Age no limit in art

By Peggy Ussery

Published: July 18, 2008

Beverly Leach instructs her art students to squint as they look at the white plastic foam balls placed against a white drape thrown over an easel.

“What I want you to see today are shapes,” Leach said.

Look at the shadows created by the light as it travels down from the studio lights and around the folds of the drape and the curves of the balls, she tells them. Forget lines. Focus on the shapes. Don’t draw a circle. Don’t even worry about trying to make the balls look like balls. Draw the shapes created by the lighting.

“It’s the light that makes it more dynamic,” Leach said of art.

Leach’s class was not made up of typical art students. They weren’t high school or college students or even young children in a summer program. They were adults with no formal training, attending an art class at the Wiregrass Museum of Art.

There they were on a Thursday morning, soaking in all they could about creating shapes with charcoal. Leach encouraged her students to “get more childlike” and worked to convince them that 99 percent of their time should be spent looking at the subject not their drawing pad.

This is the second round of free adult art classes held by the Wiregrass Museum of Art this year. The first was held in late April and June. The classes, held over six weeks and designed for people with no art training, are intended to be independent of each other. So, if you missed last week’s session, you can still learn something from this week’s session.

Liz Smyth has been involved with the museum in the past but doesn’t consider herself an artist. A friend talked her into taking the free class. She’s attended two classes so far.

“I have no talent,” Smyth said. “I have proved to myself that I have no talent in two weeks time.”

That doesn’t deter her, however. The classes, she said, are fun and do give her some insight into artistic concepts and a better understanding of what an artist may be trying to capture in a piece. Although, she doesn’t expect to be a Rembrandt when the six weeks are up.

“My skill level will probably still be zero,” Smyth said.

The current series of art classes will continue through Aug. 14. After a two-week break, the museum will begin another series with classes held in the evenings.

“Our plan is just keep this going,” said Kendall Sirkis, director of visitor services at the museum.

Sirkis said the idea for the art classes came out of another museum program called Art ’til 8, an after-business-hours program for adults.

The program was so successful the museum decided to host free art classes. And with a limit of 15 in each class, there’s already a waiting list. Classes include line and perspective, charcoal work on shapes, composition, gesture, color and negative space. The evening classes, which will begin at 5:30, could draw a whole new set of people to the museum, Sirkis said.

“It was a way to introduce adults back to art,” Sirkis said.

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If you go ...
What? Art classes for beginning adults in six-week increments.
When? Thursdays through Aug. 14 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Cost? Free. No fee or supply costs; just bring yourself.
Limits? Space is limited to 15 people; first come, first serve.
Future classes? Another series of art classes should begin in September and will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Information? Call 794-3871 to sign up.