Tom Parry
ARTISTS can be secluded individuals, often working alone for hours on end as they toil on their latest project.
They value their solitude, but equally, do appreciate the company of others every so often.
This is where the Sale Art Circle proves beneficial, offering a weekly social outlet for Gippsland’s creatively-minded souls.
The group was established by four friends, all fellow artists, in February 2021 with a view to re-establish social connections in the wake of the pandemic.
As co-founder Sandy Martin explained, the knowledge that people in the community were feeling isolated at the time was a “major reason” why the circle was formed.
“With the lockdowns, it really brought home how important it was for community to be together,” Ms Martin said.
“So we thought, ‘Well, let’s just have a go – let’s just try and set up a group’.”
Initial meetings took place in the Gwen Webb Centre on Market Street, but as the number of attendees increased, the circle soon outgrew the venue.
The cohort soon after moved to the Sale Showgrounds, where they were granted use of the committee room at the western end of the show-jumping arena.
That same room has since become their home ever since.
Meetings of the Sale Art Circle are held every Wednesday, with an average of 25 people attending each week.
Members come from all walks of life – many are retirees, having previously worked as a farmer, or a taxi driver, or an engineer.
Some are professional artists who have worked in the industry for several years; some simply view art as a hobby; others still are reacquainting themselves with the art world, having been side-tracked by other pursuits over the years.
One such member who falls into the latter category is Peter Gray, who joined the circle around nine months ago.
Mr Gray was a painter in his younger years, but after getting married and having children found there was “just no room for painting”.
“And then I took it up again when I… was at a house, and I saw this lady’s paintings and said, ‘Gee, these are pretty good.’ And she invited me to come along to an art group,” Mr Gray explained.
From there, he was paired with a teacher, also male, who taught Mr Gray the ins-and-outs of painting: “what I know now is all through him.”
At the meeting attended by the Gippsland Times just before Christmas, Mr Gray was working on a painting of his daughter-in-law in Italy, which he intended to present as a gift to its subject.
Photo: Tom Parry
While his talent is more than evident, an ever-humble Mr Gray admitted that he wasn’t entirely satisfied with the work-in-progress.
“I think I’m my own worst critic, really,” he said.
“I’m always not happy with this, not happy with that; trying to get to that perfection, I suppose, which I think all artists strive for.
“But you get to the point where you say, ‘I think that’s pretty good’.”
He is not the only painter in the circle – in fact, most attendees work with a brush, putting oils or acrylics on a surface of their choosing.
Yet Mr Gray is something of an outlier in another regard, in that he’s one of the few men in the group – a fact that is steadily being addressed by the arrival of more male artists.
Doug Beattie is one such individual, who joined the circle two months after Mr Gray, at the invitation of a female member.
When spoken to by the Times, Mr Beattie was working on a scenic painting of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, commissioned by “a very ardent Richmond supporter” who lives in London.
“I have done a previous MCG piece, which he has seen and admired, so he wanted his version,” Mr Beattie said.
Photo: Tom Parry
He spoke positively about the group, and the “familiarity” it provides.
“You can hear all the bubbling noise around and… I feed off that – it’s a great atmosphere,” he said
“I just love it – everyone goes at their own pace; I have a break every now and then, go and get myself a cup of tea or a cake or a biscuit; go and have a chat with various people…”
Mr Beattie’s thoughts are echoed by many, including fellow participant Annette Walker, who noted the “relaxed, sociable” environment of the circle.
She added that there was “no hierarchy” among the members, with everyone helping each other regardless of skill or experience.
“I’ve (had) people coming up, asking my advice on how to do stuff, and I just love that!” Ms Walker said.
“And I do the same – I go and ask someone, ‘How do you do that?’
“You’re picking up hints all the time, and it’s just delightful.”
This speaks to a further purpose of the Sale Art Circle – it’s an arena where artists can exchange ideas, receive feedback, or look for inspiration from others, whether it be for a painting, drawing, or watercolour artwork.
Photo: Tom Parry
Ms Martin said seeing the participants help each other is what she enjoys most about the circle.
“I think it’s an incredibly supportive group… and there’s that real sense of community, and that’s what we wanted Sale Art Circle to be,” she said.
Following a break over the summer, the circle has begun meeting again, and is hoping this year will be equally as successful as the last, if not more so.
Last year culminated in an exhibition at Bond Street Event Centre which, by Ms Martin’s estimation, saw more than 80 people attend.
“To get that many people just shows how supportive Sale and the district, the community is for community groups like ours,” Ms Martin said, indicating that Sale Art Circle could host similar events in future.
Ms Walker is one member who is most keen on hosting more exhibitions, “because there’s only so many paintings you can put on your wall at home, or under the bed!”
Sale Art Circle currently meets in the Committee Room at the Sale Showgrounds on Wednesdays between 10am and 3pm.
For more information, visit the official Sale Art Circle group on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/348012303007385/
You can also send an email to saleartcircle1@gmail.com
