(June 22, 2017) Among the numerous highlights at this week’s 4th Friday Street Festival in Pocomoke will be featured artist of the month Jean Mason, a longtime educator who pursues creative expressions in her spare time.
“I’ve lived in Pocomoke for about 40 years,” she said. “I met my husband and stayed.”
In her younger years, in addition to raising her own children, Mason kept busy instructing pupils at Holly Grove Christian School in Westover. Despite the hectic schedule, she always envisioned an artistic outlet.
“I often said as a young mom, ‘when my kids are grown I’m going to learn to paint,’” she said.
Her creative juices began percolating after attending a watercolor class taught by Doris Glovier at the Delmarva Discovery Center in 2010.
“She did such a nice job explaining things and making it clear,” Mason said. “She could see that I could do more and I was really surprised when she told me I would be able to do more.”
Over time, Mason became increasingly adept at watercolor paintings and more recently expanded her approach to include painting with acrylic on slate and wood.
“I started to find things that I could paint on that were not as involved as watercolor paintings,” she said. “You have to charge more for them and they’re hard to travel with, so I tried to come up with lower-cost offerings.”
In addition to lowering her expenses related to framing, Mason said her creations on slate and wood plaques generally take less time to produce, averaging no more than five hours.
Since undertaking artistic pursuits, Mason has learned to appreciate her raw talent.
“I always knew that I could copy things really well, but I thought that was cheating,” she said. “I learned to take those ideas, the things that I was seeing, and make a true composition … and to add something to them.”
In addition to naturalistic Easter Shore visions, Mason recently began incorporating Maryland sports teams in her work.
“I started to come up with some fun ideas about mixing the Oriole bird in with Seagulls, or mixing a Raven in with the Seagulls,” she said.
While Mason’s watercolor paintings average between $70-$150, she said her craft paintings are more budget-conscious and cost as little as $20.
“I hope I’m finding a niche,” she said.
Although intent on furthering her artistic output, Mason said there are only so many hours in a day.
“I’m still a really busy person [and] besides doing my art I still teach school,” she said. “It is something I enjoy doing, so I stay busy with it in the evening time.”
Moving forward, Mason hopes to continue exploring the potential for alternative canvases.
“I’m interested in trying metal or glass,” she said. “There are so many things in the world one can paint and so many things one can paint on.”
Karah Lacey, Pocomoke economic development coordinator, said the evening would also provide an opportunity for others to discover their artistic abilities. Salisbury-based Tickled Paint ARTworks will be conducting a Paint Night smack dab in the middle of Market Street. The cost is $40 and includes paint supplies, light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
The streets will also come alive with a multitude of craftspeople and vendors offering wares, in addition to paintings, to include photography, jewelry, beauty products, home décor and fashion.
Lacey advises attendees bring along their appetite as burgers, hotdogs, fries and refreshments will be available for purchase. Adults can also procure a cold beer or glass of wine. Also the entire family can indulge their sweet tooth.
“Stop in XO Beanery & Bites (129 Market Street) for an iced coffee or sweet treat, including Chesapeake Bay Farms ice cream,” Lacey said.
Johnny Mo will provide live music and Salisbury-based Feet of Fire Dance Academy will stage a special performance at 6 p.m.
For those interested in expanding their knowledge base, Lacey said there would be free admission into local museums, including the Delmarva Discovery Center, the Sturgis One Room School and the Costen House Museum.
Lacey said that children must be accompanied by an adult at local museums, while also noting the sidewalk chalk will be available at the Sturgis One Room School.
“Games will be offered throughout the downtown area, including life size checkers and chess in the Downtown Community Garden,” she said.
The festivities take place from 5-8 p.m. and as usual, two blocks of Market Street between Front Street and Second Street will be closed to traffic.
In the event of rain, Lacey said 4th Friday would be cancelled and resume the following month.
For more information visit www.downtownpocomoke.com.
“I’ve lived in Pocomoke for about 40 years,” she said. “I met my husband and stayed.”
In her younger years, in addition to raising her own children, Mason kept busy instructing pupils at Holly Grove Christian School in Westover. Despite the hectic schedule, she always envisioned an artistic outlet.
“I often said as a young mom, ‘when my kids are grown I’m going to learn to paint,’” she said.
Her creative juices began percolating after attending a watercolor class taught by Doris Glovier at the Delmarva Discovery Center in 2010.
“She did such a nice job explaining things and making it clear,” Mason said. “She could see that I could do more and I was really surprised when she told me I would be able to do more.”
Over time, Mason became increasingly adept at watercolor paintings and more recently expanded her approach to include painting with acrylic on slate and wood.
“I started to find things that I could paint on that were not as involved as watercolor paintings,” she said. “You have to charge more for them and they’re hard to travel with, so I tried to come up with lower-cost offerings.”
In addition to lowering her expenses related to framing, Mason said her creations on slate and wood plaques generally take less time to produce, averaging no more than five hours.
Since undertaking artistic pursuits, Mason has learned to appreciate her raw talent.
“I always knew that I could copy things really well, but I thought that was cheating,” she said. “I learned to take those ideas, the things that I was seeing, and make a true composition … and to add something to them.”
In addition to naturalistic Easter Shore visions, Mason recently began incorporating Maryland sports teams in her work.
“I started to come up with some fun ideas about mixing the Oriole bird in with Seagulls, or mixing a Raven in with the Seagulls,” she said.
While Mason’s watercolor paintings average between $70-$150, she said her craft paintings are more budget-conscious and cost as little as $20.
“I hope I’m finding a niche,” she said.
Although intent on furthering her artistic output, Mason said there are only so many hours in a day.
“I’m still a really busy person [and] besides doing my art I still teach school,” she said. “It is something I enjoy doing, so I stay busy with it in the evening time.”
Moving forward, Mason hopes to continue exploring the potential for alternative canvases.
“I’m interested in trying metal or glass,” she said. “There are so many things in the world one can paint and so many things one can paint on.”
Karah Lacey, Pocomoke economic development coordinator, said the evening would also provide an opportunity for others to discover their artistic abilities. Salisbury-based Tickled Paint ARTworks will be conducting a Paint Night smack dab in the middle of Market Street. The cost is $40 and includes paint supplies, light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
The streets will also come alive with a multitude of craftspeople and vendors offering wares, in addition to paintings, to include photography, jewelry, beauty products, home décor and fashion.
Lacey advises attendees bring along their appetite as burgers, hotdogs, fries and refreshments will be available for purchase. Adults can also procure a cold beer or glass of wine. Also the entire family can indulge their sweet tooth.
“Stop in XO Beanery & Bites (129 Market Street) for an iced coffee or sweet treat, including Chesapeake Bay Farms ice cream,” Lacey said.
Johnny Mo will provide live music and Salisbury-based Feet of Fire Dance Academy will stage a special performance at 6 p.m.
For those interested in expanding their knowledge base, Lacey said there would be free admission into local museums, including the Delmarva Discovery Center, the Sturgis One Room School and the Costen House Museum.
Lacey said that children must be accompanied by an adult at local museums, while also noting the sidewalk chalk will be available at the Sturgis One Room School.
“Games will be offered throughout the downtown area, including life size checkers and chess in the Downtown Community Garden,” she said.
The festivities take place from 5-8 p.m. and as usual, two blocks of Market Street between Front Street and Second Street will be closed to traffic.
In the event of rain, Lacey said 4th Friday would be cancelled and resume the following month.
For more information visit www.downtownpocomoke.com.