Spring on show at Valentine’s

THE four resident artists at Valentine’s Antique Gallery have joined forces to share their creative take on the spring season.

In their first group exhibition, Alicia Thomas, Sarah Wallace-Smith, Lauren Starr and Sylvia Hewitt celebrate Spring and All.

“We wanted to do something together because we all enjoy each other’s work, company and support,” Thomas said.

“Spring seemed like an ideal time to have a fresh start, coming out of lockdown and into a period where people are vaccinated and opening up all sorts of opportunities that haven’t been there for the last year.”

She didn’t need to look far for seasonal inspiration for her paintings and drawings, with her contributions to the show highlighting her favourite spring offerings.

“I looked around at home at the things I’ve been enjoying with spring, the colour of the sky and blossoms coming out, baby magpies and mothers feeding them,” she said.

Queensland-born artist Hewitt used collagraphy, a form of print making, to showcase the natural surrounds of her new home.

“Coming down here the trees are just amazing,” she said. “Every time I’m driving down the street I go ‘oh look at that!’”

For fine art photographer Starr, it was a process of collecting flowers from Libertine Florist, and the gardens of her mother and Hewitt, for her pieces.

Wallace-Smith’s multi-media works use kitchen tiles to explore her perspective of the season, along with plant and bird imagery.

“Lots of problems are solved in the kitchen, there’s new beginnings, new starts, family, spring, it all happens there,” she said.

The works will be on show until 25 November and attendees also have the chance to view the artists’ studios, where cafe vouchers have been hidden among their pieces.

“It’s good fun,” Wallace-Smith said. “I think most people are interested to see. They love to see the process and where you’re doing it. It inspires people.”