Now, Cameron Anderson, Magdelena Romero, Morgan Nyvelius and Ellie Smith head to their town centre studio to create around the edges of their fulltime jobs — also in the centre of town.
They have also launched their first joint exhibition, "Eight to Infinity", which opened on Thursday and continues to August 18.
"Our concept is about how we are living in a world with increasing demand on everyone, and trying to create a space in which we can be an artist, alongside working ... carving out time for art. So Eight to Infinity is about working eight hours but art for infinity," Mr Anderson said.
Mr Anderson shapes, paints and laminates wooden skateboard art and creates tufted rugs. He is also a musician and a magician.
Ms Romero is a fulltime cafe manager and spends her spare time creating silver jewellery that represents her passion for nature and craftsmanship.
Mr Nyvelius is an nature illustrator and paints in watercolours, when not working fulltime as a baker.
Ms Smith is a graphic designer who creates large-format mixed media in her spare time.
The artists have also teed up with other Wānaka creatives to launch an inaugural arts trail event in the town’s central business district, which was held yesterday.
They said the trail was a small start to the "revivification" of
the town centre, which they hoped would grow into a monthly or quarterly event that nurtured the local art network.
"There is an arts community but it is dispersed. We are trying to get an artist cohesion or unity, bring a little bit more of their culture into the town.
"The community is great for the outdoors and food and wine but for the arts and music, there is an opportunity here," Mr Anderson said.
Wānaka was still a small town and an "art crawl" could only benefit those in the central business district, he said.
The idea was born from the "First Thursday" movement operating in Queenstown, Dunedin, Wellington and around the world, where arts businesses hosted show openings on the first Thursday of every month so arts patrons could do the rounds of town, he said.
"An event like this, people can walk around the block and check out what the town has to offer. It is also a bit like a treasure hunt."
