Drawn Together

An Exhibition by the Port Macquarie Art & Craft Centre Artists

at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery

November 2016

PORT MACQUARIE ART & CRAFT CENTRE INC.

Potted HistoryOur Centre was formed in 1974, when Dorothy and Jack Hope of Thrumster Village Pottery called a Public Meeting, which was attended by people who al-ready had separate groups of Potters, Spinners & Weavers, Lapidary and Screen Printers, who had been meeting in each other’s homes and elsewhere to engage in their particular crafts. The meeting decided to form the Hastings Community Craft Centre and elected a committee, with aims and objectives, and to find a suitable venue in which members could meet regularly in a friendly and sociable atmosphere to participate in their crafts, teaching and learning new techniques from each other. After intense fund-raising efforts, the current building was constructed by those members and volunteers at Thrumster. It was a one-room building oc-cupied in 1976 with some 40 members—initially only two groups—Spinners & Weavers and Lapidary. In 1977, a Pottery group was formed, with a borrowed potters’ wheel. In 1978 the Hastings Community Centre was affiliated with the Craft Council of NSW, opening the way for financial assistance in the form of grants, etc., to fund workshops at the Centre. As membership increased, expansion and re-location to a more cen-tralised location became necessary. In 1980, the one-room building was moved to the current site after reaching a membership of 80 with more craft groups joining the Centre. Then, this studio became overcrowded, resulting in another studio being built and occupied in 1983, while the first room reverted to use by pottery and lapidary. Our current seven art and craft groups (including Lapidary, Leather-work, Pottery, Spinning, Weaving and Woodwork) now have a larger building in which to meet, socialize and indulge in the crafts which interest them, in an atmosphere of like-minded people. Forty years on, we have approximately 100 members.

Address: Cnr Gordon St & Lake Rd, Port MacquariePhone: 6584 5169

PORT MACQUARIE ART & CRAFT CENTRE ART GROUPS

‘DRAWN TOGETHER’This exhibition will showcase the artistic talent of the members of the Port Macquarie Art & Craft Centre art groups. Featuring ap-proximately 40 current members of the Art Groups, a selection of recent works will be presented for show.

‘Drawn Together’ relates to this vibrant and enthusiastic group of people who are drawn together in their artistic pursuits.

The Centre fulfils a need in the community for people with artistic interests and talents to meet and work together in a non-profit, helpful and friendly environment. They have the opportunity to develop their own ideas and styles and exhange these ideas with fellow artists.

With regular weekly meetings for Portrait Painting, Life Draw-ing, Painting and Drawing and Sculpture, these groups now play a major part in the Port Macquarie art community.

The original Centre was established at Thrumster on 26th Oc-tober, 1974 by a group of potters. It was built by volunteers and moved to its current site on Gordon Street in 1980. Then two more rooms and later a woodworking room were added—all built by volunteers. Art groups were included at the centre in 1984.

In 2014 we celebrated our 40th Anniversary.

Lorna WilboreArtist’s Statement

The two portraits that I have submit-ted were done in one of my portrai-ture classes. My portraiture has not been influenced by any particular artist, and I developed my style over a number of years, where I attended sketching classes in a few different environments.

Peter (detail)

Jean (detail)

Chris TyndallArtist’s Statement

These two portraits are representa-tive of my sketching from life. They are both composed in conte pastel on ‘metont’ textured paper. The tex-ture allows changes without erasure, and smudging the pastel smooths the texture of skin, especially in the shadows. The lighting at the portrait set-up produces a shadow on the left of the subject and a light smudge un-der the left eye—called “Rembrandt Lighting”

Jo (detail)

Mark (detail)

List of Artists

Elizabeth AsperyHelen Barrett

Heather ChettleMargaret ChristianGillian Collinson

Jackie DeaneBarbara Eustace

Henry FieldDee Fitton

Erica FouardKay Garven

Lorraine GibsonBarry JohnsonLorraine Neill

Kevin Nivison-SmithGeoff ThorleyChris TyndallLorna Wilbore

Elizabeth AsperyArtist’s statement

Having always loved art and craft joining the PMACC has been one of the best things that I have done. PMACC is a great place to explore your artistic talents amongst other likewise people. It is also a place where people are open to forming new friendships. I have been painting for about 5 years. Before this, family and work commitments made it impossible. I have also taken an interest in pottery, creating small pieces to use in my art work. I paint in acrylic as it suits my nature. I tried oils but couldn’t wait for the oils to dry and would usually end up with a grey painting. Acrylic dries quickly so you can build your painting knowing what it is going to look like. Originally from Sydney, I visited Port Macquarie many times a year for 25 years. I became a permanent resident here 4 years ago and love it. Best move I ever made.

Sunset on the Limpopo River, Botswana. (detail)

Geoff ThorleyArtist’s Statement

I am a new member, who enjoys the challenge of putting on canvas the beauty of our Australian landscape—at times with a humourous bent. i also enjoy the company of other artists.

Home Sweet Home (detail)

No Wind Today (detail)

Helen BarrettArtist’s Statement

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of every day life” Pablo PicassoHelen’s love of art began in child-hood. She always had an eye for detail which led to a career in graphic art.Helen enjoys working in graphite, charcoal, pastels and acrylic. She is a member of a portrai-ture group which meets at the Art and Craft Centre, Gordon Street on Wednesdays 2.00 – 4.00 pm to prac-tise working from a model.

Clementine (detail)

Lance (detail)

Kevin Nivison-SmithArtist’s Statement

I have been coming to the Art and Craft Centre in Port Macquarie for a number of years now. I really enjoy the company of people who share my interest in art and especially drawing and watercolour painting.I spend most of my time sketching in either black pencil or sometimes watercolour pencils. The drawings are mostly scenes of outback Australia and old buildings, but also birds and animals from time to time. The peace and quiet of the Centre with everyone concentrating on their art work is very different to the life I knew while in the Federal Police based mostly in Canberra. I hope you enjoy this exhibition which I am pleased to play a small part in.

Bird on a Branch (detail)

Country Scene (detail)

Lorraine NeillArtist’s Statement

I have had a life-long interest in Art, from the age of 3. This comes from a keen interest in nature and people. My work reflects a variety of subjects in different mediums. I belong to the Portrait group at the Port Macquarie Art and Craft Centre. I find that watercolour is an exciting medium to use. The spon-taneity of a wash of colour that is so fluid and capricious makes it a chal-lenge to control. When the desired effect is mastered, as if by accident, there is a feeling of success...and re-lief. This “freshness” helps to add life to the finished portrait.

Man with Hat (detail)

Girl with blond hair (detail)

Heather ChettleArtist’s Statement

I am currently practising my art by concentrating on portraits of people.I am very interested in the huge vari-ety of patterns in people’s faces. Each one of us has the same elements in our faces—eyes, noses, nostrils, ears, brows, chin, etc., but there is such a huge variation to each of those ele-ments, which give each face a particu-lar character—each face and attitude of seating, tell us so much about the mood of the sitter. I work in pencil, watercolour and gouache.

Sandra (detail)

Mark (detail)

Margaret ChristianArtist’s Statement

Now living in Port Macquarie after having lived many years on Norfolk Island, I delight in expressing the family history of those times in my artwork. Through my paintings I share these memories with my family, espe-cially my grandchildren. I take great pleasure in being able to give many of these paintings to them.

My Norfolk Home (detail)

Norfolk Scene (detail)

Barry JohnsonArtist‘s Statement

I have always liked to draw and since my late teens have had an interest in art generally. I began painting when I was a student and continued to paint, mostly in oils, during my working life but not nearly as much as I would have liked. Since retiring and especially since coming to Port Macquarie just over six years ago I have been doing much more. I joined the painting group at the Art and Craft Centre six years ago. I enjoy the challenge of the portrait work and slowly what I produce is getting better. At the Thursday group I mostly paint landscapes, very often in pastel but also in oils. Within the art group we all learn from each other and enjoy the friendship of people with a common interest. Like all artists I am never satisfied with what I do but it is still a tremendously fulfilling and challeng-ing interest. I hope to continue paint-ing for many years and who knows I may get nearer the standard I would like to achieve.

The Amphitheatre near Palm Valley NT (detail)

San Girnignano, Tuscany (detail)

Lorraine GibsonArtist’s Statement

Like many women, I have come back to art after raising a family, and, fol-lowing a busy career. My work life as a social anthropologist meant that I was able to spend extended periods of time working and living with vari-ous regional and rural communities across New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The influence of a life enhancing sixteen months living and working in Alice Springs can be seen in the paintings shown in this exhibition. My move to Port Macquarie a couple of years ago has provided the opportunity to slow down and scale back my work commitments. I am now enjoying ‘working’ at making art at home and also with groups such as ‘Thursday Group’ at the PM Art & Craft Centre. My earlier paintings concen-trated mostly on still life and portraits working in oils, charcoal and pencil. While I still very much enjoy paint-ing still life, my subject matter has broadened in both content, form and media. As such, I now enjoy work-ing with acrylics, pastels, and mixed media with forms now including the naive (as shown) and abstract expres-sionism.

Peace in the Valley (detail)

One More Broken Toyota(detail)

Gillian CollinsonArtist’s Statement

I am only at the beginning of my artistic journey into portraiture.I prefer charcoal as a medium be-cause of its flexibility, so I can use my fingers to rub it into the surface.In portraiture there is a continuous challenge to capture the fundamental nature of the model. It is a great pleasure to be able to draw from life.

Noel (detail)

Woman with Sax (detail)

Jackie DeaneArtist’s Statement

My artwork has always been about the diversity, colour and beauty of the landscape. I try to convey my feelings to the viewer by the use of colour and texture to create visual pleasure.I work in all mediums, oil paint, acrylic paint, pastel, watercolour and mixed medium. Being a member of the Port Macquarie Art and Craft Centre gives me the opportunity to enjoy working in a friendly environment with crea-tive people who take pleasure in help-ing, learning and working together.

Kay GarvenArtist’s Statement

I am constantly fascinated by the two-hour challenge of capturing the image of a model’s face or figure. Adding to this is the choice of medium which I decided to use—pencil, charcoal, pastel, acrylic or watercolour—de-pending on the aura of the model or the level of creativity I feel on the day. Then there is knowing when to stop to prevent the spontaneity of the im-age being lost. What a challenge every Wednesday afternoon at our Art Group!

Fisherman (detail)

The Birthday Present (detail)

Man in Black (detail)

Relaxing (detail)

Erica FouardArtist’s Statement

2015 was the year that I came to Port Macquarie from Sydney. I joined the Port Macquarie Art & Craft Centre to paint watercolours and acrylics and to make a few friends. Now I’m looking forward to Thursdays to get together, have a chat and paint. It’s a hobby of mine that I’m very enthusiastic about. I love painting seascapes and flowers because of the endless varia-tions of colour and techniques.

Barbara EustaceArtist’s Statement

In art, it is the journey we take that is all important—toying with an idea, experimenting, finding new ways to approach a problem. As in travel, the route might be more interesting than the destina-tion. And as Dali put it—“Have no fear of perfection, it’s an illusion, you’ll never reach it.”

Plants and Flowers (detail)

Study in Black & White A(detail)

Study in Black & White B(detail)

We would also like to thank all those wonderful people who have modelled for us over the years as we practise our skills in

portraiture We are constantly in need of portrait models--people to

sit for 2 hours on a Wednesday afternoon so we can hone our skills, and continue our work.

Please phone Heather Chettle on 6583 2736, or Henry Field on 0468 937 754

to let us know when you can sit for us.

Henry FieldArtist’s Statement

For the last two decades I have been atttending various art groups at the Port Macquarie Art and Craft Centre. It gave me the opportunity to prac-tise my art in the company of others, learning and progressing while hon-ing my skills. To create a portrait from a life model is still a complex challenge with no guarantee of success. My pre-ferred medium for portraiture is soft pastel.

Dee FittonArtist’s Statement

I have lived in Port for nearly two years and joined the Art Group in 2015. My passion is painting ani-mals. I love bringing their faces to life.

Miranda (detail)

Kerrie (detail)

Meggi Mai (detail)

Hutchy (detail)