Paint and Chat course (6-weeks Nov-Dec)
Over six Wednesday evenings in Gungahlin, a lively group of 11 local women came together for Paint and Chat — a relaxed, welcoming painting course designed to build skills, confidence, and connection.
The group included a beautiful mix of experience levels. Some participants had never painted before, some were new to acrylics, and others were returning to art after a long break — but everyone learned something new along the way. From the very first week, the atmosphere was warm and encouraging, and by the end of the course everyone knew each other well. Conversations flowed easily as we painted, with open-hearted discussions about work, life, creativity, and everything in between. It was really special to witness — and help foster — such a supportive, inclusive space where everyone felt comfortable to share, experiment, and grow.
The first four weeks followed structured lessons, each focused on a specific technique, style, or source of inspiration:
Week 1: Learning to stylise landscapes using simple shapes and colour
Week 2: Creating portraits, with a focus on sketching, proportion, and lighting
Week 3: Exploring colour, contrast, and portraiture, inspired by Henri Matisse
Week 4: Painting Australian landscapes inspired by Russell Drysdale
In the final two weeks, participants shifted into their own personal painting projects:
Week 5: Preparing and planning individual final works
Week 6: Finalising personal projects, with one-on-one support throughout the session
While not all artworks were fully completed by the final evening, many participants continued working at home. They’ll be sending through photos of their finished pieces soon, and I’ll be updating this blog to celebrate their final results.
Paint and Chat was a reminder of how powerful shared creative experiences can be — not just for learning new skills, but for building community, confidence, and genuine connection. I’m so grateful to have painted alongside such a thoughtful, supportive group.
Week 1: Learning to stylise landscapes into simple shapes and colours
Week 2: Creating portraits and learning about sketching and lighting
Week 3: Understanding colour, contrast and portraiture, inspired by the artist Henry Matisse
Week 4: Painting Australian landscapes inspired by the artist Russell Drysdale
Week 5: Preparing our final personal projects
Week 6: Finalising our personal projects (last session)