ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bienarté Emerging Artists' Exhibition
Opening Night Friday 24 March 5.30PM - 8PM
Come and see paintings by Bronwyn Searle's mentored emerging artists.
Fri 24 - Sun 26 March at Bienarté, 15 Nariel Street, Albion.  All Welcome.

Bienarté is the major sponsor for the
Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award.
Since our foundation, Bienarté has nurtured the development of over 15,000 new artists. Entries close 12 May.

The Lethbridge Landscape Prize returns in 2023.
The award invites all artistic interpretations of the Australian landscape, including urban-scapes and interiors. With a $20,000 first prize, the award is open to all forms of 2D and 3D artwork including paint mediums, drawings, digital works, works on paper, sculpture, installation, and video. Entries close 31 March.

Starting Soon

• • Colourful Compositions in Acrylics and Oils | Nick Olsen

    Learn with Brisbane visual artist, Nick Olsen, to unlock the elusive creative urge.

    Learn about Nick's spontaneous and expressive approach to landscape painting in oils and acrylics. This workshop (run over 4 half-days) explores ways to follow a path to self-expression and the discipline of studio practice using acrylic and oil paint. 

    With an emphasis on the urban environment, Nick will walk students through the basics of painting our unique part of the world.

    Goals

    • To increase your confidence in using both acrylics and oil colours and to learn the similarities and differences and how they can work to your advantage
    • To learn the basics of what tools to use and how preparing your support can be an essential first step in creating your next painting

    What will I learn

    • How to paint with a subject, using light and shade for contrast and a focus on colour
    • The difference between warm and cool colours and when to use them
    • How to make marks beyond what you can do with brushes
    • How to simplify what you see so you enjoy the process of painting
    • You will cover everything from priming to the finished painting

    Starting a new project:

    • Choosing the right support from a variety of options (canvas, MDF board, canvas board)
    • Understanding the process of composition
    • Choosing a subject
    • Planning the development stages from beginning to completion of your painting

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    In Week 1, we will discuss materials and how to work within yourself.  Nick will explain warm and cool colours, preparing the groundwork for your first painting, starting in acrylics.  This will include drawing in charcoal.  

    Nick will show you how to make marks beyond just using brushes.  There will be an emphasis on colour mixing and a detailed colour wheel discussion – cover off the basics to help increase confidence.  All the while Nick will be demonstrating techniques as well as his own processes.

    Learn how to see colour and to mix what you see - these learnings will apply to both acrylic and oil painting. 

    Having worked with Acrylics in Week 1, Week 2 will introduce using Oil Colours.  Nick will cover how to transition from an acrylic under-painting to an oil-based finish. With good planning, you should be able to complete the painting you started in Week 1.

    In Week 3 you will start a second painting and consolidate your learnings from the previous 2 weeks.  You will be encouraged to loosen up with the aim of completing your second painting by the end of Week 4.

    Students are welcome to use acrylics for the whole workshop, and are also welcome to continue their paintings in oils, as Nick does.

    Who is this course suitable for

    This course will be suitable for both absolute beginners and those who have some experience but would like to develop good habits in all aspects of creating a painting from beginning to end.

    What Should I Bring?

    Nick will be using acrylics in Week 1, so you will need a basic range of student-quality (inexpensive) warm and cool acrylic colours plus white.  Please bring a water container or two as well as a plastic palette - this can be on old plate or container lid.

    You should also have a charcoal stick and a 2B pencil for drawing.  

    For brushes, just a couple of flat synthetic and filbert brushes - Taklon is good.  The support you use will be discussed in Week 1, but Nick will prefer a board or a canvas/ canvas board.  An  MDF panel is ok too.  You can gesso during the first workshop as Nick will show you techniques he uses.  His recommended sizes are 12”x10” (25x20cm) for Weeks 1 &2 and 40x40cm (16” square) for Weeks 3 & 4. 

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    About the Artist

    Nick Olsen is a Brisbane-based painter who is interested in the built environment and how our living spaces reflect our cultural sensibilities through different times in our history. He uses a focus on light, tone and colour to elicit an emotional response and a sense of “place” in his work.

    Exhibiting yearly since 1990, Nick is in numerous collections, including: Collections Gold Coast Regional Gallery; Ipswich Regional Gallery; Redcliffe Regional Gallery; QUT Gallery ( Alumni); and the Museum of Brisbane.

    Among Nick’s awards are: Finalist Australian High Court centenary prize 2003; Finalist – Tattersalls Club Art Prize 2008, 2009; Gold Coast Art Prize 2013; Brisbane Rotary Art Prize – 2009, 2015,2016; Winner – Brisbane Rotary Art Prize ( Painting) 2007; Winner Royal Overseas League Travelling Scholarship 2011.

  • Bird Study in Watercolour | Heidi Willis

    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.

    Through extensive demonstrations, step by step tuition and guided hands on learning, this workshop will explore the wonderful challenge of painting a popular natural history illustration subject, an in-depth bird study!

    About this workshop

    Touching on watercolour techniques of washes, the more complex process of glazing (or layers of wash), and the intricate art of dry brushing, you will learn how to manage each of these techniques to create sound foundations to managing this medium well. Through this you will build a healthier understanding and love of watercolour and of this beautiful painting genre.

    Heidi's workshops focus strongly on improving your overall watercolour techniques, with a goal of equipping you with sound knowledge, direction, confidence and strategy to tackle any subject independently following her course.

    What will I learn?

    Using transparent watercolours, we will explore all elements of illustrating a bird subject to produce an intricate bird illustration throughout the workshop. This topic allows us to explore a wide range of critical watercolour painting techniques, dealing with texture, colour, creating low and high sheens in a subject, dealing with feather effects and developing fine details essential for this genre of painting.

    As always, my workshops focus strongly on improving your overall watercolour techniques, with a goal of equipping you with sound knowledge, direction, confidence and strategy to tackle any subject independently following my course.

    Working in washes, the more complex process of glazing (or layers of wash), and the intricate art of dry brushing we will learn how to manage each of these techniques to create sound foundations to managing this medium well. Through this we will build a healthy understanding and love of watercolour and of this beautiful painting genre.

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    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.

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

  • Bee Study in Watercolour | Heidi Willis

    Through extensive demonstrations, step by step tuition and guided hands on learning, this workshop will explore the wonderful challenge of painting a popular natural history illustration subject, an in depth bee study! This exciting workshop focus comes to you as a direct response to some requests following my recent bee studies for the Sydney Parks Project.

    About this workshop

    Touching on watercolour techniques of washes, the more complex process of glazing (or layers of wash), and the intricate art of dry brushing, you will learn how to manage each of these techniques to create sound foundations to managing this medium well. Through this you will build a healthier understanding and love of watercolour, and of this beautiful painting genre.

    Heidi's workshops focus strongly on improving your over all watercolour techniques, with a goal of equipping you with sound knowledge, direction, confidence and strategy to tackle any subject independently following her course.

    What will I learn?

    Using transparent watercolours, we will explore all elements of illustrating a single bee subject to produce an intricate bee illustration throughout the workshop. The style will be in line with my recent popular series of bee paintings. This topic allows us to explore a wide range of critical watercolour painting techniques, dealing with texture, colour, creating low and high sheens in a subject, dealing with furry effects, transparent and translucent wing elements, and developing fine details essential for this genre of painting.

    As always, my workshops focus strongly on improving your overall watercolour techniques, with a goal of equipping you with sound knowledge, direction, confidence and strategy to tackle any subject independently following my course.

    Working in washes, the more complex process of glazing (or layers of wash), and the intricate art of dry brushing we will learn how to manage each of these techniques to create sound foundations to managing this medium well. Through this we will build a healthy understanding and love of watercolour, and of this beautiful painting genre.

    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.

    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

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