​

BOTANICA: THE ART OF THE NATURAL WORLD

Core Art Program

Term 4, 2026

 

EARLY ACCESS NOTICE
During the early access period, enrolment in BOTANICA is reserved exclusively for current Core Art Program students. Enrolments received from new students during this period will be automatically cancelled and refunded.

 

Tuesdays - 13 October to 15 December

For children ages 6yrs and above

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

$300 (inc GST) total for 10 x 60-minute sessions

 

Wednesdays - 14 October to 16 December

For Homeschoolers, ages 6yrs to high-school

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

$350 (inc GST) total for 10 x 90-minute sessions

 

Fridays - 16 October to 18 December

For children ages 9yrs to high-school

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

$350 (inc GST) total for 10 x 90-minute sessions

 

BOTANICA is a 10-week exploration of the natural world through art.

 

Across the term, young artists will look closely at flowers, foliage, native flora, seed pods and other botanical forms, exploring how artists observe, interpret and transform nature through drawing, painting and mixed media.

 

Working across a range of materials and techniques, students will develop skills in observation, line, colour, composition, texture and mark-making while creating a series of resolved artworks. Projects will move between detailed botanical studies and more expressive, contemporary interpretations, encouraging students to look beyond simply reproducing what they see.

 

The term culminates in an original botanical work, giving each artist the opportunity to bring together the techniques they have explored and develop their own creative response to the natural world.

 

 

 

 

NEW PROGRAM | ARTFORM: LOOK AGAIN

Term 4, 2026

 

Wednesdays - 14 October to 16 December

For children ages 6yrs to high school

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

$350 (inc GST) total for 10 x 90-minute sessions

 

Contemporary artmaking for young artists.

 

Artform is a 10-week program for young artists ready to look beyond the expected and explore the many ways an artwork can take form.

 

Working across drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and mixed media, artists will encounter contemporary subjects, bold imagery and diverse approaches to making. We’ll explore ideas drawn from Pop Art, contemporary portraiture, abstraction, visual culture and the work of practising artists, alongside strong foundations in drawing, composition, colour and technique.

 

Rather than reproducing an artist’s work, we’ll look at how artists think — how they crop, layer, repeat, simplify, disrupt, reframe and transform what they see — before using those ideas to create something new.

 

Each artist will receive their own sketchbook for preliminary drawings, studies, composition planning and material tests before developing resolved works on paper, board and canvas.

 

There is an emphasis on artmanship: learning to handle materials with skill and intention, making considered artistic choices and developing the confidence to approach familiar subjects in unfamiliar ways.

 

Structured and guided, but with increasing room for individual interpretation, Artform is for young artists interested not only in how to make art, but in discovering what else art can be.

​

​

​

​

​​

NEW PROGRAM | THE JOURNAL STUDIO: A WORLD BETWEEN THE PAGES

Term 4, 2026

 

Thursdays - 15 October to 17 December

For children ages 8yrs to high school

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

$350 (inc GST) total for 10 x 90-minute sessions

 

A journal with no rules about what belongs on the page.

 

Paint. Draw. Cut. Tear. Layer. Write. Collect. Rearrange. Cover something up and begin again.

 

For practising artists, a journal or sketchbook is more than a place to draw. It can be a working space for ideas — somewhere to experiment with colour and materials, collect references, explore compositions, record observations and develop thoughts without the pressure of creating a finished artwork.

 

The Journal Studio introduces young artists to this way of working. Their journal becomes a place to experiment, make creative decisions, follow ideas and discover what happens when different materials, images and techniques are brought together.

 

The Journal Studio is a new 10-week mixed-media program at paintbox, created for young artists ages 8 yrs through to high school.

 

Each artist will receive their own mixed-media journal to work in throughout the term. Each week, we'll introduce a new approach to the page, exploring art journalling, collage, creative scrapbooking, found papers and ephemera, photography, typography, textiles, drawing, painting, mark-making and mixed-media techniques.

 

Rather than completing one prescribed artwork each week, the journal becomes an evolving creative space. Artists can work across multiple pages, experiment with new materials, revisit earlier work, add layers, change direction and allow one idea to lead into another.

 

Some pages might become detailed artworks. Others might hold experiments, photographs, collected fragments, drawings, words or unexpected combinations of materials. There is no single finished result to replicate.

 

Along the way, artists will develop skills in composition, colour, layering, visual storytelling and creative decision-making, while being encouraged to develop their own ideas and individual visual style.

 

By the end of the term, every journal will be completely different — part sketchbook, part scrapbook, part collection and entirely their own.

​

​

 

 

​​​​​​​​GUITAR FOR BEGINNERS

Riff & Rhythm: Group Guitar for Kids

 Wednesdays, (at full capacity, we are currently not accepting new students)

4:00pm to 4:40pm

Children aged 10+

Guitars provided

​

Let your child discover the magic of music with Riff & Rhythm, our exciting group guitar program designed just for kids! Perfect for beginners, this program introduces the fundamentals of playing the guitar through fun, interactive lessons in small groups. Kids will learn essential skills like basic chords, strumming patterns, and simple riffs, all while playing age-appropriate songs that keep them motivated and inspired.

​

 

 UKULELE FOR BEGINNERS

String and Song : Group Ukulele for Kids

Tuesdays, (currently unavailable)

4:30pm to 5pm

Children aged 6+

Concert Ukuleles provided

 

Introduce your child to the transformative world of music with our Group Ukulele Program for Beginners, tailored for kids aged 6 and up! This fun-filled program is designed to teach the basics of playing the concert ukulele in small, supportive groups of just 4 children. Through delightful, age-appropriate songs, your child will learn essential musical skills like strumming, rhythm, and basic chords—all while building confidence, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for music.

Lessons will be held at our new music studio at paintbox in Bulgarra!

​

​ 

Meet the Musicians Behind Our Beginner Guitar & Ukulele Programs

​

We are a self-taught singer–musician duo with over 15 years of collective experience. We come from diverse cultural backgrounds and share a deep love for making music that feels honest, soulful, and meaningful.

Our journey began in living-room rehearsals and intimate community gigs, and has taken us all the way to performing overseas. Along the way, we’ve not only refined our musicianship, but learned how to read an audience, build confidence, and make music that truly connects.

As self-taught musicians, we know what it means to start from scratch — the frustrations, the breakthroughs, and the joy of finally finding your rhythm. Our teaching style is grounded in real-world experience: practical, encouraging, and centred on creating genuine musical expression, not just playing notes.

Here, beginners become musicians through curiosity, steady practice, and the simple pleasure of making music together.

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

STUDIO NOCTURNE: ART AFTER DARK

​​​

Ongoing

For adults 18+

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

$35 (inc GST) per 120-minute session

Includes the use of materials and tools

​

Studio Nocturne is an intimate evening studio program led by practicing artist, Katherine Tawse as well as other associate artists, and held within a working art studio. Designed for adults seeking depth, quiet focus, and meaningful creative time, this program offers a rare opportunity to work within an authentic professional studio environment rather than a classroom setting. Sessions take place after hours, when the studio slows and becomes a space for intentional, reflective making.

 

The experience is artist-led rather than instructional. Participants work alongside the rhythms of active studio practice, guided through gentle prompts, demonstrations, and individual support while maintaining autonomy over their own work. The focus is on process, observation, and personal expression, allowing ideas to unfold organically without pressure to produce a finished outcome. Curated music, an unhurried studio rhythm, and a calm, intentional atmosphere create an immersive experience that feels closer to a private atelier than a traditional class.

 

Participants may explore drawing, painting, and mixed media, with materials chosen to suit the tone and focus of each session. Studio Nocturne welcomes both beginners seeking a non-intimidating entry into art-making and experienced creatives looking to reconnect with their practice in a grounded, professional studio setting.

 

To support continuity and deeper engagement, Studio Nocturne follows a simple loyalty model:

• Attend four sessions and receive the fifth session complimentary.

• Attend four more sessions and receive the 10th session for free plus  a curated mystery art box.

 

Studio Nocturne is for those who value atmosphere, intention, and sustained creative presence where art-making becomes both a disciplined practice and a restorative experience within a working artist’s studio.

​

​

ENCLAVE: YOUR CREATIVE SANCTUM

​​​

Ongoing

For adults 18+

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

$35 (inc GST) per 120-minute session

Includes the use of materials and tools

​

Enclave is a curated open-studio offering for artists and creatives seeking a quiet refuge and a place to return to their practice. Held within a working artist’s studio, Enclave offers dedicated studio time without instruction or expectation; just space, materials, and the freedom to follow what is calling you.

 

Saturday mornings unfold gently. Participants work independently or alongside others, immersed in their own projects, whether returning to a long-held idea, beginning something new, or simply enjoying the stillness of making. The studio becomes a shared rhythm rather than a class, where creative momentum builds naturally over time.

 

Local artist, Katherine Tawse, as well as other associate artists, is present as a steward of the space, offering quiet guidance and support when needed, while allowing each artist’s process to remain their own. Enclave is intentionally small, fostering trust, familiarity, and a sense of belonging rooted in respect and shared commitment to practice.

 

Designed for those who value autonomy within structure, Enclave supports sustained creative inquiry rather than short-term outcomes. It is a place to work slowly, thoughtfully, and consistently within a dedicated, well-resourced studio environment.

 

To support continuity and deeper engagement, Studio Nocturne follows a simple loyalty model:

• Attend four sessions and receive the fifth session complimentary.

• Attend four more sessions and receive the 10th session for free plus  a curated mystery art box.

 

Enclave is not a class.

It is a place to step inside, create freely, and return—week after week—to your creative sanctum.

​