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Tutor Information
Central Coast artist Cheryl Bruce is primarily a watercolour artist, specialising in loose and impressionistic paintings covering a wide variety of subject matter from still life, to seascape, landscape, boats, horses and portraits.
Having travelled extensively and currently living on the NSW Central Coast Cheryl takes inspiration from the environment around her. This region provides an abundance of inspiration with coastline, large waterways and lagoons, and national parks abounding with native flowers. She paints and sketches en plein air regularly with a focus on honing observation skills, and working quickly to impart the feeling of the subject rather than depict every detail.
With a lifelong passion for fabric and homewares, stationary, and all things pattern related Cheryl is now creating placement and repeating patterns for licensing and collaboration with large, medium and micro businesses.
Cheryl’s passion for art and materials of all shapes and sizes, and a gift for sharing techniques makes her a popular mentor and tutor in Australia and internationally.
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Denise Painter
Denise Painter’s creative journey commenced in 1993 when she decided that she would be a ‘stay at home mum’. Denise began to explore creative possibilities. She enrolled in various courses such as Colour and Design and Graphic Design, and, later on Visual Arts at TAFE.
Over the last 25 years she have developed a unique style and now loves to create works using Collage and Mixed Media techniques. Denise’s works are handcrafted or created using digital techniques. She loves to explore the possibilities of the abstract and the surreal using colour as an integral part of the piece.
Einstein is quoted as saying “Creativity is contagious, pass it on”. In 2019, She moved from Sydney to Toronto Lake Macquarie where she has her Studio YouCreate Studio & Gallery and where she holds workshops and classes. More recently, Denise has accepted the post of Art Director for Wangi Lions Dobell Art & Craft Festival for 2024.
Denise has developed a unique style using paper, paint and mixed media. Her designs are either on stretched canvas, wood, ceramics or textiles. Her designs are licensed by Lala Land and Blue Island Press.
still life in watercolour
Still Life with Cheryl Bruce - 2-Day workshop
What you’ll learn:
Exploring still life with watercolour and ink. Join us for a two-day watercolour workshop with Cheryl Bruce, focused on the beauty and possibilities of still life. Across the weekend, we’ll explore a variety of arrangements using cloth, jugs, vases, flowers, and seasonal fruit, giving you multiple set-ups to work from direct observation. Together, we’ll build each still life using clear principles of design and composition – looking at balance, focal point, harmony, and how to lead the viewer’s eye through a painting.Once we begin painting, you’ll be guided through practical and achievable steps to strengthen your understanding of colour theory, value control, and shadow play. We’ll look at how light shapes objects, how to simplify complex forms like depicting glass, and how to use confident brushwork to create freshness and clarity in your washes. Demonstrations will be broken into small, manageable segments so you can watch, absorb, and then practise at your own pace. Throughout the workshop there will be plenty of discussion, feedback, and encouragement to help you develop your own approach while building solid skills.
This workshop is suitable for beginners with some watercolour experience through to intermediate painters. If you’re ready to grow your confidence, refine your technique, and enjoy painting from life, we’d love to have you join us.
What to bring:
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EMAILED CLOSER TO THE DATE WITH MATERIALS NEEDED.