Members of the Mannin Art Group, whose works have been exhibited at the Manx Museum to mark the Group’s 60th anniversary, recently shared their creative expertise with young artists.
The series of workshops, held during half term, gave participants a chance to try out a range of techniques and be inspired by art.
Over 150 children and adults attended the ten individual workshops to learn about the range of media and techniques used by talented artists within the Manx art community. The workshops had a different theme each day, ranging from having fun with poster paints to having fun with perspective.
Within the workshop, participants first had a look at exhibition at the Manx Museum to help them identify with the artists’ work. They were then taken to meet the artists who helped them to create an individual work of art of their own.
Anthea Young, Manx National Heritage Education Services Officer, said, "I would like to say a big thank you to Daphne MacOwan, Anne Pitts, Judi Rivlin, Hilary Summerscales and Jean Buck for all of their enthusiasm and hard work last week.
"Children and adults alike enjoyed participating in the workshops which ranged from still life drawings to silk painting. The works created by the visitors were astonishing. It was wonderful to see established artists conveying their passion for their art to budding new artists.
"Throughout the workshops, visitors themselves became the subject of attention as artists Mona Clague and Ann Heath sketched those participating in their workshops."
Ann Heath from the Mannin Art Group commented, "I love drawing children of any age from babies upward so it was with great pleasure that I agreed to try to record one of the workshops. Children are so natural that they compose themselves unselfconciously into well balanced groups.
"They were lovely children and very well-behaved, completely engrossed in their work. It was only during the last half hour or so that some of them noticed what I was doing and wanted to have a look. The whole thing was a most agreeable experience that I would have been sorry to miss."
Mona Clague, also from the Mannin Art Group, added, "I enjoyed sketching the children at work, they were very enthusiastic, having a go at pastels. They did not stay still for me of course, far too busy!"
The exhibition of the members’ art is still on at the Manx Museum and continues to Saturday 1st May 2010. The exhibition gives you the chance to see art work from the current members of the Mannin Art Group alongside the paintings from the past members which include Hoggatt and Aitken.
Pictured: Katie Richardson, 5, takes up her paintbrush.
