Berwick Artists Society
Activities
Monthly Demonstrations and Members’ Competition
Thursday Painting Group
Monthly Portrait Group
Paint Outs
Special Events
Our Work on Display
Monthly Demonstrations
Introduction
Each month professional artists demonstrate in a variety of mediums for approximately two hours.
The Night Demonstrations begin at 7:00pm for a prompt start at 7.15pm by the demonstrator. Day Demonstrations – all on the fourth Wednesday of the month – begin at 10.30am, be seated by then with your entry into the Members’ competition registered. .The first demonstration for 2024 was with Yesim Gozukara, Demonstrations coming up are: Wednesday April 24 DAY with Cathy Van Ee, Wednesday May 22 DAY with Helen Anderson, Wednesday June 26 DAY with Maxine Wade. .
Visitors are welcome, see below for entry fee.
There will be intervals for refreshments and members are asked to bring a plate of food to share for Night Demonstration suppers. BYO lunch for the break at the Day Demonstrations.
At the end of the session, the winners of the members’ Monthly Art Competition are announced.
We have some truly incredible demonstrators, and everyone can learn something new each time, so come along, bring a friend, enjoy an event with a difference and it just might make all the difference to your own way of looking at your art.
Members $12.00 per person, visitors $15.00 per person, students under 18 $10.00 per person
In February, Yesim Gozukara demonstrated her talents using watercolous in a very different way .
Robert Knight, our March demonstrating artist, produced a loosely painted image of a Melbourne laneway
Monthly Competition
Members are invited to bring along one painting per appropriate section (must be your own work), to the Demonstration Night to be judged by the visiting artist. Points are awarded for entering, and for the winners and runners-up in each category. These points are tallied at the end of the year and trophies awarded.
There are two categories in which to enter your work: Realist Art, and and Other Than Realist Art. Each category will have a winner and runner-up. Subject matter and medium are up to the entrant.
Certificates will be awarded each month for the winner and runner-up in each category and there are points merely for entering. The points are accumulated during the year with results tallied and presentations made at our Christmas function. Art work can only be entered once. The artist’s name and title of picture must be clearly labelled on the back of the work.
You are also welcome to bring along any of your work to have on show. It will not be judged or form part of the monthly competition, but it’s always interesting to see what our artists are capable of. It may not be a painting – sculpture, photography, embroidery, whatever you like to bring, we’d like to see what you do.
March 2024 COMPETITION RESULTS BELOW
Realist Art Winner: Zcenka Better for “Pretty Girl”
Realist Art Runner-up: Rhonda Willington for “Digby – My Little Love”
Other Than Realist Art Winner: Rod Arthur for “Earth Reconstructed”
Other Than Realist Art Runner-up: Kevin Weeks for “Lost In Orange”
Details
Venue:
Function Room, The Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick, Victoria Melways 131 A2
Dates:
4th Wednesday of the month (except December, January & public holidays)
When:
7pm – 10pm
Members $10
Visitors $12
Couples $15
Students $5
Thursday Painting Group
We meet every Thursday between 10.00am and 2.00pm in the Function Room at the Old Cheese Factory. It’s a fun gathering where we all chat, have a lot of laughs and discuss each other’s work. There’s no formal instruction, but plenty of advice from some of our more experienced painters.
Everyone has different styles and paints at different levels: at some point, each of us has joined the group wondering how our own level of expertise will be accepted. But everyone who comes along works in his or her own style, and it’s wonderful to greet a new member who has just taken up or just returned to painting. There is no requirement for anyone to have had previous painting experience. 2023 Thursday painting will commence on January 5th.
Please contact a committee member for more details, or simply turn up and have a look. Then, if you would like to join the Society, please see our Membership Page. Alternatively, you come along as a visitor.
Bring your lunch, enjoy a coffee. If you’re an oil or acrylic painter, please bring a drop sheet, as the Function Room is carpeted. Freestanding or table easels are available.
Be aware of entry requirements. Because of Covid you need to be double vaccinated, QR code register and your documentation checked by our Covid Marshalls.
Fees
Members …………………. $6.00
Visitors ……………………. $10.00
Monthly Portrait Group
Introduction
Each month the Berwick Artists Society conducts a two hour portrait group where you can participate in painting or drawing models.
This is a non-tutored class but other members’ help is available.
Models are volunteers so new models are always welcome to sit for the group. Please contact us if you would like to model for us.
Details
Venue:
Function Room, The Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick, Victoria Melways 131 A2
When:
On the third Thursday of the month, 11am – 2.00pm with lunch break.
Please be aware of entry requirements and read them in “News” on this website.
Members: $6
Visitors: $10
For details contact: Zdenka Better 0409 218265
Paint-outs
Paint-outs are a great opportunity to paint outside with like-minded people. Members are asked to find their own way to the painting site, with their own equipment and seats. BYO lunch, hat, easel and painting gear. We meet there at 10am promptly.
This activity is free of charge to members and is of course subject to good weather. Sometimes it has to be cancelled – if in doubt, ring the Paint-out organiser (details below).
We have decided to pause the Paint-outs for the moment – but if you’re really keen to join one soon, please contact us.
Contact:
Rod Arthur 9769 5951 or 0402 741 338
Special Events
At our end-of-year BBQ, the winners of the Monthly Members’ Competition were announced and trophies presented. Congratulations everyone!
Category A for Accomplished Realist Artists trophy winner was Quinton Baldwin
Category B for Emerging Realist Artists Joint winners: Iain Johnson, pictured here, and Col Halden, who is yet to have his trophy presented. 
Category C for Other Than Realist Artists trophy winner: Kevin Weeks
Our Work on Display
Currently Society members have an exhibition of their work at the Bunjil Place Art Wall. Pictures are for sale, and will be on show until February 26th.
Members of the Society can exhibit their work for sale in the Berwick Chemist Cafe. If you’re interested, please contact the person in charge – see below – to make sure there is space for your work.
The display changes on the last Saturday of each month.
It’s a great opportunity to have your artistry on display.
Exhibition Details
Dates
Ongoing
Venue
Berwick Chemist Café, 51 – 53 High Street, Berwick
Enquiries
Zdenka Better 0409 218265