Ruapehu area stimulates

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 38, 4 March 1986, Page 8

Ruapehu area stimulates

Enjoying the picturesque nature of the Ruapehu area recently were 26 watercolour artists participating in a Venturetrek holiday. The artists, who ranged from novice to expert, were taught by one of New Zealand's best known watercolour artists, Julia Forbes. Mrs Forbes lives on Waiheke Island and tutors watercolourists mainly using outdoor subjects. The group spent much of the week painting Mt Ruapehu and also used hills, flowers and trees as subjects. They were based at Venturelodge, Ohakune, where they exhibited their work on the final day of the course. Dorothy Newlands from Geraldine, Canterbury, thought the week was worth the trip up to Ohakune to revise her painting skills. "It's the sort of thing I've always meant to get back into, but never did until now," she said. Donald Paterson from Invercargill took classes in water-colour painting last year and saw this course as an opportunity to put what he had learned into practice. They both found they were inspired by the experts in the group and the atmosphere of the Ruapehu region. The manageress of Venturelodge, Merva Whale, said the watercolour course was one of the most popular this year, and there had been a waiting list. Other holidays yet to come this year include 'spinning the fleece', 'small stream fly fishing' and 'music appreciation', the last, to be held at the end of March.