Art society to attract new members

So it's no wonder that Mr Whitten, the new Dungog Arts Society president, is eager to bring a new generation of painters to Dungog to secure the society's future.

Mr Whitten is about to embark on a membership drive that he hopes will attract anyone who wants to create with a paintbrush.

He said new members did not need any previous painting experience and existing members were happy and willing to help them learn a variety of techniques. 

Workshops with professional painters throughout the year would also assist them to learn new tricks, he said.

"We've got to get a new generation of painters coming in, we need that, and if we don't get it the art society won't be around in the future," Mr Whitten said.

"That's my main goal as president.

""This role is allowing me to bring out some of my hidden thoughts and show how I think we can make the society even better."

Mr Whitten is already planning a shake-up of the gallery space in Dungog's Dowling Street.

He wants to separate the workshop area from the gallery so viewers can take in the works without dodging artists in their path, who are usually consumed in their next masterpiece. 

The new layout will also feature a picture of each artist and details about their background. 

"Some of the paintings that are on the wall now will stay, and we'll bring in some new ones," Mr Whitten said.

"I'll put the works into categories like oil, pastels acrylic ... It'll improve the visual appeal of the gallery."

The society's next exhibition will be created when a group of society painters set foot in Nundle later this month.

The excursion aims to prick the painter's imagination.