Wonder Mama's Create and Make Workshops

From a precocious drawing-and-painting toddler to 20 years of working in graphic design and the design industry, creativity has always been part of Renny Roccon’s story. But after experiencing burnout in an increasingly computerised creative field, Renny decided it was time for a change, taking a big leap into the world of aged care. While he stepped away from professional design, he never stopped drawing and painting in his own time. 

Then came COVID, which opened up an unexpected new chapter. With a little creativity and a willingness to try something different, Renny began offering drawing classes online. He discovered a love for teaching and bringing people together through art, and has been hosting workshops ever since.

But Renny has another side, too! For some, he’s the friendly art teacher helping them find their creative feet. For others, he’s Wonder Mama, a fabulous drag queen bringing a healthy dose of sparkle, colour and fun to social painting classes. Whichever version you meet, expect a warm welcome, a name tag (naturally) and a couple of hours celebrating your creativity.

With workshops spanning everything from drawing and life drawing to air-dry clay, collage, painting and sculpture, there’s something for just about every occasion. Whether you're planning a kids' birthday party, a cheeky hens celebration, a corporate get-together, or something else entirely, Renny knows how to bring people together, get the creative juices flowing and make sure everyone has a little fun along the way.

So let’s meet the maker behind the story!

Painting should be your next favourite social activity because…

“People love to create, even if they are not so well practised at it, and most people want to create something they are proud of. I try to encourage guests and help them do the best they can based on their skills. In classes, I find people are very encouraging of each other, and they get 'in the zone' when creating, while also having fun along the way.”

The energy you’ll find in my classes…

“It's a broad spectrum depending on the group and the class! I find some classes are very subdued and serious about what they are working on, while others are having lots of fun socialising and bouncing ideas off each other, which is also great to see.”

My top tip for beginners…

“A lot of guests tell me they can't draw or paint to save their lives. I try to show people how to create step by step, and we host our classes on the basis that everyone is a beginner. Usually, the guests who are the most afraid of doing art are the ones who create something really fun and amazing.”

Step inside my studio and…

“Learn how to use paints and pastels in different ways, along with the different ways you can use brushes in painting, too. We try to offer guests different techniques and tools depending on the class, even if it's clay sculpting workshops, so everyone walks away with something valuable.”

My favourite part of a workshop is…

“The best moments are when people are really proud of what they have created and were not expecting to! Some people come in with low expectations and leave very proud of their work. We try to make the classes fun and lively based on the group attending.”