Erryn Munchenberg

I always enjoyed art at high school, but then work and career came along, and art took a back seat in my life until about six years ago. Garry Duncan and Kathy Schneider (Schnits) held a joint SALA exhibition in Callington, about 6 years ago, and I was in awe of their work and made a comment – ‘I wish I could paint, these are so fabulous’. Garry and Kathy replied – ‘well you can – you only need to pick up a brush’. Following the SALA exhibition, I spent Saturday’s painting acrylics with Kathy in her studio at Callington and loved it.

I travelled a lot in my work and was often away for a couple of weeks at a time. One trip to Perth (March 2020) I decided to take some acrylic paints so I could paint while I was away – for some reason they ended up being confiscated at the airport and I was told she couldn’t travel with them – this I never understood – it’s weird how things occur and send you in a completely different direction. While I was in Perth, I went to Art and Craft World in Morley to buy some watercolour paints and paper to try (and travel with). The owner of the shop kindly gave me some Holbein paint samples, paper and brushes and invited me to attend a watercolour class that that afternoon. I’ve never looked back. I love it.

After doing some workshops with Alan Ramachandran I became aware of the SA Watercolour Society and joined SAWS about 8 months ago.

Honestly, this has been the best move I’ve ever made. I was so intimidated on my first visit as there are so many well established, well known artists. Looking back, I didn’t need to be. The wonderful artists at SAWS have coached, taught, mentored, inspired me and have given me the confidence to push the barriers and try new things from pen and wash to abstract and take my art to a whole new level. I can highly recommend joining SAWS – so much to learn, painting on Saturday mornings with great artists is so much fun (and no longer intimidating)

Since joining SAWS I’ve joined the Committee, and have put some work into exhibitions, I even sold a painting! Guess I can call myself an artist now 😊. I still haven’t entered any competitions… but have the confidence to do so now.