On show: Proud local artists (from left) Heidi Messner, Merlyn Stanfield, Carol Denavi, Carol Munday, Karia Flentge and Minika Hemmann. Picture Wayne Hawkins
As a school teacher, Carol Munday would sketch pictures for her students on the classroom chalkboard.
Now retired, Ms Munday has the time to indulge her artistic passions and is more likely to reach for a vibrant pastel than a piece of plain white chalk.
She is one of eight outer eastern suburbs women who spend their Thursday nights developing their creative skills at the Ferntree Gully home of Birgit Verhagen, a local artist and German language teacher. Ms Munday says their mentor has a very good eye: "She's a self-taught artist, her work is beautiful."
The women have been meeting for more than 10 years and, up until now, have been hiding their creations from the public. Their first exhibition, Passion for Painting, is now at Mooroolbark's Red Earth Gallery.
The exhibition will showcase their favourite pieces from the past two years, in themes ranging from seascape to wildlife.
While one woman prefers working with acrylic paints, the rest wield pastels, concentrating their efforts on incorporating light and detail into their scenes.
Passion for Painting is at Red Earth Gallery, 125 Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark, October 30 to November 22. Details: 9726 5488.