Artists Group
The Artists Group has access to the FAO
Staff Coop studio in Building E.
Bob Dickerson teaches in the FAO studio
from 10 am to 7 pm on Mondays and
Thursdays.
Students can paint for any 3 hour block of
time during these hours.
Bob's home phone number is
06.76966961
cell. 340.3415028.
Marina Haas also teaches in the FAO studio on Wednesday mornings.
Marina's home phone number is 06.7851623
With ample space to paint and draw, it is very well equipped with studio easels, sinks with
hot and cold water, drying racks for paintings and a library of art books. Even lockers for
storing materials are available.
Our Manifesto is "Anyone can paint" which over the years of teaching has been proved to
be very true.
The Art Groups which meet during the daytime consist of FAO staff wives, relatives and
retired staff, who come to "create their masterpiece" to take home to show to their families
and friends. In the evenings, FAO and WFP staff come to draw and paint. The studio has
become a meeting place for retired FAO Staff still living in and around Rome who have a
shared interest in art and painting.
If you wish to join in then there are opportunities for students to show their work alongside
other members of the group at the exhibitions which are a regular feature in the CASA Bar.
As you grow more proficient you may even wish to hold your own exhibition!
A subscription to the "Australian Artist" is maintained and can be a source of information and
inspiration.
If you feel like trying your hand at oils, watercolours,
acrylics or pastels then come along to the studio or
telephone x54257 for further information and
encouragement. The materials for the first few lessons are
"gratis", after which you are given a list of materials you
can buy for your chosen medium: Water colours, Oils, or
Acrylics.
TESTIMONIALS:
Are you a budding Monet, or maybe you're a person who would love to try painting but, like
I was, not brave enough to take up the challenge? I had a few friends encouraging me to
join the FAO Artists' Group and one eventually managed to drag me along (thank you
Margaret, it really was my "lucky" day). The classes are run by Bob Dickerson, a very
experienced and inspiring professional. Under Bob's gentle encouragement, you will soon be
creating something you are pleased with, and if you are experienced, you with have the
opportunity to develop and extend your skills.
So, come and join the friendly group for classes at FAO.
Joy Roberts
Some time ago I saw an interesting article by Ivy Steele about her experience with the Art
classes at FAO. She had never painted until 5 years earlier when she decided to give it a try
and had been doing it ever since. She even exhibited her paintings! That sounded very
challenging to me.
There are several artists in my family, but although I always liked art I had never detected
the slightest talent in myself. But Ivy's article made me wonder. My son was off to college
and I had more time on my hands. And looking at the future and my husband's looming
retirement I thought: now or never. In short: I went to Bob Dickerson at the studio in FAO
for a lesson and was hooked.
His motto is: "Anyone can paint" and he is a very patient and encouraging teacher.
Some of the students have been painting for years, while others are beginners like me. It's
nice to be in a mixed group like that as you learn a lot from looking at and discussing each
other's work. The first painting I brought home was a masterpiece, at least it seemed so at
the time. After a year of lessons I look at it with a slightly more critical eye! It's also
interesting to discover that you start looking at things in a different way, thinking you might
want to paint them. Since I like doing portraits I some times realize that I am staring at
people in a most embarrassing way, thinking how wonderful that big nose would look in a
portrait. And believe it or not, today someone asked me to paint her granddaughter! So if
you're interested in art and even if you think you have no talent, why don't you come for a
lesson, it's great!
Fiet Opdenberg