Kathy Cryan-Hicks has done a lot since she retired from the Chelmsford Public Library.
She played with clay in a pottery studio, finished a book she had begun writing while she was working, and started a small publishing company. And she discovered that she loved to paint and was pretty good at it, too.
Now a member of the Chelmsford Art Society and the Arts League of Lowell, she is sharing her art with the public in the Artist’s Walkway at the Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road in Shirley, which is a space managed by Gallery Sitka, also in Shirley. A reception is planned for Sunday, Oc. 4 from 1 to 3 p.m., and all are invited for art, conversation and refreshments.
According to Cryan-Hicks’ artist’s statement: “Before 2019, I had never even picked up a paintbrush. I had always thought of myself as a writer. My first impulse was to put my feelings and observations into words. I never imagined I would someday try to do the same with paint.
“I began by following artists on YouTube, and after the pandemic, I continued learning from artists in my local community. I’ve been finding my way by experimenting with various media — clay, gouache, watercolors, acrylics, oils, and digital art. I seem to have landed on acrylics and oils. I am beginning to see a style of my own emerge.
“I am still learning, experimenting, and finding my way. It never gets boring. That is what makes painting so exciting to me. Perhaps the greatest surprise is how painting has changed the way I look at the world. Ironically, now that I am in my late seventies and experiencing changes in my vision, I am finally learning to see. I notice light, shadow, color, shape, and the subtle changes in the world around me in ways I never did before.
“Painting has opened a whole new world to me. And I am still finding my way.
“Guiding me and inspiring me along the way are my husband, our three children and four granddaughters.”
She said she gets professional guidance and motivation from several organizations: the Chelmsford Art Society, and the Arts League of Lowell. the Society of Children’s Book Writers and illustrators, Women in Publishing, Chelmsford’s Climate Action Team, the Learning in Retirement Association, and most recently, the Women’s Caucus for Art.
She said she gives “A special shout-out and thanks to the members of my writers group and the many friends I’ve met along the way.”
Visit kathryncryanhicks.com for more info.
GALLERY NOTES
ART DEMO — Have you ever been to Hammond Castle? It is a historic site along the Gloucester coastline with a rich history in science, art, and innovation. Local artist Dave Drinon is conducting a live oil painting demonstration on the castle grounds on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged. The demo is part of the week-long Cape Ann Plein Air festival, running from Oct. 3-11. Organizers said it is one of the premier plein air events in the country, featuring a full schedule of daily events and outdoor painters throughout the region’s five communities. To register for the demo, visit www.capeannpleinair.org and scroll down to 2026 events.
Nancye Tuttle’s email is [email protected].
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