Tina Spira conducted a Miniatures workshop on the 8th October 2016
The Program
Workshop Information Miniatures 8 October 2016
Learn the specifics of creating a detailed miniature artwork.
The subject of this workshop is to create your own artwork in the style
of an illuminated manuscript.
I will discuss and demonstrate the use of watercolour paints with drybrush
and how to do simple gilding using transfer gold leaf.
( The gold leaf will be available at extra cost for interested students).
I will supply the references to work with.
Materials
Materials required:
Watercolour Paper – Hot Press Arches 300gsm
Pencils – F,HB,2B
Kneadable eraser
Scalpel/Knife to sharpen pencils
Small ruler and triangle
1 x Sable or Nylon and Sable mix – paintbrush-size 3 with a good point
Recommend Raphael Series 8404 Kolinsky
(other brushes would be useful but nothing smaller than a size 3)
1 small old brush to apply glue if needed.
Watercolour paints Windsor and Newton Brand or equivalent. Basic set of six colours is fine.
As a guide – Cadmium red, Alizarin, French Ultramarine, Cobalt,
Aureolin and Indian Yellow or similar.
Also a tube of designer’s white gouache.
If you have gouache paints you can bring these too.
2 small water containers/jars
Rag or tissues
Palette
1 or 2 sheets tracing paper
Tape
Optional: Small drawing board and magnifying glass if you have one
Artist
TINA SPIRA
Born in Liverpool, England I began my art career as a Freelance Illustrator after graduating from St Martin’s Art School in London in 1976. In 1977 I moved to New York where I earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree and subsequently took up a teaching post as Assistant Professor of Design at Kansas City Art Institute. In 1981 I moved to Nassau, Bahamas for four years becoming the Head of Art for a high school. Amongst other things I have taught drawing, illustration and graphic design and more recently miniature art, watercolour and botanical painting.
I emigrated to Australia in 1986 and became the Principal of Billy Blue School of Graphic Design in its inaugural year. I took some time out for my two children and have continued to lecture part-time; work as a Freelance Graphic Designer and participate in art exhibitions. I currently hold classes at the Ku-ring-gai Art Centre.
I create works mostly in a small format, and particularly enjoy working in watercolour; both graphite and coloured pencil; and in the traditional methods of miniature art such as gilding and painting on ivorine. My subjects are wide and varied but I am drawn to portraiture and all aspects of miniature art.
I am an exhibiting member of the Australian Miniature Art Society ASMA (NSW) and
Ku-ring-gai Art Society and have exhibited widely receiving numerous prizes and several Best in Show awards for my works both here and overseas. I have both opened and judged art exhibitions and competitions and am often invited to do workshops.
My art is published extensively and I’ve worked on private commissions.
June 2016
You can book this workshop online via this KAS website.
Any inquiries please contact either Anne Carpenter on 0411 034 413 or Thomi Graham on 0408 891 702