Contemporary Painting: Ideas into Practice

Join artist Kim Spooner for a week-long painting course that draws inspiration from two major exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW – Dangerously Modern and Janet Dawson: Far Away, So Close. These exhibitions highlight the work of pioneering women artists who created art during times of upheaval, often working against marginalisation and isolation.

The course begins with Kim leading an exhibition tour and discussion to spark new perspectives on the contemporary relevance of these artists’ practices. Back in the NAS studio, students will workshop their own concepts, developing artworks that express their chosen themes.

Through instructed studio practice, students will explore how personal experiences—both everyday and profound—connect to broader cultural shifts in our rapidly changing world. While the course is centred on painting, students are encouraged to let their ideas unfold in a variety of forms, such as artist books, drawings, collage, and mixed-media works.

The course combines demonstrations, group discussions, and one-on-one guidance. Students may work with a wide range of materials including acrylic or oil paints, mediums, inks, pastels, watercolours, collage and mixed media; and learn techniques such as colour mixing and layering to achieve depth, intensity, and emotional resonance.

With an emphasis on individual expression, Kim supports each student in developing their unique aesthetic voice, while building confidence in both technical skills, the development of ideas and creative exploration.

* NAS Short Courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students from ages 15 years and over. 

*Drawing and painting short courses may be held in upstairs studios. If access to stairs is not suitable, please contact us at short.courses@nas.edu.au 

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below. 

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

• Notebook and/or sketchbook
• Drawing paper and media such as pencils, charcoal, compressed charcoal for studies
• Oil or acrylic paints, bring whatever you have available and normally use
• Consider buying appropriate mediums for acrylic or oil paints. These can also be purchased on campus at Parkers
• Odourless solvent (500ml) and solvent for cleaning up (500ml – 1 litre) if using oil paints
• NAS does not allow the use of turpentine (turps)
• Brushes, square and round bristle – bring an assortment of sizes and whatever you have
• Select and bring the surfaces and sizes you wish to work on. This may include prepared paper, stretched canvas, canvas boards etc
• Rubber gloves
• Optional: watercolours, pastels, inks, collage and mixed media materials
• The teacher will advise on any other materials as the course progresses. Art materials can be purchased at  Parkers Art Supplies on campus at NAS.

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.

Kim Spooner’s artwork incorporates a deep knowledge of art-making techniques, literature, and cultural narratives; with expertise in traditional methods such as egg tempera and encaustic painting. Her paintings and drawings—ranging from intimate to grand in scale—weave together diverse subjects to create a collective narrative and spark social dialogue. She is also an award-winning portraitist with portrait paintings and drawings held in the National Portrait Gallery and regional galleries throughout Australia. She is an inspirational teacher who is skilled at communicating ideas and responding to the individual needs of students and artists. She has completed a number of artist’s residencies, including at the prestigious Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, in 2009. Kim has won major Art Prizes and Awards, is a regular exhibitor at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and is represented by Nanda Hobbs Contemporary Gallery, Sydney.