Raglan: Self-discovery arts trail will feature creations from 35 artists in a range of media

The Raglan Arts Weekend preview exhibition is at the Old School Arts Centre where trail maps are available. It is open week days from 10am until 2pm until October 26. Photo / Supplied

Raglan is gearing up as the place to be over Labour Weekend with the highly anticipated Raglan Arts Weekend, now in its 11th year, ready to wow visitors.

The 35 registered artists have been hard at work over lockdown and beyond, and many of them will be showcasing not only new artworks, but also new techniques, born out of a long period of being shut away from many distractions.

Take internationally acclaimed artist Sam Mathers, whose lockdown journey has resulted in a collection that's a marked step away from his signature nautical style.

Arts trail visitors will also be spoilt for choice with a diverse and engaging range of media including surfboard carving. Photo / Supplied

It incorporates layers of new elements and free expression where Sam has "let loose", as he describes it.

Then there's Jane Galloway and Claudia Grutke, both having completed the Art2life Creative Visionary Programme run by Californian artist Nicholas Wilton.

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Both have been experimenting with mixed media collage, and for Jane – a more abstract style than her familiar detailed realist paintings.

"I'm finding that people are keen to get their hands on a lockdown inspired artwork as a physical snapshot of a very difficult time in the world," says another RAW favourite, Toni Kingstone, who has sold a number of new artworks since RAW's Easter event was postponed.

There is a diverse and engaging range of media including stone sculpture, metal work, airbrushing, mosaic art, steel forgery, surfboard carving, ceramics, taxidermy, and photography. Photo / Supplied.

Her favourite tool has been a palette knife to create marbled effects and complex colour combinations in her new fluid acrylic and resin work.

Nine new artists have joined the trail this year, and visitors will also be spoilt for choice with a diverse and engaging range of media including stone sculpture, metal work, airbrushing, mosaic art, steel forgery, surfboard carving, ceramics, taxidermy, wood furniture, fine jewellery, digital fine art, painting and photography.

"It's a self-discovery trail with approximately half of the artist studios accessible by foot within the main township," says RAW co-ordinator Nicky Brzeska.

"The remaining studios are mostly in clusters a stone's throw away so it's very possible to see the majority of our talent over the three days," she says.

Arts trail visitors will also be spoilt for choice with a diverse and engaging range of media. Photo / Supplied

Raglan Shuttle will be running a ticketed shuttle from the town centre to the wharf where you can visit Tony Sly, and see Rick Youmans in action with live painting of semi-abstract emotive watercolour and ink paintings of the Raglan coast.

They will also be running a daily shuttle tour to visit the RAW artist studios, east on Saturday and west on Sunday.

Visitors are encouraged to pick up a trail map from the Old School Arts Centre, and check out the "Talking about Climate Change" Preview Exhibition, open weekdays 10am until 2pm until the end of RAW.

• RAW will be held over Labour Weekend from Saturday, October 24 to Monday, October 26. Most studios will be open 10am until 5pm for the three days, with some closing at 3pm. Raglan Arts Weekend is presented by the Raglan Community Arts Council.