Date: Fri 09-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

senior-center-artists

Full Text:

with cut: Senior Artists Find New Expression On The Canvas

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Okay, now you need to add a blush of blossoms here - use red mixed with a

little bit of white...

It is a rainy day, and only half of the class showed up, but the room in the

Senior Center is bright with easels, paint brushes, palettes and the cheerful

concentration of artists at work.

Under the tutelage of Terry Gunger, seniors of varying experience tackle

acrylic painting on canvas every Monday from 9:30 am to noon at the

Multi-Purpose Building on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. The class works in

acrylics, rather than oils, because many older people are allergic to the

fumes emitted by oil paints, said the teacher. Acrylics is a good medium to

work in because the paints dry quickly, allowing easy correction of mistakes,

and clean up with soap and water. "They do fantastic work with acrylics,"

Terry added.

The class has been held longer than any of the current participants can

remember. Although some members have won blue ribbons for their work, the real

goal of the art group is to foster enjoyment of painting.

"If you have too rigid a structure, you're not going to have fun. And painting

should be fun," said the instructor, who has been painting 20 years. "I try to

encourage them. It's always easier for someone else to see what you're doing

wrong."

Boblyn White was a secretary for 40 years. Now retired, she began painting in

the class last September and has completed paintings of people and flowers,

and is now learning to render animals. As suggested, she tries to paint at

home two or three times each week "to get a better feel for it."

"This is a very special place to come to. Not only are you learning, but you

have someone your age to talk to," said Jean Corvino, who has been painting on

and off for two years. "When you come in here, you're filled with rest, an

inner peace."

Jean has been very active in Senior Center activities since the death of her

husband last year because she likes the company. "They have a lot of stuff

going on here. [Senior Services Coordinator] Marilyn Place and [activities

assistant] Beverly Riccio are such caring people.

On Monday Jean paints; Thursdays she attends folk art and reversed glass

painting classes; Friday she participates in the sewing class in the morning

and the knitting group in the afternoon - "All the things I never had time to

do" - and on Mondays and Fridays she has lunch at the center.

When asked what she wants for Mother's Day or her birthday, Jean now responds,

"A new brush!"

Helen Walko is new to painting. Last week she began her first (and ambitious)

project to copy a coastal scene with hues of brown, gold, and blue, and much

detail in the buildings on the point. "Helen is extremely good with

sketching," said the instructor. "If she can sketch it, she can do it." And

the scene is emerging beautifully.

Helen said she is having a bit of trouble with the detail work and tries to

apply familiar pencil and stencilling techniques until "caught at it" by the

instructor, who is guiding her through the adjustment to acrylics.

Artists in the class work from calendar pictures, post cards of fine art,

magazine illustrations, or their own photographs. It is legal to copy other

people's works, as long as you do not sell your representation, said Terry.

Everyone in the course finds the work challenging. "It's very absorbing. There

is no room for any other thought than what you're working on," said Bernadette

Bono, who is just starting her second painting. "There is a great deal of

creativity involved in [this type of] expression."

New members are welcome to join the acrylic painting group. And you're never

too old to take up a new hobby.

Joe Delaney, 95, had been a house painter for 65 years. It never crossed his

mind to try fine arts painting until a couple of years ago. Now he goes to

classes at the senior centers in Sandy Hook and Brookfield.

"I had nothing to do, so I thought I'd give it a crack. And I like it," said

Joe, who won a blue ribbon in a show in Pennsylvania for a painting of a barn.

"Now I'm breaking-in to doing flowers. Flowers are very tricky. It's not rough

painting like a light house." Joe also makes his own frames using 225-year-old

barn wood from Maine.

As the artists wiped off their palette knives and stepped back to view their

work, praise resounded for the teacher and the work of other students.

Works by participants will be exhibited at the Senior Center during its open

house the week of May 12. Various activities are scheduled for that week,

which celebrates Older Americans Month. For information on joining the class

or to find out about special events call the Senior Center at 270-4310.