Through hands-on making, experimentation and the learning of new techniques, students develop artistic skills alongside patience, problem solving and confidence. The studio values process over perfection and supports every young artist as they discover their own creative voice.
Our teaching approach is grounded in a choice-based art studio model and is built around three essential foundations that support meaningful creative learning:
Alice is the owner and director of Monarchs Art Studio in Hawthorn. She is a dedicated painter, realism artist and advocate for art education, with a strong belief in the importance of nurturing creativity from an early age. Alice holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and an Advanced Diploma of Early Childhood Education, and brings over 15 years of experience working with students across a range of learning environments, including as a Visual Arts Specialist in Victorian primary schools.
At the heart of her practice is a deep belief that every child is an artist. She is deeply committed to fostering confidence, curiosity and joy through creative practice. She values learning environments where students feel supported to take risks, experiment freely and follow their own ideas. At Monarchs Art Studio, Alice intentionally creates space for hands-on exploration, creative mess making and skill development, allowing students to build both artistic techniques and self-belief through the process of art making.
Alice is currently completing her Diploma of Visual Arts at the La Trobe College of Art and Design in Collingwood, where she continues to expand her own creative practice. This ongoing learning informs the way she teaches and allows her to share contemporary techniques and approaches with her students.
At Monarchs Art Studio, art is not treated as a one-size-fits-all activity, but as a personal and evolving practice. Every student enters the studio with their own ideas, pace, and way of seeing the world, and our role is to guide, extend, and honour that. Our studio is built on a balance of artistic foundations and creative freedom. Students are supported to develop real skills in drawing, painting, and mixed media while also being given the space to explore, experiment, and take creative risks.
The focus is not on producing identical outcomes, but on building confidence, capability, and a genuine connection to the creative process. Monarchs is a calm, structured, and inspiring studio environment. Students are guided through a process of planning, creating, and reflecting, allowing their work to develop with depth and meaning over time and of course a great place to make new friends!
