WOW - The Jo Ogier Workshops
We had such an awesome weekend at the Jo Ogier workshops!
Over two days, 25 people learned to draw and paint plants, bugs and butterflies in the relaxed atmosphere of the Education Centre. Jo is a master artist and printmaker and she makes it all look so easy but has a relaxed and engaging teaching style that captivated participants – when she demonstrated by drawing it was an absolute pleasure to watch. Jesse said “I would have paid just to watch Jo draw!”
Jo is no stranger to Southland, being the “artist in residence” with Invercargill’s William Hodges Fellowship in 2000. At that time she was studying for her Masters in Fine Art culminating in an exhibition on New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery. Brian had the pleasure of accompanying Jo on one of her subantarctic trips and that was when we met and became friends. Since that time Jo has exhibited her artwork widely in New Zealand and internationally. Jo and other Christchurch botanical artists are exhibiting some of their works soon at the Eastern Southland Gallery in Gore.
Jo primarily works on conservation and nature subjects and she said the Education Centre location for the workshop, with its bush backdrop and singing bellbirds, was perfect.
I think everyone who came went away happy with what they had achieved and was inspired to do more.
Some Comments from participants:
“From the moment I arrived until the time I went home I was captured by Jo’s passion for botanical drawing. I have never learned so much in one day as I did with Jo and she has inspired me to pick up pen and paper and draw. I can’t thank Chris and the Community Nursery and Jo Ogier enough for a weekend well spent” - Bronwyn
“This workshop was fantastic – a perfect blend of technical skills and unbridled enthusiasm for plants. Jo is clearly a very accomplished artist but also a deft teacher, able to guide workshop participants in their efforts. “Inspirational!” - Jesse
“Nobody even wanted to stop for coffee!” – Linda
“It was amazing to see an artist of Jo’s calibre at work. I thoroughly enjoyed the time to really look and the guidance that enabled me to take my drawing to the next level” Hannah
Posted: 23 February 2015