Ellie Boyd embodied an important return to normalcy as she spoke to nearly three dozen people who gathered recently in the lower meeting room of Newtown Meeting House. Boyd was the first guest artist to appear as the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) hosted its first public in-person event since pandemic restrictions put such events on hiatus in the spring 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of dozens of SCAN artist demos, workshops, and exhibitions. The organization only recently began hosting small events for members.

The Southbury resident opened her July 28 program with a slideshow that shared many of her award-winning works. She also discussed tools she prefers, not only the brushes and paints she opts for when painting but also items she makes a point of packing when heading out to work en plein aire.

Boyd, the founder of Pomperaug Outdoor Painters, is a classically trained artist who specializes in portraiture and landscapes, the latter primarily done outdoors.

Last week, she showed those attending the SCAN program some of her favorite outdoor tools, from foldable stools and collapsible palette boards to pop-up traffic cones and bags of bug repellent and hand wipes.

Boyd was part of a paint-out in April with Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society. The group returned in June for a two-day art show and sale in and around the barn behind The Budd House on Main Street.

SCAN is planning its next artist demonstration for Wednesday, August 11, when Adele Moros will lead “A Failed Painting Clinic.” The program will begin at 7:30, again at the meeting house, and is open to fully vaccinated participants, according to a press release from the organization. Visit scanart.org for additional information.

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Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.