Resume

Ann Strini is an emerging modern impressionist artist who migrated to Australia in 2015 and re-started her art practice in 2021. Inspired by the leafy surrounds of Brisbane and the laid-back coastal vibes of the Sunshine Coast, Ann has a passion for capturing joyful, saturated landscapes with mesmerizing patterns and close-up still life subjects that reveal playful details.

A daily painter, Ann practices the “alla prima” technique, painting in plein air and from images she takes of nature or during travels abroad. “Because I’ve learned my craft through years of daily practice, in-person courses and workshops, online classes, books, and trial-and-error, I think of my artist education as self-lived. My goal is to share the plethora of tips and techniques I’ve learned along the way to help make oil painting less intimidating, more accessible, easier to gain confidence in and more enjoyable as a lifelong activity.”

Ann has exhibited in galleries in QLD, VIC & NSW and has sold works to private collectors in the US, South Africa and Australia.

Resume

Keiko Tanabe’s watercolour paintings have been described as “...being caught between the 'physical' and the 'spiritual'. It is if they are glimpses of who we are and where we have been” (Brian Sherwin, art critic).

As a child growing up in Japan, Keiko painted and drew and won many children’s art awards. However, it wasn’t until 2003, after undertaking a course in basic drawing and watercolour painting at a community college in her current home city of San Diego, that she decided to pursue art as a career.

Keiko’s love of travel is captured in both the exotic and familiar landscapes, cityscapes, waterscapes and interiors that are the focus of her work. Her use of colour, texture and signature brushwork have earned Keiko many awards, and her work can be found in collections around the world.

She is also the author of six books and a sought-after workshop teacher, having conducted more than 170 workshops and demonstrations in the past 6 years.

Resume

Tricia Taylor is a Master Pastellist from Queensland, Australia with 20 years’ experience working with pastels. Having an impressionistic style of realism Tricia’s work has life and movement focusing on the beauty of light.
She has awards in landscape, seascape, still life, florals and portraits along with being awarded Pastellist of the Year 2010.

“The way the pastel becomes your brush and the paper your pallet is immediate and exciting to paint with. The subtle colour affects you can gain by glazing one colour over another gives a great depth to the artwork.

My purpose it to shine a light into the community through art. Light has always fascinated me. It has so many meanings and significance in life. It brings clarity, hope and unveils our path. The moment between night and day as light fills the sky with colour, this Kairos moment brings me deep joy. With art as the vehicle I tell the story of light whether the hope of a sunrise, the light falling on a child’s face to reveal their innocence or the path of light as it falls across a table to expose the velvet petal of a flower. I aim to share the light of God that lives in me and is revealed in creation into the lives of others to bring just a little more joy into their hearts.”

As an Accredited Unison artist Tricia has been given her own selections of Unison pastel sets. Including Seascape, Earth and Rock, Sand and more that can be ordered from her website.

Teaching from beginners to advanced students for many years Tricia’s workshops are in demand in Australia and internationally. www.taylorart.com.au.

Resume

Sandra Temple’s passionate interest in wildlife, and particularly in wildlife
conservation, is evident in her art, in her teaching and in her support for the field of
wildlife art in Australia.

With more than 30 years experience as a professional artist, illustrator and author,
as well as a sought after teacher, tutor and art judge, Sandra has worked in all
mediums – but has a strong interest in mixed medium art works. Over the past six
years Sandra has also become internationally recognised as a Bodypainter, and is
demand in the advertising, special effects, film and events sectors.

Sandra has held many exhibitions and won numerous wildlife art awards in both
Australia and overseas. She has also illustrated 26 children's books, including the
multi award winning' Puggle's Problem' and the series of twelve 'Pony Pals'.

Resume

Szczepan graduated with an Honours Degree in Architecture from the University of Auckland in 1993. Whilst he had spent his formative years painting and sketching, it wasn’t until 2013 that he rekindled his love of watercolour painting.

In 2013 Szczepan started his watercolour adventure by joining and sketching alongside a number of local urban artists – the “Brisbane Urban Sketchers” and the Brisbane “Plein-Air” Group. Together with another architect and good friend, Mark Fuller, they produced and published a book in 2015 entitled “A Brisbane Sketchbook” that captured in its 72 paintings and sketches, an interesting and alternative view of Brisbane’s historic buildings and urban spaces. This book provided Szczepan the impetus and perfect stepping stone to move “fullcircle” back into a creative cycle – in pursuit of watercolour.

Szczepan is a Member of the Watercolour Society of Queensland. Beyond his new start in 2018 into teaching watercolour classes and offering workshops, Szczepan continues
to paint plein-air and was recently selected as one of Australia’s representatives to the Fabriano in Acquarello Festival in Fabriano, Italy in May 2018. He is active in the WSQ and is injecting a new excitement into the local watercolour scene. He continues to develop a broader range of subject material to supplement his love of architectural and urban themes. Recently exploring nautical themes and seascapes alongside a lifelong fascination with sailing craft and old gaffers.

EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS
3rd Prize in Traditional Watercolour Category - “Dayboro Cows” - 2019 Brookfield Art Exhibition, Brookfield Show.
Winner – People’s Choice Award “Peaceful Morning in Manly Marina – no. 2”, 2018 Annual Art Competition, Wynnum Manly Yacht Club, Wynnum.
1st Prize in Traditional Category - “Peaceful Morning in Manly Marina” - 2018 Annual Exhibition, Watercolour Society of Queensland

Resume

Resume

"At the early age of three my potential as an artist came to the fore. I would sit on the lounge room floor painting and drawing with anything I could lay my hands on… boot polish, nail polish, lipstick… anything that had colour and could be used as paint!"

From these early experiments with colour, Donald James Waters has gone on to establish an illustrious painting career spanning well over three decades. While best described as a contemporary artist, Donald’s artwork transcends many genres and features a unique style that uses stylised strokes, overemphasised characters and bold blocks of colour to tell a story.

Donald’s career has taken his art to every corner of the globe and his distinctive style has made its way into the catalogues of many private and corporate collectors alike, including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s art collection.

Don sees art as an adventure that must be experienced not only by the artist, but also by the viewer – comparing it to the feeling of driving into a new land and looking down into a valley he has never been before. He shares this sense of adventure and passion for art with his students in his highly engaging and entertaining guest workshops. 

Resume

David Wells

"I believe that a living person is more interesting than any artwork ever made; therefore, everyone is a masterpiece waiting to be painted."

David Well’s stunning pastel work has featured internationally on the cover of both the Pastel Journal and The Artist Magazine, while his portrait of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge is now part of the Royal Family’s art collection.
With a focus on portraits and figurative work, David has been the recipient of a long list of local and international awards and has exhibited extensively in South East Queensland, and in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide – and all since starting painting at the age of 26!
David’s relaxed, yet highly informative teaching style, and his eclectic professional background (ranging from visual artist and graphic artist, to musician, circus and street performer) has made him one of Brisbane Painting Classes most popular tutors. His passion for art and especially pastels is matched by his extraordinary talent, which he is more than happy to share with anyone willing to be taught.

Resume

Resume