Artists always need venues to display their art and kindle their passion for creativity.
The Zephyrhills Art Club has been a friend to the local art scene for nearly 40 years, encouraging both budding and professional artists.
“It’s hard to find a place to show your work,” said Gainor Roberts, art instructor and retired art curator for the Carrollwood Cultural Center. “(The club) is great for networking.”
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Roberts was a recent guest artist at the club’s monthly meeting and offered critiques of paintings by its members. Much of the art was on display in a “member mini-show” that featured garden scenes. Members later voted on their favorites.
Nelida DiLorenzo got some advice from Roberts on her garden scene that highlighted a pair of ethereal sprites. The painting had earned her a second place ribbon.
Roberts — who continues to teach and paint — is known for her still life and landscapes, and works in egg tempera, oil, pastel, watercolor and monotype.
DiLorenzo appreciated the critique.
“This gets you excited,” she said. “You have the interactions. You have to have the input from people.”
The club was founded in the mid-1960s by a group of local artists, including Ruth Coe who died in 2004.
Currently, the art club has more than 90 members. Its youngest member is 10; its oldest members are in their 80s.
In addition to its monthly meetings, the club has workshops, field trips and special events to encourage networking and artistic growth. The club also sponsors an annual juried art show.
Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., at the First Christian Church at 6040 Eighth St., behind the post office in Zephyrhills.
“It’s open to anyone,” said Joyce Owens, the club’s president.
In March, the club hosted a workshop in watercolor techniques led by Chinese artist Lian Quan Zhen. Other workshops have featured artist Betty Fairbanks on acrylic painting techniques and DiLorenzo on techniques in portrait painting.
Owens took one drawing class in college but always wanted to paint.
For decades her pursuit of art took a backseat to her service in the U.S. Army. “It was only the weekend thing,” she said.
Now retired, she works part-time but paints as much as she can, and has sold some works.
The club’s youngest member is 10-year-old Lilly Hernandez whose butterfly painting earned an honorable mention.
She began painting animals and flowers in acrylic and watercolor about two years ago. She joined the art club a few months ago. “It’s hard, but I enjoy painting them,” she said.
“All the members are so friendly.”
The young artist has “painting days” with her grandmother, Kathleen Munn.
“I kind of got her started,” said Munn. “We have a great time painting together. Her great-grandmother also inspires her to paint.”
Munn said her sister is a portrait artist. “I never thought I could do it,” she said. “I just started and taught myself, and I really love it.”
A visit to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., several years ago, proved inspiring to Tom Myers. “I’ve always liked art but never really thought I could get into it,” he said.
The Michigan native brought a landscape to the mini-show depicting a roadway and a field of mustard grass.
He, too, appreciates critiques.
“We’re looking for a little constructive criticism,” Myers said.
Longtime member Olga Burghdorf walked through the mini-show with Hernandez. They stopped in front of each painting to point out what they liked about each one.
Burghdorf, 86, joined nearly 20 years ago. She learned to watercolor first and then added other skills, including painting on glass. “I’m not a master of anything,” she said. “I just enjoy doing it all.”
She looks forward to the club’s meetings and extra activities.
“It’s just a chance to meet people and see other artists. It opens up a lot of doors.”
For information on the art club, call (813) 780-8562.
Published April 22, 2015
