Photos: Supplied.
Ever wanted to try something artistic, new, and exciting? Something like jelly printing or art journaling, Cricut, or bookbinding? Perhaps your taste is more towards portraiture, still life studies, or urban sketching? Or maybe you’ve a yen to try different media – oil painting, watercolours, pastels, acrylic, cyanotype, or block printing? Whatever your inner artist wants to try, there’s a good chance you’ll find a class or a workshop to suit at the Redlands Coast Art Society.
The Society has 10 tutors; six art teachers and four craft teachers, including award-winners and full-time professionals, and occasional guest tutors for specialist workshops. The membership experience is varied, with about 25 percent being experienced, established artists, and nearly half being beginners. Peter Wallach, the Society’s president, says that potential members are welcome to “try before they buy”.
“Our fees are very reasonable, with a lot of added benefits – but there’s no point in forking out for an annual membership if you don’t enjoy it, so we offer the first lesson free. Membership includes a free weekly portrait lesson, a free weekly urban sketching session, and free Art Jam sessions twice a month.”
The urban sketching sessions are in the open air and can be seascapes, landscapes, houses, and built environments, or – tutor Angela Bruce’s favourite – industrial and back-street structures. As well as seeing the beauty in a rusty fire escape, Angela appreciates the finer things in life and insists that, in choosing locations for the sketching sessions, proximity to a good coffee shop is a prime consideration.
IF the choice of artistic options is bewildering, it may be a good idea to visit an Art Jam, held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at the clubhouse, which is nestled into Capalaba’s Winter Memorial Park (the exterior murals make it easy to spot). Members gather there to work on their art, perhaps pick up hints from any tutors present, swap ideas, techniques, and inspiration, let the littlies loose in the playground, and have a good natter and a cup of tea. Members also have the opportunity to save on equipment at the Society’s de-stash days, when colleagues sell off art and craft tools that are surplus to their requirements.
For more information, check out the website www.redlandcoastartsociety.com.au/contact.
