Myke Mollard has been conducting art workshops, sand sculpting events, how-to draw classes and storytime sessions, part time for over 8 years.
Myke could always talk, but did a media training and public speaking course after RMIT through a group connected to Channel 10, Interface. Myke did this, so he could be confident when launching the fledgling magazine Metropolitan Style. The importance of the magazine launch attracted quite a lot of media attention at the time, with; press, radio and TV news appearances. Myke also undertook further training some years later through Peter Crofts “Humourversity”. He did this as because of his aspirations of being a writer, public speaker and becoming more confident as a boardroom facilitator.
Over a decade on from there, Myke is no stranger to facilitating programs, speaking in front of an audience or being a Master of Ceremonies at either a public or private event.
As a Cub Scout Leader (2004 – 2006 and 2013 – Current) and recent inducted member of Lilydale Toastmasters International, Myke takes his public speaking pretty seriously for an artist and creative.
The following retrospective list details and demonstrates the early developmental work that has gone into these programs:
RMIT – Advertising creative
How-to-brainstorm effectively and what’s expected in a real life agency
Workshop size: Class of 30
Tertiary Course specialising in Advertising industry creatives and I presented a workshop on effective brainstorming methods and what to expect post their course.
Somerville Library
On a Monster’s Doorstep talk and storytime.
Workshop size: Combined Class of 22
A couple of Somerville Primary School classes came to the Library for a special visit.
Myke read his book ‘On an Monster’s Doorstep’ (a storytime) and talked through the origins of the bunyip myth and the group collaboratively created/drew a fantastic looking Bunyip on the library whiteboard.
Hastings Library Repeat due to Somerville referral
On a Monster’s Doorstep talk and storytime.
Workshop size: Primary students from mixed schools and classes 80
Myke’s ‘On an Monster’s Doorstep’ talk included him exploring some secrets to writing/illustrating/publishing a children’s book before a storytime and open Q&A session.
Chisholm University
Author Journey and publishing talk on getting a book deal.
Workshop size: Professional Writing course 27
My artistic journey and an open discussion or Q&A on the modern publishing landscape.
Rosebud Library (Day 1)
How-to-draw Workshops for kids
Workshop size: General public 25
The Rosebud Library put on a two days of workshops with puppet shows, storytime session and Myke’s How-to-draw Workshops for kids for their holiday program inviting general public.
Rosebud Library (Day 2)
How-to-draw Workshops for kids
Workshop size: General public 25
The Rosebud Library put on a two days of workshops with puppet shows, storytime session and Myke’s How-to-draw Workshops for kids for their holiday program inviting general public.
Southern Peninsula Arts Centre (SPAC) Repeat due to Rosebud referral
How-to-draw Workshops for kids
Workshop size: General public 15
SPAC put on a holiday program with Wendy Orr, OZTAKU (Aussie Manga), Emily Zoe Baker and Myke’s How-to-draw Workshops for kids for general public.
Ghilgai Senier School (Grade 2-3)
On a Monster’s Doorstep – Storytime and talk on Australian Myths
Workshop size: Two classes or around 40
Came for a morning session to inspire the kids.
Ghilgai Senier School (Grade 5) Repeat
On a Monster’s Doorstep – Storytime and talk on Australian Myths
Workshop size: One class of 22
‘On a Monster’s Doorstep’ – Artist’s journey and a talk on Australian Myths ending with a storytime session.
Ghilgai Senier School (Festival) Repeat
On a Monster’s Doorstep – Talks and storytime sessions
Workshop size: Mini sessions on festival day.
Had a stall to talk to kids, sell books and read my book.
Mount Dandenong Primary School
On a Monster’s Doorstep – Talks and storytime sessions
Workshop size: x 5 Full Workshops across grades 2- 6 ( x 20
‘On a Monster’s Doorstep’ – Artist’s journey and a talk on Australian Myths ending with a storytime session and each had a bunyip drawing presentation. These sessions were arranged by the school librarian at the time, and a great day had by all.
Mount Dandenong Primary School
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
Sand Sculpting Workshops and Competitions (x 12)
Workshop sizes: General public 60 -600
At Cape Conran over the past seven years Summer & Easter Programs.
Themes include: ‘Australia Bush Creatures’, ‘Monsters, Myths and legends’, ‘Australia Day’, ‘The letter Cc’ [for Cape Conran] and ‘Aboriginal Totems’ for a special East Gippsland Koorie Community Day (see link below).
http://www.djillayngalu.org.au/index.php/deadly-news/8-deadly-news/45-conran-surf-day
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids (x 20)
Workshop sizes: General public 10- 40
At Cape Conran over the past seven years Summer & Easter Programs.
How-to-draw Bush creatures in the bush.
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Adult Artists ( x 3)
Workshop sizes: General public 7 – 25
At Cape Conran over the past year Summer & Easter Programs.
How-to-draw landscapes, still life and bush creatures from life.
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
Master of ceremonies for Bush Talent Quest
Turn outs: General public 150 -350 per show.
At Cape Conran over the past 2 Summers run x 5 nights with Park Manager with resounding success for all involved.
Public Appearance
Radio Eastern, Community Corner 98.1
Talking about ‘An A-Z of Australian Bush Creatures’
Public Appearance
Community Corner C31 Television Slot Repeated regularly
Talking about new book ‘An A-Z of Australian Bush Creatures’
Public Appearance Repeat
Primary Perspectives Radio Show 3WC 94.1
Returning to Primary Perspectives on their 1st birthday to talk about being awarded one of their favourite live hosts.
Heathmont Pre-School & Kindergarten
Mal the Lion Storytime Session
Session size: 3yr olds – Class of 20
Talk about Friendship and a storytime book ‘Mal the Lion.’
Heathmont Pre-School & Kindergarten Repeat
The Giant Storybook (Dinosaur’s Big Toothache)
Workshop size: 4yr olds – Class of 20
Talk about Dinosaurs then colour and create a giant storybook.
Heathmont Pre-School & Kindergarten Repeat
Bugs, Insects and leaf litter
Workshop size: 4yr olds – Class of 20
Talk about Bugs mural making with bugs, insects and leaf litter.
The Village School
How-to-draw and fun colour in Bush Creatures sheets.
Workshop size: Preps – Class of 20
How-to-draw Australian Bush Creatures with simple steps and shapes, some Colour-in sheets for fun and a storytime book ‘Mal the Lion.’
Public Appearance
Kids in the Kitchen (cooking a shepard‘s pie) C31 Television Show
Talk about my book ‘An A-Z of Australian Bush Creatures’
Heathmont Collage
Australian stories and why we should respect Aboriginal culture
Workshop size: Secondary Mixed classes of 80 + students
A personal talk demonstrating how someone’s education doesn’t stop at school. Plus Myke gave a passionate insight into authorship, work ethic and our first Australians.
The Basin Primary School
The good and the bad in media, publishing and advertising.
Workshop size: Year 6 – Class of 27
After the kids had some bad experiences with facebook and social media. Myke talked about publishing, internet, advertising, the rules, netiquite, good practice and all forms of media from his own experience and training.
Tinternvale Primary School
How-to-create a better storyline (storytelling workshop) (x2)
Workshop size: 3 classes 60 + kids – all of grade 2
Croydon Central Kindergarten
Mal the Lion Storytime Session
Session size: 4yr olds – Class of 20
Talk about Friendship and a storytime book ‘Mal the Lion.’
Croydon Central Kindergarten Repeat
Bugs, insects and leaf litter
Workshop size: 4yr olds – Class of 20
Talk about Bugs mural making with bugs, insects and leaf litter plus a storytime session of ‘Mal the Lion’.
Maroondah Occasional Care
Bugs, insects and leaf litter
Workshop size: Group of mixed ages totalling 20
Talk about Bugs mural making with bugs, insects and leaf litter plus a storytime session of ‘Mal the Lion’.
Ainslie Parkland Primary School
Bugs, insects and leaf litter
Workshop size: Preps – Grade 1 – Class of 25
Talk about Bugs mural making with bugs, insects and leaf litter plus a storytime session of ‘Mal the Lion’.
Maroondah Occasional Care Repeat
Christmas Santa
Turn out: Family groups of mixed ages totalling 40 – 50
Played Santa for Kindergarten. So much “Ho! Ho! Ho!” fun.
Ainslie Parkland Primary School Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids
Workshop size: Grades 4/5/6 – Class of 64
How-to-draw Australian Bush Creatures (Playpus) and Q&A on being a children’s book author/illustrator. Plus some detailing lessons cartoon eyes and claws.
Ainslie Parkland Primary School Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids
Workshop size: x3 Sessions Grades 2/3 – total 55
Endangered Species, Q&A on our Australian extinction rate and How-to-draw Endangered Bush Creatures (Bilby, Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat and a Quoll)
Ainslie Parkland Primary School Repeat
WATER: Tides and Rockpools, create-a-rockpool crafternoon
Workshop size: Preps – Grade 1 – Class of 55
Tailored especially for the class Ainslie Parklands were doing “water Cycles” so Myke suggested exploring tides, water cycles and rockpool creatures while creating a box rockpool. Major success!
Swinburne Watirna Campus
Professional Brand Essence and Positioning Workshop.
Workshop size: Tertiary students 30
2 hour lecture on the power of advertising and marketing, How to find your personal brand essence and how to position and get leverage from that brand for the Business Management Cert IV students.
BSR (Business Success Radio) Repeat
Professional Brand Essence and Positioning Workshop.
Workshop size: 5
Professional Brand Essence and Positioning Workshop that became a 2 day, Small business workshop tailored especially for that business.
We Love Life Vegan festival
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids
Workshop sizes: across the day engaging 30-40 people
x 10 Mini Workshops across the day. How-to-draw Australian Bush Creatures stall where Myke helped engage kids by doing simple steps and shapes to draw creatures, some colour-in sheets for fun and a storytime book ‘Mal the Lion’.
Jells Park Environment Walk with Scouts Australia
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids
Workshop size: engaging 30-40 parents and Joeys
x 2 Mini Workshop with Yarra District Joey Scouts
How-to-draw Australian Bush Creatures with simple steps and shapes to draw a
“wood duck paddling” and an “eagle in flight”.
Ainslie Parkland Primary School Repeat
How-to-draw “Speed Drawing” Workshops for Kids
Workshop size: Grades 4/5/6 – Class of 64
How-to-draw Australian Bush Creatures (Crocodile and Koala) and some “Speed drawing” (A fantasy car, horse, Ninja Cartoon Koala and Kangaroo or Bandicoot) Plus some detailing lessons on claws, paws feel and legs, Plus cartoon eyes.
Ainslie Parkland Primary School Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids
ALL DAY FETE Workshop size: – total 20 – 50 people across the day
How-to-draw class plain and simple – Bush Creatures
Ainslie Parkland Primary School Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids
Workshop size: x2 Sessions Grades 5/6 – total 55
How-to-draw class plain and simple – Bush Creatures (Kookaburra, Platypus, Bilby, Wombat, goanna and crocodile)
Public Appearance
Radio Eastern, Community Corner 98.1
Talking about ‘An A-Z of Australian Bush Creatures’ and Wyreena Drawing Classes.
Maroondah Occasional Care Repeat
Christmas Santa
Turn out: Family groups of mixed ages totalling 40 – 50
Played Santa for Kindergarten. So much “Ho! Ho! Ho!” fun.
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
Sand Sculpting Workshops and Competitions (x 15)
Workshop sizes: General public 60 -600
At Cape Conran over the past 2 years Summer & Easter Programs.
Themes include: ‘Australia Bush Creatures’, ‘Monsters, Myths and legends’, ‘Australia Day’, ‘The letter Cc’ [for Cape Conran] and ‘Aboriginal Totems’ for a special East Gippsland Koorie Community Day.
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Kids (x 15)
Workshop sizes: General public 10- 40
At Cape Conran over the past 2 years Summer & Easter Programs.
How-to-draw Bush creatures in the bush.
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
How-to-draw Workshops for Adult Artists ( x 6)
Workshop sizes: General public 7 – 25
At Cape Conran over the past 2 years Summer & Easter Programs.
How-to-draw landscapes, still life and bush creatures from life.
Cape Conran Coastal Park (NP) Repeat
Master of ceremonies for Bush Talent Quest
Turn outs: General public 150 -350 per show.
At Cape Conran over the past 2 Summers run x 4 nights with Park Manager with resounding success for all involved.
St John’s Kindergarten
How-to-draw Workshops for Little Kids
Workshop size: 4 year old Kinder – Class of 28
How-to-draw Australian Bush Creatures (Kookaburra, Koala and Wombat) and a storytime book ‘Mal the Lion’.
Maroondah City Council Repeat
Australia Day How-to-draw Workshops for Kids
Workshop size: – a total 100 – 230 people engaged across the Morning
For the last two years Myke has been running How-to-draw classes plain and simple – AUSTRALIAN Bush Creatures on Australia Day at Ringwood Lake for the council celebrations. It’s a great day and 2015 was massive with nearly 250 drawings ventured across the morning.