Expressive Florals - Bright, Bold and Spontaneous Workshop

Loosen up with vibrant acrylic florals, explore mixed media and take home bold, expressive works on paper and canvas

This workshop is led by Parkes artist Karen Ritchie, whose vibrant and colourful creations draw inspiration from the natural beauty of her local surroundings and her travels. With a free‑flowing brush style, she captures movement and joy, bringing energy and life to her work.

Step into a day of colour, creativity, and freedom with Karen as you explore the beauty of fresh flowers through expressive painting. This workshop invites you to loosen up, break free from self‑criticism, and embrace bold, bright mark‑making in a supportive and relaxed environment.

Working mainly with acrylics, you’ll be guided through step‑by‑step demonstrations and discussions that show how to capture the vibrancy of florals in a way that feels alive and spontaneous.

Alongside acrylic techniques, you’ll be introduced to mixed media approaches that can add depth and texture to your work, encouraging experimentation and play.

Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced artist, you’ll receive individual assistance and advice tailored to your needs. By the end of the day, you’ll take home expressive works on both paper and canvas, along with a renewed sense of confidence, inspiration, and practical skills to make your art feel freer, more personal, and joyfully bold.

What you need to bring

• Your lunch [tea, coffee, and treats will be provided throughout the day]
• Masking or painters’ tape (from Bunnings or similar) – for protecting the sides of your canvas if you want clean sides and for taping edges of watercolour paper.
• Acrylic paints, a basic variety of colours, plus titanium white. Bring what colours you have or like to work with. Karen will bring extras to share. You do not need artist -quality paints.
• While optional, Acrylic Medium can also be useful and can be gloss or matte (your preference) – Mont Marte from a discount store is fine.
• Palette or something to use as a palette e.g. crockery plate, alfoil, or baking paper.
• Paper or sheets from a pad, A3 size x 4, 150/180 gsm is ok. We will do some quick exercises on this paper.
• At least 1 x deep-sided stretched canvas, or if you prefer, a thin-sided canvas or canvas board that is okay. Canvas can be rectangular or square e.g. 51cm x 61cm, 60cm x 60cm, larger if preferred, or 20 ins x 24 ins, 18 ins x 18 ins, whatever you have. If bringing a smaller canvas, then bring more than one. Also, people who are ‘quick’ painters may like to bring more than one canvas. If canvases are not available, then you can paint on heavy-weight paper e.g. 300gms.
• Brushes – variety of sizes, acrylic soft bristle, one with pointed tip, several flat/square tipped, small and large e.g. 10mm, 20mm, and at least one larger if you have it; the larger your board, the larger your brushes need to be.
• Palette knife for mixing paint and for painting – only if you have one
• Water container, spray bottle
• Rags or paper towel
• Apron or old shirt cover
• Photo references of floral compositions if you have special ones, but Karen will bring lots and have real foliage to paint
• Easel - if you have your own, that is ok – either upright or table, whichever is your preference. Table easels need to be large enough to hold your canvas. For those who prefer to work flat on a table, tables are supplied, so that is fine. Some easels are supplied by NACNET. If bringing your easel, also bring a small tarp or towel to protect the floor under the easel from paint drips etc.

No need to stress re any of these materials, just bring what you have or are used to painting with, Karen will have some supplies to supplement your own.

The workshop will commence at 9:30am and run until 3:30pm Be sure to arrive early so you can set up your work-space, and the workshop can start on time. You can have access to the ArtsHub from 9am.

This workshop is limited to 12 participants only.

Please select your correct admission ticket costs as per your membership category when checking out. Tickets are only available through Eventbrite.

If you wish to become a member of NACNet, please click on the link below for more information about NACNet and how to join:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1894105553699?aff=oddtdtcreator

For further information regarding this workshop, please contact:

Vicki on 0491 290 949 or email: nacnet@hotmail.com or message us on Facebook @Narranderaartsandcreativenetwork