They call themselves The Group of Nine.
Six years ago, nine artists joined to form a monthly critique group, and later decided to become exhibition partners.
Their meetings consist of sharing, discussing and evaluating each other’s work and offering suggestions for improvement. When asked, they will readily admit that their monthly meetings are as much about food and friendship as they are about art.
Each year, the group holds a two-day sale to share the results of members’ work with friends, neighbours and art lovers.
For the sixth annual event, the artists chose to interpret an image of a flower – a fuchsia, taken by photographer John Bale, a husband of group of nine artist Margaret Bale.
Each created a painting from the image, but in their own style and genre, all using a different medium.
Their work ranges from super realistic to abstract and varies wildly.
The group includes Bale, Joyce Campbell, Betty Coy, Shirley Felgner, Suzette Fram, Jane Duford Johnston, Jo-Anne Lewis, Florence Nicholson and Lea Sevcov.
All are members of the Garibaldi Art Club, several belong to the Federation of Canadian Artists, and several are award-winning artists.
• Nine from One (Nine Paintings from One Image) takes place Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. George’s Anglican Church hall, 23500 Dewdney Trunk Road in Maple Ridge.
