NatureArt Lab - Art Classes

📩 Our latest NatureArt Lab email went out today!

🌿Inside, you’ll find details about the extended entry deadline for our See What I See exhibition, along with a look at some of the creative classes coming up this August.

If you’d like to hear about upcoming classes, workshops, exhibitions, tours and other NatureArt Lab news, we’d love you to join our mailing list.

💚 Subscribe and stay connected with our creative community.
https://mailchi.mp/natureartlab/marchnaturetours-13829569

Today was a stunning winter morning in Canberra, and I had an opportunity to spend a couple of hours with our Journal in the Field group at Red Hill lookout. It’s a beautiful nature reserve with lovely species of plants and wildlife! Listening to Gang Gangs calling, watching Eastern spinebills flashing past, Choughs foraging, young Crimson rosellas eating seeds, magpies hunting and much more - was amazing. But also stopping and looking more closely at the flowering plants such as the Hardenbergias, paper daisy’s, and early flowering wattles was so special.

It’s also a lovely location to see the mountains surrounding Canberra and the design that makes our nature city so special. Thanks to the lovely people who joined our session today!

Become a NatureArt Lab member and book your place for the next monthly session with Ami! Membership and booking details are at: https://natureartlab.com.au/collections/membership/products/journal-in-the-field

Barn owls…..and humpback whales!!!

You can enjoy both at our upcoming Byron Bay artist retreat from 13-16 August. Meet Angela Parr - our outstanding pastellist tutor, and create your own beautiful pastel artwork featuring the intricate patterns, feather details and postures of a barn owl at the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. There are only a few places left so book your spot now.

After the workshop each day you’ll have free time to watch the humpback whale migration as female whales travel south, close to the Byron Bay Headlands.

We are providing delicious breakfasts and lunches as part of the retreat, and stay at your choice of accommodation at Lennox Head or nearby!

Details at:

BYRON BAY, NSW - ARTIST RETREAT: 13 – 16 August 2026 – 25% Deposit $375.00 ($1,500.00) 🖌️ Bird Art Retreat with Angela Parr +++ Whale migration sightings!! Capture the essence of birds in pastel at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary! Enjoy a four-day wildlife art experience with opportunities to see owls and other birds up close, as part of an immersive nature art retreat at the beauti...

🌿 Friday Feature Artist: Angela Parr

Award-winning wildlife artist Angela Parr is known for her highly detailed, realistic pastel artworks celebrating birds and animals.

Working with Pan Pastels, pastel sticks and pencils, Angela carefully builds colour, texture and light to capture the character of each subject. Her work has been recognised in leading national and international art prizes, including the Holmes Prize for Realistic Bird Art, the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize and the Pastel 100.
With a background in teaching, graphic design and veterinary nursing, Angela combines artistic skill with a deep love of wildlife and conservation.

🖌️ This August, Angela will lead our Byron Bay Bird Art Retreat, guiding participants through the creation of a detailed pastel portrait of a Barn Owl at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

Visiting Byron Bay? Take the opportunity to learn from Angela in this inspiring wildlife art retreat.

🌿 13–16 August 2026
🌿 Beginners and experienced artists welcome
🌿 A few places remain

https://natureartlab.com.au/products/byron-bay-nsw-artist-retreat-13-16-august-2026-1-560-00

❄️ Looking for something to do this weekend in Canberra?

Head to the National Arboretum Canberra for Winter in the Woods—a seasonal celebration of nature, creativity and the beauty of the forests.

On Sunday morning, join NatureArt Lab’s Ami Amlani for Terra Australis Journaling. Slow down, look closely and combine sketching, written observations and simple diagrams to create your own nature journal pages inspired by the garden.

❄️ Sunday 2 August
❄️ 10am–12pm
❄️ National Arboretum Canberra
https://humanitix.com/au/search/au--act--canberra/Winter%20in%20the%20Woods%20Nature%20Art%20Lab

Winter in the Woods also features stargazing, guided forest walks, bus tours and more creative NatureArt Lab workshops throughout the coming week.

🌿 Explore the program and book through Humanitix.

This Friday 7 August we have a special mobile phone photography session on offer from 1.00-3.00pm at the National Arboretum, Canberra.

If you’d like to learn how to use your mobile phone for stunning landscape and macro photography, we have a few last spots available in our special workshop with professional photographer Christine Bernasconi!

This is part of our Winter in the Woods Program in partnership with the National Arboretum in Canberra. Check out the last few sessions on offer.

Book your place now at: https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/smartphone-photography-with-natureart-lab

So nice to see people having fun and enjoying creative art inspired by Australia’s beautiful banksias. This popular workshop led by Alison Oberg was part of NatureArt Lab’s contribution to the Winter in the Woods program at the National Arboretum.

If you’d like to try this exciting mixed media approach, join our upcoming classes at our lovely studio in Griffith!

https://natureartlab.com.au/collections/workshops/products/intermediate_mixed_media_with-alison-oberg

International Tiger Day 🐅

Today we celebrate one of the world’s most iconic species—and reflect on our responsibility to ensure tigers continue to roam the forests of Asia for generations to come.

Fewer than 6,000 wild tigers remain, yet their survival tells a much bigger story. Healthy tiger populations depend on healthy forests, thriving rivers and rich biodiversity that benefits countless other plants and animals.

At NatureArt Lab, we believe that people protect what they understand and value. Through art, photography and immersive experiences in nature, we inspire curiosity, deepen connections with the natural world and encourage advocacy for its conservation.

This International Tiger Day, take a moment to learn about these remarkable animals, support organisations working to protect their habitats, and remember that every action we take for biodiversity helps build a future where wildlife can flourish.

Nature inspires. Knowledge empowers. Action protects.

Image credit: Julia Landford

✏️ Learn to Draw with Dr Taylor Singh

Have you always wanted to draw but felt unsure where to begin?
Join Dr Taylor Singh for a relaxed, one-day workshop designed especially for absolute beginners. Through a series of practical, skill-building exercises, you’ll learn to observe more closely and explore line, proportion, tone and value using graphite pencils.

Inspired by natural objects, this workshop will help you build strong drawing foundations and gain the confidence to continue developing your creative practice.
No previous experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to have a go. 🌿

🌿 Sunday 30 August 2026
🌿 9.30am–4.00pm
🌿 NatureArt Lab, M16 Artspace, Griffith
🌿 Suitable for ages 16+

Begin your drawing journey:
https://natureartlab.com.au/products/https-natureartlab-com-au-products-drawing-for-beginners-intensive-with-taylor-singh

Making Art Journals with Dr Sharon Peoples

Discover the satisfying art of bookbinding while creating beautiful, practical journals for your creative practice.

Beginning with simple book structures, Sharon will guide you through soft and hard covers, Japanese stab binding, sewn sections and removable pages. You’ll gradually build your skills before creating your own large-format artist’s journal in the final class.

No previous bookbinding experience is needed—just curiosity and a love of making by hand.

Previously studied with Sharon?

If you have completed a Learn to Bookbind course with Sharon, you are welcome to choose a different book structure for this workshop.

🌿 Mondays, 3–24 August 2026
🌿 9.30am–12.00pm
🌿 NatureArt Lab, M16 Artspace, Griffith

Learn more and book your place:
https://natureartlab.com.au/products/making-art-journals-with-sharon-peoples

🌿 Slow down, work with beautiful papers and create a journal designed for the way you make art.