Starting Monday, July 10, Rebekah Rogers will offer art classes for beginners at the Community Center. The classes will meet for three consecutive Mondays (July 10, 17 and 24) between noon and 2 pm.

Rogers recently moved to the area from Virginia. She is a trained artist and certified interior designer. She will apply her expertise to help teach basic technical skills. “Drawing is a learned skill like riding a bike,” she explained to the Boothbay Register. “This class will show how to put the ‘life’ in still life.”

The primary focus for the class will be acrylic paint and Rogers expects the students to be able to finish more than one painting over the three classes. She explained that acrylics are “very friendly” for beginners, unlike oils which take longer to dry.  “Don’t be afraid,” she advises those considering the class. “You can learn the basics and have fun with it.”

Attendees do not need to bring any supplies; they will be furnished at the class. The blank canvases were donated to the Center by Paul and Giselaine Coulombe when he bought what is now the Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort, formerly the Rocktide Inn.

Rogers said the class will help students “paint what they see, not what the mind thinks it sees.” She will provide the class with various tasks so their hands can trust what their eyes are actually seeing. One example of a class exercise is to sketch an item when it is upside down.

The class is limited to six students. Those wishing more information or to register should call the Community Center at 633-9876.