Another Super Jo Ogier Art Workshop
On the weekend of 8-9 November 25, Jo Ogier came down from Christchurch to tutor another workshop here in the Community Nursery Education Centre.
Always eagerly awaited, the workshop’s participants came into the room armed with pencils, paints, paper and enthusiasm. Chris gave a quick introduction to the “place” and a bit of Community Nursery background to newcomers and then Jo was straight into it. The room had been set up the day before with everything needed for “Lino Printing” including the small Nursery Press and a new Press Jo had brought down as well as various cutting tools, paper, paints and other materials. We were also lucky to have some taxidermy native birds from DOC to study very close up. The Rances wetland provided inspiration to some who used the landscape views and plants as themes.
Then the hush descended and people got into the exercises that Jo had developed to get the process started. It all looks very concentrated and intense as peoples ideas formulated and then the cutting commenced and everyone is in their own world until snapped out of it by another Jo tutorial, another tip, another handy hint which makes the whole process come alive. Then to the inking and the use of the presses – a procession of works inked up then revealed with eager anticipation, like a photographers negative. Then layer on layer, colour on colour and by day two some beautiful works were emerging.
It is always amazing to me how different everyones work is and how the whole process comes together at the end in some very beautiful artworks. There is a whole selection of photos below to illustrate this. And a group photo of all the participants. Its all very full on, “its not a holiday” said one participant. Another said it was great for not thinking about anything else all weekend and feeling very relaxed, once it was over!
Thanks again Jo for sharing your time, your skills, your “secrets”, your patience and your enthusiasm.
Jo has again been very generous in donating a print from her Mataura series for us to raffle proceeds to the Community Nursery. See the karearea print below. Tickets are $5 each and you can pay at the Nursery (cash) or on internet banking – Sthld Community Nursery, bank account number 03-1355-0645582-00
The raffle will be drawn on the closing day of the Nursery on Friday 19 December 2025.
Chris
Posted: 14 November 2025