For the month of June Cranbrook Arts is pleased to present a selection of paintings by the We Paint Group.

“WE PAINT” started out as a small group of painters. Twenty-two years ago, in Kimberley, there were four regular painters looking for an opportunity to paint on a regular basis. Going to workshops was great, but the learning and the practice was too sporadic. Having a place to paint more regularly was what was needed.

After about 10 years of meeting in someone’s house, they decided to come up with a name for the expanding group and move to new digs. When someone asked them what they did, the reply was, “We Paint!” It stuck! And, they moved into Kimberley’s Centre 64 Studio and continue to meet there every Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

There is still a core group of painters, as young as 14 and as old as ‘retired’; in fact, most of the painters are retired. Most members are women, but there are a few men who attend regularly. No masterpieces are expected, but some of the results are pretty darned good – it’s a broadly-based group who support each other wholeheartedly. You’ll find watercolors, acrylics, oils, ceramics, and abstracts in every conceivable format from abstract to realism.

“We Paint” has had several shows over the years at Centre 64 and at the Cranbrook Arts Council Gallery. Often local artists will put on workshops for the group and now and again members will share something they’ve just learned with the evening gathering.

Everyone is welcome to join the group; all you have to do is join Kimberley Arts Council, Centre 64 located on Deer Park Avenue. It will cost you $25 a year. Come and visit their new month-long show in Cranbrook at the Cranbrook Arts Council Gallery at 1013, Baker Street starting June 5.

If you would like to learn more about the We Paint group please join them on Saturday, June 9 at 2 p.m. for an opening reception.

Cranbrook Arts wrapped up its series of painting workshops with John de Jong this month. These workshops have been extremely popular and we recommend leaving your name on a contact list for when we hope they will start up again, in the Fall.

Our recent workshops of felting techniques with Barb Guillen, Mixed Media with Tara Mercer and Fabric Dyeing with Wendy Murdoch have all been popular. If you wish to see more of these workshops or have suggestions for new ones, please come into the Gallery and talk to Louise. We will be planning our Fall schedule soon.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a quiet relaxing half hour come and admire the work of our local artists and artisans.

Lead image: From Home Basin by Sue Pighin. Images submitted

Cranbrook Arts

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