MEXICO — Two River Valley women have started a painting studio for people to create works of art.

Liz Murphy, owner of Gypsy Canvas Studio in Mexico, co-runs the studio with her friend, Kaylee Martin.

Murphy said it is a separate entity from the Teaberry Arts Council, a nonprofit organization that, according to its website, is “responsible for creating an organized and diverse artistic culture in Maine’s Western Foothills communities by uniting current and future groups concerned with visual and performing arts.”

Murphy is president of the Teaberry Arts Council.

She said The Gypsy Canvas Studio “began as an idea I mulled over in my mind for a couple of years before joining efforts with my friend and fellow painter, Kaylee Martin.”

The studio offers classes where students create original works with paints and a canvas they receive when they pay for the class.

“Our first paint class had three students,” Murphy said. “I’ve known one of them, Leslie Hickson, since childhood. She was not a painter. She now comes to classes, as both a student and as an assistant to help others.”

“Kaylee and I believe that art does wonderful things for people, regardless of skill level,” Murphy said. “Every single class provides us the gift of seeing people accomplish things that they thought they couldn’t do. That’s the core of why we do this.”

The studio is in the back hallway behind the basketball court in the River Valley Recreation Center on Recreation Drive.

“This gives us the most wonderful opportunity to make art accessible to the children in our community,” Murphy said. “We love it when people come by, poke their head in, and are curious about our space.”

Murphy said studio hours vary, but most classes are held on Thursdays, with more classes to follow.

“We also provide traveling parties – such as private homes, hotels, restaurants, and other events – and in-studio parties,” Murphy said. “We do fundraisers for a variety of causes, and strive to maintain a high quality to the paintings we teach. We work hard to give lots of one-on-one assistance at each event.”

She said the studio sometimes opens for children on Saturday evenings, which is rollerskating night at the Recreation Center.

“Right now, we are able to offer one canvas board to each child to paint and take home,” Murphy said.

The Gypsy Canvas Studio has also hosted youth art shows, showcasing works created by students from Mountain Valley High School, Dirigo High School, Mountain Valley Middle School and Dirigo Middle School.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/thegypsycanvas.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net