Literally Illustrating – igniting imagination through art

ArtsNational Narrabri presented a Young Arts Award donation to Graeme Compton at the Narrabri Art & Craft gallery on Thursday, April 17.

The funds will be facilitating an initiative by Graeme to organise a workshop weekend for six Year 12 HSC art students attending Narrabri High School.

The weekend will be hosted in the Narrabri Art and Craft Society workroom in May.

Each year ArtsNational societies select a school, or arts related student group or individual residing in their local district.

Targeting schools, local bands, and enquiring with arts teachers in the search for talented and sometimes financially disadvantaged students, the aim is to encourage and nurture an interest in the arts.

The award covers all aspects of the arts and includes music, vocals, dance, theatre, photography, filmmaking, artwork, wood/metalwork, textiles, sculpture, and literature.

The annual Young Arts award would not be possible without donations received from members and friends of ArtsNational Narrabri.

Graeme will be working with the Year 12 art students to give them an insight into the life of a professional working artist.

“The two-day course will be called Literally Illustrating,” Graeme explained.

“It will provide the six hand-picked students with encouragement to develop their own expressive styles, along with guidance on improving technical skills and useful work habits in the area of drawing and illustration, insight into the book and comic publishing environment and various anecdotes from successful professional artists, illustrators, authors and publishers.

“Each student will receive a ‘Starter Kit’ of various necessary artist’s tools, along with an instruction and tasks manual, written and illustrated by myself. In addition, they will have access to a number of interviews conducted by me with other illustrators, authors and publishers who are professionals working in the industry.

“These include such luminaries as Jason Chatfield, Matt Ottley, Nat Karmichael, Elise Hurst, Lisa Stewart and Lorena Carrington.

“The students will experience a weekend working as illustrators.

“They will explore traditional illustration techniques, creating original works, working creatively as a team, insight into the lives of professional, full-time illustrators, authors and publishers, and how to create a graphic novel.

“The weekend will be packed tight with creative adventure and the students will complete the course with a small portfolio of works.

“I would like to say a big thank you to Fiona Groeneveld, Judy Pownall and Elizabeth Campbell for their time today and ArtsNational Narrabri for this brilliant and inspiring initiative.

“Thank you also to the Narrabri Art and Craft Society Inc, who are hosting the event at their exceptional studio and gallery facility.

“Thank you also to David Pierce and Katie Fisher at Narrabri High School for informing and organising the students for the workshop.”

Chair of ArtsNational Narrabri Fiona Groeneveld added, “ArtsNational Narrabri is pleased to continue support of young people through the Young Arts program.

Young Arts is funded by member donations from those who wish to support young artists in the Narrabri Shire.

“We are proud to support Graeme’s art workshop ‘Literally Illustrating’ for the Narrabri High School HSC students.

“Congratulations on the project receiving our 2025 Young Arts funding.

“We look forward to seeing what Graeme’s students achieve.”