Holger Christen’s latest exhibition can be seen in the community centre of Murray Gardens Retirement Village until January 31.

More than 100 guests attended the show’s official opening on Friday, with the first work selling the previous day while setting up.

“This year people know me already,” Christen said.

“So far we are very happy with the response.”

Christen, a Murray Gardens resident for 18 months, presented the village’s inaugural art show last year, where portraits of famous faces featured.

This time the range is wider, a fact the artist attributes to a less pressured life post-retirement.

“I have more time for relaxing and creating and doing this sort of thing,” Christen said.

“This inspires me to take the time to put my ideas, innovations on canvas.”

There is also a new dimension, literally, with concrete sculptures among the 45 pieces, most of which have been created in the past six months.

Animals, cricket, flowers and vehicles feature among the themes as well.

Impressionism and abstraction interest him more than realistic representation.

Born into three generations of artists, Christen moved from his native Germany to Queensland more than 30 years ago.

He also lived in Tasmania for many years. before arriving on the Border last year.

Now 74, he appreciates that creative paths can be endless.

“The learning is never done,” he said.

“I often reflect on this when I explore new ways of working, learn a different approach or play with processes in the studio.

“I try different things all the time.

“I look at what I created a year ago, last month or even last week and compare it to what I have created today, and always I see growth and, most exciting, more new possibilities.”

He points out people who support an artist aren’t just purchasing an object.

“You’re buying hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation,” he said.

“You’re buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You’re buying a piece of the heart and a piece of the soul.”