Angela McCormack, Arts Educator and Consultant
When Numeracy and Literacy are not enough...
· art · culture · meaning · SEEU™ ·
When you want to understand!
Understanding Art is a service and content provider that aims to help people see things clearly.
Through articles, professional learning and the SEEU™ Method, you'll learn how to interpret art, design and visual culture with confidence.
Whether you're an educator, artist, student or just curious about the world around you, Understanding Art provides the tools to make sense of both still and moving images that we interact with daily.
Understanding Art also supports you in making your life more beautiful, by helping you achieve a sense of pleasure and peace in your spaces at home or at work.
A simple framework for understanding art, design and visual culture.
Four Lenses, Not Four Steps
The SEEU™ Method isn't a linear process where you move from one stage to the next and finish. Instead, think of these as lenses you can switch between to sharpen your perception. Each lens offers a unique perspective, allowing you to build a richer, multi-layered understanding of any visual object.
S | SPOT
- What is the first thing you notice?
- Where does your eye travel first?
- What are the basic elements (color, shape, line) present?
- What is the immediate scale or medium?
E | EXPLORE
- What is the historical or cultural context?
- Who was the intended audience?
- What stories or symbols are being used?
- How does this connect to other works or ideas?
E | EXAMINE
- How are the parts related to the whole?
- What technical skills or materials were used?
- What is the composition or structure of the piece?
- Are there recurring patterns or contrasts?
U | UNDERSTAND
- What is the deeper meaning or purpose?
- How does the work make you feel or think?
- What is the creator's central message?
- How does this change your own perspective?
The Art of Seeing
Understanding Art
is a contemporary art, education, and lifestyle platform created by Angela McCormack.
Through articles, courses, visual literacy resources, travel stories,
styling insights,
and art-world commentary, Understanding Art helps you connect with art, culture, creativity, in ways that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful.
Understanding Art
Articles, workshops and practical resources that help you decode art, design and visual culture through the SEEU™ Method.
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Understanding Art Services
LEARN:
Professional Development - for Educators Primary & Secondary
Art Education - for Artists and Art students
Property Styling & Art Collecting - for Everyone
When there's so much to understand...ask me!
For Educators/Schools, Professional Artists & Students
Workshops for Art Educators / School Membership
Art Education Matters Membership: Monthly group coaching session, Resource library, Curriculum updates, Teacher Q&A $29–$49/month per teacher or $995–$2,995/year per school
Aligned with the Australian Curriculum and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, these sessions support educators to build confidence in teaching Visual Arts while creating rich learning experiences that inspire curiosity, imagination and lifelong engagement with the arts.
Ideal for: Schools, clusters, conferences, beginning teachers and experienced educators seeking fresh approaches to Visual Arts education.
*For groups larger than 30 participants, please contact Angela directly for a customised quotation.
Artist Development Session / Membership
Feeling Stuck? Receive personalised guidance from experienced visual arts educator and consultant Angela McCormack. Sessions are tailored to your individual practice and may include creative development, portfolio review, exhibition planning, artist statements, visual literacy, and professional practice support. 1.5hrs $170
3 Month Membership Available $597/month
Includes: 4 x 45-minute sessions per month: Weekly accountability, Portfolio feedback, Exhibition advice, Artist statement review, Chat support.
Creative Leadership & Strategy
Creative Leadership & Visual Culture
(When Literacy & Numeracy are not enough)
Designed for Primary and Secondary Middle Leaders, this strategic professional learning experience explores the role of creativity, visual culture and arts leadership in contemporary education.
Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in schools, curriculum development, teacher education and educational leadership, Angela McCormack supports leaders to strengthen teaching and learning, foster creative thinking and build cultures where innovation, originality and student voice can flourish.
Participants will examine current educational research, curriculum priorities, visual literacy and the practical realities of leading creative learning communities. Sessions combine strategic thinking with actionable classroom and leadership practices, helping educators confidently advocate for the value of the arts across their school communities.
Ideal For
• Heads of Department
• Curriculum Leaders
• Arts Coordinators
• Middle Leaders
• Deputy Principals
• Aspiring School Leaders
Investment
• Strategic Leadership Consultation (90 minutes): $395
• Half-Day Leadership Workshop: From $950
• Full-Day Leadership Program: From $1,850
• School Improvement & Curriculum Consultancy: Quote on Request
Art & Culture
Deep dives into visual storytelling and art history.
Understanding Contemporary Art
Develop confidence in interpreting the art of our time. Moving beyond 'I don't get it' into meaningful cultural engagement.
Understanding Art Collecting
Independent expert guidance for purchasing artwork, collection development, and styling projects that reflect personal storytelling.
Online Visual Storytelling Course
Enrol in an online Visual Storytelling Course, where you'll develop skills in crafting compelling narratives using visual media.
Practical Styling Advice for your Property
Home Styling Services
Home Staging Session
A five-hour hands-on transformation. I restyle your space through professional curation, furniture placement, and intricate aesthetic tuning for an immediate change in atmosphere.
Upcoming Service
New home styling service packages coming soon. Stay tuned for expert spatial curation and design consultations.
Stay Connected Through Our Visual Journey
Let's Collaborate
I want to connect with you.
Please reach out via email to propose a joint project, ask for advice, or explore how my expertise can elevate your specific project.
I look forward to our first conversation. To empower people to look past the surface and find meaning.
angela@understandingart.com.au
Enquiry
Let us create together
COMING SOON
UA Art Gallery
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Fine Art Photography | Limited Edition Collection
Coming soon to the Understanding Art website, Angela McCormack's Limited Edition Fine Art Photography Collection presents a carefully curated selection of photographic works that celebrate beauty, place, and visual storytelling.
Available as individual pieces or complementary pairings, each photograph is produced in strictly limited editions and designed to enhance residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces with character, atmosphere, and timeless appeal.
Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in visual arts education and image analysis, Angela creates photographs that invite viewers to look more closely and connect more deeply with the world around them.