Pinellas Park Art Society offers corporate experience

Rather than working alone on her art in her St. Petersburg home, Paula Bouseman will spend Tuesday afternoon in Pinellas Park painting with a group of artists.

"It's more stimulating to be among other artists while you are working. The creative energy is in the atmosphere," Bouseman said of the Pinellas Park Art Society's Paint in Good Company initiative.

Painting with others breaks down the barriers of traditional closed-studio space and offers a different approach to making art, she said.

"It gets the creative juices flowing," said Bouseman, who has been painting since the 1960s and serves as the art society's secretary.

Anyone who loves to draw or paint is invited to join the group. It meets from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at Park Station, home of the society's gallery. Participants can bring a work in progress or start new projects as inspiration strikes. The event is free and offers artists of any level the opportunity to work alongside others in well-lit, spacious surroundings.

"Whether you think you are an artist or not, come out and see the art and admire it. If you'd like to try your hand at it, talk to any of the members here and say 'I always thought I'd paint and never tried it,' " said Barbara Lewis of Seminole, the society's membership chairwoman. "What's the worst you're going to do, waste a piece of paper? People tell me all the time they can't even draw a stick figure, and I say 'You'd be surprised.' "

Lewis said the group setting has been good for her artistic self-esteem. Having other like-minded creative types around provides gentle encouragement and camaraderie. And nothing boosts an art ego like shared experiences and collaboration.

For example, Bouseman was recently working on a composite pastel portrait of two chihuahuas gazing lovingly at the viewer. The eyes sparkled and the fur appeared shiny and lifelike, thanks to a little advice from society member Theresa Burgess of Pinellas Park.

"Sometimes if you get stuck on something, like Paula was with her dogs' expression, you have somebody who can tell you, maybe try this or try that," said Burgess, elaborating on the value of having a fellow artist nearby.

"It's having fresh eyes take a look at it," said Bouseman. "And that helps."

The Pinellas Park Art Society, which formed in 1964, also offers other classes and special workshops throughout the year, said president Nancy Hodges.

"We're outgoing, and we would like to have more artists come in and be a part of this. We welcome everyone," she said.