Art reputation growing

SWAN Hill is becoming a destination for art lovers and practitioners with events like the portrait painting workshop conducted by Archibald Prize finalist Alanah Brand last weekend at Dandy Lion Art Studio.

Participants attended from as far afield as Melbourne and Mildura to be taken through the fundamentals of painting portraits using the mediums of oil and canvas.

The Bendigo-based artist has a master’s degree in visual art from Latrobe University, Bendigo, and said she liked to draw on her own experiences to create portrait paintings that celebrated the people she admired.

Kerry Giddings travelled from Mildura and said that it wasn’t the first workshop she had attended at the studio in Swan Hill.

“They get some really good people from away which we don’t get to have in Mildura, unfortunately,” Ms Giddings said.

“It has been excellent.

“The calibre of the teacher is just amazing, which is why I made the trip.

“I have been doing portrait painting just at home by myself, self-taught, and this is the first time I have actually been instructed by someone who knows what they are doing.”

One of the skills the students learned during the workshop was how to mix colours to produce realistic colour-tone and bring the canvas to life.

Ms Brand, who teaches high school art as her primary profession, was able to utilise those skills to help instruct the filled-to-capacity class of eager learners.

Nina McNamara is a part-owner of the local creative enterprise and said they felt very grateful that an artist of Ms Brand’s calibre came to the studio to teach the intensive two-day workshop.

“It’s so exciting that people have come from Melbourne and Mildura to take part in the workshop,” Ms McNamara said.

“I think Alanah is very happy with how everybody’s work is progressing.

“Everybody here is very excited.

“Things are starting to fall into place and all of a sudden it clicks and it’s all making sense.

“She is a very patient and kind teacher.”

Nerida Morrish is an art teacher at Swan Hill College and said the workshop had forced her to make something.

“I work full-time as a teacher so I find it hard to get the time to make art,” Ms Morrish said.

“These workshops actually force me into a spot to practise my skills.

“Working with someone like Alanah, who is a practising artist, is always good because you always pick up a lot of tips and tricks.

“It’s great that Dandy Lion Studio can have these opportunities for local people.

“It puts us on par with places like Bendigo and Melbourne.”