Birds of Aotearoa • Watercolour Workshop with Kasia Hebda in Queenstown

Celebrate World Bird Day by painting one of Aotearoa's native birds in watercolour. Kasia can't promise a masterpiece, but you'll leave with a finished artwork you're proud of and a process to repeat.

No previous experience needed.

SATURDAY | 10 OCTOBER | 10 AM - 2 PM | All levels welcome

Join Kasia Hebda, professional artist and art restorer, for a four-hour watercolour workshop in Queenstown celebrating World Bird Day. You'll choose your favourite Aotearoa bird from a curated selection of native species and learn how to bring it to life on paper.

This workshop is ideal for beginners and developing artists who want to better understand how to work with watercolours. You'll learn how to plan a painting so the process is enjoyable, then work through layering and blending, textures, soft feathers and the small details that keep an eye alive. Just as importantly, you'll learn to recognise when a painting is finished.

The focus is on understanding how paintings are constructed, so you can go beyond step-by-step copying, begin to find your own style, and leave with a process you can repeat at home.

What you'll learn:

• Watercolour foundations: water, pigment and paper

• Painting soft feather texture

• Keeping the eye alive

• Colour mixing for natural plumage

• Building form and depth with layers

• Knowing when a painting is finished

Who it's for:

• Beginners wanting a gentle, supported start

• Artists returning to painting after a break

• Intermediate artists seeking structure and feedback

• Bird lovers and nature-focused creatives

Enjoy small-group setting, individual feedback and guidance throughout.

Spaces are limited.

Materials:

All high-quality materials provided. You’re welcome to bring your own tools if you prefer.

Location:
KASIA HEBDA STUDIO – School House Studios (Country Lane)
26 Hansen Road, Frankton, Queenstown

Free parking + great coffee / lunch / shopping options on site.

Let the inspiration find you at work.

Kasia Hebda is a Polish-born artist, designer and art conservator based in Queenstown, New Zealand.

She has over 20 years of painting experience, with a background spanning fine art, design, and conservation practice. Kasia has also created a number of murals in both Poland and Queenstown.

Working from her studio at Country Lane, she is known for her signature watercolour courses and workshops that combine technical skill with close observation and creative development. Strongly inspired by New Zealand nature, it's her constant source of inspiration for her own art.

She is passionate about sharing her knowledge with other creatives. Her teaching focuses on slowing down, building confidence, and developing your own artistic voice rather than following a fixed style.