The backdrop above is of 4 scratchboards, working on a water scene splashing down on the rocks - scratchboard is amazing, and these students did an amazing effort.
2025 - Students:
Well, we commenced our 2025 on the 14-15 January - delighted that our 2024 students are carrying on in this year, and we also new students, however it is early and it was great to have the opportunity to review and talk to new students with what they expect. It is looking exciting and I am sure it will be great for all students. As most of my students attend on Wednesday, I am having Tuesday as a "human form" focus, not essential, but some elements of drawing the human hand for example do draw some difficulties, so we are going to focus on issues that cause some frustration for students, and allow lots of fun and learning. However, no matter what the subject, the importance of "tonal", and all subjects require tonal. We will start the year, focusing on tonal, so it becomes natural.
2024 - Students:
Well our gorgeous studio was finally finished, with a few little things get to compete, but got our studio ready to commenced classes for students, willing to further their learning or to take on new challengers, so we commenced in September 2023. I am delighted show some of the artworks. The progression has been so encouraging, and everyone is enjoying the love of art. We have some watercolourists and scratchboarders. Below is some of the artworks, special congratulations to all students, your gift is just starting to show!
Here are the artworks, not in any order, showing lots of natural light and a wonderful working environment. Some of the art works below are in scratchboard, and watercolour. The willingness to push themselves showed wonderful ability of all of our students, we are very proud to show off some of the works.
The Tutor:
Introducing your tutor Jan Lowe AGRA, an international award winning artist and signatory member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AGRA), with a degree in Fine Art, she is a professional artist, teacher and international juror. She is an active member of the International Guild of Realism USA (IGOR), International Scratchboard Society of Artists USA (ISSA). Jan loves scratchboard, however, also loves watercolour and especially the effects we get when working with ink and on Claybord. So the spring classes will feature learning those skills.
The "Art of Scratchboard" has been with Jan for many years. Later in life the opportunity came for her to work as a professional artist. As scratchboard is one of her favourite mediums, and is one she also practices in as well as watercolour, pencil, pastel, ink and oil. She works as a Professional Artist and Tutor in the painting of nature, wildlife and animals in general. Jan has a passion for nature and the wildlife, and in fact any animal - they all play a part in our lives. Nature can throw the dice and the storms are stunning subjects and Phillip Island can be one magic place for such events. As a teacher, she believes in keeping the students unique skills, she just encourages their journey with encouragement and understanding of the mediums and techniques available to them, its always important to work from their own subjects and the students understand what that subject means to them, and that helps the journey, keeping it original, respect the subject and own your artworks with pride and enjoy the magic that follows. Learning the techniques that make a painting or break it! Tonal - the magic for a painting and understanding and making it come naturally.
2 Day workshop in scratchboard at AGRA Studios
1 day workshop at Ventnor
Another 1 day workshop at AGRA. Further reports "Workshops"
Previous Workshops One-day workshop - Sat. 17.8.19 - hosted by ASPI, Phillip Island. Workshop Review - 7 August 2018 - progress review of students works over a coffee! 2 hrs. Workshop - 1 day Scratchboard - scratch & scratch - hosted by ASPI of Cowes PI, 21 July 2018 (5 students) Workshop - 1 day Scratchboard - hosted by ASPI of Cowes PI 20 May 2017 (10 students) Workshop - 1 day Scratchboard - Working from B&W to Colour - "Expression with Watery Eyes". Wednesday 12th October, 2016. AGRA Galleries Workshop - 1 day Scratchboard - 8th June 2016. Workshop - 1 day Scratchboard - "Gumtrees & Shimmering Water". 20th April 2016. AGRA Galleries Workshops - 1 day Scratchboard - "Landscape & running water". 16 February 2016 - Camberwell, AGRA Galleries, Call 613 98825859 Workshops - 1 day Scratchboard - 17 November 2015 - Camberwell - AGRA Galleries, call 03 98825859 Workshops - 5 days Pen & Wash & Scratchboard - 21-25 September 2014 - Fay Boyd's Fine Art School Grafton NSW.