SLUGA GALLERY — Attraction in Yackandandah

I have participated in 3 of Charles' Mon-Fri workshops over the years and have been on a tour in Croatia with him. I will be returning in 2025. For me, as well as many others, Charles is the consummate watercolour artist, loose and wet with a fast but sure style that is well-planned before pigment contacts paper. His scientific background as a maths and physics teacher before becoming a full-time artist is manifest in the way he executes his drawings, whether of buildings, landscapes, genre scenes or portraits. He loves to teach by demonstration of techniques and his enthusiasm for his art is infectious. He is never critical of his students' paintings but highlights what works and makes suggestions for small touches - such as softening or hardening edges, deepening or lightening cast or reflected shadows, muting down parts of the painting that have assumed too much dominance, juxtaposing colours that make the painting sing..... The whole workshop experience is warm and supportive, nurtured also by Nancy Sluga, herself a photographic artist, who makes the most delicious not-too-sweet cakes and coffee for morning tea to fuel the participants. The portraiture workshop was my favourite and Charles is hoping to run another in early August 2025. For readers of this post who are interested in watercolour portraiture, please contact me via Charles or Nancy, as I am forming a WhatsApp group. For those who are starting off or want to rejuvenate their Mojo, I recommend that you enrol in Charles' online course or visit the...

Firstly, Yackandandah is a delightful gold mining era town in North Eastern Victoria which has many charming buildings and views, and which is in easy proximity to other picturesque and interesting villages and towns. Secondly, one of the grandest buildings in Yackandandah is the gallery and studio of Charles Sluga, creative watercolour artist. Charles' wife is a professional photographer and also exhibits her work in the gallery. In summer the high ceilings make the gallery a cool space and in winter the constant wood fire keeps the place cosy. Thirdly, Charles is a remarkable artist with a strong creative flair and creates many striking images of Australian and European subjects. His style is seen in loose and contemporary, colourful and dark, frivolous and insightful images that bear close scrutiny and discussion with the artist if he is present. You'll get a lot more than from a quick five minute walk-through if you take time to absorb and study the works. Fourthly, Charles is an excellent educator. If you are an intermediate or advanced watercolourist and Charles' style appeals to you it would be worthwhile to investigate his classes or workshops. His teaching style is casual, light hearted and personal but contains a great deal of his experience and for people wanting to push their boundaries a little (or a lot) Charles offers a special opportunity to try something different and more advanced in a supportive...

My wife and I participated in the September/October 2022 tour of Croatia. We had a fabulous time exploring cities towns and countryside. Although many of the 13 in our group were artists and photographers we are not. This did not diminish our experience at all as the low key free days allowed us to explore to our hearts content. Charles is a brilliant guide, balancing organised activities and self guided options. You can do as much or as little as you feel like. Highlights for me included a stay in Diocletian’s palace in Split surrounded by a vibrant living community within intact Roman buildings. Another highlight was a luncheon on a traditional farm eating and drinking produce from the farm, best wine and food ever. Our last stay in Dubrovnik was absolutely beautiful. Wandering through the medieval city, tasting a cosmopolitan cuisine, attending a concert in an historic church, topped off by a guided walk of the city’s walls being educated by an avid local historian. All told I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and appreciated the effort that Charles and his beautiful daughter Aimee put in to make it such fun. I am recommending this tour to all of my...