Visitors to the opening night of the art exhibition check out some of the work on display.
Visitors to the opening night of the art exhibition check out some of the work on display.
Dannevirke's Diane Clayton began painting to relieve the stress of a busy life and, now 18 months on, she's an award-winner.
Mrs Clayton won the Heather Foote Trophy with her much-admired bovine beauty Margareta on the opening night of the Dannevirke Art Society's annual exhibition.
Mrs Clayton, exhibiting for thefirst time, told the Dannevirke News she was excited to see her work on display.
"Art for me is therapy. I'm a therapist so I paint," she said.
The Heather Foote Trophy, for artists with fewer than four years' experience, has been presented for the past 10 years in memory of Mrs Foote, a founding member of the art society.
"All artists have to start somewhere," her son, Maurice, said. "Mum started sitting in a caravan in Taupo. The boys would go fishing and Mum would paint. I can still see her working on one of her first pencil sketches. Ken (brother) and I have wardrobes full of her paintings, all in different mediums, and Dad even got involved in making easels in a shed out the back."
Mr Foote said Mrs Clayton's winning artwork showed a wonderful attention to detail.
BRUSH STROKES: Diane Clayton, winner of the Heather Foote Trophy, and Maurice Foote at the opening night of the Dannevirke Art Society's annual exhibition last Friday. PHOTOS/CHRISTINE McKAY
Elinor Hughes, the winner of the Dannevirke News Rosebowl last won an award at the annual exhibition in 1990.
With the theme for the open section Anything Goes, she said her inspiration for Cyclone was colour.
"At first I thought I'd do a big, red exclamation mark," she said. "But then I reconsidered and Cyclone was the result. The judge (Elspeth Atkinson) said she liked the way I'd composed the work."
This was the 54th annual exhibition of the art society and the first time it had been staged in the new produce hall at the A&P Showgrounds.
"This new venue has made quite a difference," art society member Mike Harold said.
"It's been a whole lot easier working to stage it in here. Janet Last has had a big job in staging the exhibition with her team.
"Sometimes it works like clockwork, but someone needs to wind the clock."
Mr Harold said he was proud to be a member of the group which encourages new members.
"The work they are doing is cool," he said.
Tararua District Mayor Roly Ellis said he was impressed with the array of paintings exhibited, as well as the number of new members. "I'm pleased for the club because so many other clubs are finding it difficult to get members," he said.
"I always appreciate those people who put their names forward to volunteer."
• The Dannevirke Art Society's exhibition is open 10am to 4pm through until Sunday, October 19, with a late night to 7pm on Saturday, October 18. Free entry.
Dannevirke Art Society award winners:
Dannevirke News Rosebowl, Elinor Hughes, Cyclone 1; Janet Last Mystery Man 2; Mavis Easton Impressionist Poppy 3. Merit awards, Mike Harold; Elinor Hughes.
