Currently, the Bermuda Art Centre at Dockyard is hosting a large exhibition of small paintings, there being 128 pieces altogether.

I should tell you right from the outset that I am an exhibitor in this show, therefore, I will not be reviewing my own works, for obvious reasons.

This exhibition is a pleasant one and for good reason. It is designed as a selling show, which traditionally, it is held just before Christmas ? again for good reason.

The exhibitors are hoping to tempt some to purchase one or more of the works for Christmas gifts. The prices are generally designed to assist in this temptation as well, and it seems to be working. I understand that quite a few have already sold.

Although it is a pleasant, even pretty show, it is not especially innovative and given the purpose of the exhibition, innovation is the last thing to be expected.

While innovation helps create interest, it is difficult to sell.

When visiting art museums and galleries, I often play a game by asking myself, if I could buy just one work, what would it be? In the case of this exhibition, I did not limit myself to just one piece. I allowed myself to pick from each of several artists.

For reasons I cannot explain, I nearly always begin my visits to a show, by moving to the left and this show is no exception. The first artist whose work stopped me was Emma Ingham-Dounouk's and there I selected 'From Spanish Point', for my imaginary shopping basket. This is a freely painted wash drawing that clearly show her amazing drawing abilities.

Next I stopped by the contributions of Chris Marson. This was not an easy selection, for he is consistently good, but I finally choose a watercolour entitled, 'Horseshoe Bay, Winter'. Mr. Marson also had a few of his oil paintings in the show and although well painted, they do not match the brilliance of his watercolours. The one I thought about selecting had already been sold.

My next stop was at another watercolour by Marion Watlington-Vorley entitled 'Along the Path'. This painting is of orange nasturtiums. Not only was the work beautifully rendered, it is exquisitely framed. Just around the corner on the west wall is a selection of impressive watercolours by Karen Phillips Curren.

From these I picked a painting called 'Shutters and Shadows'. Although a simple subject, it is clear that even the simplest subjects are never all that simple, for the play of light is always complex, but in this painting, the depiction of light is skilfully and precisely handled.

Looking back over my selections, I saw that I favoured watercolours, so my next selection, an oil painting, was an exception to this trend. This painting by Maria Evers Smith is a beautiful, Cezanne-like work named, 'Bermuda Song'. It is a painting of a coastal scene, but it is not so much the scene that caught my eye, however, but the way it is actually painted. This work is finely balanced between the subject, the paint and the technique used in making it.

There are a number of panels in the middle of the room and Rona Emmerson's work is located there. My selection from her contributions was 'Harbour View West'. This is a wonderfully, freely painted view. I noticed others drawn to it just as much as I was. Indeed, one of our best painters told me that he particularly liked that work.

On another nearby panel are paintings by Graham Foster. 'The Rescue', in acrylic on wood especially caught my attention. It is a painting of fish.

Jackie Stevenson's monoprint entitled 'Lazin in de Sun', is striking for it energy. Although the figure appears to indeed be 'lazin', the execution of the print is made with certainty and energy. Maybe this sounds contradictory, but I find no other way to describe it.

Next left on the same panel is a collection of icon-like paintings on wood by Helen Evans, that have a Christmas feel about them. From that group I selected '4th Day of Christmas'.

Nearby, still on the same panel are a few paintings by Eric Amos. I especially appreciated 'Silver Gull, Auckland Fog Image', a highly muted watercolour of a harbour scene with a sea gull dominating.

On the next panel. Diana Amos is exhibiting her landscapes. My selection at this stop was 'Reflections in the Bay'. This is a coastal scene with boats at moorings in a bay. All her paintings are rendered with great skill, but also with freedom.

I first visited the show on Sunday afternoon, the day of the opening, and it was then I made my initial selection. Later I returned to have another look and then noticed that although many had sold, my secret selections were still available. I am not sure what this tells except that my taste does not match that of others.

The exhibition continues through January 6, 2006.