After moving into Arvida Queenstown Country Club community 18 months ago, they recently began art classes for a group of eight beginner and experienced residents.

Having only just fully retired and moved out of their local gallery, Sue and Spike have a long history of teaching art at the Queenstown Arts Centre.

They have mentored more than 40 younger artists to reach their artistic potential over 20 years. The resident-led classes began with eight weeks of pencil drawing before the residents felt confident enough to try painting with acrylic paints on canvas.

“We’ve been teaching how to mix colours, and how to get perspective and proportion in their pictures,” explains Sue.

The village team laid a large tarpaulin on the floor of the Clubhouse as things were likely to get messy with painting.

“We don’t encourage splashing paint around but accidents do happen.”

While Spike brings more than 50 years’ experience as a professional illustrator, Sue is a textile artist who creates more impressionistic images. Sue says both of them have a real passion for teaching.

“We really enjoy letting people find their creative side and it’s amazing what the students have done so far.”

Now that the students have successfully completed their first landscape paintings, the group’s next project will be a still life.