1 - 22 March 2024, Kookaburras in Natural Acrylics, with Yvonna de Jong

New Acrylic Painting Course Using Sustainable, Natural Earth Pigments*

Learn how to create a wildlife painting using a 100% environmentally friendly, naturally archival plant-based acrylic medium and luscious natural earth pigments. This is an exciting new course to Canberra with a focus on the joy of painting nature using products friendly for both humans and the planet.

About the Course

These natural Earth and mineral pigments are beautifully archival, eco-friendly and sustainably harvested from around the world. They contain no added fillers, preservatives, stabilises or heavy metals”. In addition, the eco-friendly and petroleum free acrylic medium, is made with 100% plant-based ingredients, and it is naturally archival, providing a permanent water based, non-yellowing finish that dries crystal clear.

During this comprehensive beginner course you will explore colour though making your own paints, mixing and blending a variety of tonal values. You will develop skills using various brushes to create different effects, explore glazing skills to create shading and highlights.  You will also hone your observation skills though focused connection to your subject and learn an easy method to transfer your drawing onto your canvas. Discover the details of bird anatomy and explore finishing touches to create a beautiful, finished artwork.  Over four-weeks you will complete a final painting with full direction and step-by-step support from your experienced tutor. 

We are excited to present this new course to promote the importance of Sustainability in Art in Canberra.

Video: Natural Earth Paint

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn the fundamentals of painting with natural acrylic products
• Develop step by step skills for completion of a wildlife artwork from drawing to final painting details

*Experience/prerequisites: This course is suitable for beginners aged 16+; participants must have completed the Make Your Own Natural Acrylics Workshop. Please note only natural acrylics can be used in this course. 

Materials: 
Please bring the natural paints kit from the Make Your Own Acrylics Workshop. A materials list which includes brushes, a palette and other items will be provided prior to the course.

About the tutor

Yvonna de Jong is a Canberra based Artist, passionate about nature and caring for our environment. She is a qualified teacher and her preferred medium is acrylic paints. She is an avid photographer and most often paints from her own reference material.
The absolute joy of spending time in nature is a big motivation for her love of painting and she loves to support others to create paintings and fulfil their creative vision, in their own way. Yvonna believes we all bring our own personal interest in nature to our artwork and loves to encourage students to stay true to this, through her structured classroom experiences.

Yvonna emphasises the importance of connection and observation when developing painting skills and this provides a framework for step-by-step encouragement of students in her classes.

NatureArt Lab Awards

• 2022, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability, ACT
• 2024, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Building Communities, ACT

Images: Kookaburra Acrylic artwork by Yvonna de Jong