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⭐ INCURSION S3: Colour Alchemist Artist

A Meet the Author Artist Art Adventure

Become a Colour Alchemist Artist – Stage 3 Creative Arts Incursion

Introduction

An advanced colour art incursion where Stage 3 students explore blending, mixing, layering and creating expressive colour effects through hands-on artmaking.

Quick Snapshot

  • Stage: Stage 3

  • Duration: 90 minutes

  • Group Size: Up to 30 students

  • Curriculum: Creative Arts + Science/Design

  • Cost: $480 per session (flat fee)

👉 Enquire or Book This Incursion

Incursion Overview

In this hands-on author–artist incursion, students meet a real author-illustrator and step inside the world of character creation, inspired by Where Has All the Colour Gone? from The Curious Adventures of Parker the Dog series. Using a character from the series as a stimulus, students explore how illustrators use shape, expression, and colour to communicate personality and mood.
Students become “Colour Alchemists,” experimenting with a limited watercolour palette to discover how colours can be transformed, layered, and “woken up” to create a wide range of tones, shades, and emotional effects. Through guided demonstration and experimentation, students learn that fewer colours can lead to richer, more expressive artwork.
The session connects visual art with storytelling and basic science concepts, encouraging students to think like both artists and authors as they create a finished character-based artwork informed by colour choice and narrative intention.

This workshop is part of our Primary School Creative Arts Incursions, designed for NSW schools and aligned with the Creative Arts syllabus.

What Students Will Learn in this Advanced Colour Art Incursion

  • Advanced colour mixing and blending techniques

  • Warm, cool, neutral and contrasting colour relationships

  • How colour influences emotion, mood and meaning

  • Techniques such as glazing, gradient blending and texture creation

  • Applying experimental colour techniques to a final artwork

Curriculum Links (NSW)

Creative Arts (Visual Arts)

  • VAS3.1 – Investigates subject matter using expressive forms

  • VAS3.2 – Makes artworks informed by a concept

  • VAS3.3 – Acknowledges artists and their processes

Science / Design Links (Optional)

  • Material properties

  • Observation and experimentation

  • Visual communication

Incursion Outline

  • Explore colour theory basics

  • Investigate warm vs cool colours

  • Guided blending exercises

  • Create expressive colour experiments

  • Develop a final “alchemy-inspired” artwork

  • Share and reflect

What’s Included

  • All painting materials

  • Protective table coverings

  • Facilitator instruction

  • Completed artwork

  • Setup + pack-down

School Requirements

  • Tables and chairs

  • Smartboard or projector

  • Water access

  • Standard classroom or art room

Cost

$480 per 90-minute session
(Up to 30 students)

  • Flat session fee (not per student)
  • One class or combined classes welcome
  • All materials and resources included

Multi-Session Discount:
Schools booking two or more incursions (same day or across multiple days) receive 10% off the second and subsequent sessions.

Location & Availability

  • This advanced colour art incursion is available to schools in North-West Sydney, Blacktown and Parramatta areas, and the Lithgow–Bathurst region.
    If you’re located outside these areas, please get in touch — happy to discuss options where possible.
  • Elaine travels to schools and delivers all incursions on-site during the school day.
    Multiple sessions can be scheduled on the same day, subject to availability.
  • If you’re unsure whether your school location is suitable, please get in touch — Elaine is happy to discuss options.

Meet the Author & Illustrator – Elaine Butler

Elaine Butler is an author, illustrator and arts educator, and the creator of The Curious Adventures of Parker the Dog book series. With over 30 years of experience in arts education, Elaine brings a unique blend of creativity, storytelling and visual arts to every workshop and school incursion.

Her programs offer an engaging, hands-on approach that nurtures imagination, creative confidence and wellbeing. Through her artwork, books and creative wellness philosophy, Elaine inspires students to explore, create and discover their own artistic voice.

Why Work With Elaine?
Elaine brings warmth, creativity and over 30 years of arts education experience to every session. Her incursions offer meaningful, calm and imaginative learning experiences that teachers trust and students remember.

What schools love:

  • ✔️ Over 30 years experience as a visual arts educator

  • ✔️ Engaging, calm and inclusive teaching style

  • ✔️ Strong classroom management and smooth session flow

  • ✔️ Curriculum-aligned content tailored for ES1–Stage 3

  • ✔️ Hands-on activities that boost creativity and student confidence

  • ✔️ Creative wellness woven through each incursion

  • ✔️ No-prep, low-stress incursion experience for teachers

  • ✔️ Professional-quality artwork outcomes students are proud of

  • ✔️ Sessions that support wellbeing, focus & self-expression

Hands-on learning. Real books. Real art. Real collaboration & wellness.

Enquire or Book

If you’d like to discuss availability, session options, or how this incursion can fit into your school program, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

👉 Enquire or book using the online form here
☎️ Or contact us to discuss dates and options

👉 Perfect for Creative Arts programs, Book Week, Literacy Days or whole-school incursion rotations

Prefer a printable overview? Download our Incursions Information here