Old masters inspire digital art form

A selection of artwork produced at the centre in London Road is to be shown for the whole of this month, having had a first viewing on Monday.

There are, for instance, colourful and bold interpretations of famous paintings by Van Gogh and Kandinsky, as well as abstract pieces created from pure imagination, using a wide variety of methods.

Almost 20 members of the centre have contributed work to the show, which was organised by Andrew Voyce, a service user who discovered the importance of art in his life.

Andrew said: "It is really great. More than anything it is great for people who do the art work. It has been looked on and favourably commented on, and that does increase their self esteem and self worth, which is fantastic.

"It doesn't matter whether your art is commented on for the first time or for the hundredth time, it is always great. It increases people's self worth to know their art is liked. As well as the process of making art which can be very therapeutic, it can allow you to express things you need to express, and also give you a focus when you do it regularly."

Andrew added: "The work that has come out of the digital art group is really marvellous. I continue to do a lot of work on my lap top, and we do it together in the centre on Thursday evenings."

Another service user exhibiting work is Debbie Beecher, who had created work inspired by Russian peasant art as well expressing her own feelings.

"I think it is nice to have the opportunity to see our work up. It is quite encouraging as well for

trying to do something better next time, for next year.

She had produced painting, collage and also digital art.

"We started looking at old masters and seeing how we could copy them as computer art. But then, it is also nice to expand and have your own ideas, and do those."

Debbie now does art at the centre once a week, having started there in April, and works at home on her own.

"It has got me really involved in art. It is therapeutic and exciting as well. It gives you new interest, and seeing each other's work is really exciting."

Art facilitator Philip Flockhart, who has with the centre for six years, was enjoying seeing work by the art group on display in the museum.

"I am always very proud," he said.

"I think they are a fantastic group, and well motivated. They work whether I am there or not - in fact, I don't think they need me any more. I think there is a great ethos of personal development, and it means a lot.

"It is very much part of recovery, of rebuilding identities...I am not a therapist, and this is not art therapy, but it is art as therapy."

Centre manager Dave Harris encouraged Andrew to set up the digital art group and helped provide equipment.

"It's absolutely fantastic," he said of the group. "This has followed on from that, it is a natural progression. We hope to be able to get more lap tops, more digital cameras, and perhaps a projector. That is what we are hoping for."