On Tuesday, every chair in the downstairs meeting room of the Mattapoisett Free Public Library was full. Not of spectators, but of active participants in a painting lesson.
The Step-by-Step painting lesson was performed by a canvas and ceramic painting studio in Fairhaven. The event in the library was free for entry, though it was supported by a grant from the Mattapoisett Cultural Council and was organized by Library Technician Felicia Aguiar. The lesson, which had all its registration slots full and waitlist opened, saw attendees arranged at tables set up in a large rectangle, all facing the center. The instructor was at one head of the tables with an example painting as well as a blank canvas for attending artists to follow along.
The participants painted a small lemon tree in a pot over the course of about two hours. The 15-or-so artists were not forced to follow strictly along and could “do your own thing!” if inspiration took them.
For more information of events held at the library, you can visit their website at mattapoisett-ma.whofi.com/calendar.
By Sam Bishop