Apr 09, 2014


The 24 student artists and members of this year’s Land O' Lakes Art Club wrapped up the results of their ten-week course at the Land O' Lakes Public School on April 2 in a very arty celebration. The students gathered in the school’s main pod, which was transformed into a gallery space where the paintings were on display, each on its own wooden easel.

Parents of the students helped to make the occasion one to remember. Linda Tremblay, owner of Nomad's Rest Bed and Breakfast in Mountain Grove, whose son Boris participated in the class, offered guests a mouth-watering array of and colourful art-inspired treats, which included a colourful three-layer cake, blueberry parfaits in tiny glasses, little croissant sandwiches and fruit speared on wooden paintbrush-shaped skewers.

Music played in the back ground as students, their families and friends studied the works, which covered a wide range of artistic styles. Student artist Charlotte Hilder served cheese and crackers to guests who sipped virgin strawberry daiquiris and cappuccinos.

LOLPS teacher and acclaimed artist, Lee Hall, was the instructor of the group, who focused on figure painting this time around. Their model, which the students appropriately named LOLA, stood in the midst of the displayed works.

Young grade four artist Gabriel Hull said it was his first time participating in the club. He said that the fabric folds on the model LOLA were some of the most challenging parts for him.

Grade seven student Aurora French joined the art club for her second year and she said she loves making art. She said that getting the shape of Lola's face and her shoulder right was difficult, as was painting the fabric folds. She said that she enjoyed painting from a model and the fact that “there was always something there that you could constantly look back and forth to.” She explained how she achieved her colourful textured background by dabbing the paint onto the canvas with her brush.

Lee Hall was impressed with the work the students created and he explained how individual works exemplified many different artistic styles. “I am really pleased with the variety of work that we have here. There are works that remind me of Matisse with their big broad patches of surreal colour and there are others, more blurred and abstract that remind me of the works of Francis Bacon. Others like Gabriel’s and Aurora’s have a more realistic, classical feel.” Hall added that all of the students were very enthusiastic and at each class, after receiving instruction they happily set to work on their paintings. Hall said that he hopes to continue the art club next year. The club has been able to run at the school thanks to a grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation that covers the cost of all the materials for the club.

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