It was great to have many back to our meetings. Our Guest Speaker was Dannie Liu. Danni gave us a fabulous presentation of her amazing watercolours and her “very wet”watercolour techniques. About Danni Liu: Danni Liu is a self-taught watercolour artist located in Kariong, NSW, Australia. She has been practising her art more…
Our guest speaker at the 6th July Meeting will be Dario Falzon. About Dario Falzon: I was born in Bogota, Colombia, 1979 and grew up in Western Sydney, primarily around the Hawkesbury area. In my late twenties I enrolled in Julian Ashton Art School on a part-time basis. It was around this point in time…
Our guest speaker at our September 7th Meeting will be Lisa Rochfort. Lisa Rochfort works in her country studio, ‘Yarrenbool’ in rural NSW in a township called Manilla. The name comes from the Gamilaraay language, it is said to mean ‘winding river’. Manilla lies next to the Bundarra-Barraba, an important bird sanctuary imperative to the…
The KAS 2020 AGM was held Tuesday 2nd March 2021. President Liz Harriott delivered the Annual Report and the KAS Committee was elected for 2021. Kristine Ballard The large COVID compliant audience then enjoyed a Theatrical and Animated presentation on the ” History of Colour through the Ages” …
Neil thoroughly entertained us all for a most enjoyable night. After outlining his amazing background and his fascinating and successful journey into the Art World, Neil proceeded to demonstrate his skills to all with a beautiful oil painting. Meeting Report – Thomasin Graham. Art involves exposing our deep thoughts and passion and takes courage –…
Coco Elder is a Visual Arts Teacher and is our Guest Speaker on 1st October General Meeting Coco is a practicing artist specialising in Painting and Ceramics. Alongside her teaching position in Visual Arts at a high school on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Coco has also been a Lecturer at the College of Fine Arts (COFA)…
Our Guest Speaker for the 6th August 2019 meeting is Tam Cao, Portrait and Landscape Artist Thanh Tam Cao ART EDUCATION 2003 – 2004 East Sydney Art Academy 2008 – currently Julian Ashtons art school Winner of the John Olsen Scholarship Primarily a portrait and landscape artist, Tam studied at the Julian Ashton Art School…
Our Guest Speaker for the 4th June 2019 meeting – Coco Elder – Painter & Drawer & Ceramicist of the Natural Environment [space height=”HEIGHT”]
AGM The 2018 Annual General Meeting of the Ku-ring-gai Art Society was held in Turramurra on the 5th March 2019 The meeting was well attended this year and also featured a lively and creative demonstration by one of our members, Kobie Bosch. (see separate news feature report) Our outgoing president, Charmaine Philips, delivered her annual…
Our Guest Speaker for the 7th May 2019 meeting – Ken Knight – Impressionistic Oil Plein Air Landscapes Landscape images, derived from a direct response to the subject, form the integral theme in my work. As an impressionist I paint “en plein air”, painting in oils in a spontaneous and free manner. The challenge for…
Our Guest Speaker for the February 2019 meeting was Tony White. Watercolourist. Tony White is a Watercolour Artist from Newcastle, Australia. He has established a great following with collectors and students alike. His work has been sold as far afield as Germany and the U.K. He is teaching classes and workshops all around the country…
Our Guest Speaker for the 5th March AGM meeting was our own Kobie Bosch who presented on Multi Media Semi Realism and Still Life. Kobie gave us a lively and animated presentation and demonstration..pictures tell the story…
Our Guest Speaker for the 2nd April 2019 meeting – Kristin Hardiman – Portrait and Equine Artist Kristin Hardiman is one of Australia’s leading portrait and equine artists. Kristin holds a Diploma Fine Arts and Education from the Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education (now The University of NSW Art and Design) and has been…
Our Guest Speaker for the 2nd July 2019 meeting – Suzie Dureau – Oil Painter of Atmospheric land and sky [space height=”HEIGHT”]
The meeting was well attended and members celebrated Christmas Time and the wonderfully successful year the Society has experienced. Our Esteemed President extended her Thanks and offered best wishes to all members. Christmas Wishes to all KAS Members. With another very successful year behind us and the prospect of an even brighter New Year, I would…
Our Guest Speaker for the 2nd October 2018 meeting – Marika Varady will present on Pigments and Oils. [space height=”HEIGHT”]
Our Guest Speaker for the September 2018 meeting – Carla Hananiah Carla Hananiah’s work explores the sense of place in her sumptious use of colour and contrast, movement and light. Her expressive landscape paintings are primarily done in oil paint and create vivid and evocative impressions of places she obviously loves. Carla has a Master…
Our Guest Speaker for the August 2018 meeting was Kristine Ballard. Kristine Ballard As an artist, my major focus is on painting. I specialise in still life and landscape and I am obsessed with colour. It is the driving force in all my work. I have developed a style I call ‘fragmatism’. Where semi-abstract images…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS July 2018 meeting – Kevin McKay – Urban landscapes in Oil. . www.kevinmckayart.com Kevin McKay Kevin McKay is an urban landscape painter who holds a Masters Degree in Fine Art from the National Art School and exhibits at May Space Gallery, Sydney. He was awarded the…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS 5th June 2018 meeting -Rowen Matthews. Semi-abstract Landscape oils www.rowenmatthews.com Rowen Matthews has been practicing as a painter since 2001. He was awarded the Calleen Art Prize in 2009, the Blackheath Art Prize in 2010 and was granted an Australian Postgraduate Award in 2012 for his PhD studio practice study.…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS May 2018 meeting – Alan Lloyd – Retired Head of Conservation NSWAG. Alan Lloyd Retired Head of Conservation NSWAG. At our May general meeting we listened to a relaxed and informative talk from Alan Lloyd – a Fine Art Conservator – and learned about the varied and important task of…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS 3rd April 2018 meeting – Edward Gee from Pigment Labs Edward gave us all a very interesting insight to his products, their development and their applications. KAS members are also entitled to a 10% discount on products. [space height=”HEIGHT”]
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS March 2018 meeting was Jana Hunt who outlined her life as an Artist from basic Art School through to evolving her own very special skills and technique with charcoal images of soft fabrics which she demonstrated to a fascinated KAS gathering. (A more detailed outline of the evening presentation will follow shortly)…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS February 2018 meeting was Portrait Artist, Stephanie Galloway-Brown. A most enjoyable evening and presentation from Stephanie on her career and recent Portrait works. Stephanie then proceeded to practically demonstrate her initial structure and under painting when starting a portrait. Our brave subject volunteer was Secretary Extraordinaire – Jan. ..Are we going…
Our December Christmas meeting was a celebration of a successful year with grateful appreciation extended to all members who contributed and volunteered to support the society in one way or another. Congratulations were extended to all those who “Sold” during the year’s exhibitions. Many lucky door prize winners went home with a gift to go…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS November 2017 meeting is Paul Macklin. “Artist and creative mentor, inspiring artists to find their unique creative path” Artist and creative mentor, inspiring artists to find their unique creative path. “I see that we all have a zone at the edge of our experience where we have the opportunity to learn, to step…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS October 2017 meeting was Paul Kemp Paul gave us a fascinating talk on his life story as an Artist, and outlined the long, detailed and slow process he employs to complete his artworks. Paul Kemp has studied visual art…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS 5th September 2017 meeting was Tara Winona . Monochromatic watercolour wildlife on canvas Tara energetically presented her “Wildlife – Watercolour on Canvas” technique to the many members that attended this monthly meeting.. Detailed report follows: Website: www.tarawinona.com [space height=”HEIGHT”]
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS 1st August 2017 meeting was Matilda Michell Matilda Michell – Guest speaker at August Meeting Our guest artist at our August general meeting, Matilda Michell, paints in the classical tradition, but in a contemporary and modern context. She loves the famous French still life painter, Chardin, and uses many of his techniques…
Fiona gave us all a fabulous energetic insight into her high energy approach to her Art. Break the Rules, Paint then draw, embrace Collage into your works, limit your palette, go hard for an hour, then stop, then return ……..AND … Fiona’s RULE – DRAW SOMETHING EVERY DAY ! FIONA’S…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS June 2017 meeting was Vince Vozzo, Sculptor and Artist. It has been a while since we had a “Sculptor Artist” present to our meeting. Vince gave us a fascinating insight to the Challenges and Achievements that a Sculptor Artist experiences…. from the basic many ton block of marbles…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS May 2017 meeting is Ted Blackall, Abstract Impressionist Ted Blackall, Painter Training began: RMIT Painting School Mentors: William Frater, Harold Freedman, Murray Griffin. Post graduate studies with: Fred Bates, William Grunstein, Joshua Smith, New York Artists League. Tutor at: Julian Ashton School, Sturt University Summer School, 3rdi School…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS April 2017 meeting was Geraldine (Geri) Simmons Thank you Geraldine for a very informative evening on the art of scratch boarding. Geraldine started drawing at a very early age whilst sitting on her father’s knee. However, when she left school, instead of attending art school, she chose a different…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS March 2017 meeting was Paul Mc Carthy, who led us through an hysterical and fun evening after the AGM proceedings, by painting a boat scene in oils, which kept many members willingly up past their bedtime. Photos courtesy of Ann Bell Paul has…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS February 2017 meeting was Nafissa Naomi Nafisa Naomi is part of a long tradition of artists who seek to achieve political change through their art. Nafisa’s passion is to draw attention to the plight of threatened species like elephants, orangutans and big cats and she is determined not to…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS December 2016 Meeting was Tony Kentuck – Cartoonist A most enjoyable end of year meeting with Tony drawing a caricature of our Facilities Officer, the issue of many raffle prizes and a wonderful pre-Christmas feast. Tony A.J. Kentuck International award winning cartoonist/caricaturist, Kentuck, has been creating outstanding cartoons…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS November 2016 Meeting was Jo Bertini For our “Melbourne Cup” November meeting, our guest speaker, Jo Bertini, took us travelling –not with horses but with camels. For the past 10 years, Jo has been expedition artist for Australian Desert Expeditions (ADE), accompanying scientists into remote, unnamed corners of the Gibson, Simpson…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS October 2016 Meeting was Juliet Holmes-a-Court who presented us with an animated Artist’s talk. Our guest speaker, Juliet Holmes a Court, carried us away with her energy and enthusiasm as she shared with us her work and that of the great masters who have influenced her and other artists. Michelangelo has a major…
Tina Spira Our scheduled speaker, Nafisa Naomi, had to withdraw at the last minute as she was involved in a traffic accident, (fortunately not seriously hurt). We were extremely grateful to Tina Spira for stepping into the breach for us and presenting a most interesting talk and demonstration of miniature art. Tina talked briefly about…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS August 2016 Meeting was Jan Cristaudo presenting on Abstract / Oils. Jan gave us a hugely inspiring presentation into Abstract Painting and the many considerations and preparations necessary for the long trek to a successful Abstract Artwork. Jan also shared here secret to finding Inspiration ….her “little yellow book” From our…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS July 2016 Meeting was Joe Cartwright Joe’s presentation on his “watercolour life journey” was inspirational to many in the audience as was his watercolour demonstration of a sunset over water. Joe has self published a book on Watercolour painting based on practical experience from his teaching over the years, it…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS June 2016 Meeting was Chantal Mahoney. Workshop Report : Thomasin Graham Our guest artist, Chantal Mahoney, delighted us at the last general meeting with short video presentations of her wonderful work together with a demonstration of synaesthesia. Born in Toulouse, France, Chantal originally studied music. After coming to Australia she completed a…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS May 2016 Meeting was Kasey Sealy. Kasey Sealy painted in his wonderfully competent manner an oil painting of the view from his studio window, looking out over Berowra. He had already done a small oil sketch of the scene, using gum turps. “The most important thing is to say to yourself:…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS April 2016 Meeting was Adrian Lockhart. Adrian Lockhart Working in the media of painting, drawing, print and sculpture. Born 1947 Queenstown, Tasmania. Studied Art, Launceston Technical College. Collections include : NGA; New England Regional Art Museum; Maitland Regional Art Gallery; The Kedumba Collection; The Chroma Collection; Sydney Graphics College; Accor Asia…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS March 2016 Meeting was Michael Herron Michael Herron – Meeting report by Thomasin Graham Michael graduated from Meadowbank TAFE and (what is now) COFA with the University medal some 32 years ago. NSW TAFE: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/ In 1988 he won the SMH Travelling Art Scholarship and the Dyson Bequest from the AGNSW, which…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS February 2016 Meeting was John Perkins John completed a wonderful Oil painting in one hour at the KAS meeting before an impressed audience. Our guest speaker, John Perkins, hopped straight into his demonstration – painting a lobster boat on the Tamar river. Whilst holidaying in Launceston he was at…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS December Meeting was Peter Griffin . Peter Griffin Investigation, Influences and Distractions The art of Peter Griffen is influenced as much by the classical painting of the Renaissance as by the serendipity of abstract expressionism. Indigenous art from different parts of the world (in particular Australia) and its relationship to the…
Judith White conducted a one day Mixed Media workshop on the 14th November 2015. Workshop Report : What can you create from tissue paper, brown paper, acrylic paint, oil pastels, water soluble graphite and acrylic sheets? A landscape full of texture, depth and hidden layers! Judith White guided this mixed media workshop to use lots…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS November Meeting was Marijke Greenway . From our meeting Reporter: Marijke began with a slideshow introducing her background. She painted in Holland to South Africa. Marijke eventually migrated to Australia where she loves to travel with her husband thousands of kilometres taking many photos and painting. Marijke particularly loves the outback.…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS October Meeting was Melissa Read-Devine . Melissa presented on painting and print making. Melissa started the evening with a slideshow of her vivid impressionistic works of Australian landscape, flora and fauna and her quirky wood engravings and linocuts. By far the majority of her inspiration comes from her own backyard…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS September Meeting was Heidi Willis . From our meeting reporter: Australian born, Heidi is an entirely self-taught Natural History watercolour artist, which means she paints any natural subject – including plants, animals or insects in their environment. Her work has been a hugely challenging journey which started when she was…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS August Meeting was Debbie Mackinnon who presented on “Randomness in my Art Practice”. Debbie energised the KAS Audience with her much varied international career and life of Art. Debbie’s brilliant sense of “situational humour” had us all chuckling or smiling in recognition of similar experiences. Debbie shared her commitment to a…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS July Meeting was Judith White Judith gave a wonderful presentation on the development of her Artworks to a fascinated and appreciative KAS audience. Judith’s career as a professional artist has now spanned 40 years. She started out as an oil painter but moved to watercolour when she had her family…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS June Meeting was Alan Sommerville Alan can’t remember not drawing. He lived on the land and drew horses. He drew quickly and sketchy and was told by his father that one day he would have to learn to finish his work! He did finish his landscapes. He also tried…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS May Meeting was Niven Richards who presented on “The Art of Illustration” Illustration – A dying art? was the theme of Niven’s presentation. In his words “With the advent of the technological age the art of illustration has gone down the gurglar” and so he took us on a…
Our Guest Speaker for the KAS April Meeting – David Wells David is an Australian Visual Artist and Performer, he is based in Queensland on Macleay Island. David Wells was born into an artistic family, but didn’t start painting until he was 26 years old. And he hasn’t wasted anytime since then! He has exhibited extensively…
Our Guest Artist for the March meeting was Julie Simmons Julie impressed the KAS AGM audience with an amazing watercolour painting demonstration of a busy market scene with many figures. Standing up to the easel, Julie freely and quickly laid the underpainting of sky, background and figures. Using only a limited palette of colours and a series…
Jody’s opening words… “I’m always excited about drawing” were Jody’s opening words of what proved to be an action-packed demo. Starting with a slide show of her works she told us of her journey from part-time working Mum and very tentative artist, to full-time competent and confident artist. The first major step in her transformation…
Our Guest Artist for the December 2014 Christmas Meeting was Patrick Carroll, with his best “Elvis” suit and song. Members enjoyed refreshments and a some were lucky to receive a small gift from the the lucky door prize raffle.
David delivered a fascinating presentation of his life journey, his encounters and experiences to become the successful awarded Artist he is today. For many years David Fairbairn has been considered a leading figure in Contemporary Australian Drawing. He was born in Zambia, Africa and came to Australia in the late 1970’s. Following his schooling he did…
Josefia is a figure / portrait / landscape painter in watercolour and oils. In the early 1990s, her first workshop at the Mitchell School of Creative Arts, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst was instrumental in her decision to pursue a new career in art. After a period of full-time work and part-time study, Josefia enrolled full-time…
This month we had a real treat as Paul opened our eyes to the plethora of products, new and old, from the Canson Company. After a brief history of the Company itself, which included not only paper, but also the invention of the Hot Air Balloon, which is the logo on many of their products,…
This month we were exceedingly privileged to have not only Paul, but also his friend, prominent Artist Greg Warburton at our meeting. Greg is the subject of Paul’s portrait which is in this year’s Archibald Prize (see centre pic below). Paul was ecstatic to finally have his work selected, having tried for over 15 years.…
Franz took us on a wonderful cultural journey starting with the evolution of Chinese calligraphy. The earliest writing, dating from about 13c BC, was in the form of pictograms which were carved onto the back of turtle shells. Through the use of diagrams Franz showed how these symbolic pictures changed over the centuries to become…
From childhood, Graham has always been an artist. According to his father it was the only thing that he could do, so at 17 he went to Art School where he studied painting and printmaking. He graduated with a BA and MA, both with Honours. While his training was very academic, he found the mid…
One of the most extraordinarily brave and difficult things to do, in the wonderful world of art, is to paint a portrait of someone live in front of an audience. But our guest this month, Pamela Irving, was more than up for the challenge. After selecting her model, Pamela started her portrait using only two…
Mo Godbeer was born in Manchester, England and chose to be an Australian, moving here in 1987. She now lives and works in Sydney from a small Studio on the North Shore. As a contemporary artist working in the areas of encaustic, mixed media and photography, Mo incorporates many diverse items into her works, including…
Paul McCarthy has been a guest artist on many occasions for KAS, however he is so amusing that on each occasion he has also been thoroughly entertaining. Paul’s’ demonstration was again enjoyable to watch, be mesmerised by his skill together with a florid running commentary throughout the demonstration. Paul is an artist who paints…
It has been traditional in recent years to invite a ‘mystery artist’ to entertain us at our December meeting. This year Santa appeared, aka Malcolm Carver, filled that role. Surprisingly enough, Santa turned out to be an adept watercolourist (“I’m not as good as Malcolm”) and announced that he would demonstrate a snow scene, something…
Chan Dissanayake was born in Sri Lanka to an artistic family, his father an internationally acclaimed film director and his mother an art teacher. He migrated with his family to Australia in 1986. A talent for drawing was recognised in pre-school days and a passion for art, especially for watercolours, kept him actively involved. He…
Joseph Bezzina (FRAS) is a multi awarded Sydney based acrylic artist. He holds an Advanced Creative Fine Arts Certificate and Statement of Attainment in Skills and Practices in Fine Arts. While studying for his certificate Joseph received the Highest Achievement Award and five Distinctions. Joseph is also a Fellow of the Royal Art Society NSW …
Pamela has worked in mixed media and experimentation for over 35 years and her philosophy is based on “play”. As a teacher she previously taught in high schools and at Cromehurst Special School, Lindfield where she became involved with Art as Therapy for special needs children from age 5 – 20. This was enormously rewarding…
David’s love of art began at the age of 6, when his mother gave him a Reeves Watercolour Box. This precious gift had such a profound affect on him, that 46 years later, out of respect and appreciation, he presented her with a hand bound book of his paintings…one for every day of her life.…
Sally began by asking us a curious question: What is the difference between a large pizza and an Artist? The answer: A large pizza can feed a family of four! When the laughter died down, she explained that she felt very privileged to be an artist and that it is not something that just happens…
Capturing the Moment The Art of Travel Sketching was the title of her presentation and what followed was one of the most exhilarating and infectious nights we’ve experienced. Being an Architect, Liz explained that she had only ever drawn to describe her ideas, like the game Pictionary, she used drawing to find a solution…
Janeis an artist, calligrapher, teacher Illustrator and newly appointed exhibiting KAS member. She has exhibited in the United States, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia and has featured in a documentary on her work. She majored in etching at college and works in oils, acrylics, mixed media, drawing and collage. Jane is a wonderfully accomplished and…
The following quote by Julia Cameron, author of ‘The Artist’s Way‘ hangs proudly in the studio of printmaker Jennifer O’Young:- “No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream…. it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly…
at our General Meeting Tuesday 5th March. Kasey Sealy is predominantly a plein air Oil painter who sensitively captures light, atmosphere and tone, resulting in evocative portrayals of the landscape. He has been a special guest artist at KAS a number of times and has an excellent Studio just north of Sydney. Kasey began painting…
For those who were unable to attend the meeting this month you missed out on a truly unique and extremely entertaining experience. Lesley brought along her fiancé, Joe Penn and together they performed what they call a “Duo In Mixed Media”. Their aim is show us how to create a loose, fresh, exciting landscape in…
Our Christmas Party mystery guest was cartoonist Steve Panozzo. With much amusement, we enjoyed his quirky images of politicians and corporate people up on the KAS large screen. He is using the aid of computers more and more with it’s storage of previous work, ability to overlay images, air brush tool, the use of special…
“Totally Hooked on Watercolour” is how Susie describes herself. She would love to use other mediums but there is simply not enough time. Susie showed a number of her works and explained that her priority is to get the paint to “look good”. Before commencing her demonstration she gave a comprehensive rundown of the key elements she feels is essential to creating a successful…