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Westport Art Group to offer workshops for kids and drawing and painting classes for adults

— The Westport Art Group will present winter classes for all ages.

Fun Saturday Workshops for youngsters ages 8 to 13 are from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1740 Main Road. Bring a snack. The instructor is Paula Becker. The cost is $30 per class.

• Saturday, Feb. 11: “Starry Starry Night.” Stars, planets, space and dreams fill the night sky. Inspired by artists Van Gogh, Miro and your own imagination, draw, paint and create mixed media works of art.

• Saturday, March 10: “Animal Safari.” With pastels, paint and collage, create bold colorful safari animals and scenes inspired by the art of Matisse, Rousseau and your own imagination.

• Saturday, May 5: “Who Am I?” Self-Portraits. Express yourself with images and words. Create a series of self-portraits using a variety of media, including paint, charcoal and pastel. Examples of portraits created by Cassat, Manet, Picasso and Warhol will be shown for inspiration.

For more information, and to register, contact Paula Becker at psbecker@cox.net or 401/595-5928. Ms. Becker is a freelance textile designer for Regal Fabrics. She also has taught textile classes at UMass-Dartmouth and RISD. In her Tiverton home/studio, she weaves unique scarves and one-of-a-kind woven and mixed media artwork that has been exhibited in various galleries and art exhibitions nationally.

Classes for adults

Beginning drawing and painting classes are now being offered for adults at the Westport Art Group, 1740 Main Road. Classes meet once a week for five weeks beginning Jan. 27 (drawing) and Jan. 28 (painting). The fee is $160 for WAG members and $165 for non-members. To register, contact Nancy Burkholder at nannyaesop37@gmail.com or 508/636-3039.

Beginning drawing is from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 27 to Feb. 24. Learn how to look. Learning to draw and paint is like learning a new language. You will see things differently and learn how to speak about them. Learn the basics, from the materials you hold to the techniques. Work with line, shape, value, composition and contrast. This is a class especially for those who have little or no previous experience.

Materials to purchase include 2h, hb, 2b, 4b and 6b pencils, vinyl or kneaded eraser and newsprint paper.

• Beginning painting is from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 28 to March 3 (no class Feb. 18). Learn everything from how to hold a brush, how to mix colors, different types of brushstrokes and how to begin on a blank canvas, to how to see your subject and arrange your page, how to see colors, and how to get what is in front of you onto a page. Students will work from still life. Some prior drawing experience is required.

Materials to purchase include a paintbrush (for acrylic paint, your choice, filbert, round or flat) and 9x12 canvas or canvas board (or larger). Acrylic paint will be provided.

Instructor Jamie Medeiros’ work starts with a sense of delight (in light, in color, in the subject sitting in front of her). She takes all of that delight and transfers it to the canvas, or paper, using the skills she has acquired through years of training and observations made through her adventures and daily life. She paints for discovery, joy and revelation, understanding and mystery.

The Westport Art Group is a nonprofit organization that supports education in the arts with classes, art exhibits and scholarships to high school seniors. Call 508/636-2114 or visit www.westportartgroup.com for more information.

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