Marg Doman never expected to be a painter. It snuck up on her in her retirement years and grabbed hold. Now, Doman is an avid painter and wouldn’t have it any other way.
She’s a self-taught artist and finds great help from the weekly critique session that takes place during Monday Painters.
It takes a village to raise a painter,” she says with a smile.
When she and her husband Ted moved from Abbotsford to Harrison Hot Springs in 2001, Doman wanted to connect with locals. She continued commuting to work for the first year after the move but after that, she found herself in the “real world” without local connections.
She saw an ad in the paper for a class by local artist Joey Ellis on how to paint watercolour. She enjoyed the class and, at the invite of a club member, tried out Monday Painters in 2003 and has stayed ever since.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” Doman remarks. “Over the years, it’s always been an awesome group.”
She has formed great friendships through the Monday Painters and enjoys the camaraderie found amongst local artists.
“I love to do the painting but the biggest reward is the friendship,” shares Doman.
Doman paints watercolour and takes her inspiration from nature and her family. Often, she enjoys painting the unusual found in life, such as a park bench surrounded by water or a bear ambling through her Harrison backyard. When she thinks about her favourite paintings, the ones with memories attached to them, with a story behind the brush, come to her mind. One is of Doman’s eldest son and grandson fishing, another is of her other son’s two dogs.
Doman is this year’s Featured Artist at the Monday Painter’s Art Show.
“I feel very privileged to be this year’s featured painter,” she shares.
It’s the 54th anniversary for the club this year, and 48 years running for the annual show. Doman says the show is always a great community event and gives artists a chance to showcase their work for the public.
“The main purpose is for the self-satisfaction for the artists, to be able to display their achievements,” she says.
The show takes place Saturday, April 18 from 10-4 p.m. at the Agassiz United Church. Entrance and refreshments are by donation. There will be a free draw, a chance to visit with the artists and the opportunity to buy original paintings.
Monday Painters always has a core group that comes every week, and a steady flow of others coming and going through the years. Members come from the local communities as well as further afield in Chilliwack and Hope.
Doman urges anyone interested to come and visit and see what Monday Painters is all about before committing to the $20 annual membership. Monday Painters meets from 11-3 p.m. at the Agassiz United Church, 6860 Lougheed Hwy.
