Summer Brushes ‘26

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a Grampian Arts Summer Brushes workshop at Longernong, Victoria, with Sophie Perez, an expressive painter I have long admired. I signed up to this workshop to push myself out of my comfort zone, try new techniques & mediums, play around... and that I did! (with the added bonus of 5 days to focus only on art in the lovely company of other creatives).

Stepping away from my go-to oil paints, I had the chance to experiment with drawing, gouache paint (new to me - nearly had me packing my bags…), monoprinting, and plein air sketching. See below for a selection of studies completed during my time at the workshop.

Big thanks to the dynamic Sophie for sharing your wealth of skills & experience, encouragement, and feedback; to the Summer Brushes team for putting on such an amazingly run event; and to husband Jarred for holding the fort at home and 1000% support of my artistic practice.