Different strokes

Whether you were born with a brush in your hand, or feel as though you have two left thumbs, there is always a place for you around the table in an artistically nurturing environment where you can try your hand at producing your own masterpieces, EMMA GOODWIN reports.

There's  the smell of paint in the air and an atmosphere of quiet concentration as 15 artistic minds go about the business of creating something from nothing other than imagination, or a photograph or two propped up on the trestle table in front of them.

Occasional hushed conversations are conducted between friends, but most of those here are hunched silently over their work, occasionally leaning back to critique it.

Heads turn to the side for a view from a slightly different angle, eyes squint a little, and then shoulders drop back to their original position and the work continues.

Canvases large and small are dotted around the room, and various styles and media are represented around two trestle tables, sensibly covered with plastic for protection.

Along with the pieces of work in hand on the table tops are boxes of pastels, tubes of paint, pots of water, clusters of brushes and pencils, and the occasional sponge, all in a state of organised chaos.

Everyone knows what belongs to whom, but to the spectator it's a diorama of disorder.

It's a busy Tuesday morning at the Feilding and Districts Arts Centre.

This is one of what are called "have a go mornings", which see artists from Manawatu and the surrounding areas dropping in to work alongside fellow artists, for a little company or some additional creative input.

There is usually an artist in residence on hand to help with advice and technique.

Centre manager Cynthia Drake says people come either for the company or because there is assistance on hand.

"Some of the people here have been coming for four years or more.

"There's a range of abilities – some are beginners and some are very competent.

"You can bring along anything you are working on at the moment, work at your own pace, and enjoy the company of fellow artists."

The society moved to the premises after some strong lobbying in 2003 from the Feilding and District Arts Society to the Manawatu District Council, to find local artists a permanent home.

This resulted in the society taking over the former Rangitikei Club in Kimbolton Rd. Since then, the permanent home for local artists has gone from strength to strength.

Enid Roberts takes a step back from her easel and sits down to contemplate her work.

It's her third week working on the piece, which depicts a scene of the Manawatu River. Dabs of colour have been built up on the large canvas, which dwarfs the petite artist, who has a look of determination on her face that makes you believe she is battling to ensure she gets it just right.

"It's from a photo I took when walking through the Gorge, but it's from a slightly different perspective than people are used to seeing.

"It's from the Ballance side."

Mrs Roberts is a life-long artist who has taken some sabbaticals during her love affair with art.

Originally from Bristol, England, now living in Ashhurst, she studied art at the West England College of Art but took breaks from her first love to have children and to do other things that popped up in her life from time to time.

"I have been back in touch with it now, though, pretty consistently for the past 15 years."

Her painting is the first in a series of four scenes between Woodville and Ashhurst, which will be painted from photos taken along the gorge walk.

"I'm going to paint scenes walking one way and then scenes walking the other way.

"I only like to paint places I know that I have a connection with."

Accomplished in working with pastels and oils, Mrs Roberts says the right medium pops into her head after she gets the idea for a painting.

"The depth of colour and richness of oils works well with this type of work. Pastels are totally different."

Feilding artist Gael Gamble is working on a beach scene that is a composition of a photo she took of the north end of Waihi Beach, combined with a picture of sand dunes from a book.

"The dunes in the photo don't look that nice – they're a bit dirty-looking – so I'm using some inspiration from these, and they're much prettier."

There's a little artistic licence in the placement of other landmarks, but it's working well and shows the talent that Mrs Gamble possesses, in that she can seamlessly blend two scenes into one. "I tend to combine pictures to make something unique."

A conversation starts around the table about a magazine competition where the winner copied a work.

There's an air of disparagement about the plagiarism, and the general consensus is that while gaining inspiration from someone's work is one thing, blatant copying is not on.

The competition winner is unknown to those in the room, but the creator of the work that was plagiarised is highly regarded.

Another artist, who shall remain nameless for fear of ruining a surprise gift, is completing a wedding present in pastels for a friend. Whoever the recepient is will surely be delighted with this personal work, which has taken far longer to achieve than running into a homewares store and picking up a toaster for the happy couple.

It's now getting close to lunch, and many of the artists start to pack up their brushes and canvases to head home.

Those who have brought their own stools to sit on tuck them under one arm and head for the door, clutching the tools of their creative passion to their chests.

A few like to stay for lunch and a little extra conversation at a nearby cafe. This is a social time for many who either live alone or want to talk about art.

Accompanied by agreements to catch up later in the week, and appreciative nods at unfinished work, the group disperses for another week, trickling out to join the lunch-time crowd thronging the streets of Feilding.

- © Fairfax NZ News