By Theresa Knapp

Paintings by the Medway Senior Center Watercolor Art Group will be on display at the Medway Public Library from Nov. 5 through Nov. 30. 

The exhibit will kick off with a reception on Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at which refreshments will be served. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. 

The seniors are led by instructor Carlie DeGaetano who has been painting for 40 years, and teaching for the last 25. She started teaching after the owner of a store where she purchased her art supplies asked her to teach a beginner watercolor workshop, and then an ongoing evening watercolor class, and she has been teaching ever since. 

Over the years, DeGaetano has taught at several senior centers but, after the return from the COVID-19 shutdown, she now only teaches in Medway. 

“The artists at the senior center in Medway are all very talented. Some started as beginners and others were more advanced, but everyone is serious about painting,” DeGaetano, noting that several of her students have been with her for decades and have followed her from town to town. “I feel more like I am part of the group rather than an instructor. They are my motivation to teach and paint.”

Other members of the group feel that same social connection. 

“The camaraderie of the group is great,” said member Diane Piper of Norfolk, adding “I’ve been following Carlie around since 2016.” 

Piper says she enjoyed art classes during college but got away from painting during her professional career. When she retired (and had more time), she sought out classes. 

“Carlie keeps it fun and gives us ideas, and one of her great talents is you can be a beginner or have experience and Carlie can work with you,” said Piper, who explained how watercolor is one of the hardest mediums because it is transparent and unforgiving, unlike oil painting where you can easily cover up a mistake. “In watercolor, if you make a mistake, you have to live with it or turn it into something else. It’s challenging, that’s what keeps me coming back; when you get it right, it’s gorgeous.” 

Mary Jean Rodrick of Marion started taking classes with DeGaetano in 2013 in Milford. She had just retired and always wanted to learn to paint with watercolor. “She had a beginner’s class, and she took me - I begged her,” Rodrick joked. 

Gail Grivois of Norfolk started with DeGaetano about 10 years ago. 

“I paint at home a lot but there’s something about painting in a group with other people,” she said. “Experienced people can critique your work and give you feedback, it’s hard to have perspective on your own painting.” 

Grivois says students learn from DeGaetano, of course, but they also learn from each other. “When you see someone doing something you’ve never done before, you think ‘I can try that.’ You see how they use texture, colors, brush techniques, and it helps you to get out of the boxes you’re in.” 

Grivois encourages the public to enjoy the artwork while it is on display at the library. “There’s a lot of excellent artists in the group so the art has emotion. It can speak to you. There’s a lot of beauty so if you’re a lover of nature, and a lover of beauty, then you’ll enjoy the art.” 

Some paintings will be available for purchase. Also available will be notecards which members say make art more accessible since the smaller-scale works of art can also be framed for display (or used as cards). 

For more information about watercolor classes, contact the Medway Senior Center or drop by the reception at the Medway Public Library on Nov. 9.