One of the more impressive artists at this weekend’s Nelson Art Group winter exhibition is also one of the group’s newest.
Robbie Burns’ hobby for years has been wood-working, but when the months got colder he decided he needed a new past-time to keep his nights busy.
“My wife is a keen embroiderer, so she’d be sitting there doing that at night time and I’d be watching the TV, so I thought ‘bugger this’ I need something else to do, so I went and bought some pencils and paper and went from there,” he says.
That was last December and Robbie, of Stoke, has already finished several incredible portrait drawings, including his two kids, wife and even his cat. “Those won’t be for sale, though,” jokes Robbie. “I need to keep those ones.”
He says he enjoyed art at school but hadn’t done anything about it until a few months ago.
He got inspired after watching some instructional videos on YouTube and he joined Nelson Art Group a couple of months ago for further advice.”
This weekend will be the first exhibition that Robbie has been involved in. But it won’t just be his artwork on display, he also makes his own frames, thanks to his other hobby.
“That is handy, I just get the boards done for me and I do the rest. I really enjoy the whole process and I’m keen for feedback. Seeing my drawings there this weekend will be exciting.”
The Art Group Nelson winter exhibition is at the Stoke Memorial Hall this Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. All artwork is for sale and more information can be found at www.artgroupnelson.co.nz
