Fellow artists and long-time friends Sheilagh Head, Kris Jensen and Elmer Midgett have once again joined forces with other well-known local artists to form the tenth edition of "Growing'' -- a now-biennial exhibition with an established reputation for excellence.

Since the show's inception in 1987, the "cast'' of Growing has varied, but not without this talented trinity as its backbone. Joining this year's group will be fellow artists Graham Foster, Jonah Jones and Dr. Marion Watlington.

As the name implies, Growing is an exhibition vehicle designed to showcase the on-going artistic development of its participants, whether through the exploration of new avenues, subjects, media or techniques, or simply an expanded understanding of their own creativity.

As diverse in personality as they are in style, the artists united under the Growing X banner nonetheless share a common theme: to benefit artistically from a base of mutual support. With this premise in mind, they regularly meet to create and critique each other's work, and thus improve through learning.

"It is part of growing as an artist,'' founder-member Mr. Midgett explains.

"We bounce ideas off each other, and try to encourage everyone to come up with new things and not worry about selling. We all have something to give and take from each other as artists.'' Fellow founder-member, Kris Jensen, agrees, pinpointing much of her artistic growth to the early days when she first joined Mr. Midgett and Mrs. Head painting "en plein air'' -- where the great outdoors was their studio.

"I found the shapes, colours and shadows fascinating, particularly of architectural subjects,''she recalls.

Prior to that, Mrs. Jensen, who was also an original member of Lightworks, the forerunner of Growing, had been a scientific illustrator working at the Bermuda Biological Station, where her focus was on marine invertebrates.

As a result of her initial `growing' experience, Mrs. Jensen remains particularly attracted to capturing architectural forms and colour on canvas, while also pursuing her fascination with the beauty of local flora.

For Mrs. Head, growing has meant not only spending much more time away from her home studio and in the great outdoors, but also exploring different vistas and interpretations. Best known for her impressionist-style oils of Bermuda landscapes, the artist has also been painting in New Hampshire.

"I am painting outside even more now,'' she says. "If you paint a landscape you really have to be physically at one with it -- to feel the hardness of the rock, or the softness of the sand, and the heat of the sun,'' she explains.

While Mrs. Head's paintings are still about the land, sea and sky, she says that "more and more they are becoming an abstract expression of a grand design and interconnection'' for which she uses tones quite removed from her traditional palette.

For water colourist Marion Watlington, a doctor who integrates conventional and alternative medicine, taking up painting again in 1993 has proved to be a journey of "great peace and joy''.

For her, growing has been a matter of committing to paper what she has long seen in her mind's eye.

"I had been painting in my head for years but never had time to do it,'' she explains. "It wasn't until I retired from regular medicine that I was able to explore my art.'' An enthusiastic traveller who draws inspiration from adventure holidays to such destinations as Africa, the Amazon jungle, and beautiful parks, Dr.

Watlington is including both Bermudian and African subjects in this, her second Growing show.

Of her personal growth, the artist says: "I am at a wonderful place in my life right now with the science of medicine, and exploring my creative outlets. I feel like I am in both sides of my brain, and I feel very fulfilled. I am standing on both feet, finally.'' Participating in his first-ever Growing show, Graham Foster will fulfill his invitation to "work in a different style and medium'', doubtless surprising viewers in the process. However, in addition to exploring his new direction -- sculpting Bermuda subjects in steel -- he will also include some chacamoors -- interpretations of Aztec sculpture painted on paper.

As with many of his paintings, Mr. Foster's sculptures will include such things as wheels, blades and crank handles -- elements of fascination and fun, as well as symbolism.

Despite having studied welding as part of his degree programme at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, Mr. Foster says that it not until recently that he found a place to weld and the financial resources to fund the requisite accessories.

Enthused about his growth as an artist, Mr. Foster says: "I'm all for expanding sculptural possibilities on the Island. Painting has been flogged for a century, but sculpture influenced by Bermuda is still fresh. There will be something of interest for everyone from construction workers to CEOs.'' As experienced and successful artists, the group also share a collective philosophy on the integrity of their work.

"One of the tenets of the Growing philosophy is the recognition of a striving for honesty in each other's work. We have to be able to appreciate its honesty, and decry that which we feel is not,'' Mrs. Head explains. "None of us has a problem with any style of painting so long as it honest, and I think as painters most of us are very capable of knowing an honest work.'' Understandably delighted that Growing is now celebrating its tenth exhibition, Mr. Midgett says of the success of the concept: "Growing has been a real movement in the Bermuda art world for 20 years, and an event to look forward to. We have every reason to celebrate the high standard of artistic talent here, and need to support each other as artists.'' Growing X takes place in the Bermuda Society of Arts main gallery on the upper level of City Hall from October 30 to November 13. Due to his absence abroad, Mr. Jonah Jones was not interviewed for this feature.

More local art coverage see Page 12 The Growing Gang: (From left) Dr. Marion Watlington, Elmer Midgett, Sheilagh Head, Graham Foster and Kris Jensen take a break from preparations for their biennial group show, Growing X, which opens at City Hall this week. Missing is fellow artist Jonah Jones.