Canvas and paint sparking friendships at Armstrong Green

Armstrong Creek retirees are picking up a paintbrush for the first time and exploring their artistic side with resident-led art classes.

Residents at Bolon Clarke’s Armstrong Green retirement village have been meeting every Monday evening to learn from their neighbour and artist Trish.

Having dabbled in drawing, Trish says she took up a paintbrush after retiring and is now enjoying sharing her expertise to help others find their own artistic style.

“Some of the residents here were saying they wanted to start painting and so I thought why not start some lessons – I’m no teacher but I can help,” Trish said.

“Almost all the residents were starting from scratch and didn’t know anything about painting.

“I have only been painting since I retired about 11 years ago now - it was something I wanted to do, so I started going to an artist in Melbourne to learn and get started.

“The first oil painting I have ever done was of my daughter and from then on, I have loved working with oil paints.”

With 12 to 15 residents attending each week, the classes are now a bustling social occasion with everyone bringing along their own work and receiving Trish’s guidance along the way.

“We started with about six people and I started everyone on a very similar painting. As time has gone on, nearly everyone is now working on their own pieces.

“One of the ladies has just completed a painting of her son’s dog and it’s just fabulous! I’m really proud of everyone.

“I also paint at the same time and so people will ask me if they are having trouble with something, so I can help them out.”

The regular catch-up has connected residents from across the community, forging new friendships.

“Everyone has come from different parts of the village and we have all become really good friends,” Trish says.

“It’s a lovely place to live, there is always someone to have a cuppa with and there is so much support amongst the residents which you don’t necessarily have if you live in a house in the suburbs.”