Artist enjoys bringing out children’s creativity

Middlebury artist Linda Pieri is returning to EPL for two sessions at the Dunlap Branch in June.

Pieri usually works with acrylics, charcoal and graphite. On top of her own art, Pieri teaches classes to people of all ages, showing them the art of acrylic, watercolor painting or graphite drawing.

At 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 12 at the Dunlap library, teens will paint the “Painted Rock” by following along with Pieri’s simple, fun instructions during Cappuchino and Canvas.

Participants will each have their own canvas and materials provided.

Artists will have a slightly different version of Pieri’s painting in the end, with the ability to really make it their own, as each is supposed to be a piece of artwork that looks similar to the original painting, but not a replica.

Registration is required due to limited supplies.

At 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, also at the Dunlap library, adults will follow along as Pieri leads them in making the painting “Black Stones with a Flower” during Coffee and Canvas.

All materials will be supplied and once again, registration is required.

Pieri has offered painting events in the past and continues to do it to keep kids involved with art.

“There isn’t a lot of art in the schools anymore. It’s kind of a dying thing,” she said. “People are choosing sports above the arts. I just want to keep it alive. There’s a lot of joy in showing kids that they can paint and they can draw.”

For Pieri, she wants to build up the confidence in each of these young artists and give them basic skills they can take with them and continue practicing and getting better. She wants to give them a sense of accomplishment, so they know they can do something like this, create pieces of artwork.

“Watching the amazement on their faces when they see their final pieces (is the best part),” Pieri said. “They realize they did that themselves, and they’re proud.”

These events are free. But for Pieri, that makes things a bit more challenging. She wants her students to feel like real artists, so she wants them to have real supplies, like nice canvases and brushes, real paint pallets, all funded by Pieri.

But despite the challenge of costs, Pieri continues to do it to keep the art alive. She wants to continue “bringing art to people and letting them discover it’s a very relaxing feeling.”

“Just having the demand,” she said, “of the public saying we want more and the kids wanting to do it and the parents wanting to bring the kids, that is my goal.”