SHORT COURSES
BSA offers a selection of short courses ranging from six to twelve weeks, on a diverse range of visual arts subjects and mediums, with experienced teachers who are nationally-recognised practicing artists.
The BSA Year of Painting is designed for students to develop their practice using a variety of approaches. Dale Rhodes will lead Fundamentals of Painting in Term 1and Still Life in Term 2. James Guppy will teach Portraiture in Term 3 and in Term 4, we will have Caleb Reid leading Abstract Painting. Please stay tuned for further details.
Our BSA Year of Ceramics will held again on Tuesdays, 10am – 3pm. In Term 1 Stephen Bird will lead Hand Building Ceramic Forms. Stephen will also lead Clay as a Canvas in Term 2. In Term 3 Antoinette O’Brien will lead The Figure in Clay and Term 4 will be confirmed in the upcoming weeks.
These series of short courses spread over the year are designed to offer a more immersive, continuous course to develop and improve your painting or sculpting skills.
All classes are held at 112 Dalley Street, MULLUMBIMBY unless otherwise noted.
Please note that enrolments for these courses will open once we return to work on 27 January, 2026
For more information email shortcourses@byronschoolofart.com or phone 0487 362 141
DALE RHODES | FUNDAMENTALS OF PAINTING
This seven-week course teaches the foundational skills needed to paint portraits, still lifes, landscapes, and more. Students learn basic paint handling along with the essentials of tone, colour, form, depth, and brushwork, using Dale’s simple approach for both quick studies and complex paintings. MORE INFO
Dates | 7 Mondays, 10.00am - 2.30pm, 16 February - 30 March 2026
Course Fee | $730 ($715 Earlybird - pay by 9 February)
DALE RHODES | FUNDAMENTALS OF PAINTING (SATURDAYS)
This six-week course teaches the foundational skills needed to paint portraits, still lifes, landscapes, and more. Students learn basic paint handling along with the essentials of tone, colour, form, depth, and brushwork, using Dale’s simple approach for both quick studies and complex paintings. MORE INFO
Dates | 6 Saturdays, 10.00am - 2.30pm, 21 February - 28 March 2026
Course Fee | $630 ($615 Earlybird - pay by 17 February)
MICHAEL CUSACK | PAINTING USING MIXED MEDIA
During this six-week course students will explore painting processes including drawing into painting with a particular focus on mixed media and experimentation. MORE INFO
Dates | 6 Tuesdays, 10am - 2.30pm, 24 February - 31 March 2026
Course Fee | $630 ($615 Earlybird pay by 10 February)
CALEB REID | EXPLORING THE FIGURE: EXPRESSIVE PAINTING WITH A LIFE MODEL
Over this six-week evening course, Caleb will guide students through ways of translating the human figure into paint, using shape, tone, texture, and colour to create works that move beyond straightforward representation. MORE INFO
Dates | 6 Tuesdays, 5.30 - 8pm, 24 February - 31 March 2026
Course Fee | $395 ($380 Earlybird pay by 12 February)
AMBER WALLIS | EXPAND YOUR PRACTICE
Join Amber for a six-week course designed to help students deepen and extend their art practice. Through one-on-one mentoring, technical skill-building, and group discussions, students will explore new ways of working and gain insight into their creative direction. MORE INFO
Dates | 6 Fridays, 10am - 2.30pm, 20 February - 27 March 2026
Course Fee | $630 ($610 Earlybird pay by 10 February)
STEPHEN BIRD | HAND BUILDING CERAMIC FORMS
Kickstart 2026 with a five-week hand-built ceramics adventure led by Stephen Bird, learning from his inventive approach and extensive experience as an artist and educator. Students will explore clay preparation, maquettes, scaling up, and a range of hand-building techniques including slabs, coils, and mold making to create complex, innovative forms. The course also encourages experimentation with slips, stains, metal oxides, underglazes, glazing methods, and drawing techniques to develop a unique body of work. Emphasis is placed on creative risk-taking, self-discovery, and safe, effective studio practice throughout. MORE INFO
Dates | 5 Tuesdays, 10am - 3pm, 3 March - 31 March 2026
Course Fee | $575 ($560 Earlybird pay by 24 February)
INDIVIDUAL ONLINE OR IN-PERSON MENTORING
In a series of four weekly one-hour sessions either via Zoom or in-person, students will be guided through a discussion on their art practice and their approach to art making. Mentoring will be designed to suit individual needs and discussions may focus on topics such as motivation, idea generation, techniques, approach to materials, research, writing artist statements and professional practice. All BSA Directors/teachers and teachers are available depending on their schedule. MORE INFO
Artwork - Emma Walker