Creativity and ‘sketchy’ company in nature

STEPPING into the great outdoors with art supplies and cups of coffee is proving an ideal way to spend a day for a group of Bannockburn area locals.

For the past nine months or so, members of Golden Plains Arts Sketchers, a sub-group of Golden Plains Arts, have been doing just that, sometimes adding lunch as well.

Every second Tuesday from about 9am to 12.30pm the likeminded group gets out into a scenic location, generally within the shire area, to get creative together.

“We usually get six to eight at any one time,” said group coordinator Pete Hooper.

“I enjoy the company of the others and the beauty of the surrounds.”

Hooper selects the locations, and personally enjoys capturing architectural structures.

The group is welcoming new members, and participant Deidre Bain said all are encouraging of others’ artistic endeavours.

“Our sketchers group grew out of the Brisbane Ranges sketchers group which decided they wouldn’t keep going,” she said.

“So Pete came up with the proposal that we run our own Bannockburn sketchers group.

“We’ve been to quite a few different places. We’ve been down on the Barwon River on a private property sketching the river and we’ve been out to Barwon Mansion sketching both outside and inside the mansion, courtesy of the National Trust.

“We’ve sketched paddocks with haystacks and some of those sketches turned out really well.

“We’ve done the Bannockburn Railway Station, and right now we’re having our third session at Clyde Park including the vineyards.

“Yes, it is plein air which is French for open air. It’s just enjoying nature really, our beautiful country, our valley and trees and birdlife.”

Plans into the future include a visit to the Ballarat Wildlife Park to try sketching some of the inhabitants, and to create work in the cooler months for the next Golden Plains Arts exhibition in Spring.

Those keen to know more can email [email protected] or [email protected]