CREATE workshops – learning new skills | PHOTOS

Workshops are a fundamental part of Narrabri Shire’s CREATE Festival and 2022 was no exception.

Featured throughout the two-week festival and run by volunteers experienced in their field, they are an opportunity for the community to come together and learn new skills.

The workshops were off to a spectacular start with the first kids’ art class held in Boggabri.

Hosted by Zen Zinnia for CREATE, seven students from Boggabri painted a canvas each at the Boggabri Library.

Coordinator Ange Strong was thrilled with the students’ results.

The theme was ‘Illusion’ which gave the students the opportunity to express themselves and be creative in a community environment.

A second class followed in Narrabri.

Aged from kindergarten up to Year 6, the children painted brightly coloured illusion paintings.

Group paintings at the end of the Boggabri workshop - back, Alice Hoskinson, Harry Stevens, front, Henry Stone, Georgia Baird, Ava Stevens and Lachlan Stone. Group paintings at the end of the Boggabri workshop - back, Alice Hoskinson, Harry Stevens, front, Henry Stone, Georgia Baird, Ava Stevens and Lachlan Stone.

Portrait photography - instructor John Burgess working with model Jess Strong, Cindy Galvin (with back to camera), Jess Wilson (lighting). Absent from photo: instructor, Janet Dampney. Portrait photography - instructor John Burgess working with model Jess Strong, Cindy Galvin (with back to camera), Jess Wilson (lighting). Absent from photo: instructor, Janet Dampney.

Robin Stieger’s workshop - Elizabeth Horne and Bev Newman. Robin Stieger’s workshop - Elizabeth Horne and Bev Newman.

Georgia Baird. Georgia Baird.

Robin Stieger’s workshop - Matthew Green and Helen Briggs. Robin Stieger’s workshop - Matthew Green and Helen Briggs.

Anabelle Stone was too young to participate so she read herself a story. Anabelle Stone was too young to participate so she read herself a story.

Boggabri group at work - Harry Stevens, Henry Stone, Alice Hoskinson, Georgia Baird, Ava Stevens and Lachlan Stone. Boggabri group at work - Harry Stevens, Henry Stone, Alice Hoskinson, Georgia Baird, Ava Stevens and Lachlan Stone.

Mosaic workshop - Nina Campbell, Olivia Campbell, Anthea O’Regan, Catherine O’Regan and Isabela Campbell. Mosaic workshop - Nina Campbell, Olivia Campbell, Anthea O’Regan, Catherine O’Regan and Isabela Campbell.

Thomas Beckett with his artwork following the Boggabri workshop. Thomas Beckett with his artwork following the Boggabri workshop.

“I do love to teach art to children”, said Ange.

“We might be called the sportiest town but not all kids are interested in sport.

“We all see things differently, and I like to teach the kids that your impression of art is yours.

“That is the most important thing to teach them”.

The mosaic workshop, convened by Maria Juchkov, focussed on the theme ‘Rubbish is Rubbish – that’s an Illusion’, introduced by Cleanaway’s kNOw waste education program.

Increasingly in our daily lives, we are choosing to live more consciously and more sustainably.

This can involve seeking new ways to repurpose materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.

With a little creativity, effort, and artistic flair, new life can be breathed into tired old things.

Participants learnt about repurposing waste and created mosaics, using repurposed household materials.

The eco-friendly workshop taught tips and hacks to live more sustainably, recycle correctly and ditch the illusion of waste as rubbish and instead, rethink about it as a resource.

There were two photography workshops held, with a beginner and advanced course organised by John Burgess Photography and photographer Janet Dampney.

The beginner’s course was for people interested in a better understanding of the basics of their camera, and how to put themselves in control to improve their photography.

The advanced course focussed on portraiture and lighting, with participants learning the finer details of how to place their subjects and the impact the direction of lighting has on the end result.

A disability workshop was organised by local artist Robin Stieger. Enjoying balmy weather in the setting of the shady Art and Craft Society courtyard, budding artists could choose to work outside or inside in the workroom.

It was a happy get-together, with many of the participants having enduring severe COVID lockdowns over the past two years.

There was some fabulous artwork created.

The techniques used were mono printing, wash painting and sun printing.

The Narrabri Art and Craft Society donated the space, and the Creative Friends art group donated their time, materials, and expertise.