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ASPIRING artists as young as eight years old in south-east Cornwall have had the chance to showcase their work in an exhibition which is being staged at the Garrison Gallery, at Maker Heights.
The artists are part of a young art school which is run by Alan Lemin, former head of fine art at what was Plymouth College of Art now Arts University Plymouth.
Mr Lemin is a successful artist, with work currently being exhibited at a gallery in Paris, but he spends much of his time nurturing the talents of young artists at his Woodshed Studio, in Millbrook.
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While he has held exhibitions before, this year it is being held in the gallery at Maker Heights and is on show until the end of Sunday, May 12, with work on offer for as little as £20.
Some of the young artists were in attendance at a VIP viewing last Friday, with many enjoying their first exhibition.
Darcey Stock, aged 13, had two pieces up for sale, and said: “It feel special, like you’re actually out there and people can buy your work.”
It was not the first exhibition for Milo Smith, aged 12. “I really enjoy it,” said Milo, but does it feel like there is pressure if you are exhibiting?
“Sometimes it does,” Milo replied, “but I’m not really putting too many pieces on for sale. I just really enjoy doing art.”
Toby Wood, who was exhibiting a striking caricature of Ron Weasley on a red background, said: ” I quite enjoy getting my art out there for people to be able to come and see it’s nice.”
Mr Lemin said he was delighted that the Garrison Gallery was able to showcase the work. “I love the space,” he said. “Andy Knights, the proprietor of the gallery, has been brilliant.
“It’s a little professional gallery, and the opportunity to display the work is brilliant. He approached me and said he would like to exhibit, and it’s a lovely space to do it in.”
Proprietor Andy Knights spotted some the young artists’ work in the window of the Rame Centre, and approached Mr Lemin about doing the week-long exhibition.
“One of our main things with the gallery is to give people their first opportunity,” he said. “This is our fourth year now and we started out with the idea of giving all the artists their first solo show.
“There are actually quite a few artists and I’ve been up here 20 years myself. There is a great artistic community in the peninsula.
“We’re just about giving people their first shot. I think it’s really important to give people the chance to build their confidence, and that is especially so for the kids, because the arts world is a strange world to get into, and it’s great to give kids that confidence that they can do it.”
Mr Knights said he spent half-term creating a mini exhibition with his three-year-old daughter, who he said would take breaks lying on a sofa in the gallery watching Bluey. “It was a lot of fun and she got a lot out of it,” he said.
As for the work of the young artists, which is on sale for minimal commission, he said he was impressed. “This work is fantastic,” he said. “It’s a great range of techniques and styles, and the quality of the work is fantastic.”
The exhibition is at the Garrison Gallery, Maker Heights, PL10 1LA, until the end of Sunday.
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