Plein Air painters to begin new season

Milford — “Come Paint With Me” a free non-instructional program for adult and student artists begins the 2008 season on Thursday, June 5. Since 1997, the program started by Pike County artist Joan Polishook, has been included on the agendas of Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, PA, the Cultural Arts Department of Hemlock Farms in Lords Valley and the Dorflinger-Suydam Sanctuary in White Mills. These picturesque sites and others will be the Thursday meeting places for plein air artists whose focus is to paint outdoors while communing with nature. For going on eleven years, the program’s participating artists have been coming from all over the tri-state area, encouraged to paint outdoors, working at their own pace with mediums of their choice. Representing many levels of expertise, variations in style and technique, the artists are offered the opportunity to network with others, share a common interest, and socialize over lunch break where informal critique and newsworthy art topics are often included. “Come Paint With Me” also have the opportunity to show and sell their completed plein air paintings in scheduled area art exhibits in September, October and December 2008 (exact dates to be announced). Two guided “Come Paint With Me Kids” sessions are part of the 2008 schedule taking place on July 24 at the Dorflinger-Suydam Sanctuary in White Mills and on Aug. 14 at Grey Towers in Milford. School aged children are invited to join on these two Thursdays from 10 a.m. till noon. Pre-registration is required by calling 570-253-1185 (Dorflinger —Suydam Sanctuary), 570-296-9630 (Grey Towers) or 570-775-6896 (CPWM coordinator). Like the adult artists, children must bring their own art materials; a list is included in the program brochure. The full 2008 informational brochure with dates and directions will be available in May at the Hemlock Farms Community Association office, the gift shops at Grey Towers, and the Dorflinger Glass Museum, or by sending an business size, stamped, self-addressed envelope to: J. Polishook, 1686 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley, PA 18428. An advance copy of the meeting dates is printed here as well. This is a free program and all are welcome to join. Enter your events and programs on the calendar at pikecountycourier.com.