Tutors

Danielle Atkinson always had an appreciation of design and a love of fashion, so it came as no surprise that Danielle discovered a combination of the two and immersed herself into the world of Textile Design and fabric printing. Since becoming a graduate of Textile Design and Printing at Ultimo TAFE, Danielle has worked for Signature Prints, the home of the Florence Broadhurst library and launched her own clothing label, which is stocked nationally throughout Australia. She teaches textile printing at the College of Fine Arts and Eastern Suburbs Community College ,and is constantly exploring new techniques to produce individual prints on fabric.

Danielle is inspired by fabric as a medium for its wide variety of end uses and versatility. You can create wearable art, beautifully printed homewares or individual art pieces. The options are endless.

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Tina Barahanos' interest lies in the investigation of urban themes and in her current work she explores the human element within the urban environment. 'There are no heroes in this landscape. Nothing extraordinary is happening and yet I find myself drawn to the observation of events. The figures perform the simple rituals of everyday existence in the urban landscape. These rituals may include waiting for a friend, a train, walking or just sitting having lunch. Anonymity and loss of identity are an underlying influence in this work, feeling alone when in a crowd.'

Some of the techniques Tina uses in her etchings include softground and sugarlift - the sugarlift technique allows for painterly effect in the etchings. She works with 4 plate colour and 'a la poupee'. Working with etching also allows Tina to rework the plates producing different image states.

Tina is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts at the College of Fine Arts, UNSW, has studied printmaking at Meadowbank TAFE, and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts also from COFA.

Link to Tina's 2008 exhibition

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Being born and raised in Orange Larissa Blake is a country girl at heart but through her creative family Larissa was exposed to art and all its possibilities from an early age. Larissa went on to study communications and alternative therapies but it wasn’t long before the creative disposition that was coursing through her genes surfaced and she pursued art as a serious lifestyle.

Larissa’s vibrant works are inspired by her extensive travels both here and abroad, but it is in her everyday world and all its spontaneity that she draws most of her inspirations.

Combining her love of art with her other of alternative therapies, Larissa is an intuitive and insightful teacher who brings a new and creative energy to her students. Through years of painting and being an avid supporter of other artists Larissa has a unique eye for the technical as well as being an extremely gifted colourist.

Apart from the occasional trip back to her roots in Orange where she has recently set up a studio with her artist mother, Loretta Blake, Larissa bases herself in Sydney where she continues to paint and is a sort after lecturer. Larissa exhibits regularly and her works are found in private collections throughout the world.

Link to Larissa's online gallery

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Linda Bowden has been working as a professional sculptor for the past nine years after graduating from the National Art School with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Sculpture) in 1999.  She has exhibited widely throughout NSW in various selected and group shows, including Sculpture by the Sea in 2000, 2002 and 2003, 2006, and 2007, and Sculpture from the Sea and Sculpture in the City 2001.

In 2002, Linda was awarded the Waverley Council Prize (Sculpture by the Sea) and this work can now be seen at Hunter’s Park, Bondi. In 2003, she was commissioned to create a serious of sculptures for the Private Patrons of Sculpture by the Sea.

Linda is passionate about the fine arts, drawing and sculpture in particular. She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm with others and believes learning should be fun and hopes to inspire students to explore new ideas without worrying about the outcomes.

Link to Linda's website

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Jason Chatfield is a freelance cartoonist from Perth, now based in Melbourne. He is the fifth cartoonist to draw the longest running comic strip in Australian History; the 87 year-old “Ginger Meggs.” His work appears daily in over 120 newspapers in over 30 countries worldwide.

Jason is also an editorial cartoonist for the Herald and Voice newspapers group, as well as loconut.com.au

His work has been published in several internationally published books, and he is a Live Caricaturist for corporate and special events around Australia.

At 23, he is a keen advocate for cartooning amongst young Australians, and is the Deputy President of the Australian Cartoonists’ Association.

Link to Jason's website

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Kate de Kantzow has always had a passion for art and studied art and design throughout school. Since then she has completed a Certificate in Fashion and Fashion Design at the University of Darwin as well as a Certificate in Graphic Design at Enmore College of Design.

Over the past ten years Kate has been designing personalised stationery to boutique homeware stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, NZ and London. She has sold paintings through many of these stores, and has been commissioned to paint for many private clients.

Kate specialises in wedding stationery and personal stationery and has a wide variety of clients such as Australian Harpers Bazaar, Inside Out magazines, YSL Beaute, Witchery and Croser sparkling wine.

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Sally Grant is a qualified Art and Design Teacher and Illustrator who has been teaching in a variety of art establishments for several years. Sally’s gentle and explorative approach to teaching allows her to guide and inspire her students, young and old, to create successful artworks.

After graduating from University in the UK with a BA Hons Graphic Design specialising in Illustration Sally travelled extensively. She sees her travel experiences as a valuable aid for teaching art and contributing to her own art practice as a freelance Illustrator.

Sally also has a Post Graduate Certificate in Education specialising in Art and Design and is currently undertaking a Masters in Art Therapy. Sally holds a passion for art and art education and through her art classes hopes to pass on her knowledge and enthusiasm to foster the creativity of each student.

Link to Sally's website

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Bernhardine Mueller studied printmaking at Meadowbank Technical College, and at the National Art School, East Sydney, where she gained her Diploma of Fine Arts.

She is an established Artist/Printmaker and teacher, who is passionate about promoting the art of printmaking. Her artworks, large and in miniature, are exhibited Australia-wide and internationally and have gained her a multitude of First prizes and Awards, and she has 20 years experience as a teacher of printmaking, continuing to inspire students with her unique style.

Bernhardine's forte is traditional Etching. Her work is her response to the Australian landscape, which she finds compelling - from the harshness of the outback to the beauty of its flora and fauna. She gains her inspiration both from the power of imagination and the actual world we live in.                                        

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Bernadette Trela is a practicing artist based in Sydney who has worked in galleries and academia for the last 15 years. She has studied in all three Major Art Schools in Sydney; beginning with the National Art School (NAS), East Sydney, Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), University of Sydney and College of Fine Arts (COFA), University of NSW.

While studying Arts and Fine Arts, Bernadette has worked in areas of the arts to consolidate her passion and understanding of what art is about and how to study, paint and thrive while doing so! Her work in the Art Gallery of NSW for four years informed her eye of painting and has enhanced her teaching abilities, along with her post graduate studies and painting studio practice. Bernadette is interested in the academic and the painterly! She currently works as a teacher and gallery assistant.

Link to Bernadette’s online gallery                          

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Lisa Woolfe is primarily a painter and printmaker with a studio at Art Est.  Her current work is influenced by the urban industrial landscape found in and around White Bay, in particular the White Bay Power Station. Lisa exhibits regularly and is working towards her next group exhibition, NxNW opening in October 2008 at the Washhouse Gallery, Rozelle.

In July, Lisa received the Works on Paper prize at the 2008 Waverley Art Prize.

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The strengths of Michele Zarro's art practice are continuous experimentation in material processes and a focus on painting as painting. She has Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons. Class 1), a Master of Visual Arts, and is currently undertaking a Phd at Sydney College of the Arts. Michele maintains a strong exhibition practice in Australia and overseas. She regularly exhibits locally and was a recent finalist in the Helen Lempriere Travelling Scholarship and the Art & Australia/ANZ Ripe Emerging Artist Award. She is also a recipient of a University of Sydney Postgraduate Award. Michele has taught painting and drawing at Southern Cross University as well as numerous adult-education art courses.

“The intangible nature of painting and the indefinable nature of the experience of art beyond nameable things determine the tricky terrain of my studio practice.”                                                    

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Director

Founder and Director, Jennifer McNamara, has a passion for art that guides her own creative journey. She believes everyone has some artistic ability, and with the right environment and the best teachers, anyone can discover their inner creative genius. Her desire to inspire an artistic future in people of all ages has led her to establish Art Est., and is guiding the principles under which Art Est. operates.            

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