Hello from the faces behind The Village Art Classes.
We’re the ones that will guide you along your art journey with a gentle lead and a brush in hand, helping you develop your skills with a little practice and a lot of fun along the way.
Lorraine Elliot
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Living in Auckland, Lorraine has had an interest in the arts for as long as she can remember. After graduating as a Registered Nurse with a strong focus on the healing arts, her passion for art continued to develop throughout her career. So, when the opportunity arose to take on an art class franchise, she took it.
Under the banner of Seasons Art Class-Howick, Lorraine’s first classes launched in 2020, immediately prior to the first Covid lockdown. The next two years were decorated with lockdowns and suspended classes, but eventually, restrictions eased and her students were welcomed back. Lorraine quickly saw first-hand the wonderful benefits of her art classes, and committed herself to introducing basic art skills to people of all abilities.
When the Seasons Art Class-Howick franchise shut down at the end of 2022, Lorraine picked up the reigns and chose to carry on as an independent business. And so, The Village Art Classes were born.
Sonja Vivian
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Sonja is the talented tutor behind The Village Art Classes, and has been a hugely influential part of the team right from the beginning. She has long had a passion for art, winning many competitions even as a child.
Sonja graduated from a specialised art school in Austria and went on to work in Graphic Design and Illustration in Vienna. After marrying a Kiwi, she later moved to New Zealand where she ran a graphic design business in Auckland for over 10 years.
Her particular passion lies in portrait oil painting, though she is skilled in all mediums and works both as a practising and teaching artist.
Sonja has a way with the brush that leaves no doubt as to her talent. Our students love her gentle and encouraging manner, and she has been an incredible asset to The Village since 2021.
Kavita Lamba
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Kavita is an accomplished watercolourist who is the recipient of awards from New Zealand Fellowship of Artists. However, it doesn’t stop there. She has pursued many different art forms and has become expert in alcohol inks.
Kavita has been passing on her knowledge in this beautiful art form for several years now and has taken lessons for The Village Art Classes, in Howick and Mt Eden.
Her method of teaching is clear and gentle. She has taught many people, some of whom have never attempted any art form before. The results after one four-hour lesson are quite astonishing.
If you want to keep updated on future lesson in Alcohol inks, follow our facebook page, or keep an eye on our website.
Kavita’s work can be seen here: https://www.instagram.com/art_kavitanz?igsh=Y25xY3hhYnp3MXNw
Fiona Brown
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Fiona Brown is the manager at Mt Eden, Parnell and Remuera branches. She has always loved art - in school, she could often be found in the art room where they were welcome to create. Now, she’s thrilled to be back in the art world.
‘Losing and finding herself’ in art is one of her favourite parts of the process, as well as the moment when you create something you’re excited about and realise you can do it. Fiona is thrilled to be able to share that process and that journey with her students through her art classes in Remuera, Mt Eden and Parnell.
After two years of working for Seasons Art Classes, Fiona is very excited to be joining the Village Art group, where age is no barrier.
Logan Moffat
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Logan Moffat is an artist based in Tamaki Makaurau, working out of his studio near One Tree Hill. After graduating from Elam School of Fine Arts with a BFA Honours in 2018, Logan has dedicated himself to the pursuit of art. Over the years, he has showcased his work in solo and group exhibitions across New Zealand and China.
In 2018, his painting titled “Elam” received the New Zealand Adam Portraiture award. Since then, he has continued to explore portraiture, drawing inspiration from everyday life experiences and interactions.
While his primary medium is oil on canvas, Logan also experiments with various artistic materials including watercolours, acrylics, wood, and even sculptural elements.
In August 2022, Logan embarked on a rewarding journey as a tutor with Seasons Art Class. Now, he is excited to continue sharing his knowledge and passion as a tutor for The Village Art Class, where he hopes to encourage creativity and guide individuals in their artistic pursuits.
Reem Taleb
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Reem began her teaching career after graduating from the prestigious Damascus University School of Fine Arts in 1994 with a major in oil painting. Passionate about nurturing creativity and artistic skills in others, she has previously run art courses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. She loves creating an atmosphere where students feel motivated to experiment with different techniques and mediums, fostering a deep appreciation for the artistic process and developing their technical expertise.
As an artist, Reem has a special focus on both mixed media and portraiture. She loves bringing her subjects to life, conveying their emotions, personalities, and stories in a captivating manner. She was honoured to have some of her portraiture work chosen for the Sharjah Biennial Fair in 2007 and 2008 alongside some of her still life paintings.
Prior to moving to New Zealand in 2013, Reem and a team of other talented artists designed a stunning model featuring Abu Dhabi in the pre-oil era. The model has since become a source of pride for the Abu Dhabi people, and has won several prizes and appreciation certificates for its exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. To this day, the model is still displayed in the Grand Hall of Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation.
Our Story
Based in Howick, with classes also in Kohimarama, Mt Eden and Remuera, our classes have been operating since 2020. Over the last few years, we’ve had hundreds of aspiring artists through our doors, many of which completed our Beginner course and came back for more.
Our classes are about providing a supportive, nurturing environment where beginners and artists alike can show up to class, develop their skills, and switch off from their daily routines to enjoy some time for themselves.
What our students are saying
“I loved the way the tutor related to everyone in the class, explaining everything so well and encouraging us. All in all, a wonderful experience.”
“The class was really well organized.
I loved the course material and the ability to use the techniques we learned in our final piece.”
“The art classes were very enjoyable, I really loved our tutor. I learned heaps, and it also makes me want to keep learning more!”
Simply take your seat, take a breath, and pick up the brush.
Whether you want to explore sketching, painting, watercolours, acrylics or oil pastels, we have the class for you. We’ll provide all the equipment, so you can come along, sit back, and create.
