Designed to assist students in developing a body of work for acceptance into a creative selective school, the HSC, or the International Baccalaureate, Lion + Cub’s one-on-one art tutoring service is a standout feature of our workshop program.
Lead photographer Nikki McLennan has a long history as a high-school art teacher [Dulwich High School Visual Art + Design; University High, Melbourne; Willoughby Girls High] and is innately attuned to what is required to get in to selective arts streams. Having tutored upwards of 10 students – all of whom were successful in their applications – her teaching scope is broad, and her style perfectly suited to encouraging the best outcome in a gentle and engaging way.
Case Study: Duke’s Deep Dive into Macro Photography
Twelve-year-old Duke took part in six tutoring sessions as part of collating a portfolio of work for his application for the arts stream at Dulwich High School Visual Art + Design. Initiated with an intensive deep-dive to understand what Duke was interested in, the sessions were broad in scope, developing content ideas, an intensive macro photography workshop, editing and studio development of the images, theoretical understanding of two artists of choice, and coaching to ensure he was confident presenting his work in an interview. Duke is now in Year 10 at Dully and loving his ongoing engagement in the creative discipline he first undertook with Lion + Cub.
Nikki is a qualified Visual Arts and Photomedia teacher and currently works at Willoughby Girls High in a broad range of creative disciplines. She has a Working With Children Certificate and employee number with the Department of Education, and has taught at Dulwich High School of Visual Arts & Design, Willoughby Girls High School, Princes Hill Secondary College, and University High (Melbourne). She specialises in photography and digital media, animation, ceramics, drawing and painting.
“My speciality is helping younger students with their submissions for selective entry into creative art streams, which requires a panel interview and a portfolio of work. I have successfully tutored ten students, all of whom were successful with their submission, and it is deeply satisfying to see these students succeed.”
Case Study: Ava’s Creative Portfolio Journey
Ava, aged ten, joined me for six personalised tutoring sessions to develop her skills in drawing and photography as part of her preparation for applying to the visual arts stream at Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design. Inspired by her mother’s beautiful work as a florist, Ava was especially interested in exploring flowers, portraiture, and the visual language of her own inner world.
Together, we studied the Dutch Masters and created still life photographs using natural light to explore mood, composition, and storytelling. Later, we moved into the studio to experiment with different lighting techniques and effects. We also drew inspiration from contemporary Australian artist Polixeni Papapetrou, creating imaginative portraits with floral crowns, dresses, and coloured backgrounds that celebrated Ava’s creativity and unique artistic voice.
Case Study: A Creative Portfolio Built with Confidence
Through six tailored tutoring sessions, Harper developed her photography and mixed media skills while preparing a portfolio for her application to Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design.
Harper joined me for six personalised tutoring sessions to refine her portfolio and build confidence in expressing her ideas as a young artist. With a strong interest in photography, mixed media, and fashion, she brought a thoughtful creative instinct and a growing interest in visual storytelling.
Together, we explored the work of artists including Jan Davidsz de Heem, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Del Kathryn Barton, using still life photography, mixed media processes, and studio experimentation to investigate colour, texture, symbolism, and composition. Harper developed a body of work that combined photographic imagery with layered materials and personal expression, resulting in a portfolio that felt both imaginative and resolved. Harper was later accepted into Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design.
See the week-by-week breakdown of lessons and the final artwork here.
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