Nature in Bloom - colour and realism in acrylics with Xiaochen (Fiona) Bao (NEW!)

Interested in creating your own landscape paintings using acrylics?

This course is an accessible introduction to the medium, focusing on foundational techniques and colour theory to capture the unique essence of the Australian landscape.

• Dates: 2 – 23 September
• Times: Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.00pm
• Venue: NatureArt Lab Studio, M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith; free parking is available at either the front or both sides of the building.

About the Course

This course offers an immersive exploration of high-realism botanical painting using acrylics. Designed for those who wish to capture the intricate beauty of Australian native flora, we focus on fine brushwork, patient layering, and advanced color theory. Highly realistic art requires careful observation; therefore, more than half of the course duration is dedicated to creating a single, large-scale masterpiece. Students are encouraged to choose their own subject—such as a complex Banksia or a vibrant Waratah—as painting a personally meaningful flower fosters the patience and care needed to bring fine details to life on canvas.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the properties of acrylic paints and identify specific brushes suited for fine, realistic detailing.
2. Master color blending, pre-dyeing, and transition techniques to create the natural, harmonious palettes found in native botanicals.
3. Apply realism-specific techniques, including thin layering (glazing) and precise
brushwork for petals, leaves, and reproductive structures like pollen.
4. Develop a detailed botanical composition, progressing from accurate structural
drafting to underpainting and final refined layers.
5. Gain the confidence and discipline to execute a large-scale, highly finished realistic acrylic painting.

Materials List: 

Student Provided Materials:(Students can buy the materials from both offline and
online stores)

• Acrylic Paints: Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cadmium Red, Crimson,
  Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, White, and Burnt Umber (Optional: Green, Purple,
  Orange).
• Brushes: Various sizes of Flat and Round brushes. Crucially, please bring 1 or 2
  fine liner/detail brushes for realistic textures.
• Paper: A4 acrylic paper for Session 1; A3 canvas or high-quality acrylic paper or
  board for the final piece.
• Palette (or palette paper)
• Paper towels
• Pencils
• Eraser
• Ruler
  

References for the final artwork: Students must bring high-quality printed photos or
dried specimens of their chosen Australian flower.

Additional Notes / Special Considerations:
Preparation: As this course focuses on a single large-scale painting from Session 2
onwards, it is highly recommended that students finalize their flower choice and prepare
high-resolution reference images before the first session.

About the Tutor:

Xiaochen (Fiona) Bao is a children's book illustrator, fine artist, and emerging
curator based in Canberra. Born in Taiyuan, Shanxi—a city rich in Chinese cultural
history—she possesses a deep connection to traditional art forms. Having studied art in
Canada and the U.S., her work is profoundly influenced by Eastern aesthetics, Tibetan
Buddhist doctrines, and the natural world. Xiaochen believes that the natural environment is one of the best catalysts for artworks, and she is passionate about exploring the possibilities of acrylic paint to transmit positive energy and inspire meditation. Her paintings are often characterised by dreamy, soft, and harmonious colors.

Artworks by Xiaochen (Fiona) Bao

NatureArt Lab Awards

2022, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2024, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Building Communities, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2025, Telstra Best of Business Award Finalist for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and Finalist for Accelerating Women, ACT

2025, Awards Australia Semi-Finalist for Connecting Communities, NSW and ACT; and Semi-Finalist for Small Business Award NSW and ACT.