Cumberland, MD – “Playing With Art – It’s Never Too Late” taught by Jean Barnes Downs will be the first series of classes to be conducted in the Arts at Canal Place Education Center, adjacent to the Gallery at Canal Place.

If you would love to get your hands dirty with finger paint or color outside the lines with no one looking over your shoulder, here is your opportunity.  This four-week class is designed for adults who want to play, with no expectations, once again with art materials like they did when they were children.  The class is designed as a drop-in class, so participants can sign up for individual sessions or for the entire series.  Class will be held on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 PM.  The class will begin on Wednesday, April 7 and run through April 28th and each evening will include a different activity beginning with “Finger Painting”, then “Printing With Veggies”, also “Fun With Paste” and for the final class in this series, “Breath Painting”.  Tuition will be $10 per session with an additional minimal materials fee.

Other classes to follow will present an interesting line-up, all instructed by Downs, including:

• “Traveling With Your Sketchbook” on April 24 & 25;
• “Learning in Retirement – A Drawing Class” on June 3 – July 1;
• “The Artist’s Way” on June 7 – August 30, a Discussion Group.

Also in the line-up are “Beginner’s Origami” on May 22 and “It’s All About Paper” on June 12, by Linda Stewart.

And finally, “Pastels: Vibrant and Direct” on June 26 & 27, taught by Patricia Hilton.

To view detailed descriptions of all classes, dates, times, other class requirements visit www.artsatcanalplace.com or to enroll, contact the Allegany Arts Council at (301) 777-2787.

The instructors for the current classes are all artists involved with the Arts at Canal Place, a local co-op artists’ gallery; however, teaching opportunities are available to non-members.  If you are interesting in adding a unique and fun class to the line-up, contact the gallery at (301) 777-8199.  The gallery, located at 16 Howard Street among the Shops at Canal Place Heritage Area, is open seven days a week, from 10 AM to 6 PM.