By Colin MacGillivray
IT is estimated the famous Dutch post-impressionist Vincent van Gogh created about 900 paintings in his lifetime; Kilmore’s Rosalie Jewell has surpassed that total in only five years.
The 83-year-old estimates she has finished more than 1000 canvases since taking up painting as a hobby five years ago, and will offer more than half of them for sale this Saturday at Kilmore Senior Citizens Club.
Ms Jewell is a member of the club’s art group, which meets every Friday.
The group includes several talented artists from the Kilmore region, including past prize winners at the Kilmore Art Expo.
Several other artists will sell their work alongside Ms Jewell.
Kilmore Senior Citizens Club art educator Maria Dee encouraged people from across Mitchell Shire to visit the sale to look at the paintings and pick up artwork at a reasonable price.
“The paintings will be set up on tables in cardboard boxes. It’ll be like looking through records,” she said.
“We’ve got about 500 or 600 of Rosalie’s works here. It’s going to be very casual. Nothing will be priced. Rosalie will just ask people to make her an offer.”
Ms Jewell said she would use any money she made simply to buy more canvases.
She said painting had quickly become her biggest passion after she took it up.
“I’d never lifted a paintbrush in my life [before five years ago]. I’d never even painted a cupboard or a window sill,” she said.
“It was my daughter who got me started. She told me it was time to do something. My partner passed away a couple of years ago and I was lonely, but then I met all these people and we’re the best of friends.”
Ms Jewell said she would try to sell as many paintings as possible.
“There’s no room in the house. I had spare bedrooms full and everything stacked up everywhere, so it was getting to be a bit of a worry,” she said.
“Then they kindly thought to have a sale. I didn’t want to do it on my own.
“It’d be handy to make a bit of money because it’ll buy me more canvases, but it’s really just to help me clear out the house.”
The sale will be from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturday at Kilmore Senior Citizens Club, 7 Sydney Street, Kilmore.
People can call Ms Dee on 0408 187 020 for more information.
