Feathered Friends - Australian Birds in Acrylic
with Hayley Kruger
13-16 April 2027
2 days tuition | Acrylic | Australian Birds | All levels
colourful two-day acrylic painting retreat with Hayley Kruger, exploring Australian birds through observation, colour, composition, expressive brushwork and the character that makes each bird unique.
Residential retreat at Greenhills Art Centre, Western Australian Wheatbelt
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2 Days Tuition
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Acrylic Painting
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Australian Birds
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All Levels Welcome
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Residential Retreat
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Maximum 12 Participants
Feathered Friends - Australian Birds in Acrylic
Spend two immersive days painting the colour, personality and beauty of Australian birds with Hayley Kruger.
Birds provide wonderful painting subjects — full of distinctive shapes, colour combinations, movement and individual character.
Hayley will guide you through the process of developing an acrylic bird painting from the early stages of composition and drawing through to colour, layering, texture and finishing details.
Rather than feeling that every feather needs to be individually described, you’ll explore ways of simplifying what you see and identifying the shapes, colours and marks that really bring your subject to life.
Through demonstrations and individual guidance, Hayley will help you build confidence with acrylics while developing a painting that remains fresh, expressive and recognisably your own.
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During the Retreat You’ll Explore
Understanding Your Bird
Look closely at shape, proportion, posture and the features that give an individual bird its character.
Composition
Explore placement, cropping, surrounding elements and negative space to create a strong overall design.
Colour
Develop greater confidence choosing, mixing and adjusting colours while maintaining harmony throughout the painting.
Light & Form
Use value, colour and temperature to create shape, dimension and a sense of light.
Feathers & Texture
Explore ways of suggesting feathers and texture without feeling the need to paint every individual detail.
Expressive Brushwork
Experiment with different marks and brushstrokes to bring energy and life to your painting.
Simplifying Detail
Learn to decide which areas need attention and which can remain loose, suggested or understated.
Developing Your Own Response
Hayley will encourage you to interpret your subject rather than simply reproduce a photograph.
Your Retreat Schedule
Tuesday 13 April
Arrive at Greenhills from 4pm, settle into your room and meet Hayley and your fellow participants before dinner.
Wednesday 14 April
Australian Birds — Day One
A full day of tuition, demonstrations and individual guidance with Hayley.
Thursday 15 April
Australian Birds — Day Two
Continue developing your painting with Hayley’s guidance, exploring colour, texture, detail and ways of bringing your bird to life.
Friday 16 April
Breakfast followed by departure.
Or stay on and join Hayley’s Australian Florals Retreat beginning later that day.
Want to Keep Painting?
Stay for Hayley’s Australian Florals Retreat
Hayley will also be teaching Flora in Focus — Australian Florals in Acrylic immediately following Feathered Friends.
Stay at Greenhills for the complete experience and enjoy:
6 nights at Greenhills
4 days tuition with Hayley
2 days Australian Birds
2 days Australian Florals
A relaxed studio day between workshops
All meals and accommodation
13–19 April 2027
Participants staying for both retreats can enjoy Friday as a slower day — continue working independently in the studio, explore Greenhills or York, or simply relax before the Australian Florals retreat begins.
VIEW THE AUSTRALIAN FLORALS RETREAT
About Hayley Kruger
Hayley Kruger is a Western Australian artist and experienced tutor whose work celebrates the colour and beauty of the natural world.
Her acrylic paintings include both Australian birds and native flora, making these subjects a natural focus for her Greenhills retreats.
Hayley’s teaching is practical, encouraging and designed to help participants build confidence with acrylic paint while developing a stronger understanding of colour, composition and the painting process.
Through demonstrations and individual guidance, she encourages painters to observe closely, simplify where necessary and find an approach that feels natural to them.
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Follow Hayley
Keep up with Hayley's work, workshops and painting practice:
Facebook | Instagram | Website
The Greenhills Experience -More than a workshop
A retreat at Greenhills is designed to give you something difficult to find in everyday life — uninterrupted time to paint.
Your stay includes comfortable private accommodation in our historic homestead, all meals, morning and afternoon tea, two full days tuition with Hayley and access to our large dedicated art studio.
With no daily travel, cooking or household distractions, your time can revolve around painting, learning, sharing meals and enjoying the company of a small group of fellow artists.
The surrounding Wheatbelt landscape, gardens and quiet country atmosphere provide the perfect setting for a retreat inspired by nature.
Your retreat includes:
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3 nights private accommodation at Greenhills Art Centre
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2 full days tuition with Hayley Krüger
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Breakfast, lunch and dinner
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Morning and afternoon tea
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Studio access throughout your stay
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Welcome dinner on arrival
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All linen and towels
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A maximum of 12 participants
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Airport transfers where applicable
Who should attend?
This retreat is suitable for painters of all experience levels.
You do not need previous experience painting birds.
Hayley’s teaching allows participants to work at a level appropriate to their own experience while exploring new ways of approaching acrylic painting.
The retreat will particularly suit artists who would like to:
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develop confidence using acrylics
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explore Australian birds as a painting subject
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improve colour mixing and composition
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simplify complex detail
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develop more expressive brushwork
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learn how to suggest feathers and texture
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enjoy two uninterrupted days of painting.
Materials
This retreat will be taught in acrylic.
Participants will receive a complete materials list before the retreat, including Hayley’s recommended colours, brushes and painting surface.
You are welcome to bring acrylic paints and brushes you already enjoy using.
Your retreat
$1,260 per person — private room
Price includes GST.
Your retreat includes two full days tuition with Hayley, three nights private accommodation at Greenhills, all meals, studio access and the full residential retreat experience.
Payment plans available
Prefer to spread the cost? Monthly payment options are available. Contact us for details.
Coming with a friend?
Save 10% each when sharing one of our limited twin rooms.
Independent Stay option
For participants staying nearby or travelling in their own caravan/motorhome, a limited number of non-residential places may be available.
Contact us for availability and pricing.
Spend Two Days Painting Australian Birds with Hayley
Two days of tuition.
A small group.
No everyday distractions.
Just painting, conversation, good food and the opportunity to explore Australian birds through colour, shape and acrylic paint.
13-16 April 2027
Places are limited.
Stay for Both Hayley Kruger Retreats
Why choose just one?
Combine Feathered Friends — Australian Birds with Flora in Focus — Australian Florals and spend six nights immersed in painting at Greenhills.
13–19 April 2027
4 days tuition plus one free day in the studio in between workshops.
Australian Birds + Australian Flora
6 nights accommodation
All meals
$2,720 per person
Price includes GST.
Feathered Friends — Australian Birds in Acrylic
with Hayley Kruger
13-16 April 2027
Which option would you like to book?
Feathered Friends — Australian Birds — 13–16 April
Flora in Focus — Australian Florals — 16–19 April
Both Hayley Kruger Retreats — 13–19 April
Book Your Greenhills Retreat
Complete the form below and we'll send your deposit invoice to secure your place.