Created for the love of art and community.

Westport Art Group was formed in 1955 by a small group of local, art-minded women. Since then, we have grown into a robust and colorful community organization approaching 250 members from all over South Coast, Massachusetts, southern Rhode Island, and beyond. At our active Main Road, Westport Point building, we offer both adult and youth art classes and show events throughout the year, many of which are open to the public. We are a 501(c)3 organization.

Join Our Group! We Welcome New Members!

Read about the benefits of membership and sign up on the Membership page!
Volunteer opportunities 2025: Read a message from Sharon Connors, President of WAG.

WAG College Scholarship Funds

The 2025 Scholarship program is now underway! Recently, the WAG Board of Directors approved increasing the amount for the scholarships for 2025 to $3,000. Anyone interested in applying for the scholarship this Spring should discuss it with their high school guidance counselors. Please See the Youth Scholarship page for details on applying. Applications are due April 15, 2025.

Monday Drawing Class…..Continues

New session starting February 24! Register on the Adult Art page!
Mondays, February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2025, 9am-12:00 noon

(Current Session: Mondays, January 6-February 10, 2025, 9am-12:00 noon)

This class is designed for beginners (even if you've never picked up a pencil), but more experienced artists are welcome. In this 3 hour class, we will work on drawings using a "sight size" method, understanding the importance of value to create form, how to set up your paper and tools to support gaining an understanding of creating realistic images in black and white.

Instructor Patricia Schneider will supply images that we will work from each week, and include plenty of demos and handouts to enhance the class.

Details on the Adult Art page!

A Whimsical Workshop: crepe paper flowers, the Iris

with Eileen Riley

March 21, 9am-12:30pm

Welcome Spring, and step into a world of magic and creativity with Eileen Riley at her whimsical workshop where you'll artfully craft irises that seem to have sprung from the earth itself! Imagine the delight of gifting these heartfelt, handmade beauties, each petal meticulously cut and shaped from crepe paper, brought to life with the soft touch of pastels. In this enchanting session, you'll learn to:

• Sculpt the delicate petals of irises, giving them a lifelike texture.

• Construct the intricate stamens, using a blend of crepe paper and pastel hues.

• Assemble your flowers with care, using tacky or hot glue, floral tape, and wire to ensure they stand tall and proud.

• Finally, you'll add the finishing touches with stems and leaves, creating up to two stunning flowers that will leave everyone in awe.

Join us for this 3.5-hour journey where your hands will bring these irises to life, crafting memories and masterpieces in one magical morning! Sign up by March 18th on Adult Art!

Drawing Portraits -
A Two-Day Workshop

Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, 10am to 4pm

with Patricia Schneider

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of portraiture.

Instructor will supply photo of the model. We will work towards a likeness, developing skills to support the process. Learn about how values create the form, how to achieve softness necessary to convey skin, understand how light hits a form and drapes over the bone structure.

This class is for beginners and intermediates.

Registration is now open on the Adult Art page!

Mastering Composition All Mediums - A 2-day workshop

April 5 and 12, 9 am to noon

with Mary Monteiro

Come join us to learn techniques and principles intended to dramatically improve your art. These techniques are applicable to all media, and all skill levels are welcome. Understanding composition is a talent that grows with us on our artistic journey. Using the teachings of Ian Roberts, Mary Monteiro will guide you through the eight most common compositional formats and how to avoid their pitfalls. We will also explore how to guide the eye through the picture plane, cropping, identifying values for dramatic effect, using thumbnails and compositional basics. We will also analyze a few famous paintings and discuss how the artist used composition. The hands-on part of the class will include simple drawing exercises designed to deepen your understanding of the concepts presented. Learn more and sign up on the Adult Art page!

Dynamic Contemporary Landscapes using Acrylics

Tuesday, June 3, 9 am - 4 pm

Taught by well known Cape Cod and South Shore Artist Suzette Lebenzon. With one foot firmly planted in the representation of the landscape, Suzette’s other foot dances in the curious world of abstraction. This class offers a novel approach to create interesting landscapes with confidence for both the novice and the experienced painter. Experimentation into the exaggeration of shape, the dynamics of color, and the use of lines and marks, will be demonstrated by Lebenzon.

Then, participants will be guided on their own painting journeys, encouraged to adopt techniques revealed in this workshop. Bring photos of landscape that speak to you, or use images provided by the instructor. You will be creating a piece that reflects your feelings and memory of a place, not a recreation of a site. It’s all about the expression of a loved environment, playing with the materials, and discovery. Register on the Adult Art page!

Plein Air Watercolors: A two-day workshop

Tuesdays , June 17 and 24, 9 am - 4:30 pm

Enjoy 2 days of outdoor watercolor painting in and around Westport with Bill Lane!

Bill will start with a demo and then set you loose to paint the scene that speaks to you, while providing individual attention throughout the day. At the end of the day, around 3:30, we’ll gather to have an informal critique. All levels welcome, max 12 participants! Sign up on Adult Art.

In-Person Adult Classes & Workshops

All Westport Art Group classes are open to both members and nonmembers, but for adult classes, current members receive a 20% discount at checkout with code - unless otherwise listed.

CLASS AND WORKSHOP LISTINGS

Monday Drawing….Returns! New session starting February 24! Registration is now open on the Adult Art page. Six Monday sessions with Patricia Schneider. In this 3 hour class we will work on drawings using a "sight size" method, understanding the importance of value to create form, how to set up your paper and tools to support gaining an understanding of creating realistic images in black and white.

A Whimsical Workshop: crepe paper flowers, the Iris. March 21, 9am-12:30pm. Welcome Spring, and step into a world of magic and creativity with Eileen Riley at her whimsical workshop where you'll artfully craft irises that seem to have sprung from the earth itself! Go to Adult Art to learn more!

Drawing Portraits - A Two-Day Workshop. March 29 and 30, 10 am to 4 pm with lunch break. Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of portraiture. We will work towards a likeness from a photo provided by the instructor, developing skills to support the process. Learn about how values create the form, how to achieve softness necessary to convey skin, understand how light hits a form and drapes over the bone structure. This class is for beginners and intermediates. Register on the Adult Art page.

Mastering Composition - a 2-day workshop. April 5 and 12. Come join us to learn techniques and principles intended to dramatically improve your art. These techniques are applicable to all media, and all skill levels are welcome. Understanding composition is a talent that grows with us on our artistic journey. Using the teachings of Ian Roberts, Mary Monteiro will guide you through the eight most common compositional formats and how to avoid their pitfalls. See more on the Adult Art page.

Dynamic Contemporary Landscapes using Acrylics. Tuesday, June 3 with Suzette Lebenzon. With one foot firmly planted in the representation of the landscape, Suzette’s other foot dances in the curious world of abstraction. This class offers a novel approach to create interesting landscapes with confidence for both the novice and the experienced painter. Experimentation into the exaggeration of shape, the dynamics of color, and the use of lines and marks, will be demonstrated by Lebenzon. Go to Adult Art to register.

Plein Air Watercolors: A two-day workshop. June 17 and 24. Enjoy 2 days of outdoor watercolor painting in and around Westport with Bill Lane. Bill will start with a demo and then set you loose to paint the scene that speaks to you, while providing individual attention throughout the day. At the end of the day, around 3:30, we’ll gather to have an informal critique. Registration is now open on the Adult Art page.

ONGOING CLASSES

Figure Drawing on Wednesdays! Join the 9 am group at WAG. The figure group will resume regular weekly sessions on February 12. Go to Adult Art to learn more!

Weekly Painting - Thursdays. The Thursday painting group is now meeting indoors for the cool season at WAG. We paint from 9-11:45, then have a friendly but informative group critique. See the Adult Art page for details!

WAG Poetry Group. Meetings twice a month. See the Poetry page for details!

Please click here to view the WAG Cancellation Policy.

Youth News!

SUMMER ART CAMPS FOR KIDS!

2025 Summer Camps - Registration is Now Open!

Session 1: July 7 thru 11
Session 2: August 11 thru 15

Reserve your camper’s spot on the Summer Art Camps page.

WAG College Scholarship APPLICATIONS DUE April 15

For information on the scholarship program and how to apply for 2025, please see the Youth Scholarship page!

SCA Open Studio Tour Returns to Westport Art Group Summer 2025

July 19-20 & August 16-17

Call to Artists: WAG Members can participate in the South Coast Artists Open Studio at the WAG building, 1740 Main Rd, Westport Point. SCA Tour dates are: July 19-20, 11 am to 5 pm & August 16-17, 11 am to 5 pm. For information on South Coast Artists, please visit their website.

HOW TO SIGN UP: Save these dates! March 1 – March 21, 2025

WAG members can sign-up online to reserve a space for showing their artwork at Westport Art Group during one of the two 2025 SCA Open Studio weekends during the online sign up period: March 1 through March 21 on the Events page.

Donate Directly or by saving Lee’s receipts

We appreciate your donation to support the arts in Westport. If you’d like to donate by mail, please send a check to Westport Art Group, P.O. Box 157, Westport Point, MA 02791.

In addition, Lee’s will donate a percentage of total receipts from your purchases. Just save your receipts from Lee’s, circle the totals, and and drop them in the mailbox at the WAG building at 1740 Main Road — or mail them to us at Westport Art Group, P.O. Box 157, Westport Point, MA 02791. Thank you to our members and citizens who donate!

How to Join or Renew Your Membership

For information on membership, renewal, and the state of our group, please go to the Join Us page. There you will be able to review your options for membership renewal: either online with credit card, or by downloading the registration form and mailing it with your check. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!

Call to Artists - the NEW Periwinkle Shop!

Give the gift of Art… a Membership to WAG

your recipient will receive all the benefits of membership…

• 20% off many adult ed classes at WAG

• Ability to enter their artwork at member-only exhibitions

• Invitation to WAG annual potluck and meeting

• Their own Artist page on the WAG website

• A social group of like-minded, friendly local art enthusiasts!

  Go to Gift Certificates to order one today!