THERE IS A HIDDEN ARTIST WHO LIVES INSIDE ALL OF US, AND ARTIST JUDE HALL TAKES DELIGHT IN HELPING GEMLIFE PACIFIC PARADISE HOMEOWNERS REVEAL THEIR CREATIVITY.
Jude is also known by many of her fellow homeowners as ‘the art fairy’ because she and her merry band have earned a reputation for spreading artistic joy around the resort at Christmastime. In 2022 she and her art students individually painted pet rocks and secretly placed them on every doorstep. Last year it was a surprise of hand-crafted bookmarks the art class had made.
But the real gift of helping people uncover their latent artistic talent has made Jude’s two classes popular. And this is no surprise as Jude came into her own as an artist only after she retired.
“I spent 40 years as a primary school teacher and 20 of those years as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher,” she said.
“When I retired in 2012, I began my art journey by taking a class through the U3A (University of the Third Age). I started off thinking, ‘could I do that?’, so I just started and now it gives me great joy to pass on what I’ve learned to other people. I just love it.”
Jude’s teaching background came in handy as she developed a curriculum for the two classes she teaches.
“The second group is for the newer participants, and it’s called the Getting Started and the first, more experienced class is called Getting There,” she said with a laugh.
“It’s important to have structure with the classes because if you’re new to drawing or painting, it can be very intimidating to know where to begin. So rather than people bringing in their own projects, we have set subjects for the class. It also means that I can guide people through various techniques and media.”
The GemLife Pacific Paradise artists try their hand at water colours, sketching and acrylics. Each new work is inspired by a source image.
“For instance, not too long ago, it was a seascape,” said Jude. “And it never ceases to surprise me the variety in finished works that all started from observing the same scene.
“We have some truly talented artists in our midst.”
Classes are held at the resort’s library and Jude has her eye on the creative art space that is part of the Country Club, which is currently under construction and is due to open mid this year.
“I have 19 enrolled in one class and 13 in the other but in reality, we average 11 to 12 attending each week,” she said. “We meet in the library – which is a little small for us all so I can’t wait to see the studio, I’m sure it will be everything I’ve hoped for.”
Art is meant to be seen, and Jude’s students hold regular exhibitions in the resort’s Pavilion.
“These exhibitions are done right – the pictures are framed and everyone who goes along receives a glass of champagne,” she said.
Her advice to anyone beginning their search for their inner artist?
“Just give it a whirl – the scariest moment is just before you start,” said Jude. “In fact, at the age of 75 I’m going to art school in Maroochydore to further improve my technique.”