2012   

Feb 11      Jan Larsen - Yuppo - techniques
                              Jan’s Uncle Wilfred Garnet Gates was an artist specializing in water colour painting and when 
                              she was a small child he gave her the ends of his water colour tubes which she cut open and used.            
                              Her subject matter was painting fairies wearing skates and some landscapes from her imagination.                                           she entered paintings in the Parramatta Children’s’ Art show and the Legacy Children’s Art Shows  
                              where she was awarded prizes, mostly books. Later a great uncle Jack Murphy, a school teacher, 
                              gave her a Windsor and Newton tin of water colour paints which she still uses, of course the pans      
                              have been refilled.
                              Jan attended Strathfield Girls High School (1951-1955) where her art teacher encouraged her 
                              in her art studies. After school she went to East Sydney Technical College, The National Art School                                             (1956-1959) and studied Design specialising in Interior Design and worked in the field for many 
                              years doing domestic and commercial projects.
                              Then she studied at The Royal Academy of Fine Art in The School of Architecture, Foreign 
                              Students department.
                              In 1975 Jan went to Nigeria in West Africa for her husband’s work where she spent some time 
                              with a group of Aqwete Weavers learning their traditional weaving process. she attended 
                              The International Art Symposium at Nsuka University. Whilst in Nigeria she spent a lot of time
                              seeking out the art and textiles of the country.
                              Jan returned to Australia in 1982 and after two years she moved to Canberra where she studied  
                              to become an Architectural Technician.
                              In 1989, Jan opened her Design office in Sutherland. During this period she attended watercolour  
                              workshops with Jenny McNaughton.
                              Although Design is a creative process and requires a lot of drawing and presentation work, 
                              Jan now feels free to paint in many different mediums and splash out with colour and texture.          
                              She likes palette knife painting in oils and still love water colours.

                  Further demos for the year to be announced.      

July 14th   Critique day Bring along those paintings you feel you need some help with or simply                               come along and show them off. Or come along simply to see and learn from other 
                      people's sessions. An enjoyable and educational day for all.