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Visual Art Classes for Kids & Teens in Newcastle

Welcome to The Hive Art School!

A vibrant community of qualified and experienced practicing artists who are passionate about inspiring children and teens to connect with their inner creativity whilst developing skill and talent in drawing, painting & sculpture.  Our creative art classes for children & teens in Newcastle region are located in Charlestown and offer a variety of age groups and art styles.

Our Programs 

7-16 years

Illustration

An art illustrators class specifically designed for children and teens who are interested in learning to draw in both modern and traditional illustration styles, including Fantasy and Cartoon. The program teaches students drawing and painting techniques whilst also developing basic and fundamental skills that can be applied to all areas of art. Developing and designing a Character is included in our projects, giving students creative freedom to use their imaginations whilst being guided through drawing techniques. Our art classes for children & teens are located at our studio in Charlestown, Newcastle.

The timetable offers availability in illustration classes divided into:
Illustration Jr (7-9 year olds)
Illustration Jr (8-12 year olds)

Illustration Snr (11-16 year olds)

Projects vary for the two age groups, and art projects for each specific term can be viewed below.

View Current Projects

No experience necessary.

Class Location:
All Art classes are held at our studio in Charlestown, Newcastle. 

Class Duration:
1hr

Class Fee:
$28/class ($280/10 week term)
Payment can be made upfront or monthly payment plan.

Makeups:
Illustration students can take advantage of 2 makeup classes per term. Notify your absence no less than 2 hrs before your class (via the Client Portal) to receive a makeup token. Makeups have no expiry, however may only be accessed while you are enrolled.

8-16 Years

Art Club

Refine Skills and Express Yourself! Art Club Classes are the perfect fit for children and teens who are keen to gain more confidence in their abilities and individual self expression, expanding emotional intelligence through creativity. Our program focuses on refining art skills in drawing, sculpture, composition, colour mixing, acrylic painting and more, building greater depth in artworks through multiple layers. Students remain focused on a single project over multiple weeks to extend their skills.

While Art Club does cater to a wide age range of children and teens, the timetable offers availability in art classes divided into:
Art Club Jr (8-12 year olds)
Art Club Snr (11-16 year olds)

Projects vary for the two age groups, and art projects for each specific term can be viewed below.

View Current Projects

No experience necessary.

Class Location:

All Art classes are held at our studio in Charlestown, Newcastle. 

Class Duration:
Art Club Jr: 1hr
Art Clun Snr: 1.5hr

Class Fee:
Art Club Jr: $28/class ($280/10 week term)
Art Club Snr: $33/class ($330/10 week term)
Payment can be made upfront or monthly payment plan.

Makeups:
Art Club students can take advantage of 2 makeup classes per term. Notify your absence no less than 2 hrs before your class (via the Client Portal) to receive a makeup token. Makeups have no expiry, however may only be accessed while you are enrolled.

5-7 years

Art Buzz

The Art Buzz Class meets children right at that inquisitive creative stage of life and takes them further in developing real art skills in drawing, painting and sculpting.

Each term the program focuses on a number of different artist and learning their techniques. This expands students creative intelligence and ideas about ‘what art is’. It also gives them the opportunity to use and experiment with a variety of mediums.
Each class also has a drawing focus to ensure a development of the basic elements and principles of art.  Art projects typically run over 2 weeks per project, enabling children to gain a wide variety of art experience each term.

Projects vary for the two age groups, and art projects for each specific term can be viewed below.

View Current Projects

No experience necessary.

Class Location:
All Art classes are held at our studio in Charlestown, Newcastle. 

Class Duration:
1hr

Class Fee:
$28/class ($280/10 week term)
Payment can be made upfront or monthly payment plan.

Makeups:
Art Buzz students can take advantage of 2 makeup classes per term. Notify your absence no less than 2 hrs before your class (via the Client Portal) to receive a makeup token. Makeups have no expiry, however may only be accessed while you are enrolled.

3-5 Years

Preschool Visual Arts

The Preschool Art Class meets children right at that inquisitive creative stage of life and takes them further in developing early art skills in seeing and creating shapes, textures and patterns, using a range of skills such as drawing, painting and sculpting.

Each term the program focuses on a different artist or storybook illustrator and introduces their style of art to students. This expands students creative intelligence and ideas about ‘what art is’. It also gives them the opportunity to use and experiment with a variety of mediums.  Each class involves children in creating an artwork using a step by step guided teaching session.  Creating artworks in this way inspires children to be even more creative in their free-art play at home or at preschool and gives them real skills to be able to manipulate art materials and create what they imagine.

Class Location:
All Art classes are held at our studio in Charlestown, Newcastle. 

Class Duration:
1 hr

Class Fee:
Term Upfront: $28/week ($280/10 week term)
Multi-Class Discount:
2 preschool classes/week/student/$44
Check out the Preschool Hub CLICK HERE

Unlimited Makeups:
Unlimited makeups for 0-5 yr old classes. Notify your absence no less than 2 hrs before your class (via the Client Portal) to receive a makeup token.
Makeups have no expiry, however may only be accessed while you are enrolled.

10-16 Years

Art Academy

Our Art Academy classes offer select students intensive training in more advanced art skills whilst further extending their creative capabilities. This two hour extension class is perfect for students who want to take their art to the next level. Classes are limited to 8 students for more personalised feedback and detailed instruction.

Each term will focus on a specific theme and students will be exposed to a variety of art making processes and technical skills within that theme. They will complete a sophisticated body of work at the end of each term as well as a visual process diary. The Art Academy class is for children & teens aged 10 to 16.

Enrolments are by application only. Please fill in the form below to express your interest in the Art Academy class.

Experience Necessary.

Class Location:
All Art classes are held at our studio in Charlestown, Newcastle. 

Class Duration:
2 hr

Class Fee:
Art Club Jr: $40/class ($400/10 week term)
Payment can be made upfront or monthly payment plan.

Learn From Industry Professionals! 

Grace Lickley | Bach. Natural History Illustration

Grace is a passionate writer, artist and graduate of a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration...

Grace is a passionate writer, artist and graduate of a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration from the University of Newcastle. Grace specialises in both digital and traditional drawing methods and has a profound love for watercolour. She also works with acrylic, polymer clay and fine liner. She has been recognised by the National Art School in Sydney where she was accepted into their Intensive Studio Program specialising in Life Drawing and has participated in multiple exhibitions.

Grace has extensive experience working with children and has taught at both primary and high school levels. She is incredibly passionate about encouraging kids to discover their creativity and develop their artistic skills.

Hannah Simonovich | Bach. Fine Art

Hannah is a contemporary abstract artist who has been painting for over ten years...

Hannah is a contemporary abstract artist who has been painting for over ten years. She obtained a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Newcastle where she graduated with a double major in painting and photography. 

Since graduating Hannah has dedicated her time to her art making practice where she has been a part of numerous solo and group exhibitions. Hannah has also worked as a freelance photographer, conducted art lessons for primary and pre-school aged children and worked in the Interior Design Industry. 

Predominantly working with oil on canvas, Hannah paints intuitively by drawing on memory of the natural world to create abstract landscapes. She is inspired by the emotive quality of colour and the environment. 

Melody Suranyi | Bach. Visual Communication

Melody is a professional artist and muralist with a passion for teaching and encouraging the next generation...

Melody is a professional artist and muralist with a passion for teaching and encouraging the next generation. After graduating with distinction from Newcastle University with a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design, Melody joined an art studio where she runs her business selling paintings and creating murals. She teaches backed by a wealth of industry experience in both teaching and art making.

Specialising in painting and lino printing, Melody has been involved in many group and solo exhibitions and currently has her work for sale all over Australia. Her murals can be spotted across Newcastle inside local businesses and in public spaces.
Lee Seaman | Dip. Graphic Design

Lee is an Artist and Designer with a Diploma in Graphic Design...

Lee is an Artist and Designer with a Diploma in Graphic Design.

She finds inspiration for her art/design from all facets of life but mostly from the sheer beauty of kids and my fondness for all things that are colourful, fresh and fun. I am beyond passionate in helping the next generation of little humans find their creative spark by providing them the tools to create projects that push their capabilities so they are continually growing and developing.

Lee loves to create art and design that’s accessible for children and brings joy to the art-making process.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ”
Maya Angelou

Current Projects

ILLUSTRATION
JR (7-9 Yrs) JR (8-12 Yrs) SNR (11-16 Yrs)

Term 1, 2024

Students will create their very own book based on the storyline of the iconic fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk. Students will be guided through professional illustration processes that are used within the industry to develop a fully conceptualised character and storyline. Students will enhance their technical skills in cartoon and character design as well as watercolour and fine liner methods.

Character concept sheet.
Students will their own character based on ‘Jack’ from Jack and the Beanstalk. Students will learn the fundamentals of drawing human cartoons that they are able to replicate in different situations with varying facial expressions.

Storyboard.
Students will create a storyboard that outlines each page in their book, exposing them to the professional processes involved in book illustration.
Book.
Students will create their own book complete with a title page and will illustrate the pages using watercolour and fine liner.

ART CLUB
JR (8-12 Yrs) SNR (11-16 Yrs)

Term 1, 2024

Project 1: Koala and watercolour painting.
Students will be exposed to the fundamentals of watercolour painting with a focus on creating depth and texture.

Project 2: Wombat Sculpture
Students will explore texture and shape in the third dimension by creating a wombat sculpture out of paper clay.
Project 3: Mountain Landscape Acrylic

This acrylic painting focuses on paint application techniques and using visible brush strokes to create texture and movement.

Project 4: Polymer Clay Pencil Cup
Students will get to create a funky pencil cup to put all their art materials in at home.

ART BUZZ

Term 1, 2024

Project 1: Mixed Media Toucan Painting
This project introduces students to the basic principles of watercolour whilst also allowing them to experiment with oil pastel, fine liner and collage.

Project 2: Koi Pond Sculpture
This polymer clay sculpture challenges students to look closely at both 2D and 3D shapes and how they can be combined to create a dynamic and interesting artwork.
Project 3: Monet Inspired Watercolour Painting
Students will learn all about the impressionist painter Claud Monet and recreate his famous artwork ‘The Water Lily Pond’.
Project 4: Sloth Acrylic Painting
This acrylic painting introduces students to the fundamentals of acrylic painting as well as using different mark making techniques to create texture and depth.
Project 5: Autumn Watercolour Painting
Students will expand their watercolour painting skills by learning a new technique; wet on dry. This will enable them to achieve a higher level of detail in their painting.

PRESCHOOL VISUAL ARTS

Term 1, 2024

Project 1: Mixed Media Rainbow Fish Painting
This project introduces students to the basic techniques of wet-on-wet watercolour and acrylic painting, in addition to experimenting with different surface materials such as paper and canvas. Students will love working with an extensive colour palette, taking inspiration from the illustrator, Marcus Pfister. 

Project 2: Octopus Sculpture
This polymer clay sculpture works with the basic art elements of shape and colour to create a cute little octopus character.
Project 3: Wombat Stew Playset
Students will create a mini playset inspired by the Australian children’s book, ‘Wombat Stew’. Using their hands, students will work at manipulating polymer clay into various shapes to complete a wombat, bugs and leaves. 
Project 4: Watercolour Caterpillar
Using watercolour, students will mix colours to create a marbled effect and assemble their designs into a character shape inspired by Eric Carle’s, ‘Very Hungry Caterpillar’.
Project 5: Caterpillar Sculpture
Expanding on Eric Carle’s cute charatcer design, students will create a 3D sculpture of the Caterpillar using clay marbling techniques.