Nancy Belyea runs a sketching class at Altona’s beaches, parks and cafes. 88664 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By ALESHA CAPONE
NANCY Belyea’s drawing sessions take inspiration from Altona’s great outdoors and scenes of everyday life.
Every week Ms Belyea and her students meet at the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre in Sargood St before walking to the beach, a park or cafe to commence sketching.
The classes are among several offered by the Hobsons Bay Arts Society.
“Everyone’s welcome. For this class you can be any level, it’s only a pencil and paper so it’s very simple or people can bring whatever materials they want,” Ms Belyea said.
“Part is trying to do artwork whenever and wherever you can.
“We also learn techniques from each other, informally.
“Part of class is we don’t need a fancy scene to draw.”
Ms Belyea said the students usually drew whatever was in front of such as trees, flowers, a cup and saucer, someone’s face, a beach scene or seagulls.
Ms Belyea said one of the aims of her outdoor drawing sessions was to encourage pupils to learn to draw quickly.
“It’s good to train your short-term memory,” she said.
“In most art classes the model stays still but in our class we see movement.
“If someone says, ‘The seagull moved,’ I say, ‘You have to learn to draw faster,’ but I’m partly joking.
“Part of what I enjoy is trying to catch a gesture in a moment – that’s my challenge.”
The North Williamstown resident said people with no arts experience were welcome to join the group.
“It’s just making a mark on paper – it’s nothing to be afraid of,” she said.
The classes are on Tuesdays at 1pm for $5 per person, bring your own materials. Contact: nan1cyan@optusnet.com.au for more details.
