Student work and testimonials
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...Thea is a wise teacher with an exceptional eye who is super generous with her knowledge. An accomplished artist. Tirelessly pushing you to your full potential without creating a sameness amongst us. This all in a beautiful, spacious quiet environment. And if you are lucky enough, you can hear the zoo monkeys gossiping. - Ros HamburgerKaplan, current student
Gallery of students' artwork - drawing and paintings (click arrows to scroll, click on image to see full artwork):
“I first met Thea in 1997. A mutual friend had gifted me with a few introductory classes as a birthday celebration. What an inception it has come to be. At that time at least half a dozen of us would set up for the afternoon in a contained room reserved for Thea’s teaching. Her classes and following, and indeed her own internationally reputed work, has since grown to necessitate the building of a truly inspiring studio. I would call it a sanctuary. There, a steady flow of usual suspects takes refuge in their talent, every week, under Thea’s gently disciplined tutelage.
I have, now admitting to Thea, attended a few other art classes. I have taken a desperately needed break on a painting holiday. Perhaps it becomes a relationship and an earned trust that I do believe Thea is the only instructor that is least interested in creating protégés. Very quickly, she gets the measure of every student’s creative being and medium. Mine is charcoal. Perhaps there is a coal miner in my past. Whatever your novice reservations, or your career ambitions, Thea will quickly calibrate to your needs as her personal undertaking.
Thea really does have the measure of me. Yet never for granted. Though not self-deprecative, I am not easily praised. Privately, I have an eye always for a better way. Always the disruptive joker, I take my drawing earnestly, with equal concentration and joy. When I think of what Thea has drawn out of me over the past few decades, I take a quiet moment to appreciate who I am and what might still be within me. Everyone has a talent. Thea is the catalyst you don’t realise you have until you begin to astound even yourself.” - Chris Primos, current student
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I started art class with Thea in February 2001 - nervous and apprehensive, with the sum total of my art tuition being a few evenings at a rec centre in 1997. I have been with her since. I am currently working on a series towards my first exhibition.
Saturday afternoon art class became my sacred space. Then last year, as a result of becoming semi-retired, I was able to add another day or two during the week, which made an enormous difference to the pace and confidence of my work.
Thea has supported my choice of scale and difficulty and crazily poor reference images throughout. Her feedback is always considered, honest, kind and generous. I have learnt so much from her - about looking, experiencing, seeing, capturing an essence, MEASURING, looking for the light. And about myself. I will always be grateful to her." - Gail Walters, current student
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"The time spent in Thea’s class is delightful, although demanding and challenging.
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Thea’s dedication and that of the other artists in the studio produces a high quality of work and a very stimulating environment.
The help and support received enables boundaries to be pushed in whatever the artist’s style and medium. Therefore each artist produces different work and viewing their struggles gives one incentive to persevere with one’s own work, always knowing that Thea will encourage and help to achieve the best result." - Neal Giles, current student
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"...Thea seems to have an understanding of the human psyche which she utilizes in the way she teaches. She has given me ENORMOUS confidence to try new techniques, but above all to find MY style, MY way in art. Consequently, the comments and criticisms that people have on my work, are that I have reached another level... - Anna Jenkins, current student
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