STUDIO KIDS: Vibrant Depth

Dive into the brilliant colours and dynamic forms of the ocean in this practical workshop designed especially for young artists. Using rich, high-pigment oil pastels, students will create dramatic, large-scale drawings of vivid coral reefs and exotic fish, culminating in an exciting studio showcase!

This project bridges individual creativity with community celebration. Every finished piece will be proudly displayed in a dedicated Curlew Arts studio exhibition as part of the upcoming Christmas Street Parade, offering students the rewarding experience of seeing their artwork on public display.

Through guided sketching and expressive colour application, students will learn to transform simple shapes into dimensional marine life. Young artists will first map out their large-scale compositions before layering with oil pastels—mastering smooth blending, precise shading, and strategic colour selection to create a striking 3D effect that makes their fish truly pop off the page.

What young artists will explore:

• Scale & Form: Sketching bold, large-scale compositions of reef fish and intricate coral environments.
• Mastering the Medium: Learning practical blending, layering, and shading techniques using oil pastels to build realistic form and 3D depth.
• Vivid Colour Theory: Choosing high-contrast, harmonious palettes that create maximum visual impact and energy.
• Exhibition Presentation: Preparing finished artwork to be featured in the Curlew Arts Christmas Street Parade exhibition.

Hanna Wood began her creative journey with a foundational year abroad in Sweden, attending a specialised Arts School.  This early immersion preceded her formal studies at Queensland University of Technology, where she initially focused on theatre and stage performance.  Her professional development was further shaped by a multifaceted role at Doggett Street Art Studio, where she gained hands-on industry experience in archival framing, exhibition installation, and artist liaison.

These experiences, alongside work with the University of Queensland Art Museum and various community projects, fostered a broad, socially engaged practice.  A pivotal period teaching visual art in South Korea transitioned Hanna’s focus toward arts education, finding a natural balance between her own creative work and her passion for teaching others.  Today, she maintains a dual practice as a Visual Arts Educator and as Principal Artist at Curlew Arts, bridging the gap between classroom pedagogy and people-centric initiatives.  This leadership allows her to use creative practice to foster connection and support communities to share stories of identity and place.  Her contemporary studio practice is primarily centred on printmaking.