SOPHIE MILL SCHOOL OF ART
Sophie Mill School of Art
Adult Art Classes

“Change is the only constant in life. Ones ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.”— Benjamin Franklin


The Art Studio has closed for 2023 until further notice. 


The Art School and studio have offered many students the space, freedom, and a chance to learn how to create a picture. The picture learned was not 'just' about a scribble; it was designed to trust your creativity and insight. Our brain is designed to short-circuit logical decision-making and make emotional, non-rational decisions. We often call this ‘intuition’ or instinct. These instinctive decisions are critical to survival when there is little time. Art, creativity and innovation run parallel to these thought patterns.


With my survival skills, creativity, and curious mind I am off to explore. "The art of decision making includes the art of questioning.” I am a product of my decisions and I need to live the same way as I have preached - trust the process, go forth, accept the failures, enjoy the positives, and don't be frightened. Visual art and life sound similar.  


Thank you for the wonderful years. I will post my explorations on social media and in 2024 I will be taking commission-based artworks. Sophie Mill


Sophie Mill is consistent and disciplined with her continual contracts;

Ambassador Newcastle Art Gallery

The Newcastle Grammar School Artist in Resident

GIO Insurance Artist-in-Resident

Provider: NSW State Government Creative Kids

Icare Insurance Artist in Resident (Brain and Spinal Injury Unit)

White Knight Foundation Artist of Choice (Brain and Spinal Injury Unit)

Essentially Your Choice NDIS Artist-in-Resident

Newcastle Grammar School Artist in Resident

Belmont Child Care Artist in Resident (special needs)
Art classes are available in Sophie Mill’s private art studio in Hamilton South. She offers classes for advanced artists, budding artists and those who just want to express themselves and have fun. Whether you are looking for intensive instruction or a group painting class, she can make the proper accommodations for your needs.

Sophie is happy to offer discussions and technique lessons in her quirky private art studio. Enhance your painting capabilities while Sophie is there to assist you, but the rest is up to you to practise your confidence and decision making process. Art give us insight into our souls and the visual process helps us with self-expression. Together a stunning creation will evolve in this beautiful and encouraging setting. If you would like to make an appointment please contact Sophie at her studio today.
A workplace injury three and a half years ago resulted in a bleed to Mark’s brain, causing loss of sight and hearing on his right side. Mark’s memory is also affected and so he could no longer work as a manager of security. While he admits that there have been some dark times, Mark’s journey has just taken a colourful turn.
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The White Wall Project brought together ten schools from across the globe, each contributing their artistic interpretations of perspective. The participating schools included Aleph School in Peru, Chittagong Grammar School in Bangladesh, GEMS Modern Academy in the United Arab Emirates, Newcastle Grammar School in Australia, RBIS International School in Thailand, St George’s School Windsor Castle UK, St Paul’s Coeducational College in Hong Kong, The Sagar School in India, Welham Girls School in India, and Whanganui Collegiate in New Zealand. The project aimed to ignite creativity and foster global connections among young artists through the Round Square network. Students from these diverse schools were asked to consider the concept of perspective in their lives and expressed their thoughts through a variety of mediums. Ten pieces that resonated most profoundly with their perspective were combined to create the final artwork. Completed in September 2023
sophie mill
Art School For Young Students

Art School for Young Students

Weekly/Fortnightly/Monthly Lesson Structure
Each lesson will consist of the following components;
'Seeing' - Instruction on how to "see" like an artist and a practical exercise to develop the skill.
'Drawing' - Instruction on a drawing technique and practical exercise.
'Painting' - Instruction on a painting technique and practical exercise
'Context Discussion' context relevant to the exercises
Sample Lesson Plan 1.
  • Positive & Negative Spaces
  • Seeing shapes over colour
  • Introduction of well known artists
    • Pablo Picasso
    • Vincent van Gogh
    • Leonardo da Vinci 
    • Henri Matisse
    • Edvard Munch
    • Claude Monet
    • Kandinsky 
  • Explanations about why and how a painting is commonly viewed
  • Explanations about why schoolchildren may be encouraged (at least rhetorically) to pursue their passions and cultivate their talents, but as they grow up, they are warned away from artistic careers. This attitude, always an annoyance, is becoming a danger to the healthy of creativity itself. How to find artistic courage.
  • Composition with Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio
  • Example Master paintings and discuss the elements of the composition
  • Observe, understand & discuss the impact of the changes - works/what doesn't work and why
  • Painting Exercise
  • Explain how to mix colours to match the colour used in the painting
  • The brush stroke technique used by the artists
  • Student mix colours and use the same brushstroke technique to create a reproduction of the painting
  • Context Discussion

Other Educational Practices

Group Sessions Accelerate Learning
Small group sessions are a particularly effective way to accelerate learning. Students learn by "modeling" or learning from others it is the natural progression of life on earth. A group setting provides many opportunities for students to "model" techniques used by their peers as well as by the tutor. The "accelerated group learning effect" works best in group sizes group sizes between 4-5 students.
Working at an Easel
  • An important part of the development of a student artist is developing professional practices on how to use the "tools of the trade". 
  • Working in my Art Studio offers an insight into the 'real world' of being an artist.
  • One important aspect is learning how to work at an easel rather than on a table. I encourage students to work at an easel for drawing and painting exercises; it is a fundamental skill for any artist.
  • The conclusion is maintaining and cleaning brushes & palettes.
Senior School
Primary School

Art Classes for Youths

Sophie Mill offers personalised classes and mentoring for adolescents also. Her art classes are based upon the ideal of honesty. Honesty is what art is all about – the ability to express oneself in the purest and most unfiltered way imaginable. By embracing honesty in art, she hopes that she will entice at least one more person to create from their own imaginations, daydreams, and whimsical ideas.
Early Childhood 5 - 7 years
Artist in Residence & Art Tutor Programs

Artist-in-Residence & Art Tutor Programs

Sophie Mills also offers artist-in-residence and art tutor programs for schools. Through group collaborations at local schools, Sophie has encouraged adolescents to create their own versions of beautiful artwork to be displayed in parks, schools and other areas. Students she has taught thus far have learnt to reflect on their own ideas and developed the confidence and courage to thrive independently through art. If you are interested in hiring Sophie as either an artist in residence or as an art tutor at your school, call today to learn more. 
What Is Art For?

We get to use our hands, our mind, our everything to simply enrich our life and those around us. To create something unique is a powerful experience with undeniable positive and lasting benefits. "The Theatrical Art Studio" Oil on Canvas by Sophie Mill 2022.

Some Schools She Has Worked with Include the Following:
Newcastle Grammar School 'Artist in Residence'
Pymble Ladies College, Sydney 'Art tutor'
The Junction Public School 
Indonesian Island Sail, Bali 'Artist in Residence' 
Irrawang Primary School, Raymond Terrace 
Grahamstown School, Raymond Terrace 
Medowie School, Medowie 
Charlton Christian College
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