Art shared and inspired from Westport to Dartmouth
Carol Bliven explains the techniques used in two of her works, held by Lara Vergoth, center, and Steve Bliven. Photos by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Peggy Call-Conley with some of her creations. 
Carol Bliven shows aspiring artists how to use pastels. 
Peggy Conley-Call offered works for sale, including these images of familiar Dartmouth establishments.
Sarah Daughn with "Rachel,'' a collage she created using various techniques.
A cow painted by John Borowicz.
This friendly pup was painted by John Borowicz.
Carol Bliven explains the techniques used in two of her works, held by Lara Vergoth, center, and Steve Bliven. Photos by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Peggy Call-Conley with some of her creations.
Carol Bliven shows aspiring artists how to use pastels.
Peggy Conley-Call offered works for sale, including these images of familiar Dartmouth establishments.
Sarah Daughn with "Rachel,'' a collage she created using various techniques.
A cow painted by John Borowicz.
This friendly pup was painted by John Borowicz.
A stroke of genius is not required to become an artist.
What is needed, artist Carol Bliven said, is enthusiasm, an eye for the interesting and the willingness to keep trying, and sometimes failing, as one learns.
A fondness for art was the shared trait of the participants in the Art Drive 2025, held Aug. 1 to 3 in Dartmouth and Westport.
Participants could visit studios and meet artists who work in a variety of mediums, including oil painting, photography, jewelry and ceramics.
Bliven also offered one of the day’s presentations, showing how to use pastel paints to create images.
The veteran art teacher encouraged those wanting to learn to work quickly without overthinking.
“Do another one if you don’t like it,’’ she said. “If you don’t like that one, do another one. That’s how you end up with something you’re going to like.’’
She encouraged aspiring artists to relax and explore their creativity. “You can play with it,’’ she said. “That’s the idea, be free with it.’’
This is the 17th year for the three-day event, which provides “a connection to the community, a chance to get into artists’ personal spaces’’ said Monica Lopes, art administrator the Art Drive. In addition to viewing the artwork, visitors can hear the story behind the creations, she said.
John Borowicz, for example, was commissioned by a farmer to paint images of his herd of cows. While on the job, he also decided to depict an individual cow, an image showcased in a place of honor in his studio.
Some visitors to Peggy Call-Conley’s studio were so impressed that they signed up for beginning art classes.
The weather helped, she said, both the public, who enjoyed a dry, sunny, warm but not oppressively hot day, and her paintings, which do better in less humid conditions.
The art may have been the star but the second word of the event — the Drive — was also enticing for visitors.
Jane Nugent of Plymouth has lived in Massachusetts her entire life, but had never visited Dartmouth. She said she was glad she did.
“Dartmouth is beautiful,’’ she said.
Sarah Daughn’s studio featured a variety of her work, including a collage with mixed media, including a photo of her own hands.
The event, she said, “is a great way for people to be aware of art and see how beautiful this area is.’’
There is another benefit as well, she noted with a smile.
“It makes me clean my studio.’’
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