I understand that the qualification for exhibiting in this show was that the artist had exhibited at the Bermuda Society of Arts before, but it must have been within the last four years. This pretty much guarantees some degree of immaturity, but I find the exhibitors have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm which works wonders.

The pictures on view and for sale are nearly all priced well within the budgets of most of us. One could get a fine painting or photograph here for less than the cost of taking the family out for a meal. The picture will give pleasure for years, the meal might give indigestion and one might be hungry again an hour later.

One piece of advice for emerging artists would concern presentation. I appreciate the cost of framing something that may not sell is troubling to the artist without an established clientele. Listen; one can make a canvas look a good deal better with just some strips of wood painted white attached to the edges. I don't like seeing staples. At the same time, one should not rely on a fancy frame to make mediocre work somehow look good. One may gild a lily, but gilding a turnip just doesn't seem to work. If a workshop on presentation of art is available, I would recommend it.

I rather like Fiona Curren's work. Ms. Curren has fairly simple pictures accentuated with a backing of what looks to be torn paper. I liked the series of daisy pictures best. However, her 'South Shore at Dusk' is wonderfully Bermudian without being a little, pink cottage.

Michael Walsh has some interesting prints, lithographs and intaglios that I liked. For my home (I live in a little, pink cottage) I'd have liked the prints somewhat smaller.

Mr. Walsh has an interesting work in bronze and pine on the floor of the gallery. I like it ... but where to put it? 'Thai Ginger' is an archival photograph prepared by Lenore Leitch. Here we have a ginger tabby cat on a weathered boat on a beach that is mostly gravel. The blues and greys of the gravel enhance the blue interior of the boat. Unfortunately, this photograph is not for sale. However, Ms. Leitch has other pictures on show and they are quite brilliant.

I like Peter Lapsley's nudes. I believe there is to be an exhibition devoted to nude studies, and I look forward to seeing it. If I had a bright room, at home or at my office, several of Mr. Lapsley's pictures in matching frames would be just the ticket. Maggie Knight shows great promise. I can just see her 'Dark and Stormy Night' in the lobby of a local victualler. Artists should not just paint pictures they imagine hanging in living rooms. Mind you, I'd love to have her 'Dockyard Horizon' above this desk. Someone had the good sense and taste to buy that picture already.

Jenny Palmer has two pictures of a dog, that looked like a Golden Labrador. Ms. Palmer needs to look at some of David Hockney's Dachshund paintings. Hockney has learned that dogs are best painted when sleeping. Simplify! Simplify! Catch the spirit of the pup, not every hair and crease.

Look for 'Unbraided' by Stella Shakerchi. Words are my business and I rather liked seeing them incorporated in a picture. This picture seems to be pure entertainment, it is not selling me something. Yet... I'd enjoy commercial art of this type.

There are a number of pictures in glowing colouring-book style by Sarah Harvey. I sat and looked at them for a while, trying to think where I'd seen the views depicted. The colours made me think of New Mexico, trees seemed Japanese, and the buildings were rather New England. I like these pictures, but would have jumped at the chance to buy one that did not wander so much geographically. I was delighted to have a look at Kevin Morris' work, having seen a write-up in the Royal Gazette recently. 'Untitled', a layered series of lattices, has sold. That does not surprise me. It was a steal. Go and look at this before it goes up on an office or home wall.

Other artists are on show in this exhibition. They deserve to be seen too, not just the ones mentioned above. You might have hotdogs for dinner one night and use the money saved to buy a picture to truly feast on.