Classrooms transformed into studios for Winter School

Artists from around Australia converged on USQ last week for the 21st annual McGregor Winter School.

126 students took part in 11 visual and creative arts classes from watercolour and oils to engraving and etching and digital photography.

Acclaimed Australian sculptor Carl Merten tutored a class in Sand Casting Bronze Sculpture.

'One process which is the most popular with students is to do a Styrofoam pattern,' Mr Merten said.

'You carve out the Styrofoam, and the best thing about using it is you can recycle it and use an old broccoli box or packing materials or whatever is around.

'You then ram sand around it and the sand has binder grains that hold together as if you have put glue in there. So it all sticks together.

'Then you make a hole in the sand and pour the metal over the Styrofoam which disappears and becomes bronze.

'It's an alchemical reaction. We heat up the bronze in the crucible to 1150 degrees Celsius so it's molten and you end up with a sculpture. You then just clean it up and polish it.'

Student Jake den Otter travelled from Bellbird Park and said he really enjoyed learning new processes in Mr Merten's class.

'It's been really good. I'm learning a process I've always been intrigued by. I'm a metals man but I've never done casting.

'I really liked the first method and the fact you can re-use things is a good idea. This piece didn't start as anything and it's has ended up as a chicken.

'It's a learning process. This is my first McGregor School. It's a big learning curve.

'We've been doing things that haven't always turned out but you discuss what went wrong and learn from it. You never make a mistake, you just create something else.'

Lexie Antonio from Milmerran took part in the Beginners Watercolour class with Ron Hindmarsh.

'I've been to a Summer School, I did illustrating books.

'I just do it as a hobby, for fun. I've got a young family so it's a break for me.

'We've learned basic drawing techniques – perspective and getting distances and how the watercolours move on the paper. It's been awesome, really good.'

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559