Have you ever said "I'd love to be able to paint but I haven't got an artistic bone in my body"?
Did your kindergarten teacher say you were hopeless at art?

You're both wrong.

Do you play golf or tennis or some other sport? You probably had some professional coaching then spent hours practising until you got the hang of things. You might not be Tiger Woods or Venus Williams, but you play for your own enjoyment, and look forward to your weekly game.
You wouldn't expect to play the piano like a professional or speak fluent Italian after three lessons - so why assume you should be able to draw or paint without expert instruction and hours of practice?

All you need is the desire to draw or paint; you don't have to have some supernatural, god-given talent.

Art is my life; it is what I do. Almost as important to me is passing on the knowledge I have accumulated over a lifetime of painting.

For more than fifteen years I have been teaching adult students to draw and paint with Adult Education in Hobart. Whether or not they decide to pursue painting when the course ends, they enjoy gaining an appreciation of what art is all about.

As well as Adult Education (now LINC, LearnXpress) I offer occasional courses with art groups and private tuition in the student's own home.

The popularity of these classes has proved to me that after surprisingly few lessons and plenty of practice, anybody can learn to paint well enough to enjoy an absorbing pastime.

LEARN IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

The artist comes to you

Private tuition in the materials of your choice, at a time to suit you - and no need to commit to a set number of classes.

• develop your creativity with a course of lessons tailored to suit your individual needs
• friendly expert advice for individuals or groups
• two hour sessions, all day workshops or something in between
• Invite friends round, spend an afternoon drawing in the fresh air or watching an oil painting demonstration, then party on afterwards
• take a guided tour of current art exhibitions in the Hobart area

Contact Elizabeth Barsham (email at bottom of this page) for more information.

About your tutor

I was born in Tasmania, grew up in Hobart, studied art in Melbourne under Wesley Penberthy and Ming Mackay and have had paintings hung in the Blake Prize, City of Hobart Art Award Exhibition and other major exhibitions. My paintings have won many awards and have been acquired by Monash University and by private collectors Australia wide, as well as in Canada, UK, New Zealand, Singapore, France, Germany and Japan. I exhibit regularly and my work can frequently be seen in mixed exhibitions at CAST and the Long Gallery in Hobart. You can also see recent work on my website
www.tasmanian-gothic.com

I have been teaching drawing and painting for many years, firstly in Melbourne then, after returning to Hobart in 1997, at Brian Chandler School of Art, Colour Circle and Adult Education as well as conducting drawing and painting workshops in various places.

From 2011 I will be teaching basic drawing, beginner and intermediate painting classes at the Nolan Art Gallery and School at Salamanca Arts Centre, and at Adult Education, mainly at the Adult Education centre in Church St, North Hobart.

Materials for Courses

If you are starting one of my classes and are not sure what you should buy, go to the information page for that class, where you will find a list of the basic materials required to get started.

For further information select individual items in the list to go to a brief explanation of what they are and what you require for your chosen class.

It is strongly recommended that you read this before purchasing materials.

If you enrol in a weekly course (as opposed to the weekend workshops) we will discuss in the first lesson what to buy.

There is a great array of art materials available and as in all things, you get what you pay for. Do not buy pastels, paint or brushes from the large chain stores. The materials they stock are generally not suitable for serious painters and should be avoided. Trying to use them will only lead to frustration and disappointment. Go to a reputable art supplier and purchase the best materials you can afford, but don’t be put off art because of the cost of paints. You don’t have to buy everything at once, and some suppliers have a stock of excellent, inexpensive materials.

Artists' Suppliers - this link will give you a list of shops in the Hobart area where you can buy materials. If you tell them what class you are doing, most of them will know what to advise you to buy.

If you have any other questions about these lessons, or the materials you will need, you can
email me at eliza@ followed by tasmanian-gothic.com