There is a new place for adults and children that love creativity and the arts in Kingscliff.
Local art teacher Gillian Grove is set to expand her current afternoon Arts & Crafts classes for kids, held at the St Anthony’s school, into a range of creative activities for both kids and adults alike.
“I’d like to create a space where people can come and be creative. Whether you want to learn to draw and paint or dabble in the other creative arts, I am hoping that we can offer something that suits everyone.”
Art classes have been running in Kingscliff for children since 2007 and this term sees the introduction of adults’ classes and a wider availability of classes for children.
“We have been running arts and crafts, drawing and painting classes for children at full capacity since its inception in 2007, with waiting lists for children to get into classes each term for four years. It’s now the adults’ turn!”
Now bursting at the seams, the time has come for the art classes to expand and broaden its availability of classes to the whole community.
Gillian says it is not uncommon for people to seek out a creative avenue in their lives or create some space for their own interests rather than just looking after everyone else’s needs.
“I have had several parents approach me looking for their own creative outlet and will be not only expanding the children’s classes but also offering parents’ Art Skills classes available both during the day and night, weekdays and weekends for people to practise and learn drawing and painting.
“Some adults simply want to have a creative outlet. Art is a practice that is enjoyable and social, but can also be a personal challenge if you want it to be.”
Gillian specialises in Art Skills classes where students commence with learning how to draw, progressing through to learning how to paint using both acrylic and oil based paints. These classes offer the absolute beginner with a place to start their art practices and develop fundamental skills.
“The standard of the work in Art Skills classes is incredible. It’s not uncommon to feel anxious about what you can and can’t do and whether or not you hold the ‘talent’.
“I believe that drawing and painting are skills that anyone can learn and that you need no talent to learn. If you can hold a pencil, you can learn to not only draw, but draw well.”
Gillian’s younger students have taken out prizes every year in the Les Peterkin Portrait Prize for Children held at the Tweed Regional Art Gallery annually.
Last year Mitchell Bagnall, one of Gillian’s students, won first place in the senior age group category with an art work completed during art classes, whilst several other children placed.
“It is amazing to watch people’s confidences grow as they become more competent and learn that, once you acquire and understand a few key skills, you can draw and paint anything.”
Gillian is no stranger to the art scene herself. When she began exhibiting her artworks nine years ago, both locally and interstate, she was quickly snapped up by local and interstate galleries and struggled to keep up with the demand for her artworks. After travelling to exhibit her artwork at a successful solo show at the well known SOHO galleries in Sydney, Gillian continued to expand her presence in galleries whilst completing commissioned works of art for hotels, residential apartments, businesses and homes around Australia, whilst continuing to work closely with galleries and designers.
In 2007, Gillian took over the after school children’s art classes at St Anthony’s Primary School in Kingscliff where the classes and children have flourished, expanding the classes to include adults as well as children from all over the Tweed, whilst she continues in her own practice.
