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Welcome to Bienarté and our friendly team.

Discover the artist within you. In small, inspirational and carefully structured classes.

Every single person has the ability to create art and under the guidance of a skilled and attentive teacher, your talent can flourish.

Master Artist Marcel Desbiens has years of experience teaching students to find their own artistic voice and to gain and strengthen their technical skills. Hear what past and current students say about us.

Learn from award-winning local, interstate and international guest artists who offer courses and workshops for all skill levels in Oil colours, Acrylic, Watercolour, Drawing and Pastels in various specialty subjects. We also offer private lessons for intensive training in any technical area you need.

And all this, in the comfort of our purpose-built air-conditioned art studios.

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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

      • Drawing for Beginners | Jan Lawnikanis

        About the workshop

        Designed for the absolute beginner, this one day workshop in Landsborough on the Sunshine Coast will introduce you to the foundations of drawing!

        Have an amazing day where all the materials are supplied, accomplishing drawings that you didn’t think were possible!

        What will I learn?

        Jan will guide you step-by-step through several exercises. Many will be based on the techniques of Kimon Nicolaides of the Art Students' League of New York, as well as Betty Edwards book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

        Techniques covered include:

        • Shading with different grades of pencils
        • Creating tone and form
        • Looking at negative and positive space
        • Gesture, mass and contour drawing
        • Learn different ways of measuring proportions
        • Creating different edge qualities

        Who is this workshop suitable for?

        Suitable for the absolute beginner to intermediate. No experience is necessary.  

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        What do I need to bring?

        All materials will be provided.

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

        What else is provided?

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

        About the Tutor

        Jan Lawnikanis has been teaching art classes consistently for almost 30 years and tutored over 200 workshops in a variety of media. Students have praised Jan for her teaching skills and preparation which has gained her an excellent reputation with all ages.

        Jan has been the featured artist in Australian Artist Magazine, with 5 full-length articles on using coloured pencils. Other publications include the Paradise Magazine-GC Bulletin, Art Newsflash, the International Watercolour Institute catalogue, the Coloured Pencil Magazine, the Australian Coloured Pencil Network, Art Edit magazine and Artwise textbook for the Australian Curriculum.

        Jan's award-winning artworks hang in many private and corporate collections.

      • Expressive Watercolours for Beginners | Lauren Le Sueur

        Unleash your creativity and explore the beauty of watercolour painting with Lauren Le Sueur in this 6 week course. No experience is necessary, just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm - all materials are supplied. You will be guided step by step to learn the skills, technique and confidence to begin your watercolour journey.

        Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet, a therapeutic escape, or simply a new skill to explore, watercolour painting offers endless possibilities. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of watercolour and discover the joy of bringing colour to life on paper.

        About this workshop

        This workshop will provide students with a good foundation to explore watercolour painting. Each session will focus on a core concept and technique, which will be applied to simple and fun paintings.

        The workshop is designed to be relaxed and supportive, allowing students to explore at your own pace and enjoy the process without pressure. 

        Receive one-on-one guidance and feedback from Lauren, a supportive tutor and inspiring watercolour artist who understands the beginners journey.

        What will I learn?

        • The essential materials - Students will explore the different types of watercolour paper, brushes, paints and palettes and how they affect the artwork.
        • Practice various brush strokes and paint manipulation techniques to create texture and detail.
        • Learn how to control water and pigment for varied effects, from light washes to bold lines.
        • Explore techniques such as wet into wet or wet onto dry to create soft, blended backgrounds and more detailed defined shapes.
        • Learn to mix colours on the palette or on the paper to create exciting colour vibration.
        • Understand simple tonal values in watercolour and why it's important.
        • Explore the various styles of watercolour painting from Landscape, Still Life, Illustrative, Pen Wash and more. This will give you an insight into your own individual style and the direction you would like to take moving forward.

        Who is this workshop suitable for?

        No experience required. Beginners welcome!

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        What do I need to bring?

        Access to all materials will be provided.

        What is provided?

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

        About  Lauren Le Sueur

        Lauren is a local Brisbane artist fully immersed in the world of watercolour. She has painted with some of the best watercolourists in the world and her passion and love for the medium show through in her vibrant paintings. Lauren believes that expression rather than perfection is essential to being a joyful artist.

        Useful Information

        For Visitors FAQs

      • Oil Painting with Confidence | Marcel Desbiens

        Now that you have acquired the basic knowledge for painting in Oils, it is time to apply those techniques in real time on a subject you might want to paint at home.

        The challenge at this stage of your learning is to keep the motivation going and not fall into procrastination.

        The best way is to enrol in a further six consecutive weeks to keep the momentum going as it is fresh in your mind. This is the best way to secure enough confidence before flying out of the nest, at home in your own painting space.

        Goals

        • To complement your acquired learning from the 8-week Foundation in Oils course

        • To gain confidence and be ready to paint on your own

        What will I learn

        Learn the basic technique for painting still life and fabric:

        • Painting a subject containing fabric in monochrome
        • Opaque and transparent colours
        • Applying Oil colour layering and glazing

        Starting a new project:

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

        Content

        • Painting a subject containing fabric in monochrome from a photo provided
        • Applying colour over the monochrome fabric with glazing
        • Learning about varnishing and framing

        Who is this course suitable for

        This course is suitable for anyone with a basic practical understanding of Oil colours and their application.

        Terms & Conditions

      • Painting Practice - Casual | Bronwyn Searle

        Do you find it hard to devote time to your painting practice?
        Do you get stuck with a painting and don’t know where to take it next?
        Do you have technical questions about your painting?
        Are you looking for a group of likeminded artists to paint with?

        The Studio Painting Practice casual courses provide:

        • uninterrupted time to focus on your own work in a studio setting
        • an expert tutor to help you extend your skills
        • a small group of passionate likeminded artists

        What will I learn?

        Everything you need to know to complete your own painting project.

        Who is this course suitable for?

        Those who have completed Foundation in Oils and ‘Gain Confidence in Oils’ courses, or who have the equivalent skills and experience.

        You could start a painting in this class, or bring one you're already working on.

        Casual classes give you the opportunity to attend the ones that fit with your schedule without commiting to the Term

        What do I need to bring?

        Bring your painting materials with you. Limited art supplies are available for purchase at the studio if you need a top up.

        Please bring odourless solvent only and avoid any strong smelling mediums.

        Bring somehting, like an old towel or sheet, to cover the table

        What is provided?

        • easels
        • backing boards
        • chairs
        • tables
        • tea and coffee (please bring your own mug)
        • a friendly and supportive environment
        • connection to the Bienarte art community.
  • More Courses

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Marcel Desbiens | Master Artist | Principal Tutor