World-acclaimed artists at summer exhibition

Acclaimed local artists David Taylor, Diana Edwards and Tom Tyrell have combined their talents to present another art exhibition at Iluka Studio Gallery in Silverleaves.

There is still time to catch the Good Vibrations exhibition at the gallery, at 28 Settlement Road, which is open until Sunday January 28.

Both framed and unframed watercolours are on sale, with works described as realist impressionism, with paintings depicting landscapes and beach scenes from around Phillip Island, Bass Coast and abroad.

The title Good Vibrations was chosen to "lift people's spirits", said Diana, "with a sense of beauty, life and colour".

"To me as an artist you have to feel inspired, because that's when you are in the zone and painting from the heart. You hope the person who views the painting has that same feeling," she said.

Skill

David and Diana opened the Iluka studio in 2014 after moving to Silverleaves and teamed up with artist Tom, who grew up on Phillip Island, to stage their first joint exhibition in 2019.

The annual Iluka exhibition is now a "must" on the local events calendar and continues to grow in popularity every year.

Diana has been an artist for five decades and won artist of the year at the Australian Guild of Realist Artists.

David has painted for 60 years, and was the first winner (in 1979) of the Camberwell Rotary Overseas Travel Grant that enabled him to study in Europe and the US.

He has since won more than 200 awards in watercolour, is an international judge, while his work is regularly exhibited around Australia, China, the US and Scandinavia.

The couple both hold weekly art classes at their Silverleaves gallery and David holds workshops here and around Australia, while they regularly donate paintings to local charities.

Tom grew up on Phillip Island and partnered to start Island Surfboards 37 years ago, later selling his share. He began painting in the 1980s, and is also currently David's golf buddy.

"I feel blessed to be able to paint," Tom said.

For me, it's not necessarily about the end product, but the whole process. If I retired from painting, I may as well retire from life."

Good Vibrations, open daily 10am - 4.30pm, until January 28. Iluka Studio Gallery, 28 Settlement Road, Silverleaves.

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