Local artists and creatives of all ages are being invited to participate in a unique project that will see their work on display in a group exhibition from September 29 – October 13 at the Sunset Gallery in Port Macquarie.

Drawn From Here is a sketchbook project that aims to showcase the unique diversity of our local arts through an exhibition of creative art journals.

This is the first year the project will run, but project organiser and owner of Port Macquarie Creative, Katherine Appleby, hopes it will be an annual event.

“The project is open to all greater Port Macquarie residents,” Ms Appleby said.

“It is a fun and accessible way to bring together artists and creatives from our region and display their work in a unique exhibition of sketchbooks.

“So far the exhibition has received more than 35 submissions and we are hoping to get a lot more over the coming weeks.”

The sketchbook project has an open theme which will allow artists to use any medium and to complete their journals in any manner they wish.

“It might be photography, painting, sewing, drawing, writing, or something else entirely,” she said. 

“The only rule is that the sketchbook must be used in some way, and that it must remain within its dimensions and no more than 5cm thick, so that we can still easily display it.

“I am hopeful that this project will become an annual event that we might be able to take to other galleries across the Hastings in the future.”

This year, the project has been sponsored by Sunset Framing and Gallery who have offered their gallery space to host the two-week exhibition, said gallery owner Scott Rayner.

“Sunset Framing and Gallery have always been supportive of our local, creative community, and we are excited to be supporting another project that will expose and exhibit the incredible creative talent that exists in Greater Port Macquarie,”Mr Rayner said.

The collection of art journals will be featured in an exhibition at Sunset Framing and Gallery from Saturday 29 September to Saturday 13 October.

The project is currently accepting submissions and will be doing so until the end of July so there is still plenty of time to enter.

To learn more about the project or to register, click here. 

All registered participants will receive a sketchbook to use.

You can also view artist’s progress as they complete their sketchbooks by following the Instagram hashtag #drawnfromhere2018.