"By the end of the day I feel good that I have achieved what I have achieved, and by the end of the painting I just feel like the best feeling ever. It takes me to a place where I don’t have to worry about anything - I am in that zone, my dogs are snoring behind me, and sometimes it's the only place I want to be - it's great, really great!"
Tanya
Melbourne
Paint & Create Community - Student
"I feel like I am growing in more ways than just my painting, I am growing more creatively as well. I have always criticised myself, and now I am not putting pressure on myself to get it perfect." "I am growing more because it is not just about a painting journey for me, it's about communicating with others - it's a well-being journey" I am now purchasing a special bike, this is a massive thing for me, because people in wheelchairs don’t get out to go bike riding. All of this painting has helped me want to connect with nature more and my mind has relaxed more, it has been a huge step for me and opened a lot of doors." - Kylie
Kylie
Melbourne
Paint & Create Community - Student
"Painting here has been so good for my mental health. I looked on the internet and found Heather’s classes, I found her paintings interesting and fascinating. I have come through a terrible time a few years ago with a lot of pressure on me. So now I really enjoy the painting, It's so relaxing driving up to the mountains and the painting also gets my mind off my very busy work week."
Yen Yen
Melbourne
Paint & Create Community - Student
"Joining the class and learning to paint has been very relaxing and makes you feel as if you are a capable person! It makes you feel like: “I can do this”! It's very good for you actually. I always thought it was too late, but it's never too late. I have had a lot of creative friends and never thought I was as creative as my friends, I have never painted, but its been great! It is just so exciting when something comes to life, and it looks like its meant to look!”
Kaye
Melbourne
Paint & Create Community - Student
"I was at a stage in my life where I was looking for ways to make myself feel better. Painting has now changed my life around, it really has". "I ended up doing meditation and one of the things that I was encouraged to do was to follow impulses. I was doing some black and white drawings at the time and getting bored with that and wanted to add some colour. I was driving up the hills and saw a sign saying ‘learn to paint’, so I drove up the road and came into the gallery and I haven't left here since! I love explaining the benefits to others, it has changed my life around, it really has". "When I am actually painting I go somewhere else in my mind, the paint brushes are tools and I feel comfortable and easy in the space. When I paint I get relief, it's more than just being peaceful, it stops the momentum for me and helps me go forward". "I think it might be obvious that I have a lot of joy about painting now, so it's not hard to have a converstion about how good this place is! At work and down the street I always steer the conversation to what people do on the weekend, so I can tell them I paint, and encourage others to come and be part of the environment too! I explain the benefits it has had for me, it has changed my life around, it really has". "So many people say they can't draw, but 100% you can. You are going to surprise yourself anyway with what you can do. It's not so much what comes out on the canvas, it's what's happening to that person, it's the feeling, the improvement, the directions and the joy you get that's amazing"!
Andy
Croydon
Paint & Create Community - Student
"I never thought I could paint birds and now that I have been to classes I have painted my fairy wren, with all of Heather's encouragement. It became possible. You get amazed that you can create what you actually love!"
Leigh
Mooroolbark
Paint & Create Community - Student
Absolutely amazed at what I have achieved in the time we had!
Group class
Kalorama
Paint & Create Community - Student
"My connection with Heather's classes was profound at a time when grief at the loss of my daughter was consuming me. It gave me some joy being creative and I was able to immerse myself in something to quiet my mind."