Sue Melz

I Paint Memories

April 23 – May 30

Sue Melz, a lifelong artist and resident of Middlefield, CT,  discovered her passion for painting at a young age, using her siblings’ skin as her initial canvas. Under the guidance of her mentor Terry Oakes Bourret, she honed her skills with oil paints, finding inspiration in coastal landscapes and beach scenes. Sue’s vibrant and nostalgic artwork captures the essence of cherished memories and the beauty of nature. With paintings adorning homes and galleries across the United States, Sue’s upcoming solo show at Burnham Library in Bridgewater, CT, promises to be a captivating celebration of her artistic journey and a testament to her evocative, colorful creations.

For more information on the artist, visit her website at suemelzart.com

“Art is a wonderful conversation starter,” says Diane, reflecting on her plein air experiences. “While painting on site, people ask me questions. More often than not, they tell me about themselves and interesting facts about the area. Most are happy to promote their favorite restaurants, galleries, and historic places.”

Diane Dubreuil

March 26 – April 20

Watercolor artist Diane Dubreuil is primarily a plein air (outdoor) painter and spends a great deal of time hiking and painting in New England. Western Connecticut, especially, offers many beautiful venues of interest but, beyond New England, her painting activities have provided the opportunity to travel and paint in a variety of places. A selection of her works will be on display from March 26 – April 20^th during library hours.

In 2005, she was the resident artist at Musée de la Grande Vigne in Dinan, Brittany, France. In 2019, she returned to Dinan and joined other resident artists from around the world for the historic designation of the Musée (museum). In 2021, Diane was the Resident Visiting Artist at Baxter State Park in Maine. Spanning several years, she has participated in plein air “events” held all over the US.

Diane moved to New Milford, CT in 1987. She worked for nearly 25 years as Director of Coloring, then as Art Director, for children’s author, Mercer Mayer. During many of those years, Diane served as Chairwoman of New Milford (CT) Commission on the Arts and then Director of Gallery 25, retiring from that position in 2019. Currently, she is a Signature Member of the New England Watercolor Society (NEWS) and serves as their Signature Membership Chairperson. She is a signature member of the International Plein Air Painters WORLDWIDE. Spending much of her time between Connecticut and her home state of Maine, she helps organize sites for the Plein Air Painters of Maine (PAPME) outings. She continues to work commercially, demonstrate watercolor painting, and teach workshops.

For a glimpse into Diane Dubreuil’s captivating artwork and upcoming events, visit her website at www.dianedubreuil.com.