The Art of Seeing
with Judy Drew
16-20 June 2027
3 days tuition | Charcoal & Soft Pastel | Figurative & Still Life | All levels
A three-day immersive retreat with acclaimed Australian artist Judy Drew, exploring observation, character, colour, composition and the art of seeing beyond the obvious.
Residential retreat at Greenhills Art Centre, Western Australian Wheatbelt
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3 Days Tuition
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Charcoal & Soft Pastel
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Figurative & Still Life
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All Levels Welcome
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Maximum 12 Participants
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Residential Retreat
The Art of Seeing
This three-day retreat is an invitation to slow down, look more closely and develop a deeper understanding of what you see.
Working in charcoal and soft pastel, Judy Drew will guide participants through portraiture, the figure and still life, with particular attention to light, tone, colour, composition, character and atmosphere.
Across the three days, Judy will encourage you to move beyond simply reproducing your subject and instead learn to observe, interpret and respond.
Through demonstrations, discussion and individual guidance, you’ll explore both traditional drawing foundations and more expressive approaches to mark-making, colour and surface.
The emphasis throughout the retreat is not on creating a photographic likeness, but on developing stronger observation, greater confidence and a more individual visual response.
Day One
Creating a Character Charcoal Study with a Male Model
The workshop focuses on tonal portraiture and figurative drawing, using careful observation of light, shade and proportion to capture the character and likeness of the male model. Academic drawing principles provide foundation, while charcoal encourages experimentation and expressive mark making. Students will explore lost and found areas, using erasers, a cloth and their hands to soften, remove and manipulate charcoal, creating depth, atmosphere and a stronger sense of character.
Day Two
Still Life with Coloured Pastel on Textured Black Paper
A strong still life relies on shape, colour and composition. The workshop explores how artists of the past challenged tradition and found new direction in their work. We will consider how early Japanese prints introduced new ways of seeing - through cropped compositions, flattened areas of colour, strong shapes, pattern and unusual viewpoints - and how these ideas encouraged those artists to move beyond traditional academic approaches to representation. The aim is not to simply reproduce what we see but to understand, interpret and respond to it to create strength and individuality to the work.
Day Three
Working with a Female Life Model in Coloured Pastel
This workshop focuses not only achieving a likeness, but on creating a work with emotion, movement and presence. Judy’s approach demonstrates how the medium can be both immediate and sophisticated, using layered colour, texture and the surface of the paper to create luminosity and atmosphere. Judy places considerable emphasis on learning how to see rather than becoming dependent on photographic reference. Students will be encouraged to find their own visual language.
Look Closely. Feel Deeply. Be Prepared to Take a Risk.
At the heart of Judy Drew’s art and teaching is a simple but powerful idea:
look closely, feel deeply and be prepared to take a risk.
This retreat is about developing the confidence to trust what you see, what you feel and how you choose to interpret it.
Your Retreat Schedule
Wednesday 16 June
Arrive at Greenhills from 4pm, settle into your room and meet Judy and your fellow participants before dinner.
Thursday 17 June
Day One — Character Charcoal Study with a Male Model
Friday 18 June
Day Two — Still Life in Coloured Pastel
Saturday 19 June
Day Three — Female Life Model in Coloured Pastel
Sunday 20 June
Breakfast followed by departure.
About Judy Drew
Judy Drew is an established Australian artist whose distinctive body of work is characterised by a deep understanding of colour, light, composition and the human figure.
Her paintings encompass pastel and charcoal, with Judy particularly recognised for richly textured pastel paintings and sensitive figurative and still-life work.
Her approach combines strong observational skills with expressive colour, mark-making and an intuitive response to her subject.
As a teacher, Judy encourages artists to look beyond surface appearance and develop a greater awareness of shape, tone, colour, character and atmosphere.
Her workshops are thoughtful, supportive and highly individual, giving participants the opportunity to strengthen both their technical skills and their personal way of seeing.
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 make art.
Your stay includes comfortable private accommodation in our historic homestead, all meals, morning and afternoon tea, three full days of tuition with Judy and access to our large dedicated art studio.
With no daily travel, cooking or household distractions, your time can simply revolve around drawing, painting, learning, sharing meals and enjoying the company of a small group of fellow artists.
Evenings offer time to continue working in the studio, talk about art or simply relax and enjoy the quiet Wheatbelt surroundings.
Your retreat includes:
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4 nights private accommodation at Greenhills Art Centre
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3 full days tuition with Judy Drew
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Life models during the figurative sessions
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Breakfast, lunch and dinner
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Morning and afternoon tea
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Studio access during 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 artists of all experience levels.
You do not need to be an experienced portrait, figurative or pastel artist.
Judy’s teaching is highly observational and individual, allowing participants to work at a level appropriate to their own experience.
The retreat will particularly suit artists who would like to:
- develop stronger observational skills
- gain confidence working from life
- explore charcoal and soft pastel
- improve their understanding of tone, colour and composition
- work more expressively and intuitively
- move beyond dependence on photographic reference
- explore portraiture, the figure and still life within one retreat
- develop a more personal way of interpreting what they see
Materials
Participants will work in both charcoal and soft pastel during the retreat.
Judy has provided a materials list covering all three days, including drawing paper, compressed and willow charcoal, erasers, textured pastel paper, flesh-toned hard pastels and a range of soft coloured pastels.
A complete materials list will be sent to participants before the retreat.
Your retreat includes
$1980 per person — private room
Price includes GST
Your retreat includes private accommodation, all meals, three full days tuition with Judy, life-model sessions and studio access throughout your stay.
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 Three Days Learning to See Differently with Judy Drew
Three days of tuition.
A small group.
Two life-model sessions.
Charcoal, pastel, still life and the figure.
No everyday distractions.
Just time to look closely, experiment, make art and learn from one of Australia’s most respected figurative and pastel artists.
16–20 June 2027
Places are limited to 12 participants.
Book Your Greenhills Retreat
Complete the form below and we'll send your deposit invoice to secure your place.