When Ruth Bosveld suggested to fellow local artist Fiona Verdouw that they broaden their plein air (outdoor) painting skills to include buildings instead of purely landscapes, she never could have guessed what the next two years held in store.
It's a period in time that has culminated in highlighting some of southern Tasmania's forgotten church buildings.
Deciding on historical churches as a plentiful and varied theme, the artists specifically sought out those that have been decommissioned or repurposed in some way.
"We liked the idea of capturing these Tasmanian churches as they are now - to preserve something of their history before they are too altered to be remembered for what they once were." Ruth said.
Meeting roughly once a month, they selected sites from Judbury to Jericho and everywhere in between, travelling along back roads to do so.
Buildings were chosen for their character and variety while features like bell towers and porticos were particularly sought after.
Sometimes Ruth and Fiona painted the same view, but more often, different angles were chosen.
"Part of the enjoyment of the project was discovering how two artists tackle the same subject so differently. It's what makes the collection of paintings all the more interesting as a whole," Fiona said.
They painted in all sorts of weather; dealing with sunburn and sleet, wind and rain.
In extreme cases, they sat in their cars to paint.
"That's what comes of painting outdoors in Tasmania," Fiona said.
Ruth and Fiona's collection of paintings are on exhibition and available to purchase in the cloisters of St David's Cathedral in Hobart until May 20.
In addition, a brief history of each church is also on display.
Therese Murray
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
