Art Hall Group exhibits at regional gallery

Central Coast life drawing group, Art Hall Group, will host its annual exhibition of selected open genre works by members at the Gosford Regional Gallery from June 3-9.

It will showcase the works of artists in the group and celebrate one of the many art groups on the Central Coast creating community and connection for local artists.

The yearly exhibition gives members a chance to share their creations with art lovers in the community and visitors to the Coast.

Two of the exhibiting artists are Mike Worrall and Wendy Bills, who say they speak through the art they create in Art Hall, whether its life drawing, Bills’ fantasy-inspired art, or Worrall’s mysterious creations.

They have had different art journeys, both creating unique, ethereal and intriguing styles showcasing that art has different meanings for different people.

“My main source would be … drawing ideas from doodles and seeing something I can develop into a painting,” Worrall said.

He wants viewers to wonder what his paintings mean.

Bills learnt to paint at the Julian Ashton School in The Rocks.

She was taught to paint in the classical style, which she said gave her direction before she was encouraged to develop her own style.

This incorporates fantastical themes that allow the art to speak to people in unique ways that have meaning for the individual.

Her favourite themes often involve nature, and she likes to use materials from her garden to create her fantasy-themed works and paintings.

Worrall said he had learnt a lot during the years he has attended the life drawing sessions at Art Hall and finds drawing the human body a challenge each time.

He said he has made many friends in the other artists and models and recommends giving drawing the human figure a go.

For Bills, the group is about the diversity of friendships she has made, as well as learning that art and talent is not prescriptive and has many forms.

Art Hall, she says, is her “happy place”.

The group has been running for 30 years and meets at Potters Hall, East Gosford, on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 10am-1.30pm.

Meetings were originally held in local halls, or the houses of Janet Hoyer-Cobb, Paul Haggith and Mike Worrall, before the group grew.

During meetings the members, who are full-time artists, semi-professional artists, retired art teachers, aspiring artists and those who want to draw for fun, get to interact with Archibald finalists, self-taught artists and those with a love of drawing.

They use graphite, oil paint, watercolour acrylics, pastel and charcoal to turn out a range of different renderings, and work across different styles.

There are varying drawing styles in the group, which has more than 20 members.

“The sessions are ideal for new, aspiring artists to learn drawing techniques and mediums,” spokesperson John Brown said.

“Models embark on a range of poses, from warm-up to hour-long poses.”

Art Hall draws models from Sydney and the Central Coast, and is always open to new models and new, aspiring artists to come and learn and share their art journey.

Art Hall is one of several life drawing groups operating on the Central Coast.

The exhibition will include figurative work, landscapes and still life work.

The official opening will take place at 6pm on June 7 and entry during the week-long run is free.

The group can be found on Instagram @arthallgroup

Ashleigh Meikle