The Lester Prize: Workshops

ABOUT THE EVENT

Join the 2025 Lester Prize Finalists for a series of engaging visual arts workshops at Boola Bardip. 

We are excited to once again bring you this annual workshop series in 2025. Join a different Lester Prize Finalist each week for a two-hour practical workshop at WA Museum Boola Bardip. All materials are included in the ticket price. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, these hands-on sessions will inspire you to explore new mediums and creative methods.

Thurs 2 Oct  5:00pm – 7:00pm (Learning Studio 1)

Join Anne McCaughey - the artist behind "She didn't see it coming" - in an upcoming workshop.

Anne will teach you how to take photos from different angles and viewpoints using lighting, then generate two finished drawings in charcoal and chalk

Anne McCaughey (b. 1961, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) specialised in Fine Art Illustration, then worked in London, creating illustrations for Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She followed true love to Australia in 2000 and has lived in Fremantle since 2004. 

Anne has paintings in private collections worldwide, and is represented in the collections of HRH King Charles III, the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, and U2.  Her work is in the public collections of the Northern Bank, Ulster Bank, BBC1, the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Royal Victoria Hospital, Sussex University, CBC Fremantle, and John Curtin College of the Arts. She is the recipient of many prestigious art awards, both as a winner and a finalist.             

Sat 11 Oct  11:00am – 1:00pm (Learning Studio 1) 

Join Ross Potter - the artist behind "Cost of living" - in an upcoming workshop to explore the techniques and inspiration behind his work.

Ross Potter (b.1981, Brisbane, Queensland) is a Kamilaroi man and professional artist living in Walyalup/Fremantle.

Working with pencil and paper he produces detailed, often large-scale representations of his subjects. Magnifying features, Ross brings the abstractions of reality to our attention, while telling stories of everyday life. 

Ross is known for his life-sized drawing of Tricia the elephant, created live at the Fremantle Arts Centre's exhibition Animaze 2018. Ross’s work has also been presented in numerous exhibitions and featured in Fremantle Biennale and Boola Bardip WA Museum.  Ross has works in numerous collections, and has undertaken many residencies including Cossack, Margaret River and Herhùsid, Iceland. Winner of the  Inland Art Prize – Leonora, WA, 2019

Thursday 16 Oct  5:00pm – 7:00pm (Learning Studio 1) 

Join Lester Prize finalist Melissa Clements - the artist behind "Yoshio Honjo against Vermillion" - in an upcoming workshop guiding you through the one of the techniques used by the old Masters.

Verdaccio is an underpainting technique that sits beneath the layers of many Renaissance artworks. It was used in the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel and oil paintings of the Madonna and Christ. By mixing black, white, and yellow ochre, the artist creates a green monochrome underpainting. Onto this, they glaze layers of flesh tones, allowing the portrait to glow with vibrant colour and translucency.

Melissa has developed her own verdaccio technique, layering a green oil-based underpainting over a swiftly painted acrylic base. In this workshop Melissa will walk you through the historical background of verdaccio in the context of the Italian Renaissance, guiding you through the process of creating the preliminary layers required to make a lifelike portrait. 

Thursday 30 Oct  5:00pm – 7:00pm (Learning Studio 1)

Join Sarah McBride - the artist behind "Reflection" - in an upcoming workshop.

In this workshop participants will learn how to complete an underpainting for a portrait en brunaille.

A Brunaille is a term used for a painting executed entirely or primarily in shades of brown, a technique coined in the 17th century at the time of Vandyke.

This technique is not only a great way to build up tonal values in a monochromatic underpainting, but it also aids the layered-approach painting process to create luminosity in your portraits.

Sarah McBride (B. 1966, Rustington, UK) is a practising artist based in Perth with a BA in Visual Art. She is primarily a portrait artist who focuses on challenging social norms through her artworks and is Chair of the WA Portrait Artists.

Sarah has been a finalist in national art prizes such as the Doug Moran, Shirley Hannan, and Collie Art Prize, and has contributed to various group exhibitions including Southwest Art Now, the 24th Japan International Art Exchange Exhibition, and the WA Portrait Artists Exhibition. Sarah’s solo exhibition, Restoration, was held at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery.      

Saturday 8 Nov  11:00am – 1:00pm (Learning Studio 3) 

Join Jessica Logan - the artist behind "Half time" - in an upcoming workshop to explore the techniques and inspiration behind her work.

Jessica Logan (b. 1985, Subiaco, Western Australia) is an artist that strives for realism and bold colour. Her creative journey began at age seven, when she first realised the expressive potential of drawing beyond stick figures and the written word. Largely self-taught, Jessica balances her thriving executive career in leadership and cultural transformation with a deep passion for visual storytelling. Her work captures raw emotion and human complexity, often exploring both animal and human portraiture. Now focused on championing emerging artists, Jessica is working toward hosting collaborative gallery shows that spark dialogue, challenge perception, and celebrate the beauty of the everyday. Awards include: Finalist, 2021 Vasse Art Award; Finalist, 2021 South Perth Emerging Artist Award; and Highly Commended, 2022 South Perth Emerging Artists Award.

Thursday 13 Nov 5:00pm – 7:00pm (Learning Studio 1)

Join Dr. Chelinay Gates - the artist behind "Wednesday" - in an upcoming workshop.

We’ve all done a portrait that’s sad and tired. It’s probably at home facing the wall or hidden under your bed… dust it off and bring it to Chelinay's workshop.

Let’s give your work the master’s touch by introducing colour, light, life and joy into your work. Come with courage and enthusiasm. Detachment is the key.

In full consultation Chelinay will guide you with suggestions to reconstruct or recompose the work and add feeling if need be, she will demonstrate colour mixing and will make piles of colour that you can dip into. She will also explore mark making, extending your pallet choice and emotive intent.

Dr. Chelinay Gates aka Malardy Mulardy (b.1959, Australia) is an Indigenous (Karajarri/Kurdish) artist, author, poet, playwright, director, and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dedicated to community justice, she’s worked with Burnam Burnam, Ken Colbung, Sir Ronald Wilson may they rest in peace. 

Prolific from 1982-2001, her work is displayed in collections at the National Portrait Gallery, and The Supreme Court, WA Bar Association. Also, Bob Geldof Art UK, The  Guy Grey-Smith Collection , UWA, Alan Bond, St Hilda’s, Janet Holmes a Court, Guildford Grammar, Perth College, The Perth Mint, Jardine , Kenyan Choir, hospitals -  King Edward, Sir Charles Gairdner, Perth Children’s, Moora, St John of God, Shires Harvey, Vincent, Margaret River, Albany, Gallipoli, Curry. 

Known for her light-filled, impressionist works, Chelinay has won numerous art prizes and was awarded “Female Artist of the Year” in Australia in 1990.