WORKSHOPS
Daniel’s workshop and coaching work draws from the same contemplative wellspring as the art — the conviction that making, at its deepest, is a practice of attention. He is the founder of Regional Culture Care Australia and Alpine Regional Creatives, a member of Regional Arts Victoria, and an advocate for the role of artists in forming cultures of care in regional communities.
Adult Workshops: Creating from Presence
Adult workshops for groups, teams, and ministries – from a single session to a longer retreat.
Most of us make under pressure: behind schedule, proving something, chasing the right idea. Creating from Presence works differently. Each session moves through a simple rhythm – attune, receive, respond, reflect. Participants slow down, pay close attention to something ordinary (a slow walk, a piece of fruit, a single image), then make something in response. Nothing needs to be finished. There's no critique, only reflection.
Next Workshop: Bright, September 2026
Creating from Presence — Half-Day Workshop
When: 1 October, 12:30pm–4:30pm (approx. 4 hours, including one break)
Where: Bright Art Gallery, 28 Mountbatten Ave, Bright
Price: $120
Places: Limited to 12 participants
Who it's for: anyone who makes things, or wants to. No experience with any particular medium is required.
What's provided: some basic making materials, and tea and coffee during the break.
What to bring: any specific materials you would like to use, and comfortable clothing you don't mind getting a little paint or charcoal on.
REDEMPTIVE POETRY
Pain doesn't heal by being ignored. It heals by being walked through, one of my favourite thoughts is “the way out is through.”
Redemptive Poetry is a four-session pathway that uses the structure of ancient lament to help you do exactly that. Each session moves you through one stage of the journey: naming what hurts, searching for what it means, finding what still holds you up, and seeing what's possible from the other side.
As we move through the sessions you’ll explore and rewrite your story, one section at a time, across four weeks, using a form that's carried people through hard seasons for three thousand years.
By the end, you'll have more than a finished piece of writing. You'll have walked the whole path, on paper, in your own words, and be standing somewhere new because of it.
Next Redemptive Poetry Journey begins 24 August 2026
Intuitive Art for Kids
Creating a space where there is no "wrong" way to make art.
Kids are naturally creative, but they often learn to fear making mistakes as they grow. My Intuitive Art for Kids workshops are all about protecting that innate creative freedom.
These sessions focus entirely on the joy of the process rather than the perfection of the final product. Through guided prompts, playful experimentation, and an environment that celebrates messy exploration, kids learn to trust their instincts and express themselves freely.
When: 30 September, 10:00am–12:00pm
Where: Bright Art Gallery, 28 Mountbatten Ave, Bright
Price: $70
Places: Limited to 12 participants
Ages: 10-15 years
Focus: Building confidence, fine motor skills, and emotional expression through art.
Vibe: Fun, low-pressure, and completely supportive.
Intuitive Art for ADULTS
Intuitive Painting for Adults
Local intuitive artist Daniel A'Vard runs this two-hour workshop for adults who want to switch off and paint without the pressure of getting it "right." No experience needed – just two hours away from the screen, a brush in hand, and no plan to follow.
What is intuitive art?
Unlike a traditional class focused on technique, intuitive art is about the process. Daniel guides you to work from instinct – playing with colour, texture and form, and letting the painting develop as you go rather than planning it out first. Most people who try it are surprised by what they end up with.
Location & arrival
Where: Bright Art Gallery - 28 Mountbatten Avenue, Bright
When: 6:30pm–8:30pm. Please arrive 10 minutes early so we can start on time.
