The popular Free Community Nights by Te Atamira are now in Wānaka too! Join us each month for a free, drop-in night, on the fourth Tuesday of the month, to explore diverse creative forms like singing, drawing, dancing, writing, sewing, and more.

All levels and ages welcome – no experience needed. Come along and have fun with us!

Next event: Community Draw | Faces and Figures — a drawing workshop with Laura Varns

Tuesday 24 November, 6.30pm – 8pm, Wānaka Community Hub

In this session, participants will explore the basics of portrait and figure drawing. We’ll look at simple ways to understand facial structure, body proportions and posture, then put these ideas into practice with a series of short drawings. We’ll also explore light and dark, and how using tone can bring a drawing to life. We’ll finish with a relaxed longer drawing where you can bring everything you’ve learned together in your own style. No previous experience is needed, just bring your enthusiasm!

About Laura Varns

Laura Varns is a mixed media artist living in Lake Hawea but originally from the UK. Laura studied art at school and dabbled in portraits for many years after that. When lockdown hit in 2020 Laura decided to use the time to pick up a pencil again and build a portrait career. Her strongest skills have always been with graphite and charcoal portraits but she also loves colour so continues to develop colour theory.

“In portraits I love hyperrealism, picking up details that even a camera wouldn’t capture. And totally encapsulating that person. I love the idea that you can feel someones personality through a drawing”, says Laura.