WAA News
June 2026
Hi Everyone,
I hope you have your winter woolies on because it’s officially cold now.
So let’s chat about all the upcoming fun to be had for WAA Members.
Members Day
On Saturday 27th of June in Studios 1 and 2, WAA will be hosting a FREE DAY to celebrate our Members.
We would like to give this day to our members for being so supportive to this Club.
Once again we will have a small market space, door prizes, free giveaways, and the Tutor paint off/ demo.
There will be silent auctions on some amazing products.
But wait there’s more…Enter an A4 painting and win some fantastic prizes!
Doors open at 1pm.
*** If you are not yet a WAA member but want to join in the fun of the day we are offering our ‘Early Bird’ special, For the low price of $50 (or $60 for a family) take out a membership on the day and it will be valid until the end of 2027 – 18 months membership for the normal price for one year!
Box Hill and WAA combined Art Show.
For those who have entered we wish you the best of luck over the weekend of 19th, 20th & 21st June.
Go along and take your friends to see some of the amazing talents of our local students.
Demonstration by It Hao Pheh
Our brilliant WAA tutor It Hoa Pheh once again showed us some fantastic watercolour techniques on the day.
Check out the photos and a fab report by Col B in the June Newsletter and here on the website soon.
Short Course by Linda Finch
Many happy smiling faces on this day. Scruffy dog was a hit and our students took to the challenge, creating
many different images in their own style. Great write up in the June Newsletter by Judy Coker. Thanks all who attended the day.
See you soon,
Fiona
WAA President
Artists of the Month
Mariarosa Pandelidis, April 2026 WAA Artist of the Month, congratulations. Our artist members are very talented and it’s amazing to read about their journeys. Well done Mariarosa. Read her story and see some of her artwork:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/mariarosa-pandelidis/
WAA’s Artist of the Month for March 2026 was Dianna Spies, She tells her story and shows us some of her artwork in the March 2026 Newsletter and now here on the website for everyone to enjoy.
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/dianna-spies/
WAA’s Artist of the Month for November 2025 was Bella Gilbert, our young award winning ceramic artist. Her fascinating story was published in our November Newsletter and is now here on our website for you to enjoy:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/bella-gilbert
Kay Tate WAA’s Artist of the Month for October 2025 writes: “Ever since I was small I loved art…Oil painting is the medium I love the most, but also love mixed medium.” Read her story and see her work here on our website: https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/kay-tate/
Veronica Price WAA’s Artist of the Month for September 2025. Veronica loves doodling with vibrant colour, and she is a long-term student of our Friday morning tutor, Lorraine Wigraft. Her story and artwork was featured in our September Newsletter and now on our website: https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/veronica-price/
WAA’s Artist of the Month for August 2025 was Marilyn Pike (at left receiving an award fron WAA President Fiona McVilly for an artwork entered into a recent WAA show. Her story plus images of her artworks were featured in the August Newsletter, and are now here on our website for you to enjoy.
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/marilyn-pyke/
Alan Close, for many years a popular tutor at WAA, was our featured Artist of the Month for June 2025. Here is his story as published in the WAA June 2025 Newsletter for you to enjoy.
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/alan-close-waa-artist-of-the-month-may-2025/
Viva Zhang is the WAA Artist of the month for May 2025.
Here is her story from the WAA May Newsletter, “Hi I’m Viva! Originally from China and now based in beautiful Melbourne, I’ve always had a love for drawing since I was a child. About ten years ago….”
(read more): https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/viva-aifeng-zhang/
Carole Lees was the last WAA Artist of the Month for 2024 and was featured in the November 2024 edition of our Newsletter.
Carole told us , “I like to think of myself as the working man’s (or woman’s) artist. No formal art training, no university or college art degrees, just a love of colours and art in general. I didn’t start painting until I retired from a busy corporate position and was looking for something to fill that gap….
(read more): https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/carole-lees/
Linda Mezzetti was the WAA Artist of the Month for October 2024
Her story and her artwork were featured in the WAA Newsletter for October and now here on the website. “My art is greatly influenced by travels and the sheer beauty of nature. I love colour, patterns, occurring in nature as well as man made, and I love textures. In my paintings I enjoy ….”(read more): https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/linda-mezzetti/
Nola Briggs was the WAA Artist of the Month for September 2024 and she writes, “Like so many, my love of drawing and colour began as a young child but was never considered more than a hobby. I would have been in my 30’s when I thought I’d “have a go” at painting. Started with oils which I did for a short time as I was offered a part time job, so painting was put on the backburner.
It would be another 10 years or more when ….”(read more):
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/nola-briggs/
Dunia Connell was the WAA Artist of the Month for July 2024.
Congratulations Dunia and thanks for sharing these lovely images of your artworks and your story. Dunia writes “I love my art classes. At times I find them very challenging but in hindsight those challenges are how we ….”(read more):
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/dunia-connell/
The WAA Artist of the Month for June 2024 was Judy Coker
who writes “My journey in art began in 2006 when I was a 38 year old mother with two small children. I was looking to do something new for myself and….”(read more):
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/judy-coker/
Congratulations to Kerry Francis on being Artist of the month for May 2024. In Kerry’s own words “My love of art started at school — I enjoyed drawing, copying figures and faces. In year 11 (1971) I was fortunate to have a fantastic art teacher for 12 months. During that year she allowed….(read more):
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/kerry-francis/
The WAA Artist of the Month for April 2024 was Eve Goble, who tells us “I’ve been interested in art from a young age. My mother had her own art on our house walls and my Dad was a silversmith, so they both had creative talents that they nurtured within me. I have fond memories of sitting around the table as a family with my 3 Sisters, Mum and Dad all drawing together….(read more):
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/eve-goble/
Popular WAA tutor Larraine Wigraft is celebrated as our Artist of the Month for March 2024.
Lorraine writes, “My story goes back a long way. When I was young I worked in”….(read more and see some of her artwork as featured in the March Newsletter and now also here on the website):
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/lorraine-wigraft/
Jude Marganis is our Artist of the Month for November 2023. In her own words: My love of art started at a young age. In primary school, art was after lunch and I couldn’t wait to get into the classroom to see what wonders had been set up at my table, coloured paper, pots of paint , brushes, glue etc. What I thought I could create with all of that was unending! Well that wonder still continues today! Both parents encouraged….(read more):
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/jude-marganis/
Jeanné Browne is the WAA Artist of the Month for October 2023. She writes: “As a visual artist, I work across drawing, painting, print-making and collage, often incorporating written strands, and operate a small business under the mantle of ‘Ears2ground’. My work is characteristically concerned with the dynamics of”….(read more): https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/jeanne-browne/
Congratulations to our September Artist of the Month Bev McVilly.
Bev paints with amazing detail and her favourite subjects are portraits and nature. Well done Mum your work is beautiful. Read her story and see her artwork here on the website:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/bev-mcvilly/
Congratulations to Peter Ives on being Artist of the Month for August.
Peter’s Pastel portraits are very impressive. Peter captures a likeness so well and he spreads so much joy to all who he does a portrait of. Well done Peter, featured in the August Newsletter and here on the website:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/peter-ives/
Dot Browne, our July “Artist of the Month” writes: I first started creating mosaics as a result of a lovely association I have had with the very talented resident potter and mosaicmaker, Deborah Amon Cotter, who was part of our team at Silver Grove.
I have had a career as a specialist primary teacher in local schools,,.During my period as an art/craft teacher at Rangeview Primary, I was offered….(read more)
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/dot-browne/
Vicky Gavras, long-time member of WAA, Congratulations
on being June 2023 “Artist of the month”. Vicki loves
painting the vibrancy of her home land. Well done Vicki!
Read Vicky’s story from the June Newsletter and see her artwork now here on the website:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/vasiliki-gavras/
Faye Clark, WAA artist of the month for May 2023, writes, I think I have always loved Art and Craft. From when I started school, getting to use crayons, doing finger painting and especially playing with clay. I loved it all. I have been with WAA for over 30 years now and have enjoyed every minute. I am currently the Convener of the Tuesday Afternoon Workshop. We are a small happy group, who would love to welcome new members. We are a self-help group, with lots of helpful advice if you require it.
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/faye-clark/
Helga Jurgensen has had a lifelong interest in the figure. Her career in the fashion industry is amazing and so too are her stunning pastel portraits. Helga has been a WAA member for many years winning various awards including the
WAA hand challenge and trophy.
Congratulations Helga on being our artist of the month for April 2023. We love your art, it’s simply fabulous.
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/helga-jurgenson/
Tomomi Gillette and her family have been WAA members for many years. She is an extremely talented artist who has had much success using bright colours when painting Family Portraits. Congratulations Tomomi on being
WAA artist of the month for March 2023. We love your work!
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/tomomi-gillette/
Congratulations to Kelly Grace our Artist of the Month for November 2022.
Kelly is very talented and creates exceptional artworks across many mediums. Great work Kelly.
The November Newsletter featured Kelly and her artistic creations
WAA tutor Susan Gustafson is our featured Artist of the Month for October 2022. Susan shares with us her story of her love of painting plus some of her beautiful paintings in the October Newsletter and now here on the website:
Susan Gustafson
Congratulations to our Artist of the Month for September 2022 Jacqueline Zimmerman.
Jacqueline Zimmerman (committee member) writes a lovely biography about her life and her art. Well done, Jacquie. See her feature in the September Newsletter and here on the website
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/jacqueline-zimmerman/
Barbara Nowak takes the honours for August 2022 as our featured Artist of the Month. Barbara tells us of her surprised to find herself taking up art in 2012 and of her journey to pursue a new passion to the present. She is also a valued WAA Committee member and contributor to our social media pages. Read the full article with some of her artwork from the WAA August Newsletter:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/barbara-nowak/
Our Artist of the Month for July 2022 is current WAA President
Fiona McVilly who tells us at the age of forty I was accepted into Monash University fine arts. I chose Monash University because I had a dream for years to study in Italy. My dream came true! Across the Faculty of Art twenty four of us were chosen to Study in Italy for two months. Read Fiona’s full story from the WAA July Newsletter:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/fiona-mcvilly-cox/
Karina Grift is our Artist of the Month for June 2022. She is our very own special Committee member, Social media guru and “Art Discovery” tutor and is also a very gifted writer and Artist. We are so very lucky to have her as part of WAA. Congratulations Karina! Read her story and see her work in your June Newsletter and now on the website here:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/karina-grift/
Congratulations Natalie Doubrovski on being WAA’s Artist of the Month for May. An enthusiastic member of WAA for years, a regular at our Life Drawing workshops and a very talented art teacher, she will be teaching classes soon at WAA on Thursday nights. You can see some of her work in the May Newsletter and here on the website.
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/natalie-doubrovski/
Our Artist of the Month for April 2022 is Christine Hawkins.
Christine has been a major part of WAA for many years. She’s been a committee member, enthusiastic helper for many years volunteering and enjoying her time at WAA. We are very pleased to have her as Artist of the Month. Well done Christine we think you are amazing. See some of her wonderful paintings here on the web-site.
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/christine-hawkins/
Joanne Coleman is the March 2022 Artist of the Month.
Joanne attends our Portrait workshops on Wednesday mornings. This talented lady is extremely good at capturing facial expressions. Well done Joanne, we love your work. Check out her wonderful paintings inside the March Newsletter and here on the website:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/joanne-coleman/
Artist of the month for 2022 in February is long standing WAA member Colin Browne.
Congratulations Colin on your wonderful watercolours of people and landscapes. And thank you for your valuable contributions to WAA in various Committee and other roles over many years. Very well done! See the feature article in the February Newsletter, and here on the web-site:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/colin-browne/
More WAA Artists of the Month
Even more of WAA Artist of the Month pages are available for you to enjoy their creations and read their stories here on our website:
https://whitehorsearts.info/staging/index.php/waa-artists-of-the-month/