A picnic race meeting in the bush might not be the first place you’d expect to find quality pieces of art.
Unless, of course, you are at the Roma Picnics.
The popular Art & Tea is making a return for the annual Roma Picnic Races on Saturday March 18 with two well established western Queensland painters in Lyn Barnes and Sandra Allen and emerging Roma artist, Courtney Larden, making a guest appearance.
Roma Picnic Race Club co-president, Kate Gordon, said Art & Tea had proved a popular addition to the race day program in 2016.
“Afternoon Tea has always been somewhat of an institution at the Roma Picnics,” she said.
“And we felt that with so many people coming together in one room that we could give them something a little extra, so the idea of combining Art & Tea was born.
“It was really popular last year. Everyone loved looking at the artwork so we decided to bring it back again.”
The featured artists will each bring a small selection of their works to display in the Wool Court at Bassett Park during Art & Tea, which is sponsored by Warners Fine Jewellery. The artists will also be on-hand to chat to guests about their work.
Lyn Barnes needs no introduction, having exhibited the beautiful paintings she produces from her Quilpie Gallery, all over Australia.
Ms Barnes said it was exciting to exhibit some pieces at Art & Tea and catch up with old friends.
She’s a former Roma Picnic Races’ President’s Club winner with a horse she co-owned with the Loughnan family having won at the Picnics in the 1980s.
Fellow painter, Sandra Allen has lived in the Maranoa for all of her life. The exception was the brief time she spent at Art School in Sydney before getting married.
“I loved Art School but I missed the bush terribly,” Ms Allen said.
“I kept coming back and eventually I stayed."
Ms Allen mainly paints with acrylics and enjoys depicting “the animals that we live with like dogs, cats and cattle.”
She paints largely for her own enjoyment but has exhibited across Queensland.
“I don’t take myself too seriously – I have fun with it,” she said.
Joining these established artists will be Roma’s Courtney Larden.
The young school teacher has just started selling handmade clutches, purses, key rings and jewellery. All feature her own hand painted designs.
“I start with a piece of canvas which I paint with acrylics before sewing into a bag,” she said.
“Then I create a plastic clutch to go over the top. I also hand make any beads and tassels that are on the bag so the whole creation is unique and made from scratch.”
Trading as Courts & Xs, Courtney has created an Etsy online store while also promoting her pieces through her popular Instagram account.
Courtney hails from an artistic family and said she was relishing working with her hands.
“I’ve always enjoyed being creative,” she said.
“Initially I just made a bag for myself but friends started asking for them so it’s just grown from there.”
