Private Art Class in Annerley: One-on-One Lessons with Katie McErlean

On a quiet stretch of King Street in Annerley, just south of downtown Brisbane, a small home studio opens its door to young makers. The Private Art Class at Annerley Studio, 92 King Street Annerley, Brisbane, 4013, offers one-on-one instruction with artist Katie McErlean. Designed for students aged 12 and up, the hour-long sessions center on painting, watercolour, sketching and clay, and are tailored to each learner’s goals—from first marks to school folio pieces.

This is not a crowded workshop but a focused studio visit. Katie sets a patient pace: demonstrations at the bench, individual feedback as students tackle composition, colour mixing and surface texture. The space itself matters. Natural light from north-facing windows and a small courtyard garden create calm conditions for observing tone and colour; surfaces hold the traces of past classes—drying glazes, cropped sketches and painted trial swatches that reveal a process-focused teaching style.

What makes this offering stand out in Brisbane’s broader arts scene is its adaptability. Whether a teen wants to develop a realistic drawing for a folio, loose watercolour studies of local plants, or hand-built clay forms, the lesson plan responds. Sessions emphasize technique and confidence-building in equal measure: targeted exercises, scaffolded critique and practical tips for continuing practice between visits. Materials are often used from the studio collection, but students are encouraged to bring preferred tools or reference images.

Practical details matter. Classes run on Mondays (afternoon sessions) and are private, one-on-one appointments that let instructors correct posture, brush angle and hand positioning—small adjustments that yield big improvements. The neighborhood has a handful of cafes and quiet streets for pre-class warmups; King Street murals and local shopfronts provide visual fodder for reference sketches.

For families seeking constructive arts enrichment, this Private Art Class bridges structured instruction and creative freedom. It’s a quiet alternative to group lessons: concentrated feedback, measurable progress and a tailored path toward goals such as portfolios or personal projects. Katie McErlean’s approach is both encouraging and exacting, helping students learn the craft while discovering what they want to say with paint or clay.

Bookings are best made in advance to secure the preferred afternoon slot. The studio’s one-on-one format makes it a practical choice for focused skill-building, and for teens who respond best to individualized attention, this session can serve as a turning point in confidence and technique.

Expect a relaxed pace: bring a simple sketchbook, pencils and any favourite reference photos. Sessions can target observational drawing, colour mixing exercises, or clay hand-building sequences; progress is recorded in a personal sketchbook or digital photo log so students and families can review improvements. The studio supports low-waste practices and encourages reuse of materials to keep sessions affordable and sustainable and accessible.