Colourful display for Cranbourne library

Berwick Artist Society's Helen Anderson shows off some of her paintings. Photo: STEWART CHAMBERS 286324_06

By Eleanor Wilson

Art lovers are invited to Cranbourne Library next month, as the Berwick Artists Society presents its annual art show.

After taking a Covid-induced hiatus, 35 society members will have their works on display for sale at the library from 4 to 30 July.

Berwick Artists Society treasurer Helen Anderson said visitors can also chat to art demonstrators, who will be painting and offering painting tips and advice throughout the exhibition.

“The public are welcome to just come in and chat to the demonstrator or ask them questions if they wish to,” she said.

Mrs Anderson also encouraged locals with an interest in art to consider joining the society.

“We meet every Thursday and spend the day painting at the Old Cheese Factory,” she said.

“I actually joined when I came from Sydney because I didn’t know anyone in Melbourne and the people are very social and they give you advice on what’s working with your painting and what’s not.”

Despite showing great talent with a paintbrush, Mrs Anderson said her personal love for painting only came to fruition later on in her life.

“I was always told by my art teacher that I couldn’t paint and so I spent the next 40 years thinking I wasn’t any good,” she said.

Decades later, while living in Sydney, Mrs Anderson enrolled in a course in silk screen painting.

After the course had finished, she took some of the paintings to a framer, who offered to sell them to the public.

“I was shocked, I was told I couldn’t paint, lets face it,” she said.

“Since then, I’ve had solo exhibitions to raise money for different causes and I began painting in acrylics.”

Mrs Anderson’s paintings, along with other artists’ works from the Berwick Artists Society, will be up for sale at the exhibition next month.