Artists benefit from two-day visit
Well-known contemporary artist Ian de Souza led a workshop exploring a range of painting and drawing skills during a visit earlier this month.
To see a gallery of pictures from the event, click here.
De Souza's visit marked a return to the Pilbara - the former art teacher hadn't visited Hedland since the late 1980s.
During the weekend-long event, 15 people took part in the workshop, including two Spinifex Hill artists.
Workshop program manager Katie Evans said a diverse range of painting and drawing skills were explored.
"Ian was very impressed with how quickly the group improved their skills over the two-day workshop," she said.
At the start of the first day participants listened to the story of de Souza's development throughout his 30 years of painting and drawing.
De Souza told attendees he was largely influenced by JMW Turner's watercolours and he began with the same medium, painting for eight to 10 hours each day to perfect his craft. He said he was quick to realise the need to evolve constantly as an artist and ensure the work had the essence of the subject.
The artist said he'd had to learn the basics of drawing, perspective lines, tonal value and composition, which were all necessary to master before being able to let go and only think with one side of his brain.
Ms Evans said throughout the first day, participants used charcoal to put de Souza's words of advice into practice.
"The participants were challenged and walked away recognising that to be a good prolific artist you need to practise - just like an athlete trains for a marathon, an artist needs to paint, paint and do some more painting," she said.
"On the Saturday evening, Ian had a special life-drawing class, allowing participants to further practise their drawing skills in terms of composition, perception and tonal values.
"Each participant did three two-minute drawings, looking at the page, looking at where they would best fit on the page (and) considering the composition of the work."
On the following day, de Souza introduced the participants to paint.
Using black acrylic, participants mixed water to create the five tonal values, and using photos placed upside down, the artists drew shapes, before adding in the tonal values to develop the composition.
The photo was then flipped to allow the participants to introduce drawing details into their work, Ms Evans said.
"In the afternoon, Ian discussed the use of primary colours in his work," she said.
"The class was mesmerised as he proceeded to paint the same picture masterfully in black and white tones, then in the primary colours blue, red and yellow."
The feedback from the workshop, the first visit of the year facilitated by arts advocacy group FORM, was positive.
Participants said it was a privilege to be taught by de Souza, who they found to be hands-on, honest and very helpful.
