Anthroposophical Society in Australia

Working with Composition: Bringing Ego Organisation into Painting
2025-09-13 15:00 - 2025-11-22 17:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Online
An exploration of the role of composition in painting in relation to the ego or “I”as the organiser of our soul life, through painting, drawing and art history observation. The health-giving effects of working consciously with the principles of the fourfold human being underpins this studio course.
What is composition?
Historically, artists have always drawn on the laws of perception to arrange the elements within a work of art, to create balance, focus, unity or harmony in the work. This need for the visual ordering of colour, line, form and space is essential to our feelings of connection to or our aesthetic enjoyment of a work of art. But why is this so?

Why do we experience harmonious peace in a Raphael Madonna yet also harmonious dynamism in a Turner stormy sea?

Do the elements of a work need to be arranged in a balanced compositional way to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye? Or can we also find satisfaction in chaos and unstructured movement? and what is happening within us when we experience this sense of enjoyment with a painting?
Simply, what is the role of our “I” when creating or contemplating an art work? How do bring presence to our paintings?
What will we do?
In this online course, we explore the principles of composition and learn how to leverage these principles to bring the multiple elements of our painting together into unified wholeness. We learn how perception influences our ego organisation and our experience of harmony and balance when viewing both the great masters and our own work.
First, we explore some classic laws of visual organisation, such as the rule of thirds and the golden ratio, by observing how these laws are inherent in famous artworks.
We then learn how these principles relate to the role of our ego as organiser of our soul forces; then how to apply such principles to our own work. Thus, the art work becomes a reflection of the activity of the ego on the fourfold human being, according to the anthroposophic approach to painting.
There is particular focus on the salutogenic effects of consciously working with ego organisation in painting.
Who is it for?
This is a Schooling course but you are welcome to join us!

For artists, art therapists and art students looking to find a path of soul/spiritual development through the arts.
For anyone interested in an artistic understanding of the role of our higher self or I in visual composition.

To get the most out of this course, it is anticipated participants will work on their own between the fortnightly sessions.
Required: some familiarity with the anthroposophic approach to art and basic painting technique. Watercolour veiling/wet-on-dry skills are preferred.
Please note: this is not a step-by-step instructional class so not advised for beginners in painting unless you are adventurous and self-motivated!
What dates are the classes?
3pm-5pm AEST Saturdays
13 September-6 December 2025
The workshops are recorded but live participation is preferred, unless your time zone makes this impossible.
How much does it cost?
$300 for PD or for new participants.
$280 for ongoing participants
Recordings available post-course for private study.
How do I book?
Book here
After registration, participants will be sent the payment details and a list of suggested readings and materials.
The Zoom workshop link is sent one (1) day before the class.
For more information
Please contact Fiona Campbell at Painted Space Studio

About the presenter
Fiona Campbell is the director of Painted Space Studio. She a researcher, lecturer, visual artist and arts educator. She has an interdisciplinary PhD on creativity and cognition and also trained as an art therapist.
She has special expertise in the anthroposophic approach to painting and has been teaching painting for 25 years.
Fiona is also a member of the Stream of Life Research Studio, where she focuses on her other two specialisations, phenomenology and creative cognition.
You can find out more about Fiona on her website or listen to a ABC Soul Search interview with her about the anthroposophical approach to art.

Feature image: Indigo and Umber Study I © Fiona Campbell 2000

World Goetheanum Forum 2025 in Sekem, Egypt
2025-09-24 - 2025-09-28 | Sekem, 3 Cairo-Belbes Road, Heliopolis,, Cairo, 11361, Egypt
World Goetheanum Forum 2025
24th -28th September 2025

For the first time, the World Goetheanum Forum is going to Sekem, the place of lived sustainable development and United Nations Champion of the Earth 2024! As a ‘Sustainable Native’, Sekem has almost 50 years of experience in ecological, social, economic and cultural sustainable development.
Celebrating diversity!
We encounter diversity in new partnerships, from seed companies to an upcoming children’s festival. Diversity is evident in all encounters between partners at events such as regional meetings and the World Goetheanum Association’s partner meeting. At the same time, ‘diversity’ poses a challenge to us because, socially, we are only at the beginning, and, if we do not develop further, we will reach the end ecologically. That is why diversity is one of the goals of sustainable development. We want to feel, think and explore this idea together in Sekem from 24 to 28 September. This is what our contribution in terms of content attunes us for.
We invite you to actively engage with partners and practitioners worldwide in forum work on sustainable development.
Looking forward to welcoming you in SEKEM, on behalf of the preparation group,
Download the program
Associated events
Pre-forum: ‘Sustainable Development for Global Impact: Scientific Conference’ at Heliopolis University on Wednesday, 24th September from 10 am to 4 pm
Post-forum: ‘Celebrating Farming: Climate Heroes of Egypt’, at Sekem, Sunday, 28th September from 10 am to 2 pm.

Preparation group

SEKEM
Helmy Abouleish

Goetheanum – Section for Agriculture
Johannes Kronenberg

World Goetheanum Association
Andrea Valdinoci and Katharina Hofmann

Find out more …
Contact the World Goetheanum Association
Web registration

Feature image: courtesy of the World Goetheanum Association
Photo: courtesy of Sekem

Angels Watch Over Us: A Contemplation For Advent
2025-12-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
Painted Space Studio

presents
An Advent contemplation to lead us into Christmas
on how the angelic orders have guided and protected us through the ages

How can we strengthen our connection with the spiritual beings around us?
Where do we most often encounter them in our earthly lives?
At a time when world and personal events can seem to overwhelm, we can remind outselves that we are in the special care of higher beings who accompany us throughout our earthly lives and beyond.
Through contemplating artwork and verse, we reflect upon how we humans have encountered and imagined the angelic orders above us through the ages, and why such imaginations are so important to our souls’ peace and strengthening.

Suggested reading
Our Spiritual Companions by Adam Bittleston
Cost
$20 donation or whatever you can afford to support this initiative.
When
5.00pm – 6.15 pm AEDT
14th December 2025
Bookings
Contact
Fiona Campbell

“See, I am sending an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”
Exodus 23:20

Feature image: Angel s Watch Over Us ⓒ Fiona Campbell
