Peninsula Studio Trail Artists
Last week I had the opportunity to have coffee with another peninsula artist. Narelle Callen is a fantastically talented painter. She's been living on the peninsula for around the same time as me and we found we had a lot in common. She has also dabbled in creating patterns for fabrics which I spotted when I visited her studio a while ago. However, the fabric goods she has on display are eclipsed by the stunningly beautifully canvasses that line the brightly lit walls of the studio and the stairwell leading to it. Her house is a striking piece of architecture too. Perched on a corner it was designed to be energy efficient and uses slats of wood and different materials. It's well worth a visit. If you look carefully she has a couple of tiny cigar-box paintings sitting on her window sill by me! She bought them at an Oak Hill Gallery exhibition years ago, before she knew me.
The Trail
Narelle is one of the artists in The Peninsula Studio Trail. I joined the group this year to push myself to become more involved in the local art community. It's what has given me the boost of confidence I needed to get out to sell at local markets. We have Open Studie weekends twice a year in May and November. During my first open weekend I set up shop on the dining room table and it was a lot of fun inviting people in to talk about my work.
When we first visited the peninsula, all those years ago before we moved here, I remember driving to Red Hill and popping into a couple of artist's studios that happened to have small shops and signs. It was a lovely way to talk to local people who were passionate about living and working on the peninsula. From ceramicists, glassblowers, textile artists and painters, it's all here. The Peninsula Studio Trail just makes it easier for you to plan your trip. You can find out more about the trail and the other artists on the website. It's a great way to see the peninsula and meet some interesting people.