Five artists residing at Sunshine Ridge have their art on display at the Art Gallery Osoyoos for the first time. Dale Boyd/Osoyoos Times

Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

A group of five local artists are displaying their work at the Art Gallery Osoyoos, all for the first time.

The group of seniors residing at Sunshine Ridge includes Louise Poulin, Ann Roy, Edith Walker, Margaret Green and Mary Dever who were tasked with picking some of their favourite paintings now on display at the gallery as part of the Creativity in Our Community exhibit.

The exhibit runs until Feb. 1 at the gallery and features the work of local artists who have never before displayed their work in a gallery setting.

For the Sunshine Ridge Five, it was the first time putting their work on display outside of the Sunshine Ridge kitchen, where they display their seasonal pieces.

“We thought, well, why not? It’s once in a lifetime,” Green chuckled.

Poulin, the most recent addition to the painting group which meets weekly said the task was a little daunting.

“I was a little intimidated by the thought, but I went for it,” Poulin said.

But all five are thrilled to have shared their art in such a public fashion, calling the experience “unbelievable and challenging.” 

Read more: Osoyoos gallery finds hidden artists for latest exhibit

“I thought oh my goodness, my painting will actually be on display, my gosh,” Roy said, adding it feels fantastic.

The group meets once a week to talk about the art, while most paint solitarily, they convene to discuss ways to improve their art. They expressed gratitude to former art teacher at Sunshine Ridge Gail Howard who would instruct art lessons.

“I used to get encouraged by how diplomatic she was. She would tell you ‘oh you can do better than that because that looks terrible,’” Walker said to a round of laughs.

The opportunity to take on lessons has opened doors thought long closed for the first-time painters.

“I always had the thought I would paint, but never had the chance,” Poulin said.

They are all new to painting, but the group of artists have discovered not only the satisfaction of displaying their work, but the relaxation of the process.

“I personally find the painting very, very relaxing. I don’t feel the ache and pain in my knee or a headache or anything else, it’s really fantastic,” Walker said.

“It’s wonderful at our ages now to actually have found something we love doing. And it’s appreciated. Every month we have a new picture up on the wall (at Sunshine Ridge) and it’s fun,” Green said