0°C | Tuesday April 29, 2025 
20 March 2025
By James Mullan
In the heart of Crows Nest, Ali Greene’s new Wave Art studio is making a splash. More than just an art studio, it’s a space where therapy and creativity collide, offering locals a chance to find their inner artist while riding the waves of life’s challenges.
For Greene, art has always played a huge role in her life, but she never got the opportunity to turn it into anything more than just a hobby or escape. Until now.
The idea for Wave Art sparked in the early hours of an April morning. Having struggled with complex post-traumatic stress disorder since 2017, Greene credits art therapy with helping her find her “happy place”.
The name Wave Art is personal for Greene, who has always found solace in the ocean. “I’ve always loved the ocean,” she said. “The movement, nothing’s the same in life, in waves. And so they are very symbolic to me.”
Greene combined her love of art with her background in early childhood education to create the studio. A North Shore local of more than 20 years, Crows Nest was the perfect location to set up shop.
Wave Art offers a range of art classes and activities for all ages, including preschool, after-school and holiday programs for kids, and adult classes where parents can join in the fun with their kids.
And it’s not just individuals who are finding their creative spark at Wave Art. Greene has seen a surge in “family fun” bookings, where parents, grandparents, and children can create together.
“I love the backroom. I’ve got a couple of mums that come in and they’ve got their tiny babies while their older child’s in the after-school program,” she said.
They also host kids’ birthday parties and private paint and sip parties, as well as special workshops and events, and will soon be offering art therapy and therapeutic art with watercolours.
“I’m very passionate about mental health,” said Greene. “So therapeutic art is something I want to introduce and do more of. We’ve started that with our watercolour Wednesday nights.”
Greene says she can see people transform when they participate in classes or sessions as they get lost in the world of art, which is where some of the therapeutic benefits come in. One of her favourite quotes comes from writer Thomas Morton: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” It’s not just the calming effect of art but as a creativity outlet and way for participants to sort out ideas in their mind.
Waveart paintings are also available for purchase as a great way to support their work with the community.
With its unique blend of art, therapy, and community spirit, Wave Art is proving to be a vital part of the Crows Nest landscape, offering a space where everyone can ride the waves of creativity.