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Free Wildlife Art Workshop Series

Connect with nature and learn how to capture’s its beauty by practising and improving your art skills with artists, Ross and Lainie Franzi.

19 April 2024 – 03:43PM

Explore your creative side with the Cook Shire Council’s Art Workshop Series! Over four sessions, you’ll have the chance to create a stunning piece of artwork from start to finish, guided by expert Bloomfield artists and residents, Lainie and Ross Franzi. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced artist, these workshops will help you connect with nature and enhance your artistic skills.

DATE: Every Saturday in May, 4 – 25 May 2024
TIME: 10am – 12 noon
PLACE: Black Cockatoo Art Gallery, 2622 Bloomfield Road, Bloomfield
COST: FREE and all art materials and supplies are included

For more information and to register, call 4082 0500 to speak with Council’s Regional Art Officer, Waratah. 

Session 1: Discover Drawing

Kickstart your artistic journey with a two-hour drawing class led by Lainie. You’ll learn to understand and depict your chosen subject, a bird, through various drawing techniques and materials. Start with graphite to grasp the basics of proportion and anatomy, then move to color drawings to experiment with palettes. Choose your bird inspiration from our gallery, books, or the lively garden residents like Coby Kookaburra!

Session 2: Design Your Composition

In the next two hours, decide the layout and size of your final artwork. Using watercolor pencils, you’ll explore how to present your bird—considering its habitat, actions, and interactions with its surroundings to create a dynamic composition.

Session 3: Master Painting Techniques

Continue transforming your artwork with acrylics under Ross’s guidance. This session will focus on painting methods, adding life and depth to your piece through background and foreground techniques, structure, and realism.

Session 4: Add the Final Touches

In your final session, refine your painting with special effects, such as shadows and reflections, to complete your artwork.

Participants are welcome to join any number of sessions—whether all four for a comprehensive experience or fewer if you prefer. Each participant will leave with their own finished artwork. Join us to improve your art skills, meet new people, and have fun in a supportive environment!