ST GEORGE Art Society is believed to be the oldest organisation of its kind in NSW and Myrle King holds the distinction of being one of its longest-serving members.
At 90, she could also be the oldest artist at the society, which is celebrating 70 years.
A featured artist in the 70th anniversary art show, Mrs King's landscapes and chicken miniatures have made it into many galleries and private homes here and overseas.
She likes to paint every day in her Allawah apartment, where she sits at her easel by a window overlooking Botany Bay.
Many of her rural scenes hark back to Gundagai, where she grew up and first dreamed of becoming an artist.
She even received a scholarship to come to Sydney and study art.
"The scholarship was advertised in the Herald — you had to draw an old man's face and send it in," she said.
"I sent it in and got the scholarship but it frightened the hell out of me."
A country girl too scared to commit to art studies, she came to Sydney anyway and took up bookkeeping.
With a husband and two children to organise and bookkeeping jobs in Sydney department stores, painting became an occasional hobby.
Eventually, at 49, Mrs King was free to become an artist, go to technical college and join St George Art Society.
"People get the idea you go to the art society to learn to paint, but it's much more than that," she said.
"It brings you in contact with other artists, people of similar persuasion as yourself, and you find out where the best classes and tutors are.
"When you start out you never know how far you will go."
The society, which has about 100 registered members, will hold its exhibition at its headquarters; Kogarah School of Arts in Queens Avenue.
Opening night is Friday, November 7, at 7pm. Tickets are $20 and help support the Lamrock Committee at St George Hospital.
Entry is free Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
