{"product_id":"nature-in-bloom-colour-and-realism-in-acrylics","title":"Nature in Bloom - colour and realism in acrylics with Xiaochen (Fiona) Bao (NEW!)","description":"\u003cp\u003eInterested in creating your own landscape paintings using acrylics?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis course is an accessible introduction to the medium, focusing on foundational techniques \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eand colour theory to capture the unique essence of the Australian landscape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDates:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 – 23 September\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTimes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.00pm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255); font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eVenue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255); font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: NatureArt Lab Studio, M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith; free parking is available at either the front or both sides of the building.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Course\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLearning Outcomes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Understand the properties of acrylic paints and identify specific brushes suited for fine, realistic detailing.\u003cbr\u003e2. Master color blending, pre-dyeing, and transition techniques to create the natural, harmonious palettes found in native botanicals.\u003cbr\u003e3. Apply realism-specific techniques, including thin layering (glazing) and precise\u003cbr\u003ebrushwork for petals, leaves, and reproductive structures like pollen.\u003cbr\u003e4. Develop a detailed botanical composition, progressing from accurate structural\u003cbr\u003edrafting to underpainting and final refined layers.\u003cbr\u003e5. Gain the confidence and discipline to execute a large-scale, highly finished realistic acrylic painting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaterials List:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStudent Provided Materials:(Students can buy the materials from both offline and\u003cbr\u003eonline stores)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAcrylic Paints: Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cadmium Red, Crimson,\u003cbr\u003eCadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, White, and Burnt Umber (Optional: Green, Purple,\u003cbr\u003eOrange).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrushes: Various sizes of Flat and Round brushes. Crucially, please bring 1 or 2\u003cbr\u003efine liner\/detail brushes for realistic textures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaper: A4 acrylic paper for Session 1; A3 canvas or high-quality acrylic paper or\u003cbr\u003eboard for the final piece.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePalette (or palette paper)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaper towels\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePencils\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEraser\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRuler\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReferences for the final artwork:\u003c\/strong\u003e Students must bring high-quality printed photos or\u003cbr\u003edried specimens of their chosen Australian flower.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdditional Notes \/ Special Considerations:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePreparation: As this course focuses on a single large-scale painting from Session 2\u003cbr\u003eonwards, it is highly recommended that students finalize their flower choice and prepare\u003cbr\u003ehigh-resolution reference images before the first session.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbout the Tutor: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eXiaochen (Fiona) Bao is a children's book illustrator, fine artist, and emerging\u003cbr\u003ecurator based in Canberra. Born in Taiyuan, Shanxi—a city rich in Chinese cultural\u003cbr\u003ehistory—she possesses a deep connection to traditional art forms. Having studied art in\u003cbr\u003eCanada and the U.S., her work is profoundly influenced by Eastern aesthetics, Tibetan\u003cbr\u003eBuddhist 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtworks by Xiaochen (Fiona) Bao\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNatureArt Lab Awards\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2022, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and National Finalist Award\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2024, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Building Communities, ACT; and National Finalist Award\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2025, Telstra Best of Business Award Finalist for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and Finalist for Accelerating Women, ACT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2025, Awards Australia Semi-Finalist for Connecting Communities, NSW and ACT; and Semi-Finalist for Small Business Award NSW and ACT. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NatureArt Lab","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43248394534975,"sku":null,"price":395.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0020\/0117\/4591\/files\/IMG_20260419_194945.jpg?v=1778514863","url":"https:\/\/natureartlab.com.au\/products\/nature-in-bloom-colour-and-realism-in-acrylics","provider":"NatureArt Lab","version":"1.0","type":"link"}