Upcoming Workshops

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"Low Light - Unlocked"
March 14th-15th, 2026
Esk, QLD
$360
suitable for all skill levels
numbers strictly limited to 14

In this workshop we’re going to use the warm to cool principle to understand light, bring depth to your foreground and shadows, and learn how to turn an apparently simple image into something sophisticated and beautiful.

It’s easy to assume that low light situations diminish colour and contrast.  But, there’s often a wonderful mood and ambience that can be created when you understand the mechanics of low light.  In this class you will learn how to add colour and interest to your shadows (an often neglected aspect of paintings), which will give them more life.

We’re also going to look at atmospheric perspective, and investigate a simple concept to create the illusion of depth in your landscape paintings.  We will investigate the power of using monochromatic schemes in the background, with more colour and light in the foreground, and see how these apparent contradictions work together.

We will also look at the principle of warm to cool, and give ourselves the tools to extrapolate that out into all of our paintings, giving them more life and depth than you can ever imagine.  This may solve problems you don’t even know you have!

We’re going to look at adding simple compositional elements to a painting, and how that can move the viewer’s eye around the painting, and at the same time solve potential compositional problems, and add interest.

And, as always, we will also be focussing on brush technique as a foundational skill.

As the previous workshop formats have been so popular, you will come to this workshop with the background already blocked in (based on a video tutorial we will provide well in advance), allowing us more time during the workshop to talk about the concepts and reinforce the information.  

Our workshop environment is fun and stress-free, and open to all skill levels.

For the materials list and flyer, click here.

To book, make your (non-refundable) $80 deposit via this link.

See you in Esk!

Discovery, Inspiration and Technique
August 8-15, 2026
Daku Resort, Savusavu, Fiji

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL - if booked and paid by Feb 8 2026:

REAR BURE Standard room - Twin Share AU $2780

Early bird: $1800

REAR BURE Standard room, Single AU $3250

Early bird: $2600

Travelling with a non painting partner, sharing a rear bure: AU$1730 for your partner ($2780 for you)

Early bird: $1575 for your partner

FRONT BURE: Twin Share Room , AU $3200 

Early bird: $2280

FRONT BURE: Single Room , AU $3650

Early bird: $3480 

Travelling with a non painting partner, sharing an ocean view bure: AU$2040 for your partner ($3200 for you)

Early bird: $1990 for your partner

If you'd like to take advantage of this early bird special, contact Delia through Paradise Courses here. 

Join our workshops mailing list so you can be first with the info!

For news of upcoming workshops in your local area, check here!

To check out past workshops, click here.

For exclusive info ONLY about Mark's upcoming workshops, you can...

****2025 and ongoing WORKSHOPS***

Mark's Health:

As you may know, Mark was hospitalised with a brain tumour on the 19th May 2016 the day after his solo exhibition "Time & Space" in Fremantle WA closed, and the day before a series of sell-out workshops were due to commence in the South-West of WA.  

Surgery to remove the tumour occurred on the 23rd May, 2016.  Mark received results from pathology indicating his melanoma (from 2013) had reappeared in the form of a brain tumour. They also discovered 2 tumours on his lungs.  His treatment required an ongoing mix of immunotherapy, drug therapy and radiotherapy; as well as regular scans and assessment.

Due to the ongoing treatment and rehabilitation Mark required, his workshops and classes for 2017,  2018 and 2019 were structured slightly differently; to allow him to rest when required.  Managing a group of diverse people, teaching and painting at the same time, is extremely challenging - and we will continue to take it slowly with workshops planned for 2020 and beyond.  We want to make you aware if you have attended a workshop with Mark in the past, it will now be a slightly different experience.  In saying all that we are committed to providing you with a quality learning experience packed with information to improve your painting process, and will do our utmost to deliver this.

Mark commenced radiotherapy treatment in early 2018 and his subsequent scans have come back with all tumours inactive.  However, he received immunotherapy treatment until October 2018, and this treatment does have side effects.  He had a bronchoscopy in January 2019 as a subsequent scan showed some irregularities in his right lung.  The results of this showed inflammation in the lung due to the immunotherapy treatment.

However, as at January 2019, Mark is so happy to share that there is no evidence of cancer in his body.  We want to thank you all so much for your continued love and support.  It means so, so much to not only Mark, but all of us close to him.  Due to this news, Mark is keen to get back into workshops!

We will continue to monitor his energy levels before planning  future workshops.  If you are subscribed to our workshops mailing list, you will be the first to know of any upcoming workshop events in the planning.

We thank you for your patience and ongoing support :)

For exclusive info ONLY about Mark's upcoming workshops, you can...

If you would like us to organise a workshop in your local area,

please contact us.

This is not as difficult as you might think, as Mark is willing to travel pretty much anywhere, and is always up for a new adventure, pending health. If you can get a group of friends together who are interested in having Mark as a workshop tutor, please don't hesitate to contact us!

For all past workshops -- notes, experiences, videos and more, click here.  This is the place to visit if you are considering a workshop but don't know what to expect.

For all the latest updates on upcoming workshops, as well as great tips, techniques to take the pain out of your paintings, and subscriber only deals, subscribe to our monthly ezine Acrylics Anonymous!

All our valued subscribers receive many fantastic things, including access to our

3-pack of DOWNLOADABLE DVD Tutorials for only AUD$80.00!  

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Thanks heaps!  Hope to see you at a workshop soon.

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