In fact, some of them have uttered the very words themselves.

“It’s no use. I can’t paint. I’m too old to learn now. I haven’t got an artistic bone in my body.”

And yet new members who persevere continue to surprise themselves, developing latent talents they never suspected they had.

“You’d be surprised how often it happens,” one member says of the group’s stories of transformations.

“One chap had been a carpenter, but he came in and joined us and now he creates the most wonderful pencil drawings of animals and landscapes,” she said.

ALM was founded in 1997 by Daisy Sharps and Harry Goyens as a place for experienced and novice artists to share their passion for art.

The group meets on the first Thursday of the month at Cooranbong Community Services Centre for a demonstration and workshop by a guest artist.

ALM’s Nerida Merlin said the group focused exclusively on painting and drawing, but in a variety of mediums including watercolour, acrylic, pastel, ink and pencil.

“We’re mostly all senior people, we’ve got time on our hands, so we pick up a brush and we do extremely well,” she said.

“We try to vary the workshops, and we all have a go.”

The Lakes Mail dropped in at the workshop on Thursday where Cessnock artist Dorothy Compton gave a presentation on painting in watercolours.

So, is it possible to take an absolute beginner – even a reluctant beginner – and teach them how to create an artwork they can be proud of?

“Yes you can! All you need is for someone to give you some guidance, and away you go,” Ms Compton said.

Among the tips she offered was to stick to a limited palette, use the correct amount of paint on your brush, and to know what colours work well together.

Ms Compton said she often asked students to recreate one of her works, and was always surprised to see the different interpretations.