The Berlin Library, in conjunction with the Worcester County Arts Council, is displaying the works by local artists Macy Snyder and Ellie Scott on its second-floor gallery through mid-September.
Local artist Ellie Scott is pictured with pieces she created that will be on display through mid-September at the Berlin Library.
Tara Fischer / Bayside Gazette
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Berlin Library, in conjunction with the Worcester County Arts Council, is displaying the creations of local artists Macy Snyder and Ellie Scott on their second-floor gallery through mid-September.
The painters’ creations were arranged in the Berlin Library gallery on July 16 and will be taken down on Sept. 17. Scott’s canvases showcase her talent in watercolor and oil, while Snyder’s work includes oil and acrylics. The pieces are available for purchase and can be viewed during the facility’s business hours. Interested buyers can contact the Worcester County Arts Council at 410-641-0809.
Snyder said she began painting as a child and could always be found working on her newest creations at the table. She was encouraged to study the medium, which she did in high school, and eventually received an associate art degree.
The artisan spent her childhood in Nebraska. She lived in New York City during the 1960s, moved to Washington D.C. in the 1970s, where her husband grew up, and has since settled down on the Eastern Shore.
Snyder’s creative penchant has been lifelong. “Before we moved, I continued my arts and crafts while my husband supported the family,” she said.
While Snyder’s artistic ventures started with oil work, she now enjoys watercolor. She devotes time to learning new skills and techniques and has studied under Berlin-based instructor Kate Cashman of Random Juxtaposition.
In addition to creating captivating pieces, Snyder is also a golfer and has visited 49 of the 50 states. She still has North Dakota to check off the list.
“I just want to share my artwork,” she noted.
Scott, who grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, said that her teachers encouraged her to hone her craft. She attended Syracuse University and graduated with a BFA in interior design.
“I never thought about painting,” she said. “I wanted to pursue a career in interior design. Life changes happened, and I did not classically follow interior design but was always involved in color, merchandising, and furniture.”
Scott moved to Berlin in 2016. She was brought to the Eastern Shore by her love for camping, which she enjoys on Assateague. She often paints the national park’s horses. Some of these natural creations were included in the exhibit at the Berlin Library.
“The pieces in the gallery are ones that I chose and feel reflect what I have painted,” Scott said. “Some of them are paintings that were done a few years ago that I wanted to bring back, especially the horses. They got me here, and I will never forget horses walking through our campsite.”
The artist began creating with watercolor but now enjoys oil. “It depends on what you want to achieve for a painting,” she noted.
Scott also dabbles in alcohol ink. The medium uses nonporous paper and dye that can be maneuvered to make flowers and landscapes. She describes it as “fun and bright.”
While working in Manhattan, the painter entered a few competitive art shows in Connecticut. She has continued to pursue similar contests on the Eastern Shore and recently placed second in the Worcester County Art Council’s “Vacation Memories” exhibit, judged by local artist and former instructor Clytie W. Taylor, for her “Go with the Flow” piece.
Scott and Snyder credit the WCAC and the Art League of Ocean City for the artistic opportunities they have been able to reap on the shore.
“Artists, whether they’re three-dimensional, glass, sculptors, or wood, have so many opportunities here,” Scott said. “There is a core. Some people think you must be in Nantucket, D.C., or New York to pursue this… but you do not. We have a better closeness and community because of the kind of small-town area this is.”
Local artist Macy Snyder is pictured with pieces she created that will be on display through mid-September at the Berlin Library.
Tara Fischer / Bayside Gazette
The local art organizations offer classes, lectures, and the ability to showcase work through their galleries.
The Worcester County Arts Council has also opened registration for its Paint Worcester County, plein air event, from September 15 to September 20. Competing artists will paint outdoors at their leisure at any location in Worcester County to win a cash prize. The deadline to enter is Aug. 31.
Spectators can watch artists at work and are invited to a free sale and exhibit on Friday, September 20, at the Berlin Public Library. Pieces created during the event will be available for purchase.
Individuals seeking additional information about the Paint Worcester County contest may contact the arts council at 410-641-0809 or visit their website.