Townsville artists capture wet season wonders

The “Bugs and Buds” exhibition showcases Townsville artists’ vibrant watercolours, inspired by the lush transformations of the wet season.

Townsville Watercolour Group artists Haidi Beard, Debbie Belcastro and Doreen Tracey. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The region’s recording-breaking wet season is taking centre stage at the Townsville Watercolour Group’s latest exhibition, “Bugs and Buds”.

The exhibition is a vibrant testament to the transformative power of the wet season with the artists drawing inspiration from the abundance of butterflies, moths, and beetles that have thrived.

Townsville Watercolour Group member Debbie Belcastro said the exhibition captured the exuberance of the wet season, where every brushstroke reflected the vivid colours and dynamic forms that emerged in response to the abundant rainfall.

Haidi Beard's 'Blue Iris'. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“This year’s wet season has been a challenge in Townsville with excessive rainfall and worse, the dreaded heat and humidity,” Debbie told NQ Weekend.

“As artists our group is fortunate to meet weekly in airconditioned premises where we can enjoy sharing enthusiasm, techniques, objectives and of course, coffee.

“The season and its disadvantages were often discussed, but also all the amazing outcomes that appeared in the natural environment which thrives under these conditions, we complained of the mozzies, the munching caterpillars, we were in awe of the abundance of butterflies, moths and beautiful shiny beetles.”

Debbie Belcastro's "Brachychiton'. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“The discussion soon turned to what all these bugs were there for, a feast of leaves, grass and of course, the buds and blooms.”

Debbie said the members of the watercolour group presented many diverse styles and subjects within this exhibition of Bugs and Buds.

The artworks are a celebration of the wet season’s influence, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the beauty and vitality of a world reborn.

Another Townsville Watercolour Group member, Haidi Beard, emphasised the group’s connection to nature.

“It could be said that the watercolour group is a group of natural historians and botanical artists,” Haidi said. “With the latter becoming quite fashionable in recent years the group put together a show “Bugs and Buds” to highlight the worldwide movement towards nature in art.

“Drawing plants of all kinds in the bush has given me an insight into the way natural forms grow with constantly changing curves and forms. Shapes and morphology thus being intrinsically intertwined.”

Doreen Tracey's 'Poppies and Bud'. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Haidi said the Townsville Watercolour Group was a healthy and happy group with several hundred years experience collectively.

“We are open to new members with watercolour experience so please contact us for further information.”

Debbie said the Townsville Watercolour Group, comprising 14 talented members, was a vibrant community that thrives on creativity and camaraderie.

Among its ranks are new talents like Paul Gilbert, a skilled photographer, and Karen Ann Henderson, an accomplished artist from the Blue Mountains region of NSW.

Together with Marion O’Shea, Val Claussen, Geoff Maidens, Julie Boyd, Annette Ireland, Kerry Gillespie, Gai Copeman, Robyn Gerstle, Chantal Kwast-Greff, Doreen Tracey, Haidi Beard, and Debbie Belcastro, they form a diverse tapestry of artistic expression.

The Bugs and Buds exhibition is held at Art at Jezzine Gallery, North Ward, until April 16.

The gallery is open 10am to 4pm daily.

Originally published as Townsville artists capture wet season wonders