Our Teachers

Make Your Mark is proud to have a dedicated team of highly skilled teachers and teaching assistants who inspire, encourage and guide our students throughout their creative journey. Through expert tuition, creative advice and genuine support, our team nurtures the artistic growth and confidence of every young artist who walks through our doors.

Our teachers have studied, or are currently studying, at art schools and universities, allowing them to continually develop their artistic skills, creative passions and professional careers. Many are also practising artists, creating commissioned artworks for clients and exhibiting their work in galleries and exhibitions.

What truly makes our studio special is the genuine care and encouragement our teachers provide every student. They take the time to build meaningful connections, celebrate individual progress and foster a welcoming environment where creativity can flourish. Over the years, Make Your Mark has grown into a vibrant community of young artists, friendships and shared creative experiences, making every class an inspiring and enjoyable place to learn.

Sarah Johnson BFA

Head Teacher and Owner of Make Your Mark Art

Sarah Johnson is a young local emerging artist from Northern Beaches, Sydney. Since receiving her Bachelor of Fine Art at National Art School in 2011, Sarah has exhibited in a number of exhibitions and sold numerous commissioned artworks for clients in Australia & Internationally.

Her passion for drawing and her love of teaching children and teenagers inspired her to launch Make Your Mark.

With over a decade of tutoring experience, Sarah has learned a lot about understanding how to make classes fun for students to be at. The classes introduce kids to new techniques, skills and materials helping to develop their drawing ability and increasing each student’s self-confidence.

The aim of the after-school drawing classes is to teach and encourage students to achieve a level of drawing skill they are happy with within a fun, relaxed environment.

“My objective is to ensure that students get real hands-on individual teaching assistance to learn various basic through to advanced drawing techniques. It’s important that students have their own say in what they create, enabling involvement in the whole artistic process. This interactive approach gives students a great sense of pride and ownership in their drawing”

Sarahs’ Work

Celia

With a life-long love of drawing and all things creative, Celia brings this passion and enthusiasm to her classes and loves seeing the remarkable results each student produces.

“What I love about our classes is that our students are given the type of guidance and technical skills that allows them to become more confident and competent artistic explorers for the rest of their lives.”

Emily

Emily is an artist and surface pattern designer and enjoys the creative freedom that art provides and loves that her students can embrace their own artistic expression in a fun and positive environment, through exploring a variety of mediums and techniques.

Jade

Jade began at Make Your Mark as a student, before joining the studio teaching team. Jade studied at National Art School and graduated majoring in printmaking. Jade ‘s art practice is in printmaking, portraits & painting and wants to share her love of creativity to her students, supporting the individual expression of those young artists she teaches to help create works of excellence.

Sara

Sara is a visual artist, and her practice is primarily focused in painting and drawing. “Make Your Mark is such a supportive and caring space that encourages young people to express themselves through art. Creativity and uniqueness is not only encouraged but celebrated, as each student is given the freedom to explore and learn. As the students learn to draw they also learn important skills like patience, persistence and self-confidence, something that I believe stays with them long after finishing their artwork.”

Alicia

Alicia has worked with Sarah for over 14 years and has been teaching at Make Your Mark since 2018. Alicia took a short break from the studio to work in Tanzania at the School of St Jude taking on an exciting role leading their Art Initiative program. During her time in Africa, Alicia built an art gallery showcasing students artwork, which visitors could purchase, with all proceeds going back into the art program. She introduced a commission system so students received a percentage from each sale, redesigned the art curriculum and supported students in developing their artistic skills.
Alicia particularly loves working with younger students and creating fun and engaging art projects and examples to inspire them. She loves seeing children develop their confidence and creativity and enjoys being part of the warm and supportive environment at Make Your Mark.

Zoe

Zoe began as a student at Make Your Mark many years ago and has been teaching at our studio for the past six years. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the National Art School, majoring in printmaking. Alongside her printmaking practice, she remains passionate about drawing and aims to equip students with practical techniques and skills they can adapt to develop their own creative practice.

Sabine

Sabine grew up going to after school art classes and later studying painting at National Art School. “Working at Make Your Mark has been such a fulfilling experience. I love helping students bring their unique ideas to life and seeing their skill and passion for art grow”

Ruby

Ruby’s art practice spans drawing, painting, photography and printmaking. She loves that Make Your Mark is such a welcoming and supportive space where students feel comfortable expressing themselves, exploring their creativity and growing in confidence while creating art they’re proud of.

Jemma

Jemma loves everything about art and is currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Art at the National Art School in Darlinghurst. “I love working at Make Your Mark, it is so rewarding to help the students learn and grow their talent and share your own wisdom with them. I love being in an environment where art and creativity is cherished from such a young age”

Millie

Millie is a university student studying Fine Arts and Media at UNSW. She began learning drawing with Sarah in 2017 and has been teaching with Make Your Mark since 2023. “What I love most about teaching at the studio is watching students gain confidence and bring their ideas to life” Millie’s artworks have been exhibited in several competitions & exhibitions including the Young Archie’s, Mosman Youth Art Prize and Manly’s HSC Out Front Festival

Kate

Kate enjoys working with pencil as her main artistic medium, particularly creating detailed drawings inspired by wildlife and nature. What she enjoys most about working at Make Your Mark is the creative atmosphere and the opportunity to teach children, encouraging them to explore their imagination and to develop confidence in their artistic abilities.

Katie

Katie is a senior high school student studying visual arts for her HSC & a student at Make Your Mark also.

Katie loves using a range of techniques such as etching, printing, stippling, and enjoys using materials such as graphite & watercolour. As a dedicated student, she wishes to help those likeminded students, and allow our young artists to express themselves and their artistic pursuits successfully and with pride