This exhibition by Nillumbik U3A Eltham painters will be officially opened by Sarah Hammond, from Nillumbik Council, on 18th April. It will then continue until mid-June.

The exhibition focuses on the work of well-known local and international artists as seen through the eyes of Nillumbik U3A Eltham painters. The artists researched include Annameike Mein, Cressida Campbell, David Moore, Egon Shiel, Hilary Jackman, Joy Hester and Mirka Mora and our painters were inspired to produce canvases featuring their favourite artists’ portraits and works. The resulting collection reflects U3A members’ individual painting styles and pays homage to their artistic ‘greats.’

At Bridges Restaurant. The restaurant venue offers visitors the opportunity both to browse through the exhibition and perhaps to stay on to purchase food and/or drinks in a bushland setting. Just turn up.

During the recent break, Karen Redrup, Judy Vizzari, Leanne Ipsen and Val Harrop hung a variety of new art works in our Office. The featured artists include Brenda Smith, Colleen Hall, Carlos Serrano, Chris Hatters, Doris Beerman, Dennis Smedley, Jenni Bull, Jo Ball, Joan Denison, Judy Vizzari and Leanne Ipsen. As discussed in the last Gibber Gabber, there are also numerous zentangles.

On 27th July, our Eltham Arts Groups joined forces to paint the material for a Rainbow Serpent banner for Eltham Bookshop. Once dry, they will sew it and fill it with stuffing. After it is sewn, only small segments may be seen above the bookshelves but it was a great team building effort.

On seeing the banner, Meera Govil from the bookshop responded “This is incredible Leanne and team … We must celebrate the awakening of the serpent … I will try and make that the opening day for the bookshop’s new space.”

Many members, volunteer workers and newcomers visit our Office at Eltham Central Pavilion and we’re happy to know that our members’ art and crafts on display there have been noted, enjoyed and, in some cases, sold.

So it was with enthusiasm that Karen Redrup, Val Harrop and I took time during the recent term break to remove the existing exhibits and replace them with an eclectic range of landscapes, still life and abstract works. They aimed once again to enhance the rooms occupied by hour hard-working administrative volunteers and to enable visitors to admire and, perhaps to purchase, the artwork on display.

So, if you’re visiting the Office, or even just passing by, have a look at the new art, and perhaps even consider purchasing one of the pieces.

Thanks to all the artists who have contributed to the display (Jo Ball, Patricia Bulmer, Leanne Ipsen, Teresa Mancino, Joy Quinn, Karen Redrup, Robin Reed and Dennis Smedley).

The picture right is by Karen Redrup and is called In Teri’s Garden.

We have renewed the art and craft displays at our Pavilion and Courthouse venues. Most of the exhibits are the work of our Applying Artwork artists but there is also work from our Acquiring Artwork group, our Hurstbridge Art group and Brian Devenish’s 2022 art class plus a Craft group exhibit. Thanks to Leanne Ipsen, Brenda Smith, Judy Vizzari, Karen Redrup and Val Harrop for making this happen.

Leanne has also curated a display of our artworks at the Eltham Leisure Centre. Why not take the time to visit their café then walk through their extensive facilities whilst checking out the paintings?

Two of our groups, Acquiring Art Skills and Applying Art Skills, recently joined forces for an end of Term 3 en plein air (aka outdoor) drawing and painting session at Bridges Restaurant and Nursery in Hurstbridge. They had a creative and social day with time to plan their upcoming exhibition of general art work and homage to Arthur Streeton.

21 new pieces of art, all by members of our U3A, are now on display in our Office. Thanks to members of our Eltham Art Group, Hurstbridge Art Group and Craft Group for providing the art work and thanks to Judy Vizzari, Leanne Ipsen and Karen Redrup for hanging it.

As Judy says, ““Selection was tough, but we were pleased with the way that the images work well together to produce several themes: striking Australian landscapes; some fine examples of craftwork, including knitting, sewing, embroidery (and even a stuffed felt pig); some abstracts, including a dotted ‘galaxy’ canvas and flow paintings; and some traditional still lifes and landscapes. This art and craft work creates a new look which will hopefully brighten the wintery months.“

We have refreshed the artwork in our Office at Eltham Central Pavilion with 13(!) new paintings by our members, all for sale and all at very affordable prices.

To see all the paintings, you will (obviously) have to go into the office but to give you a flavour, here is one of them, a collaborative work of scenes from Eltham Farmers’ Market painted by Cathy Romeo, Lilia Deschamps, Patricia Bulmer, Rachel Brak, Robin Reed and Sue Bowles.

The other paintings include two large and lyrical landscapes by Lilia Deschamps plus a mixture of still life, wild life and interior life depictions by Catherine Hincks, Ilse Jamonts, Joy Quinn, Judy Vizzari, Karen Redrup and Robin Reed.

Thanks to Leanne Ipsen and Dennis Smedley for their framing skills, and to Judy Vizzari for her positioning and hanging skills.

We have installed a mural at the rear of the Eltham Bookshop. Leanne Ipsen designed the mural, Anthony Guilfoyle & Judy Vizzari assisted in painting it, the rest of the class painted panels representing favourite tree books plus paperbark trees, and Adam Skipper & Dennis Smedley assisted with the installation.

By mid-year 2021 there was a glimmer of light at the end of our Covid tunnel. We were starting to look forward to participating in weekly sessions in the Eltham Guide Hall and to discussing plans for the second half of 2021 when, once again, Covid stepped up and sent us spiralling back into lockdown. It’s fair to say that painting and drawing are personal endeavours and are as absorbing when undertaken privately as they are in a group, but our group members thrive on sharing, so without their supportive atmosphere there was, for some, a sense of disconnect.

But we are stoic, we endure and we have big plans for the remainder of 2021!

Joan’s ISOchooks in the limelight

Some of you may have already visited Earthbound Bolton cafe in Bolton Street? It’s a relaxed, warehouse style cafe with a slightly bohemian atmosphere. It’s well worth a visit for its menu, coffee and decor.

Currently, Joan Davison is exhibiting of her now-famous ‘ISOchooks’ at the cafe and so, when we’re out of lockdown, why not drop in to see ‘the girls’ (her chooks) in action and maybe stock up on her avian themed greeting cards and fridge magnets as well?

An other-worldly exhibition at Earthbound Bolton cafe, opening 9th October

While you’re at Earthbound Bolton, you can also check out the other selection of artwork also displayed there. It’s produced by our U3A artists and includes an eclectic range of paintings and drawings.

If now isn’t the time to visit then, as part of the Seniors Month celebrations in October, there will be an Earthbound Exhibition afternoon at the cafe on 9th October at 2pm which will feature some of out current and newer works. Visitors are in for a treat – the afternoon will comprise our host, Andrew’s, Earthbound finger food and beverages and U3A artwork which might just be… out of this world!

PANArt at the Yarra Plenty Regional Library Gallery, mid-December to mid-January

If you miss out on the art at Earthbound Bolton, there will be another opportunity to see our artists’ work, watch our films and videos, read our story and stock up on our cards at the Eltham Library late this year. We are excited to have been invited to present our Covid 2020/21 collection to the Nillumbik community. The exhibition will be a celebration of art produced during very different times, a reminder of recent history and an opportunity to connect with local artists. The official opening will take place some time in mid-December in the library. We will publish more details later and hope to see you there.

Joan’s ISO chooks have recently extended from fence palings to canvases, and a selection of these are now on display. The photo is of the actual exhibition.

The photo is of the actual exhibition of our our Painting & Drawing Group’s work. All the paintings are for sale at very affordable prices.

‘Judes Jools’ by Judy Murfett are on display and available for purchase at $10 per set.

Drawing & Painting Group member Joan started painting her ‘ISO chooks’ on discarded fence palings during the Covid-19 lockdown. Over the last few months, they have gone viral and there are now some 3,000(!) spread around people’s gardens in Eltham (where Joan lives) and the surrounding suburbs.

The ISO chooks have been a major topic of conversation in the Eltham 3095 Facebook group, where some of Joan’s posts have attracted up to 500 likes and 300 comments.

As Joan said when interviewed by the Warrandyte Diary (see the article below): “I started my chooks because I knew a lot of people were struggling mentally with the shutdown with COVID regulations. I am an artist and I know the power of fun art, and getting a gift (just as a surprise), so I started painting chooks on fence pieces and leaving them on the letterbox with a ‘help yourself’ sign. … Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this crazy chook adventure.”

The ISO chooks come in many different colours	Joan with some of her newly painted chooks	An article in the Warrandyte Diary

In January 2021, Joan her ISO chooks featured again in the Warrandyte Diary. We even get a one line mention!

The group has recently successfully applied for two grants. One is a $500 grant from Nillumbik Council for easels and the other is a grant for $3,000 from the State. This latter grant is for: a series of interviews of the artists in the group; some demonstration videos on how to approach watercolour, acrylic and gouache painting; a series of gift cards; and a photobook showing the group's work during the Covid-19 lockdown. Congratulations to Leanne Ipsen, Brenda Smith and Judy Vizzari for pursuing the grant opportunities and thanks to Fiona Vuong from the Council for assisting with the applications.

Art has long been a fascination for the human mind. Sculpture, drawing, painting have forever been used to enhance religious experience, to awe subjects and to defy enemies, or merely to entertain and to beautify our surrounds. It has a complex and well noted history and is still developing apace with society. Art has been a solace for the bored and a mystery to the uneducated and that is where I come in.

Since my wife, Glenda, and I joined U3A, particularly to be able to ‘do art’ as a retirement project, our life has been enhanced. We already knew Leanne (Ipsen) and Brenda (Smith) but had no idea of the depth of their commitment to their subject. Enthusiasm is a trademark of their lives and is shared happily with the students of Thursday afternoons at Eltham High School. We Do Art!

On the appointed afternoon, we join many other keen students with various levels of skill to work on improving that budding talent under the watchful eyes of Leanne and Brenda, sometimes assisted by experienced students Dennis (Smedley) and Judy (Vizzari), who are equally happy to pass on their knowledge. Also we have been tutored by professional illustrators and artists who bring other experience to the table.

Unfortunately the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 have now changed the dynamics of our society and of our art group. It is difficult to maintain unbridled enthusiasm at home without the encouragement of our tutors and at home I’m not in the ‘zone’. When I see an apple, I dont know whether to draw or eat it. Here’s hoping for resumption of normalcy soon.

Yes, ‘2020 Vision’ may be a little clichéd, but I can’t resist the title … it seems so appropriate. Why? Because it describes our aims, which are to reflect, to learn and to record then to share what we think, see and feel. Clearly visionary?

But to get to that sharing stage we need confidence in our skills. If you’ve ever watched a child draw his first lines, you’ll see his fascination – no rules, no wrongs or rights, just pure pleasure. For us it’s not so easy – our challenge is to learn to blend our knowledge with our artistic desire. So even though our creative journeys may have started in childhood, it’s now, in our third age, that we are finally negotiating our bumpy road towards greater technical skills and artistic freedom.

Propelled on our journey

Our tutors, Leanne Ipsen and Brenda Smith, understand the needs of mature age students who are either returning to art or first-timers so they provide basic tuition in drawing, colour mixing and painting to provide all of us with opportunities to extend ourselves. The use of different mediums plus exploration of techniques broadens our artistic knowledge.

We are a group. Leanne and Brenda ensure that our choices are collective – exhibitions to attend (Archibald and Camberwell Art Shows 2019), excursions (plein air sessions, artist supplies specialists) and who to invite to our studios (artists, cartoonists). What projects and collaborative works we undertake are also discussed jointly. The value of our methods is that all students are involved and all have opportunities to display their work (and occasionally to sell it).

We’ve achieved quite a lot in the past five years but what’s planned for 2020?

We’re about to leap into another year of creativity and already Leanne and her team have built a framework of activities to whet our excitement and to propel us down our road of discovery.

What we’re in for:

• Exploration –
• of mediums: watercolour and acrylic then developing these in second term
• of methods: painting, drawing, printing and collage
• of colours: familiarity with the colour wheel, colour mixing, colour effects
• of skills: tone, perspective, upside down approaches, life drawing… seeing our subjects.

As well, we’re planning more:

• Collaboratives – producing priceless projects for public places.
• Excursions – to exhibitions, arts suppliers, studios, outdoor exercises.
• Exhibitions – we’re always on the lookout for new venues to exhibit our work.
• Guest speakers – sessions with local and well-known artists.

And we’re continuing our two studio structure, so plenty of choices all round.

2020 Vision will encompass challenges, learning and fun for the Nillumbik U3A Painting and Drawing Group… lots to look forward to.

We’re excited!

Judy V

This exhibition lasted most of October. Our paintings, drawings and even a piece of woodwork, complemented an amazing knitting display presented by Wattle Glen’s Estia Health residents. Around 1,000 sightseers were greeted by our artists who were rostered to welcome visitors daily.

This was an exciting joint project – 17 one-metre high letters spelling ‘Research Preschool’ were cut from timber veneer by group member Dennis Smedley. Each letter was painted in a rainbow colour by Dennis and Leanne and then individually over-painted in varying designs by 15 members of the group. The resulting sign captures the fun and wonder of youth.

The letters were installed on the preschool’s fence by the expert handymen of Eltham Men’s Shed.

View some pictures of the installation.

Watch this video about the project.

This exhibition lasted most of October and its focus was on the landscapes and eating places of Nillumbik. The subjects painted included Colin’s Cafe, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse, Gennaros, Main Road, Montsalvat, Taffy’s on Looker Road, the bridge Eltham, the library cafe Eltham, and Wingrove Park.