Coastal connections and inspirational works brush up at exhibit

THE Bayview Artists of Portarlington will share a collaboration of their work inspired by coastal connections, as well as personal inspirational works, during an upcoming exhibition.

The enthusiastic artists, who meet each week in the Bayview Room at Parks Hall, will display up to 60 works at The Eastern Hub from March 15 to April 3.

Co-ordinator Elise Clements said the exhibition would feature landscape paintings, seascape, flowers and more … whatever the artists chose to paint, and in all different mediums such as oils, pastels, acrylics and water colours.

Ms Clements said the artists refused to put their brushes down during COVID, and instead continued to paint in their own homes, connecting with one another over the internet each week.

After painting together for many years, Ms Clements said the group enjoyed being supported by one another, the camaraderie, and she joked that they had never had a fight.

“We started off because I was doing an art class somewhere else and the art teacher had her property for sale and the classes were there in Indented Head, and every class I’d drive up thinking, ‘please don’t be sold and one day it did’, and I was aghast,” Ms Clements said.

“So myself, Robert and two others started at my house, so we just painted there without anybody, and then a little gallery opened in Portarlington, so we went there because there was more space, and then Sue came on board as mentor and we’ve been going ever since.”

The artists sell their pieces at Portarlington Drysdale Lions Club’s monthly market, and also welcome requests.

The exhibition will take place at Rachinger Gallery, Eastern Hub, 285A McKillop Street, East Geelong, from 9am to 5pm weekdays and 9am to 3pm on Saturdays.

Seascape paintings will be among the offering, as well as landscapes and flowers.