Intro by Marsha Elliott
“Love” is a big word that carries a world of meaning. There’s that one person who makes your knees buckle; the food that makes your mouth water; the friends who never let you down; and the beauty of nature.
Sandra DePue, a longtime Order of the Eastern Star member and resident at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, loves the beauty of the campus, as well as the world around her. As president of the community’s Art Association, she shares that love with other artists, seasoned and novice alike.
With the help of other members of the association’s leadership board, Sandra hopes to inspire budding artists and give those with a lifelong passion for art a place to create, share and accomplish their visions. The art studio, located in the Freemasons Cultural Center, is exactly that kind of place: welcoming, convenient and quietly inspiring.
Open to everyone, the association offers far more than a room with easels. For an annual membership fee of just $15, which goes directly toward supplies, members have access to canvases, paints, brushes and varnishes. Regular visitors are assigned a desk, and cubbies are available for storing work in progress. The studio is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from 1 to 3 p.m. Those who visit often are given a key, allowing them to work whenever creativity strikes.
“All we ask is that you clean up your own mess,” Sandra said.
That spirit is reinforced by thoughtful touches throughout the space. A large video monitor mounted on the wall makes it easy to pull up online tutorials and reference photos or find quick tips when an artist gets stuck. If someone needs guidance on drawing clouds or mixing the right shade of green, YouTube is just a click away.
The studio is also home to residents with professional backgrounds in art. Retired instructors Robert and Barbara Buchanan share a space there, continuing careers that span decades. Both paint landscapes, but Robert works primarily in oils and watercolors, while Barbara specializes in pastels.
Robert often reflects on how natural creativity can fade over time. “As children, many people are unabashedly creative,” he said. “Without intention, it sometimes is ‘educated’ out of us.”
Reclaiming that sense of play, he believes, is essential. “Play is important,” he said. “It can take us out of the mundane. The opposite of boredom is creativity.”
You don’t need formal training to belong here, Robert emphasized.
“Good artists who are happy with their work don’t have to draw or be able to paint,” he said. “You just must have a desire. Everyone has a creative mind; you just have to learn how to use it.”
Unlike commercial-style paint-and-sip classes where everyone produces the same image, the Art Association encourages individuality. There are no rigid lessons, but plenty of guidance. Professional artists and talented amateurs are always nearby, ready to offer advice, demonstrate a technique or simply talk through an idea.
Mediums vary widely, from pencils, pastels, watercolors and acrylics to pen and ink, and the studio even features ceramic pieces and weavings. Some artists work from photographs, while others prefer still lifes or abstract designs. Tables and equipment are accessible, and artists of all ages and abilities work side by side.
“We don’t limit subject matter, and we don’t limit type,” Sandra said.
For some members, discovering the studio has been transformative. Treasurer Eileen Meckley never considered herself an artist beyond childhood stick figures. Later in life, she attended Bob Ross-inspired painting classes at Boscov’s and surprised herself.
“I felt so accomplished when I finished something,” she said.
Finding the Art Association at Masonic Village felt like a natural next step, though not without hesitation.
“I was a little intimidated at first, but people are so willing to give you a hint or a little advice. It’s become more of a social thing for me,” she said.
That social aspect is a powerful draw. While some artists prefer to work alone at home, others thrive on conversation and feedback.
“You can ask people, ‘Should I do this?’ and get others’ feedback,” Sandra said. “It’s part of the creative process.”
“As with any creative endeavor, the more input from those looking critically, the better the outcome,” member Marsha Elliott said.
Practical support extends beyond encouragement. The studio includes a copier, and Sandra often helps artists enlarge photographs to canvas size, making it easy to trace an image with chalk before painting it. Artwork created in the studio is displayed for sale, with artists setting their own prices and keeping 100% of the proceeds. Smaller donated items, priced at $5 and under, support the Art Association directly, and any unused funds are donated to campus causes, such as the Bleiler Caring Cottage, Encore Band and employee assistance fund.
Members also proudly represent Masonic Village at the Elizabethtown Fair art competitions.
“We always have a lot of winners,” Sandra said.
But accolades aren’t the point. As Robert put it, “Get out of your blues and boredom and come out for camaraderie and creativity. Fun is important. Novice or experienced, there’s a place for you. We don’t prejudge anyone’s work, and don’t pre-judge yourself.”
Marsha summed it up simply: when it comes to “battling depression, anxiety and loneliness, art is one of the healthiest things you can do – without any calories.”
