Previous Helen Komene Art Workshops
Great week at Albany Art School
January 18, 2018
It's been an amazing week at the Albany Summer School with my Pet Pawtraits and Landscapes in pastels workshops and I think the results in these photos speak for themselves. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single day and to be honest I'm a little sad that it is all over. Both classes took on the tools and techniques with such enthusiasm and I was really excited how everyone's artistic style developed over the 5 days. We are already talking about next year's workshops, if I was lucky enough to be invited back I'll be here in a flash!
I also really want to thank the Albany Summer School committee, they are incredibly professional and organised. There are over 50 tutors over two weeks who teach a range of subjects. It’s a great event for the people of Albany and South West WA to come and try new things. But I also appreciate that a lot of hard work goes into making that happen. It’s months of preparation and I have been utterly impressed with the way they pulled it together, my students and I have nothing but praise for you guys! 🎨❤️
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Painting what you love
November 10, 2017
On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November I launched my new Open Theme Pastel Workshops. Here fellow artists learned about how to use pastels and apply colour theory, but with a reference photo that they are passion about. This is a new workshop design for me and I'll be keeping the format, with some subtle tweaks to really improve the flow of learning. As you will see from the photos, everyone attempted something very different and there are some bold results. That's my last workshop for 2017, hopefully I'll see you sometime again in 2018!
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My workshop travels the Pilbara
July 22, 2017
For so long I've had people write and ask me when I'm bringing my workshops to other areas of the Pilbara. So judging by Sunday's fabulous fun I will certainly be back. Well done everyone and thanks for being such a great bunch to hang out with, your artwork is fantastic. A very big thank you also goes to the Newman Visitors Centre for hosting us, Barbara and the team are a pleasure to work with!
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Teaching tour with Jacksons
March 14, 2017
I’ve had a fantastic few weeks touring the Busselton and Perth Jacksons stores to deliver my Pet Pawtrait and Seascapes workshops. I’ve delivered 9 workshops and one demo and seen 80 participants. I have traveling over 4,500 kms from Port Heldand to Buseelton, around Perth and back to Port Hedland. Special thanks to Store Managers, Rochelle, Julie, Dion and Celito, as well as Ashleigh the Sales and Marketing Manager and Cindy the Graphic Designer, its definitely been a team effort to run the workshops. An enormous thanks to each and everyone who joined my workshops, I loved your passion and enthusiasm and watching you have those ‘aha’ moments as you learned new drawing or pastel techniques. I hoped you enjoyed the workshops as much as I did, perhaps I’ll see you next time!
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Tackling a complex landscape
February 10, 2017
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit nervous about teaching Saturday's Pilbara Pastel workshop. Hammersley Gorge in Karijini is a complex subject - the folds in the rock and the interesting reflections in the water. However the class proved they were up for the challenge and these are their results, simply amazing, lots of beautiful use of colour and mark making techniques. Way to go class! A big thank you to hartz for assisting with the set up and the Pilbara Port Authority for providing the venue.
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Pilbara wild flower in pastels workshop
November 11, 2016
In Saturday’s workshop we were saturated with colour as the class learnt to recreate a famous Pilbara wild flower in pastels. Everyone was ready and willing to tackle the complicated subject and they certainly explored with determination a diverse palette of rich greens and vibrant pinks. They did so well and I was blown away with their final Gum Nut paintings.
A very big thank to Hartz for helping to organise the workshop and the Pilbara Port Authority for generously supporting our Pilbara art workshops by allowing us to use their Sealanes venue.
But most of all, a heartfelt thank you to all the artists that have attended my workshops throughout this year, it has been a pleasure to get to know you and I’ve really enjoyed being part of your creative journey. This was the last Pilbara pastel class for 2016 and I’m looking forward to holding more in 2017 – I hope to see you all again soon!
2016 Cossack Art Awards - Pimms & Pastels Workshop
July 29, 2016
Check out these photos from Saturday afternoon’s Pimms & Pastel workshop at the Galbraith Building in Cossack. Using still life inspiration, these fellow Pilbara artists created some magic while playing with pastels and sipping on Pimms and lemonade.
A big thank you to the City of Karratha - specifically Jessica Snook - for successfully managing the 2016 Cossack Art Awards and the related program of events. A heart felt thanks to ECM for their generous financial support for this workshop. And to my fabulous husband who made the trip with me to Cossack to help me set up and take photos – he’s a legend!
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Class work on their furry skills in Pawtrait Workshop
September 17, 2016
I always knew my fur baby, Mack was a bit of a rockstar and he certainly played the part as our muse in yesterday's pet portrait workshop. In the morning the class practiced values (light and dark tones) in coloured pencils, as well as mastering mark marking techniques to create texture and fur. Then the afternoon was spent pulling all their new skills together to create a full portrait of Mack. The photos speak for themselves, they really did a fantastic job - I'm looking forward to seeing their finished masterpieces in the weeks to come! A very big thank you to Hartz for helping to organise the workshop and to the Pilbara Port Authority for providing the venue.
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Learning seascapes in soft pastels
June 18, 2016
My Sunday workshop crew rocked! Some members were completely new to art, let alone pastels, and they created some stunning seascapes. To my faithful regulars, I'm seeing real improvement in your creative journey, you are coming on in leaps and bounds!
A huge thanks to Sangita from Hartz for organising the workshop and Richard, also from Hartz, for helping to deliver equipment. Thanks also to the Pilbara Port Authority for their generous donation of the venue again. Photos courtesy of professional photographer Nils Friedrich and my class members Beryl Parker, Tina and Doug Ward and Jennifer Gonzalez
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Workshop take a dip in seascapes in soft pastels
May 14, 2016
We had another superb full day workshop on Sunday! We jam-packed so much in, from learning how to draw perspectives, to playing with pastels. Many were beginners so it was incredible to watch their seascape paintings unfold throughout the day. Thanks to Heldand Arts Council for organizing the workshop and to photographer Mick Bourke and Hartz Chairman Zabia Chmielewski for the photographs. A special thanks also to the Pilbara Port Authority for their generous use of the venue, which helps Hartz manage their member costs.
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A lazy afternoon with Pimms & Pastels
May 17, 2016
In the cool shade of the Courthouse Gallery palm trees, Hedland locals spent a lazy afternoon sipping pimms and playing with pastels. With a selection of paper types the 22 attendees completed some informal still life drawings of flowers and vases, while others decided to make up their own impressionist paintings using the array of colours provided. Check out the photos to see everyone's fantastic creations!
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Watch a time lapse video
Beginner's guide to portraits workshop
January 16, 2016
I had the most rewarding experience on Sunday 17 January teaching this workshop. The class were fabulous and I was blown away by the way they rendered flesh tones within their own artistic style. We created some magic and I believe a few of them are now hooked! Thanks go to my husband for his permission to use his son, Zack, as a reference, the Port Hedland Port Authority for the venue and the Hedland Arts Council assisting.
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