Artist creating pastel artwork at Pastel Society of Victoria event.

We conduct regular Workshops throughout the year

Our demonstrators & tutors are international, interstate and local artists who are experts in their chosen medium. Workshops usually run over 1, 2 or 3 days and are a wonderful way to improve your skills and well worth the investment of your time.

How to Book

For most workshops, this is a 2-Step process.

STEP 1. Fill out the relevant workshop Registration Form & remember to click on the Submit button for your registration to go through.

STEP 2. Pay online for the relevant workshop by selecting either the ‘Member’ or Non-member’ option from the drop-down box. Then click on the ‘Add to cart’ button for that workshop and go through the secure payment process.

Places will only be held once fees are paid.

Workshop Payments & Refund Policy

When enrolling in a PSVA Workshop we require full payment. Please note that $50.00 of the Workshop fee is non-refundable. The balance of the fee will be refunded if you cancel at least 7 days prior to the Workshop, but only if your place is filled.

When enrolling in a PSVA Paint Away Retreat, see the Information Brochure for the Payments information and Refund Policy

The Workshop Coordinator, in consultation with the President and/or Treasurer, has the discretion to alter the above policy should extenuating circumstances apply.

To enquire about available places or further information, contact our Workshop Coordinator

Workshops & Paint Away|Retreats : Kerrie Carter via email at workshop@vicpastel.com.au

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

John Withers Scholarship Program | Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia

Unlocking the Mysteries of Pastel 2026

with Lyn Mellady & Linda Finch

2-Day Workshop

8 & 9 August 2026

Tutors

Lyn Mellady PSVA, awarded Master Pastelist status in 2024, is an accomplished Australian artist with over four decades of experience exhibiting in Oils and Pastels. Her evocative landscapes, especially waves and shorelines, have earned her national acclaim, including representation in five city government collections across Australia and Japan, and even Parliament House in Canberra. Lyn brings a deep understanding of the pastel medium and a passion for expressive, nature-inspired art.

Linda Finch PSVA combines a strong design background with a warm and accessible teaching style. A former Studio Manager in one of Melbourne’s top design studios, she now devotes her creativity to pastel painting and teaching. Linda is a Master Pastelist with the PSVA, a Fellow of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AGRAF) and has been a PSVA committee member for over 10 years. Her goal is to help artists feel confident and creative, no matter their skill level.

Venue

Ferntree Gully Community Arts Centre, 1010 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully VIC 3156

About this Workshop

In 2022, John Withers and the Withers family generously pledged a perpetual donation to the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia (PSVA), with a heartfelt vision: to support and nurture emerging artists. Today, we are proud to see that vision come to life through the John Withers Scholarship Program.

We warmly invite all pastel artists—whether starting out or emerging —to join us for this inspiring workshop, alongside the four talented recipients of the 2026 John Withers Scholarship Program.

This hands-on Workshop offers a unique opportunity to deepen your skills and expand your creativity in the luminous medium of soft pastel. Paint alongside our expert Tutors (both awarded PSVA Master Pastellist status) as they guide you through essential techniques and topics, including the history of pastels, colour theory, pastel types and surfaces, mark making, underpainting, and more.

Spots are limited, so be sure to book early and secure your place on this exciting artistic journey.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Pastel 2026 | Information Brochure

Unlocking the Mysteries of Pastel 2026 | Registration Form

Online Payment

Choose the relevant payment option below from the drop-down box, before clicking on the ‘Add to cart’ button

Three water lily watercolour paintings from The Pastel Society of Victoria.

The Secret Life of Waterlilies

with Stephie Clark

2-Day Workshop

12 & 13 September 2026

Tutors

We are delighted to welcome Stephie Clark back to present this exciting workshop.

Stephie is a soft pastel–obsessed artist from Australia who works primarily from her country studio in Armidale, NSW. She divides her time between painting in the studio and teaching workshops throughout Australia and internationally, including France and the United States.

Stephie is best known for her free-flowing paintings of florals and fruit. Her expressive style is uninhibited by rules and boundaries, allowing her to capture the beauty, colour, and energy of the natural world. Inspired by nature and its ever-changing palette, her work is both vibrant and joyful.

Her paintings have been featured in Pratique des Arts, a leading French art magazine, and she recently demonstrated at the prestigious International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico—one of the world’s premier pastel events.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from an inspiring artist whose enthusiasm, creativity, and generous teaching style make her workshops both enjoyable and rewarding.

Venue

Ferntree Gully Community Arts Centre, 1010 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully VIC 3156

About this Workshop

Over two days we’ll explore how to create expressive waterlily paintings full of light, atmosphere and beautiful colour. We’ll simplify the landscape into strong shapes and values before building layers of colour to create luminous water, reflections and floating blooms.

We’ll cover: