The Farmer’s Wife and Her Fancy Hats—Author Reading and Workshop

Wednesday 13 January 2027

  • Cost— $15

Session 1: 10.00 to 11.00am (for ages 5 to 8 years)
Session 2: 1.30 to 3.00pm(for ages 9 to 12 years)

All children must be accompanied by an adult (accompanying adults do not need to purchase a ticket).

Join author, illustrator and designer Kai D’Orsa for a delightful workshop inspired by his picture book The Farmer’s Wife and Her Fancy Hats. Combining storytelling, drawing and imaginative design, this hands-on experience invites children to explore the joy of creative expression through words and pictures.

Following an interactive reading of the story, participants will discover illustration and character-design techniques before creating their own fanciful hat designs. Inspired by the imaginative spirit and playful observation found in the work of Eric Thake, young artists will be encouraged to see the extraordinary in the ordinary and transform everyday ideas into inventive creations.

About Kai D'Orsa

Kai D’Orsa is a Geelong-based designer, illustrator and author with a passion for storytelling and visual communication. While completing his Year 12 Visual Communication Design studies, he wrote, illustrated and self-published The Farmer’s Wife and Her Fancy Hats, exploring every stage of the creative process, from concept development and character design to illustration, book layout and publication.

Kai enjoys sharing his creative journey with others and hopes to inspire young people to embrace their imagination and discover the possibilities of art, design and storytelling. Kai has most recently appeared on the ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year program.

Geelong Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which the Gallery and its collections are located, the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to all Elders, past, present and emerging.