Several hundred people flocked to the Otago Art Society gallery at the weekend to see 20 artists demonstrating painting and print-making techniques, on the society's annual Demo Day.
Society president Jenny Longstaff said the event at the Dunedin Railway Station had been "great'' and "very successful''.
She said some artists, who were used to painting more privately, could be taken slightly out of their comfort zone but the day had been stimulating and beneficial for both artists and visitors.
The society is the country's oldest art society and this year celebrates its 140th anniversary.
Ms Longstaff also hoped the day would also help explode some other myths and misconceptions about the society and its membership.
Some people believed society members were only older people, who were interested only in landscape painting.
But, in fact, members ranged in age from 19 to 90, and pursued many forms, traditions and styles of art, including abstract painting, jewellery, woodware, glassware, and pottery.
She joked that the society had been trying to correct its public image "for about 100 years''.
