TEACHERS

”I love the natural creativity in young children and have a passionate desire to encourage the development of their drawing skills whilst leading them to the threshold of their imagination.”

John McCallum has had nearly 40 years’ experience learning art, and has been the student of many famous Australian artists, among whom Alan Martin (the academy school), Ron Reynolds (the semi-abstract school) and Yvonne Audette (drawing/painting from life).

John has successfully held personal art exhibitions and his works are widely found in private collections. In New Star Art John has already had a group of little fans. His combination of story telling and learning drawing is rather popular among the kids.

“While it’s important to educate students the necessity to survive in the world, however I feel that it is much more important that we focus on nurturing them. To see and build up their fullest potential and become strong capable individuals, creating meaningful values in their own lives and in society.”

Yau-Onn is a kind and passionate art teacher of New Star Art School. He was a former student of New Star Art School and a graduate from RMIT University with a Bachelor’s Degree In Design. He is now eager to use all of his knowledge to share it among with his wonderful students to the best of his ability.

Yau-Onn has great practical skills in both traditional and contemporary art. He especially enjoys using water colour, ink brush and digital mediums/ digital art to create stunning art works.

"To me, art serves as a bridge that connects individuals with the world around them, while also allowing for personal exploration throughout the creative process. With this belief, I hopes to pass on my passion for art to children. I aspires to help them build confidence and develop the ability to recognise beauty, not only in the external world but also within themselves."

Mae’s artistic journey began at a community learning centre, where she attended adult art classes and built her foundational skills. She later continued her studies under the guidance of accomplished teachers, including Yaping Jiang, the principal of New Star Art School, as well as Meiyu Xiao and Chunrui Yang, both highly experienced masters of traditional Chinese painting. Through learning from these mentors, Mae developed a deeper appreciation for artistic techniques and cultural expression. She remains committed to her growth as an artist, currently engaging with online educational organisations to further refine her understanding of art and strengthen her technical abilities.

Mae’s dedication to art education is driven by her love for the sense of peace she experiences when focusing on her artwork. She believes that art is a meaningful way to better understand oneself, as well as a powerful lens through which to view the world with a more aesthetically trained perspective.

"I believe art can be used as a message to be shared to others. Through my own experiences on my art journey, I want to nurture this talent by teaching children persistence, determination and the beauty of creation through art. This is so that they may strive to grow into the images they have shaped with the sincerity within themselves."

Jodie developed a strong interest in art from a young age, building her foundational skills under the guidance of various teachers and further refining them at New Star Art School. In her early adulthood, she spent two years in China studying under Bo Liya, the dean of the Xinjiang Academy of Fine Arts, an experience that significantly enriched her artistic perspective and technical abilities.

She enjoys exploring a wide range of mediums, from three-dimensional clay to painting, appreciating the unique qualities each one offers and finding it difficult to choose a single favourite. Jodie’s primary area of expertise lies in realism, where she focuses on closely observing and recreating polished, lifelike images with a high level of detail and precision.

Katherine Addison comes from a family of artists and has always had a strong interest in art and design. She holds a Diploma qualification of Early Childhood Education along with an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design.

Katherine completed all her education in Melbourne and believes in the benefits of creative learning for young children.

“As a teacher in both China and Australia, I love being around children as they bring energy, curiosity, and joy into learning. I enjoy supporting their growth, encouraging their creativity, and helping them build confidence in a safe and positive environment. Working with children is deeply rewarding, and I am passionate about guiding them as they learn and develop artistic skills, self-expression, and a lifelong love of art.”

Fei graduated from Hangzhou Teachers University with a degree in Art Education and has six years of professional experience teaching art to young children. She immigrated to Australia in 2004 and continued her academic and professional development, subsequently graduating from Deakin University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. In her spare time, she enjoys acrylic painting, drawn to the vibrant, bold colours and the way they can instantly bring a canvas to life. For Fei, painting with acrylics is not just a technique, but a joyful way to explore imagination and share the excitement of artistic expression.

Fei is skilled in working with young children, creating nurturing, engaging, and inclusive learning environments that support their emotional, social, and creative development. She is dedicated to fostering positive relationships with children and encouraging confidence, curiosity, and self-expression through art-based learning.

"Art is a window for children to discover, explore and understand the world. When countless quirky souls and ideas come together, each child is an artist."

Linda has a passion for art since she was a child, and has tried many art media. Now studying at RMIT (Melbourne Royal Institute of Technology) pure art oil painting department. Not only oil painting, but also studied photography and ceramics production during his studies. Keeping close communication with contemporary art can bring extensive and interesting new inspiration to children.

"For me art is：Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly. This is the natural gift to a child but hardly preserves."

Amber currently studying in RMIT and majoring in architectural design.

developed skills in animation production and 3d modeling. Meanwhile, she has tried a variety of art elements in her productions. She loves both traditional classic arts and modern 3D visual arts. She believed that based on the combination of “modern” and “traditional” arts, it can bring massive inspiration to children’s creativity and breaking the intrinsic aesthetic views into a new realm.