There’s a local group of artists who meet to share, encourage and inspire one another, and members will be showing their creations to the public starting November 4.
The DeCosmos Fine Art Society began in 1966 and today has about 150 members ranging from beginners to professionals who use a variety of different art mediums.
The group is having a show at the Gallery @ Qualicum Art Supply from November 6 to December 4 which will include paintings, photography, christmas ornaments, knitted baby hats, prints and more.
Margaret Hudson said besides watching the fabulous demos at DeCosmos’ monthly meetings she likes the camaraderie within the group. Some of the members paint weekly and she enjoys that experience, she said.
“I think you learn so much from each other,” she said. “If you get stuck on a painting it’s really helpful to get advice and it also gets me kick started, and gets me motivated.”
Hudson paints mainly landscapes with oils and hopes that people who come to view her work feel a sense of what she felt when she was creating them.
Helen Binns paints with watercolours and pastels and she also makes fimo ornaments like fishes, angels and Christmas bears, which will be featured in the show.
She’s been painting since she was a child, taking formal art classes in Winnipeg and on the Island, and paints landscapes and animals these days.
She said DeCosmos is a generous bunch of people who are full of ideas.
“They are willing to share,” she said, “that’s huge.”
Jim Branston will also have artwork in the show, mainly acrylic seascapes. He started painting after retirement about six years ago, and after living on a boat up and down the coast with his wife for a number of years, they now live in French Creek.
He said he appreciates his time with the people in DeCosmos and enjoys the incredible sense of humour members have.
From November 22-24 the Qualicum Beach Winter Art Walk will take place, where community members can walk to ten venues around Qualicum Beach and catch art shows, demos, and more.
At the Gallery @ Qualicum Art Supply people can drop by and watch some DeCosmos members in action, as well as some jewelry demonstrations. Other stops on the Art Walk include The Artworx Gallery, The Old School House, the Oceanside Art Gallery and the Original Village Christmas Arts Faire which will be happening at the Community Hall.
DeCosmos Fine Art Society is open for new memberships and visitors are welcome to the monthly meetings—on the third Thursday of the month—for a small fee.For more on DeCosmos visit www.decosmos.org.
The Gallery @ Qualicum Art Supply is located at 206 West First Ave.
