FINISHING TOUCHES:.
Beth Wright displays her painting of a Muskoka Heritage Place cabin after putting her final strokes to the canvas. The painting is one of many expected to be on display as part of the Palette Packers art show and sale at Huntsville Public Library on Aug. 15 and 16.
Alison Brownlee
HUNTSVILLE – Area artists have been capturing the region’s natural beauty with their brush strokes and now they want to share their work.
The Palette Packers, an outdoor painting group, is presenting its annual art show and sale at the Huntsville Public Library, 7 Minerva St., on Wednesday, Aug. 15, and Thursday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Member Beth Wright said the group travels around the region in search of inspirational subject matter, all the while building camaraderie and friendship.
“We work steadily – every week during the warmer months of the year – at different sites,” said Wright. “We’re having a good time.”
The group has made its way to Huntsville’s heritage train station, Fairy Lake, Oxtongue Rapids, Port Sydney Beach, Dwight Beach and the Brunel locks this year.
But member Gabrielle Andersen said one of her favourite locations was at a member’s waterfront home.
“There were trees out front and it overlooked Lake Vernon,” said Andersen.
Wright enjoyed the location as well.
“It was a great crowd with great friends and good food,” she said with a smile.
The Palette Packers began as an open-air amateur painting group 18 years ago. Since then, they have met casually every Wednesday from May to October to paint various scenes, landscapes and objects around Muskoka.
Although some of the Palette Packers have been painting together for nearly two decades, each has his or her own style. Lakes, trees, plants, flowers, buildings, animals and various other subjects are interpreted with acrylic paint, watercolour, pen and ink, or carvings.
And new members are adding some spice to the group, said Wright.
Both Andersen and Wright encourage the public to stop by the library, chat with the artists and view their work during the show.
“We have some new and exciting things,” said Andersen. “We have a huge variety of styles and subject matter.”
Admission is free.