has also undertaken a successful career in teaching traditional drawing and illustration at both Victoria University and Swinburne University. Throughout this time, Craig never lost his love of using traditional methods and now specialises in watercolour and acrylic painting. This has led to an extremely successful solo career.

  • Water Reflection & Transparencies in Oil - 2 Saturdays | Marcel Desbiens

    Have you ever wanted to paint water reflections that look realistic? Join Marcel Desbiens, who will teach you his tricks of the trade to achieve this. The process is broken down, step by step with plenty of demonstrations and time to paint. With this knowledge and hands on painting practice time, you will be able to apply the learning to your own painting projects.

    This runs over 2 consecutive Saturdays.

    What will I learn:

    • Step by step process of adding special effects of water reflections in your paintings.

    • How to use opaque and transparent oil colours to create the illusion of 3D and depth.

    • The techniques of glazing and applying opaque colours over transparent colours

    • How to create softness in the water reflection with a mop brush

    • Multilayering of reflections created by the ripples on the surface of the water

    • How to recreate the exquisite softness of colours and tones in your painting

    • Brush techniques

    • Colour mixing

    All access to materials are provided and you will walk away with a painting.

    Who is this workshop suitable for?

    Suitable for all skill levels!

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    What do I need to bring?

    Bring your lunch and snacks or you can purchase from cafes close by. We do have a fridge and microwave at the studio for your convenience.

    What is provided?

    • Access to all materials provided  (oil colours, brushes, painting board, easels, medium, tables and chairs.)
    • Tea, coffee and biscuits (bring your own cup)
    • A friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
    • Connection to the Bienarté art community

  • Watercolour for Beginners | James McKay

    About the workshop

    Designed for the absolute beginner, this two-day workshop will introduce you will be doing some exercises to familiarise ourselves with wet into wet techniques and brushwork. You will play with colour to understand colour and colour mixing and the effects on colour and light. Most of the exercises will be centred around producing small landscape paintings and you will also produce some larger landscape/seascape paintings. James likes to teach using mostly small quick paintings so that a painting that is not working can be restarted or you can move on to a new one. He is also very hands on demonstrating in small steps with plenty of explanation and discussion along the way.

    Who is this workshop suitable for?

    This workshop is suited to those who have had little or no experience with watercolour and or would like a good grounding and understanding of the basics. This workshop is mainly centred around landscape paintings.

    What do I need to bring?

    Use of all painting materials will be available.

    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

    James was born and spent most of his life on a farm in Africa where he started to paint scenes from the farm and African life. Some 20 years ago he moved to make Australia his home, and fell in love with the Australian landscape, particularly old farms, the warm soft colours and the light. This inspired him to paint more seriously.

    He has been painting in watercolour for over 25 years and has been exhibiting in galleries throughout Australia and Southern Africa for the 10 years. He has won a number of awards in and around South East Queensland and has also been teaching and holding workshops for a number of years.

    There is something about the Australia rural landscape that he finds particularly captivating – “I find the play of light on old fences, gum trees, old sheds and livestock quite irresistible”.

    He paints loosely in watercolour using wet into wet techniques “the faster I work, the more feeling the painting has”. He does a lot of his work on site and is passionate about painting in the great outdoors.

    He loves to share his joy of painting with others and has always started and run painting groups wherever he has spent any time.

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