Either way, Christchurch artist Jo Ogier's class of artists all agreed they were a "vibrant little group" who had been attending Wanaka's Autumn Art School for many years.
This was the art school's 20th year and while organiser Robyn Van Reenan did not believe any of the 197 people enrolled had been to all 20, several had attended many times.
"You would think we had learned enough," Christchurch artist Liz Hawker said this week.
The art school was founded by the Wanaka Community Arts Council as a 1990 project and regularly attracted about 200 artists.
Mrs Van Reenan said organisers did not want the school to grow much bigger because it would lose its sense of community.
Of this year's 197 participants, 13 were studying print-making with Ms Ogier, a former Dunedin and Omarama artist who graduated from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art in 1993.
During the week-long printing workshop, she taught the combined use of reduction and Japanese keyblock printing techniques to layer colours so the finished print retained its vibrancy.
Her students used woodwork techniques and tools to produce their art, repeating the cutting and printing processes up to six times to get the desired effect.
Printing had an ancient history extending back to the mists of time.
"The first print was probably a hand on the side of the cave. Early works were done with engraving and etching," Ms Ogier explained.
The autumn art school was held at Mt Aspiring College and attracted students from all over New Zealand. At least half of the New Zealanders came from Central Otago.
Several artists were from overseas, including Alaska, Tahiti, and Fiji.
Seventeen tutors taught subjects such as children's book illustration, writing, photography, watercolours, dance, woodcarving, quilting and felting.
The school closed last evening.
• Printmakers Wanaka host an exhibition at the Wanaka Arts Centre from 10am-5pm on Tuesday to Friday next week as part of the Festival of Colour. As well as works by current members, it includes works by former member Nora Hazledine, who died several years ago.
