How Great Thou Art

24/12/2025

18/12/2025

Yesterday I wandered through the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane and stood quietly inside the world of Pat Hoffie. I snapped a few photos not the best angles a little wonky but sometimes art isn’t about the perfect shot. It’s about the feeling that lingers after you walk away.

Hoffie’s large scale works feel both gentle and unsettling at the same time. Layers of pattern symbolism memory and humanity are woven together like a visual conversation about who we are and how we live in this world. The scale pulls you in but it’s the subtle details that keep you standing there longer than you planned.

Beyond Hoffie, the gallery offered so much richness. Different voices, styles, and stories sitting side by side. Some works felt bold and confronting, others gentle and reflective. Together they reminded me how art holds many ways of seeing and being in the world.

Grateful for spaces like this that invite curiosity, reflection, and inspiration. ition reminded me why galleries matter. They slow us down. They invite reflection. They ask us to sit with complexity rather than rush past it.

Sharing these imperfect photos anyway because art doesn’t need polish to be powerful. Sometimes it just needs to be felt.

14/12/2025

🎨✨ Our Final Adult Art Class of the Year ✨🎨

What a beautiful way to end the year. Our last adult art class was filled with creativity, reflection, and a real sense of community. It’s been such a joy watching confidence grow, skills develop, and friendships form through art this year.

We’re excited to share that we’ll be back in 2026 with two class options — Mondays and Thursdays — giving even more opportunities to make time for creativity. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this year so special.

We can’t wait to create with you again in 2026.

Book here: https://www.howgreatthouart.biz/event-list

08/12/2025

And just like that… our final art workshop for the year is complete!

Our Ink Christmas Card workshop with the wonderful Eileen McMahon was such a lovely way to close out the season. The colours danced, the creativity flowed, and the room was filled with laughter, connection, and quiet moments of artistic magic.

We are so proud of every person who joined us this year, whether it was your first time picking up a brush, or your fiftieth. You showed up, created, and added your spark to our growing community of makers.

🖼️ Thank you for being part of How Great Thou Art in 2025. We can’t wait to dream up new workshops and artful adventures for the new year!

📬 Keep an eye out , our 2026 calendar will launch soon!

Wishing you all a peaceful and joy-filled Christmas season. 🌟

03/12/2025

Exploring Winter Art with Caspar David Friedrich

This Monday, our adult art class stepped into the quiet beauty of winter as we created textured snowscapes on MDF board using paint and salt. It was a wonderful opportunity to explore how simple materials can create depth, sparkle, and atmosphere, turning a flat surface into a peaceful snowy landscape.

We also learned about Caspar David Friedrich, one of the most influential Romantic artists of the nineteenth century. His winter scenes are calm, reflective, and filled with gentle light. Friedrich often used soft colour transitions, misty horizons, and minimal detail to express emotion through landscape. His work teaches us that winter is not just cold; it is quiet, spiritual, and full of mood.

Inspired by his approach, we experimented with soft colour palettes, layered snowy textures, and atmospheric effects to bring our own landscapes to life. The combination of paint and salt created beautiful subtle patterns and highlights, helping us understand how texture can enhance feeling in an artwork.

What a peaceful and inspiring way to begin the week.

03/12/2025

Come join us on Saturday!

Join our Christmas Card Workshop and learn to create stunning holiday cards using vibrant ink techniques with the talented Eileen McMahon!

30/11/2025

Only a few days before our Ink Christmas Card event – do you have your spot?! 🎨

Don’t miss this joyful, festive workshop with the fabulous Eileen McMahon, where you’ll learn to create stunning Christmas cards using the magic of ink! Whether you're a seasoned artist or a total beginner, this workshop is all about having fun, trying something new, and walking away with beautiful handmade cards to gift or display.

📅 This Saturday!
🕙 10am–12pm
📍 How Great Thou Art Studio, North Mackay
💲 $40 – All materials included
🎟️ Very limited spots left! Book here: https://www.howgreatthouart.biz/event-details/christmas-cards

Let the colours flow and your creativity shine – it’s the perfect way to kick off your Christmas season!

29/11/2025

🎄 Nutcracker Creations That Stole the Show! 🖌️✨

What a festive time we had at our Nutcracker Painting Workshop! From classic to quirky, each piece was bursting with personality and holiday charm. It was a joy to see artists of all ages bring their nutcracker to life with colour, sparkle, and flair. 💂‍♂️

🎁 But the Christmas magic isn’t over yet...
Next Saturday at 10am, join us for something extra special,our Ink Art Christmas Card Workshop with the talented Eileen McMahon! Learn to use the vibrant beauty of alcohol ink to create one-of-a-kind cards that will dazzle your loved ones this festive season. 🎨💌

🖋️ No experience needed, just a love of creativity and the Christmas spirit! Only a few spots left, don't miss your chance to join us!

Book here: https://www.howgreatthouart.biz/event-details/christmas-cards

27/11/2025

Do you know what Neo Expressionism is?

It is an art movement that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, known for its bold colours, emotional intensity, and raw, energetic mark-making. Neo Expressionist artworks often feel spontaneous and full of feeling, with artists using exaggerated forms, textured surfaces, and dramatic contrasts to communicate mood rather than perfect realism.

This powerful style embraces imperfection and celebrates individuality, which makes it such a great inspiration for creative workshops like our Reindeer Glow session. Using soft pastels in blue, purple, and pink, we leaned into expressive colour and atmosphere to give our reindeer a magical, illuminated presence. Each artwork had its own personality and emotional tone, capturing the heart of the season in a beautifully creative way.

What a wonderful workshop filled with colour, warmth, and festive creativity. 🦌✨🎄

23/11/2025

Wreaths Galore!

It’s been a wreath-filled week here at How Great Thou Art! Our beginner art class painted the most charming wreaths, each one full of personality and festive cheer. Then on Saturday, our creative crew brought the season to life during the Country Charm Wreath Workshop, crafting their own rustic wreaths with flair. Every single one was stunning!

Next up, we’re bringing the holiday joy to paper with our Christmas Card-Making Workshop hosted by the talented Eileen McMahon. She’ll guide you in using ink to create dazzling handmade cards to share with loved ones.

Join us and let your creativity shine this Christmas season!

Book here: https://www.howgreatthouart.biz/event-details/christmas-cards