Drawing the Australian White Ibis with Zoe Lawrence

Bookings: Please book directly through the Queensland Museum website to reserve your place at: https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/kurilpa/whats-on/drawing-the-australian-white-ibis    

Learn all about the technique and process of sketching birdlife, capturing life and charism within your avian art!

Date: 26 July 2025

Times: 10.00am - 3.00pm

Address: Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Brisbane

Price: Adults 16+ $150.00; Concessions $120.00

About the Workshop

During this special half-day workshop presented by NatureArt Lab's professional tutor Zoe Lawrence, you will have an opportunity to understand and appreciate the character and anatomy of the Australian white ibis, a close relative of the African sacred ibis.

Workshop participants will create a beautiful illustration of a Sacred ibis with full guidance from Zoe.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of materials and equipment used with field sketching and documenting species.
• Knowledge of pencil rendering techniques.
• An understanding of bird anatomy and how to illustrate various textures/features found on birds - feathers, beak and feet.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to approach and develop a finalised illustration of a bird species with accuracy of species behaviour and habitat.
• Knowledge of the importance of studying and understanding a species in order to capture it’s charism through artwork

Level of experience: Suitable for students of all levels.

Materials List:  All materials are provided.

About the Tutor: 

Throughout her years studying Natural History Illustration at the University of Newcastle she worked on many projects from animations for music videos, private commissions, logo designs and being published in Australian Geographic. After graduating she now works as a freelance commission artist while working full-time with animals. She believes that it is important to properly observe and have a thorough understanding of a particular species to accurately portray its true beauty and charisma within artworks.

Zoe works with a range of medium from pencil, coloured pencil, watercolour, acrylic and digital illustration. Zoe has been teaching with NatureArt Lab since 2022, and has been a guest tutor on their Galapagos and Amazonian Ecuador, and Borneo Nature tours.

Zoe has a passion for illustrating all aspects of the natural world but with a particular love for bird life. Throughout her years studying Natural History Illustration at the University of Newcastle she has worked on many projects; animations for music videos, private commissions, logo designs and being published in Australian Geographic. After graduating she now works as a freelance commission artist while working fulltime in the zoo industry with birds.

Currently working with birds, Zoe gets to experience their behaviour and personalities on a daily basis. She believes that it is important to properly study and have a thorough understanding of a particular species to accurately portray it’s true beauty and charism within artworks.  She hopes to pass on this knowledge and skillset to students, therefore encouraging a passion and love for our wildlife. 

Image credit: Illustrations by Zoe Lawrence