Summer is the perfect time to pull out the paints and pencils, and even tissue and glue, for experimentation or to develop one’s creative talents. Upcoming classes at the Maine Art Gallery offer three opportunities to expand your abilities.

In “Charcoal and Line: Drawing the Landscape,” both intermediate beginners and those with more advanced drawing skills are invited to explore different applications of charcoal drawing with Jude Valentine on Wednesday, July 22. Discover the subtractive processes of charcoal techniques to get interesting visual effects and work up fresh approaches to compositions. This class was designed to coincide with the current exhibit, “Song of the Wild.” Deadline for signup is July 17.

Valentine completed her BFA at the Maine College of Art and MFA in visual art from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She received numerous awards for her work including: Jerome Foundation Fellowship and an Individual Grant Award from the Council of Creative Arts, Cornell University. 

In “Chasing Light and Color” on Tuesday, Aug. 4, popular instructor Deena Ball will lead a class for intermediate level artists who want to loosen up, work more intuitively, and develop confidence painting plein air. This class coincides with the annual “Plein Air: Paint it Maine” exhibit. Through her demonstrations, guided practice, and individual feedback, she will help students simplify complex scenes into strong value shapes and respond creatively to changing light and weather. Deadline for signup is July 31.

Ball earned a BA in art history and studio art from Colby College. She has taught and exhibited her artwork across the country, and won awards for plein air art. She served as president of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society.

Debra Arter will bring her zest and ingenuity to a free-flowing workshop on the art of collage, “Letting Loose with Tissue and Glue,” on Aug. 18. All skill levels are invited. This class coincides with a collage/mixed media exhibit, “The Art of Alchemy,” running simultaneously with the Plein Air show. Arter is a signature member of the National Collage Society. She has a BA and MFA in Fine Arts and has taught adults for over 25 years. Deadline for signup for this class is July 31. 

Maine Art Gallery is grateful to Sherri Dunbar of Tim Dunham Realty for being a season sponsor and Ames True Value Hardware for being a capital sponsor. More information on exhibits, events and classes, visit www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org and on Facebook.The gallery is located at 15 Warren St., Wiscasset.