Two talented young artists will open an exhibition of some of their original graphic artwork and portraits at a community art gallery this month.

Hope Pate, 13, and Lillian Brodie, 12, unveiled their joint collection of paintings at the Mother T’s community centre, on New Road, Laxey, earlier this week.

The display features 15 different examples of both girls’ creativity and skill in creating vivid and imaginative portraiture, with pictures of cartoon and anime characters, pop art and global and ethnic-influenced imagery, each one painted with a great sense of energy, vibrancy and youthful imagination.

The two young creatives are members of the ’Art Tank’ creative arts after school- club, run at the Kensington Road Youth Arts Centre in Douglas, and the work has been developed during their Art Tank sessions since the beginning of this year.

Hope has presented six examples of her anime-inspired portraits.

’I like being able to draw their faces and expressions,’ said Hope.

’ I don’t think I can draw real life people very well, so I like to draw cartoon and animated figures.’

Lillian said that she likes to create vibrant colourscapes for her portraits.

I like to do portraits with abstract backgrounds,’ she said.

’I also like to use things like sponges, or forks or whatever, to make interesting textures and backgrounds.

’I like the art thank because you can meet new people, make new friends there and we can find out about how to do lots of different art styles.’

Artist Anna Clucas, who leads the Art Tank group, said: ’Lillian and Hope have showed great ability when creating their characters, so it was an obvious choice to put the two of them through for the exhibition at Mother T’s this year.

’They have both worked really hard to get to this position, and should be very proud of themselves.

’This is the second exhibition Valerie at Mother T’s has hosted for the Art Tank young artists, and it has been a warm and homely space to launch into.’

The exhibition will run until the end of the month.

For more information on Art Tank, contact Anna at [email protected]