Watercolour masterclass series launched at QVMAG

 

This September a new masterclass series will launch at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, sharing the skill of watercolour mastery with locals.

Internationally renowned artist Tony Smibert will host a series of three hands-on masterclass workshops at the Art Gallery at Royal Park, sharing his knowledge, passion and skill for the art of watercolour.

Attendees will experience an immersive and intimate learning experience with Smibert as he shares his research on 18th century watercolour master, J.M.W. Turner.

Designed as a progressive artistic development experience, attendees can choose to build and refine their watercolour skills across the full series of three programs or attend individual workshops as a standalone learning experience.

General Manager of Creative Arts & Cultural Services Shane Fitzgerald said the newly launched masterclass series at QVMAG would be a wonderful opportunity for artists to learn the skill from an internationally recognised Tasmanian artist.

'To have a hands-on and immersive learning experience such as this delivered by an internationally recognised artist is a brilliant opportunity for Northern Tasmanians,' Fitzgerald said.

'Programs such as this truly showcase the brilliant talent and skill that we have here in Tasmania.'

Tasmanian artist Tony Smibert said he looked forward to sharing the skill and knowledge built through his 40-year-long career, some of which is on display in his exhibition Tao Sublime at the Art Gallery at Royal Park.

'Over three weekends we will cover a range of techniques — the things I wish someone had shown me years ago — from a deep introduction to watercolour through to the historical techniques and methods of possibly the greatest master of all, J.M.W. Turner,' Smibert said.

'We want this to be a great opportunity for anyone seriously wanting to start in watercolour or take their existing skills to a higher level over three separate weekends; it will be a comprehensive course for anyone wanting to cover the wonderful techniques of Turner's era, often called The Golden Age of British Watercolour.

'As a Visiting Artist Researcher at London's Tate Gallery I seldom teach now, but the study of Turner's methods has actually led me to a way of painting that is very much my own — so I’m very keen to pass on what I’ve learned to anyone with a passion to develop their own art, or even just enjoy watercolour.'

The series will comprise:

Introduction to watercolour | 17 and 18 September 2022

Starting with the natural principles that provide the ‘secret’ to this beautiful medium, the Introduction to Watercolour workshop will provide an immersive and practical course to help you better understand the methods of watercolour painting.

Methods of the Masters | 24 and 25 September 2022

Join the second instalment within the Tony Smibert masterclass series as we explore ‘scale-practice’, the art and technique of tonal painting; one of the most important historical training methods of watercolour art.

Turner’s Method | 1 and 2 October 2022

Follow along as Tony explains and demonstrates the skill of the splendid colour harmonies of JMW Turner, sharing how any painter might understand and make use of Turner’s methods to create their own original works, whether in a traditional or contemporary way.

Ticket sales for the Tony Smibert masterclass series are now available online via the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery website, www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/Events

Issued 2 August 2022.