Emma Pritchard

Clarence Valley residents will have the unique opportunity to view, and participate, in a stunning exhibition at the Clarence Regional Library in Grafton.

Highlighted as part of the library’s ‘Local Faces, Local Voices’ program, the exhibition is entitled About Face and will feature exquisite portraiture created by renowned artist Terry Bouton and will demonstrate the intricate and intriguing details of portraits, and how they are brought to life.

Members of the community are being invited to sit for Ms Bouton and have their portraits beautifully created by her and displayed in the library as part of the exhibition which will run from October 6 until December 11.

“The exhibition will show people how portraits are drawn and painted,” Ms Bouton said.

“People will also have the opportunity to take part in the exhibition by sitting for me to have their own portrait drawn by booking through the library.

“I absolutely, totally enjoy drawing.

“I’m so overtaken by the experience of looking at a face and drawing that face.

“The whole idea of looking at people is an amazing experience because you look at them, you learn about them, you talk to them, and the whole work becomes a compilation of that experience between the sitter and the person who is looking at them.

“The exhibition will be open for a long time, and during that period I’ll also be painting some recognisable local people including (Clarence Valley councillor) Jason Kingsley and (South Grafton business owner) Rob Bentley, and their portraits will also be on display.”

Ms Bouton will also be giving artistic demonstrations at the Clarence Regional Library as part of the exhibition, and she is warmly encouraging locals to attend.

“On October 30, I will be inviting people to come and watch how I paint, and I will be explaining to them how I paint,” she said.

“On November 6, I’ll be doing another demonstration, this time sculpting in clay, and I will also explain how I sculpt and create.

“I hope a lot of people want to come to watch what I do.”

Ms Bouton will be inviting members of the public to sit for her and have their portraits drawn for free from November 1-3, between 10am and 4pm each day.

Sittings take 25 minutes and will be held every half hour.

Bookings are essential.

Please contact the Clarence Regional Library in Grafton on 6642 7588 for further information and to book a sitting with Ms Bouton.