Final Touch Art Studio hosted a wine and cheese event for local artist Gina Groot on Sept. 9 with more than 30 pieces of oil themed art for sale.
“It was a hobby that turned into a passion of mine and I have been hooked ever since,” Groot said.
Groot moved to Cochrane in 2007, and has joined the Foothills Art Club, the ACFC as well as volunteering for the Cochrane Community Arts and Culture Committee. Pieces she had on display at her wine and cheese were a range of portraits, wildlife and landscapes, many of which have just come from her imagination.
“All of my trees are just from my imagination. The only pieces that are from photos are animals, and even then I sometimes just go off my imagination. I have painted a red lion, just because I like to use bright and vibrant colours,” Groot said. “Things I have seen like flowers and the ocean, the painted eucalyptus and the lava rock beach are photos I took, but for the most part I just use images I have created in my head.”
Groot studied under Joyce Anderson, who is a well-known Winnipeg artist, and she also took classes at the Alberta College of Art and Design. Groot has completed many commissioned pieces for friends, family and an expanding number of clientele since moving into town.
Final Touch owner Sharon Kulhavy said it’s important for these artists to get exposure.
“It’s a great way for (artists) such as Gina to have a place to showcase their work more often than just a show or two a year,” Kulhavy said. “With the amount of talented artists we have in this community it’s almost a necessity to make sure the public can see their work.”
Groot will be back in Final Touch for a wineglass-painting workshop on Sept. 12 and Sept. 26.
