Demonstrations & Activity Nights
2018
Activity Nights are held on the 4th Monday of each month from 7.00 - 9.00 pm at the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre, 5 Sargood Street, Altona. Members and guests are all welcome.
July 23rd : Multimedia Art with Amanda Krantz
I'm an artist (a painter mostly) and I live and work from my studio in Melbourne, Australia. I LOVE the long twilight of southern Australia in the Summer. I like eating my ice-cream partially melted, and I think baby chameleons are adorable.
I started painting full-time in 2004, and was coincidently about the time when an art market appeared on the internet. Although I had completed a bachelor degree in contemporary art a few years earlier, I wasn't ever expecting to have any success in the cut throat world of art that I had learned so much about. But I found myself unemployed, broke, and painting. And to my surprise and joy, there were these people on the other side of the internet that liked what I was making. I'm sure that if it were any other time in history I'd still be working in a bar (not that there's anything wrong with working in a bar! I loved it, and I often miss that life, but I have come to think that I'm better at pouring lacquers than liqueurs).
I've since toured the globe and taken on artist residencies in Japan, Thailand and Tasmania, and have exhibited in Australia and in Italy and NYC. I have work in the Presidential Suite of the Renaissance Plano in Texas, a large public commission in the courtyard of The Ritz Carlton in Puerto Rico, and I have also recently had the privilege of painting a large 10 piece public art commission for Ovation of the Sea, a Royal Caribbean liner.
I started painting full-time in 2004, and was coincidently about the time when an art market appeared on the internet. Although I had completed a bachelor degree in contemporary art a few years earlier, I wasn't ever expecting to have any success in the cut throat world of art that I had learned so much about. But I found myself unemployed, broke, and painting. And to my surprise and joy, there were these people on the other side of the internet that liked what I was making. I'm sure that if it were any other time in history I'd still be working in a bar (not that there's anything wrong with working in a bar! I loved it, and I often miss that life, but I have come to think that I'm better at pouring lacquers than liqueurs).
I've since toured the globe and taken on artist residencies in Japan, Thailand and Tasmania, and have exhibited in Australia and in Italy and NYC. I have work in the Presidential Suite of the Renaissance Plano in Texas, a large public commission in the courtyard of The Ritz Carlton in Puerto Rico, and I have also recently had the privilege of painting a large 10 piece public art commission for Ovation of the Sea, a Royal Caribbean liner.
|
|
|
June 25th : Eritrean Art - Acrylic with Michael Adonai
Michael Adonai (born 5 December 1962, in Asmara) is a visual artist from Eritrea. He is currently living in exile in Australia. He joined the Eritrean People's Liberation Front in 1977 where he studied Fine Art for three years, specializing in painting. He has participated in several art shows and claimed numerous prizes. His work has been shown throughout Eritrea, as well as Ethiopia, Sudan and Italy.
From an early age, Adonai had an interest in painting, influenced by his older brother Berhame, who went on to also get some notoriety as an Eritrean painter. At fifteen he joined the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front with his brother Berhame. This revolutionary organization began Adonai’s formal education in painting with his enrollment at the EPFL Cultural Establishment in 1978 .hHs early work was highly political, choosing to focus on the hardships endured because of the Eritrean war for independence. His later work has focused on a traditional painting style in Eritrea known as Coptic art. This change in style grew from Michael's having moved up to the Eritrean Highlands, which by his own admission “Opened my eyes up to the rest of the world”,[1] this is where he first encountered ancient Coptic churches and monasteries believed to be painted with bright vivid color by Egyptian or Syrian Christian missionaries.[3] This bright, vivid use of color, and use of Coptic forms and symbols will come to define his work for decades.
From an early age, Adonai had an interest in painting, influenced by his older brother Berhame, who went on to also get some notoriety as an Eritrean painter. At fifteen he joined the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front with his brother Berhame. This revolutionary organization began Adonai’s formal education in painting with his enrollment at the EPFL Cultural Establishment in 1978 .hHs early work was highly political, choosing to focus on the hardships endured because of the Eritrean war for independence. His later work has focused on a traditional painting style in Eritrea known as Coptic art. This change in style grew from Michael's having moved up to the Eritrean Highlands, which by his own admission “Opened my eyes up to the rest of the world”,[1] this is where he first encountered ancient Coptic churches and monasteries believed to be painted with bright vivid color by Egyptian or Syrian Christian missionaries.[3] This bright, vivid use of color, and use of Coptic forms and symbols will come to define his work for decades.
|
|
May 28th : Silk Printing with Liz Milsom
Elizabeth Milsom was born on King Island where she spent her first five years on a Soldier Settlement sheep farm
before moving with the family to Melbourne. As she grew up she developed a love for making things, which led on
to studying a degree in Printmaking at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 1987 she was awarded a project grant
from The Visual Arts Board, Australia Council to produce a hand printed book of etchings titled ‘Maiknoen’. One
book in the edition of ten is held in the collection of The Balllieu Library, University of Melbourne.
Elizabeth changed her medium and developed a transfer printing method using a hot iron, synthetic transfer paint
and the actual plant to print on to canvas. During the printing process some of the plants natural colour came
through on to the canvas, creating an interest in the wondrous glow of natural colour. Inspired by nature, plants
form the catalyst of her most recent mark making. Ink is made from eucalyptus leaves and applied to silk using a
wide range of methods; such as painting with a Chinese brush, steaming, dip dye (Shibori) and ice dyeing.
Elizabeth has worked over 30 years as a practising artist exhibiting in solo and group shows around Australia and
internationally. She also teaches art in the community, facilitating classes in centres around The City of Port
Phillip.
before moving with the family to Melbourne. As she grew up she developed a love for making things, which led on
to studying a degree in Printmaking at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 1987 she was awarded a project grant
from The Visual Arts Board, Australia Council to produce a hand printed book of etchings titled ‘Maiknoen’. One
book in the edition of ten is held in the collection of The Balllieu Library, University of Melbourne.
Elizabeth changed her medium and developed a transfer printing method using a hot iron, synthetic transfer paint
and the actual plant to print on to canvas. During the printing process some of the plants natural colour came
through on to the canvas, creating an interest in the wondrous glow of natural colour. Inspired by nature, plants
form the catalyst of her most recent mark making. Ink is made from eucalyptus leaves and applied to silk using a
wide range of methods; such as painting with a Chinese brush, steaming, dip dye (Shibori) and ice dyeing.
Elizabeth has worked over 30 years as a practising artist exhibiting in solo and group shows around Australia and
internationally. She also teaches art in the community, facilitating classes in centres around The City of Port
Phillip.
|
|
March 26th : Art in Nature (Pen & Ink Pencil) with Chris Rockley
|
Chris Rockley is a professional Illustrator and designer with over 20 years experience. She has an honours degree in Natural History Illustration and Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design. Much of her work is in watercolour and pen and ink. She exhibits regularly and was part of the Eternal Order in Nature exhibition at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens showcasing Australia's Scientific illustrators.
She is an experienced tutor having taught illustration at both University and community level in Victoria, NSW and QLD. Specialising in scientific illustration, flora preservation and drawing in the field. She has a vast knowledge of plants and over the past three years she has been illustrating and coordinating botanical plates for a book called "Flora of the Hunter - Endemic Species" in NSW. |
|
|
|
February 26th : Mirror Mosaics with Deborah Jenkin
I was born and raised in Altona and have lived here for most of my life.
I became interested in all things art from very early age although mostly with drawing and sketching. I became interested in mirror mosaics in 2009 after finding an old mirror and old round coffee table top.
I knew exactly what I wanted to make immediately and with some research I began to create my first piece for our garden which still hangs with pride above our rock fountain.
Since that firsf piece I became totally addicted and just couldn't stop.
I would welcome the opportunity to come along and demonstrate my methods on how to handle and cut mirror into shapes including gluing techniques, grouting and those finishing touches that makes this art form such a shining joy to create.
|
|
|
August 27th : Portraits with Lee Machelak - to be confirmed
September 14th : Digital & Acrylic Art with Rosie Marshall
October 22nd : Mosaics Workshop with Amanda Neville
November 26th : Oil painting with Ray Hewitt