BATH

The Centre St Arts Gallery, LLC,at 11 Centre St., Bath, is now registering students for Ed McCartan’s workshop “Painting Spontaneously.” The class takes place Feb. 14 and 15, and the class sessions are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $175; credit cards accepted.

The workshop is for all levels. “It’s not uncommon for creative people to ‘freeze up’ when they confront a canvas, drawing surface, etc.,” McCartan said. “The workshop aims to help us trust the intuitive and the spontaneous in our working processes. We will explore a variety of media and approaches. Using our ‘beginner’s mind’ that approaches work with an attitude of openness to possibilities, we will explore layering, stenciling, printing over and under, scraffiti, collage, etc. to produce new and exciting pieces.”

Keeping an open mind is crucial, according to McCartan. “There are as many ways to create a painting as there are personalities. A method that I would like to explore is one in which we start with a completely open mind and few suppositions in order to allow the materials and spontaneity to dictate how we proceed. There is much to be gained in this method of working. Even though we often return to themes and subjects that we have explored in earlier work, a fresh approach to the process of working, a kind of ‘beginner’s mind,’ can kickstart us into new possibilities. I think this can help us produce original and exciting work. I would like to explore the creative process with this in mind. Such an openness to inspiration and serendipity can be invigorating. Please join me in exploring some of these ideas. I think it can be a chance for growth for all of us. And I think that it can also be fun.”

Students should bring any assortment of surfaces: paper, panels, prepared canvas, stiff paper for stenciling, etc., any variety of drawing and painting tools, paints, charcoal, crayons, ink, printing materials, collage materials, glue, stiff paper for cutting stencils, xacto knives, scissors — lots of “stuff” to experiment and push limits.

McCartan paints in his studio in Ft. Andross in Brunswick with the help of his dog, Mickey. He is a retired teacher, having taught most recently at the Emma Willard School and Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. He holds an MFA from SUNY, Albany, as well as graduate degrees in philosophy, theology and art education. His work hangs in the permanent collection of several museums and in corporate and private collections. McCartan currently teaches art history courses at Mid Coast Senior College, and an occasional workshop in his studio.

For more information or to register, please call or visit the Centre St. Arts Gallery: 11 Centre St., Bath, 442-0300, or visit centrestartsgalleryllc.com or centrestartsgallery.blogspot.com.

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