Barrie Goddard, one of South Australia’s foremost landscape artists ran a two day pastels and acrylic workshop in Streaky Bay on March 16 and 17 hosted by the newly formed Streaky Bay Art Collective.
The workshop was funded through a Country Arts SA Skills Development Grant. Thirteen women participated in the workshop.
Tiffany Williams and Toni Foster prepared the project application requesting support for two weekend workshops to assist with skills development in acrylic paints, pastels and mosaics. The aim of the project is to inspire, encourage and reconnect with the ‘hidden’ artists in the Streaky Bay community.
The project is specifically aimed at women between the ages of 30-40. Tiffany explains “There seems to be a ‘gap’ in the artistic opportunities available to women, who often find they have had to put their lives ‘on hold’ while they focus on bringing up young children.”
The weekend kicked of with a pastel workshop which concentrated on helping participants to learn to draw and work to proportion from an image. The medium enabled people in the group to develop some basic colour blending techniques.
In the acrylics session, Barrie shared his extensive knowledge, teaching some of the theory of painting with acrylics. This included discussion and notes on acrylics, support, grounds, palette, ground colour and the use of impasto, glazes, scumble and varnish techniques.
In the afternoon participants’ put the theory into practice and began a work on canvas.
Women who took part in the workshops were nervous, excited, exhilerated, inspired and finally exhausted from the outpouring of creativity over two days. All agreed the workshop gave them the freedom to reconnect with their artistic side.
In July 2013 the second workshop will be held, this time popular Port Lincoln artist Karen Carr will be teaching mosaics.
The group are now hoping to cement the formation of the Streaky Bay Art Collective by planning and providing further opportunites which encourage the ongoing skills development of local artists.
For more information on upcoming workshops in Western Eyre contact Tiffany Williams on 08 86261820 or Jayne Holland, Arts Officer, Western Eyre on 08 8626 1049.
To find out about how Country Arts SA’s support and funding program can help you with your project click here.
Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations’ living cultures.