Sapphire magazine South Simcoe Palette Club

They gather every Tuesday and paint.
But its not the only time this group of artist puts their brush to canvas. They all continue their creative endevours on their own time as well, but as members of the South Simcoe Palette Club, they enjoy the opportunity to get together with other artists and share their interest in the arts.
``The idea is to encourage artists, to help each other and improve,`` says club member and past club president
Pauline Owens. ``We have artists from amateur to outstanding. The club is for everyone who is interested in the arts.``
The group just celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
It started with humble beginnings and a handful of local artists who decided to get together based on the passion for painting.
``It`s a nice relaxed atmosphere,`` Pauline says, amid a full room surrounded by many styles of works in progress by the club members.
Their reasons for joining are varied but they all have their artwork in common.
``It lets me escape the office,`` says artist Stuart Kenn.
A professional cartographer and part time fire fighter, he works out of his home and the chance to join with the group offers a diversion from his usual job of creating maps.
``I started work in water colour, ``he says, ``then switched to oil.``
He is currently working on scene depicting an albatross in flight over a frigid arctic seascape.

While Stuart Kenn works in oil, the other members of the group have
various styles and use different mediums based on the style of the
the painting, the message they are trying to convey, and personal
preference.
Whether oil, acrylic, or watercolour, each artist puts a part of them into
the works they create.
In addition to the weekly meetings, the group also participates in other
activities.
They have workshops and occasional trips to galleries and art related
fuctions, as well as an annual fundraising effort.
The members come from varied backgrounds and for the most part live
in the area around Alliston and the towns that surround it.
Although they meet and paint all year round, their time to shine is in
the fall season.
That is when they host their art show and sale.

This years show is titled Inspirations in Colour and will be held at the Cookstown branch of the Innisfil Public Library.
Over twenty artist`s work will be on display for five days beginning Tuesday, November 23, and will be on exhibit until Saturday, November 27.
A special reception will be held on the final day of the show from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet the artists and browse through the gallery.
For more information on the Inspirations in Colour art show and sale call 705-458-4466 or
705-424-6907.
Or email Ruth Draper at the Art Unique Galler at ruth35@rogers.com
Also see the Show poster for more information in the story secion on the main page
of Sapphire magazine on-line.