Courses For Veterans
Thinking Hand Studios is a small family business with an emphasis on a friendly and encouraging work space as well as individual treatment to cater for individual interests.
We are pleased to offer wide range of exciting courses specifically for Veterans and groups of veterans in a range of different areas and catering for different goals.
Different goals for different people
Whether you are interested in mastering a skill for a new creative profession in something like jewellery or gilding or would just like a regular fun, creative activity and to socialize with a like-minded supportive group, we create an environment to cater for all.
Make what you want to make
Not everyone wants to make the same thing. Often people don’t know what they want to make. We always like to discuss your project first and we can help you choose something if you aren’t sure, there is no shortage of options.
No creative experience required!
One of the most common phrases we hear is “I don’t have a creative bone in my body.” Don’t let this stop you! Let us guide you and you will be surprised at the results, even with your very first project. We break the process down into small achievable steps and guide you every step of the way.
How to Attend
Any veteran who is participating in a rehabilitation program could enquire with their Rehabilitation Provider about support for psychosocial activities such as these. Thinking Hand Studios can connect you to someone to discuss this if desired.
What are the course options?
Currently our courses are within these areas, with more on the way. These categories allow for many project options which depend on the length of time you are able to attend.
- Sculpture
- Jewellery making
- Gilding
- Woodwork
- French Polishing
- T-shirt artwork
Below is a guide for getting started with some available course options. Have a browse and see what you think!
Sculpture: Getting Started
Choosing a Project
If you are doing a four week project choose something small (roughly 18cm high) that can fit on a small stand or a relief sculpture based on a photo. These are just some examples but if there is something you would prefer, don’t hesitate to let us know
A small animal head portrait, family member head portrait, male or female torso, small relief sculpture
If you are doing a 3 month project you can take on something larger, more involved and detailed. Your project can then be scanned, 3d printed at difference sizes and you may want to even get a miniature brass keyring made of your sculpture
Larger animal head portrait, family member head portrait, male or female torso, full animal sculpture, male or female figure sculpture
Wax Jewellery Making
Getting started
All of these designs were originally wax, now they are solid silver or gold! Anything you create in wax can be cast in metal. You can carve and sculpt your own designs from scratch or even copy objects such as leaves or coral, to create your designs. It is also the perfect means to replicate and sell your work!
Wax can be carved, sculpted and welded in different ways to create different textures. Any shape is possible!! And If you carve too much off, just weld a blob back on and try again.
We will guide you project by project starting off simple, then moving into your area of interest.
Like all skills, the more you practice, the better you get. Our studio is fully equipped with all the sculpting gear you could need including a high power microscope with video camera, reference models & carving too.
T-Shirt Artwork
Getting started
Learn how to plan and create a drawings on T-shirts using fabric markers
An extremely fun course for everyone! Create your own clothing designs and learn some essential drawing techniques along the way!
A great way to develop and refine drawing skills and how to build up colour in a controlled way.
First we plan your design my drawing it on paper. Next we lightly sketch it on the fabric. Then we apply our colour bit by bit.
This is perfect as a 4-5 week course allowing time to get comfortable with the process and create several designs.
Blank white clothing must be supplied by participants. Blank white T-shirts are very cheap and readily available from kmart.
Our Studio
We have several workspaces in our Burleigh Heads Studio packed with interesting things to see and do. Each space caters for a different activity and we are fully equipped with all the equipment necessary to make your projects.
SOME WORDS FROM ATTENDING VETERANS
Both Jenny and I have really enjoyed our time and the experience taking part in the veteran activity of sculpting.
Under the guidance of Damien we felt at home very quickly. We quickly realized we didn’t have to have any creative abilities to produce something very personal and at the same time very beautiful. Damien guided us through the process helping us at each stage teaching us different skills and techniques to produce the finished product.
The space was excellent great for general conversation and also for producing your work of art.
Can highly recommend the experience!
I found the sessions to be very relaxing and therapeutic. I found it to be a very mindful practice which helped with community engagement. I was unsure at the start if I had the skills to complete a sculpture. However, Damian from Thinking Hands was patient and an excellent teacher. I was proud of the sculpture I produced. Thank you for the opportunity to take part in the sculpting lessons, I hope other veterans have an opportunity to participate in the future.
Great workshop, the owner Damien and family were very engaging and friendly. Guided the sculpting without taking over.
I found this to be very therapeutic. I think I left 2 hours later than I had intended to!
The sound of a round almost striking you isn’t as great as the one hitting your opponent. Dreams are greatness of sunsets and bare breasted women, and then come the nightmares of rounds not missing, not missing me. They hurt. Sure, we get ballistics that given the right scenario, stop led protruding the organs we need to survive. The very ones we are trained and taught a strike. Enemy is the generation of suits in air-conditioned offices, surrounded in maps and places they have never been. I am the pawn.
Coming back to what we believe is home, has some and mirrors.
Pips normally tell you what is real and us as chevrons must believe such.
Post anything, and psych’s love that word, but in my mind, it’s never post – it’s as real now as it ever was. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I chose to survive. They don’t.
I chose things that make me happy.
They don’t
Civilian entities such as Insurance for the ADF, they say what you need, they say what you want, they say what is required. They have never been. How do they know?
I chose to live.
Guidance by my rehabilitation provider – showed me how to
I began sculpture – not because I wanted to – but because I wanted to survive. It unleashed my desire to create, and then believe, and create more, and understand, and believe more, and create more, and then I had purpose.
Clay in one’s hands is seriously mindfulness without the pretentiousness.
It reminds me I can create.
It shows me I can be real.
It believes in me believing I have a reason to do this.
You can be told; you can be asked.
I chose sculpture.
DVA didn’t.
At my expense I have chosen life.
Thinking hand Studio has allowed me to be me without expectation,
without judgement, without time. I do what I do cos I wish to, and I take the time to do such, for my art isn’t skill, its will.
20 years in the ADF – 12 years in SASR, ruined me – Thinking Hand Studio – brought awareness of time spent well, for broken means art, and art is great. I now have the purpose.
Before you ask – the answer is no.
Try it.
Thank you for giving the opportunity to experience something new. Damian was very encouraging. I was exposed to so much talent. Very impressive work
It is a very relaxing atmosphere. It is a very relaxed and supportive atmosphere. I am willing to expand my abilities. It is a nurturing environment.
Fantastic day with Maggie, we enrolled to start a sculpturing Art class and today in a 3 hour class we both managed to perfect our animal heads…. body parts to come in future classes…this Art class is run by the most beautiful talented family Karen and Calvert and son Damian was our master.. and they also run jewellery making other art forms… excited to try jewellery making after my giraffe is finished! Time flew fast and soo relaxing and great for mindfulness. Haven’t done anything like this since school Art class making clay doodles with Ben Palmer n Shane Jansen n Peter Simpson lol!! HIGHLY recommend this place at Burleigh Heads!!