General News
6 June, 2025
Exhibition opens tomorrow
Nature’s Melody is an exhibition showcasing the mindful watercolour pieces of Lyn Thomas, pursuing the medium in the aftermath of profound personal loss.
Originally from Leongatha and brought up on a farm, Ms Thomas said the beauty of nature has always meant a great deal to her.
“People should be inspired by nature, it talks to you, it’s calming,” she said. “It’s beautiful to go out and look near the trees. Nature is all there for us, for free. There’s changes to colours all the time, it’s not boring.”
Ms Thomas is adamant art never crossed her mind, claiming life became too busy after she married her husband, started working and had her three sons.
With her only previous artistic experience being in school, this will be Ms Thomas’ first ever exhibition.
“I did a bit of art at school, when you’re busy running around, you just don’t think about it,” she said.
Despite this, Ms Thomas took an interest in art later in life.
Just before she and her husband retired, they unfortunately lost their youngest son to cancer.
“In 2007, we lost our son, at the time, we went away with close friends and they love the arts, and they got me into watercolour,” she said.
“When I went to Eildon, people were doing art in oils but later, I didn’t like the turps, so I started taking watercolour seriously.”
Living and travelling in various parts of regional Victoria throughout her life, the self taught artist has lived locally for four years, and has since joined an art group in Clunes.
“You can do more than you think, even if it’s not this craft, have a go at something else, don’t be bored. Join a little club, Clunes has heaps of clubs,” she said.
Ms Thomas is hoping those attending the exhibition will be inspired to take up a creative hobby, regardless of age, experience or challenges.
“There are things we can do, even when we get into our older years, so accept a challenge. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it could be knitting, it could be crochet, it could be anything,” she said.
“After my son died, I just wanted to sit, it was therapeutic. If it wasn’t for losing my son, I would have never have painted. Out of his death, came all of this,” she said.
Nature’s Melody will open on Saturday, June 7 at 11 am at Avoca’s Gallery 127.