After Karen Wiesner lost her husband of almost 60 years in the early months of the pandemic, she felt devastated, alone, and unable to paint. It was only when she joined Clinton Art Society’s weekly critique sessions, with the help of a friend, that she started to feel connected again, says Clinton Art Society President Liz Egan. Wiesner recently finished the first painting she has done since her husband’s death, a painting she created after participating in a new program being offered by the Clinton Art Society (CAS), Egan says.

That new program is one of several being offered by CAS as it expands its programming during 2021 to include both traditional in-person exhibitions and online and virtual programs and activities.

“Since the pandemic began, we have found alternate ways to showcase the beautiful work of our membership,” says Egan. “We know some folks can’t get out in-person so we started presenting artwork every day on Facebook. Since the pandemic our member’s art has been seen by over 50,000 people online and we have sold more paintings than ever before.”

To accommodate artists quarantining during the pandemic and staying safe at home, Clinton Art Society developed and expanded its Zoom-based weekly art critique and demonstration program online.

“As the pandemic grew, we knew we needed to fight the isolation with new ways to connect our membership,” Egan says.

Virtually LIVE! consists of weekly art critiques and bi-monthly hands-on demonstrations open to the entire community. Participants can email art they are working on to CAS each week and receive a secure Zoom link by reply email. Audience and artists participants discuss the work during this weekly online format.

“Participants love being able to see each other, catch up, and talk about their art and their lives,” Egan says. “We have members who share pictures of their new grandchildren and other news with each other. We are getting through the pandemic together.”

The hands-on demonstrations allow artists at all levels to learn new skills and techniques. Interested participants get a list of materials along with their Zoom link so they can paint along with the demonstration. To participate in a free demonstration, email CAS at casclinton@gmail.com.

CAS has expanded its online Zoom programs with the recent addition of Paint IT!, a community-based at home studio program.

“We saw the need to energize and inspire our older members as well as develop and guide new artists. Conversations on the weekly art critique started to focus on developing techniques and we decided to formalize a learning program,” Egan explains.

Interested participants are sent topical reference photos and have two weeks to create a work of art using any materials or style using the photos.

“When everyone shares these works for discussion, all the participants better understand how individual artists solve a host of composition elements and processes,” she says. “They understand because they worked on that picture as well.”

A flyer with session dates and a link to each session’s reference photos is located on the CAS website www.clintonartsociety.info. Those interested can also email CAS at casclinton@gmail.com and the references photos will be emailed along with the Zoom link.

While its online and Zoom-based programs are very inclusive and successful, CAS encourages direct interaction with art.

“The art experience is a very personal one, a connection between the viewer and the work of art,” Egan says. “Viewers connect to art because of their own preferences, subject, color, feeling, and they connect to the artist’s presentation of those ideals.”

CAS offers several new opportunities for community members to see art in person. Ninety-eight paintings by CAS elected members continue to be on display at Andrews Memorial Town Hall, 54 East Main Street, Clinton. Community members can view the paintings safely and in-person Mondays through Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The paintings can also be viewed as a link on the CAS website www.clintonartsociety.info.

Award-winning watercolorist Mike Eagle of Madison will present a large display of his watercolors through April 30 at Liberty Bank, 8 East Main Street, Clinton.

Madeline Coakley of Old Lyme will showcase her pastels at Water’s Edge Resort, 1525 Boston Post Road, Westbrook through April 30.

For further information, contact Liz Egan at 860-304-7345.

CAS was founded in 1949 by a group of professional artists dedicated to the growth of the arts in Connecticut. CAS celebrates the arts through exhibition, education, and regional community partnerships.