Paintings are Off the Wall

As Don Smyth strives for perfection he gets a sense of satisfaction from creating every time he picks up a paintbrush.
Smyth, who has been president of the Masterton Art Club since March, joins four other artists in the Off the Wall exhibition that opens at 5.30 tonight with more than 20 paintings.
The exhibition combines the works of two experienced artists, Smyth and Anthea Crozier, and two newcomers, Helen Roberts and Diana Griffiths, and includes pieces from Elaine Hurndell as the guest.
The idea behind the occasion, held at Victoria Gallery, 12 Victoria Street, until Sunday, May 27, is to provide an opportunity for new artists to exhibit their work. Renovations at the clubrooms have delayed the event, past president Wendy Groves said.
Participating artist Smyth has worked all his life with his hands as a roofing contractor. He said it has been about 15 years since his practical labour took an artistic turn when he "just felt like taking it (art) up", and has continued along that path because of what the craft offers him.
"I just get satisfaction out of doing it ? a sense of achievement. It was a challenge," he said.
It seems for Smyth the challenge is never really met because he continues to strive for that elusive perfection. "With art, you never, ever get anywhere because you're learning all the time. Every time you do one (an art piece) it's not good enough so you have to do another one."
By taking over the presidential role Smyth hopes to enable the club to move forward by furthering its promotion of art especially in its more diverse forms, a journey which started this year with a copper sculpture demonstration day last month and continues with a similar event in mosaics next month.
With the addition of mass-produced paintings from China and Hong Kong to the market there's tough competition for the club, Smyth said, but there'll always be a place for the Masterton Art Club.
"They're just cheap, mass-produced artworks, whereas where a person buys an artwork from a club like this they're buying a one-off painting," he said.
It's more than 60 years since the beginnings of the club, which has a membership of about 120, hailing from all over Wairarapa, stretching from Featherston to Eketahuna.
Mrs Groves said the start of the club in 1941, preceded by the launch of the sketching club in 1921, gives the art group a place in Masterton's history.
"We are extremely proud that we can carry on an activity that brings enjoyment to both its members and the public as well as to introduce art in its many forms to people in the community," she said.