SHERRILL — The Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library offers more than just a world of reading for its patrons, says new Director Bill Loveland.

“The library is not only a place to find books and internet access but also a place to learn new skills,” explained Loveland, who started with the library the past July. “We have some wonderful artists sharing their own talents with others here.”

The library hosts a variety of art classes led by local artists, Loveland said, including Judy Bond, Laura Diddle, Linda Evans and Mary Thompson. Evans also offers more specialized training in decorating colorful Pysanky Ukrainian Easter eggs.

Diddle’s watercolor painting classes have just started again for the fall season on Thursday evenings, offering a creative mixture of not only watercolor instructions but friendly chat as well. The group is warm and inviting and eager to share their own tips with each other, she explained.

“This has really turned into a club,” Diddle said. “Some people learn more from their fellow artists than they learn from me. Sometimes we spend the whole three hours laughing.”

She readily admits she has no art degree nor did she take art classes in high school nor college. It wasn’t until her own children grew up that she found herself in the need of something to fill her newly free time ... and art became that substitute.

She then took classes at both the Munson-Williams Proctor Institute in Utica and the Kirkland Arts Center in Clinton. Diddle recalled she was once asked by a friend when she would start holding her own classes - that put the idea to teach art in her head, she said. Now, she has taught at the Sherrill library for 11 years.

Watercolor painting is for anyone, and anyone who truly wants to do it can, Diddle promised. And creating artwork is great therapy.

“We all have stuff we carry around that is unhappy but this is a great place to leave that all outside. Artwork can bring so much pleasure to your life,” Diddle said.

Although this current series of lessons is full, Diddle’s art classes will return for eight weeks in February and March. To register, call her at 207-939-5548.

Loveland said the library also has a monthly Community Art Wall exhibit, currently showcasing the photography artwork of Babs Jones from Waterville.

October’s spotlight will be on retired Oneida High School art teacher Pamela Lynch’s work while November’s art wall is currently open.

“It is just amazing all of the talent we have in this area,” Loveland said.

The Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library is located at 543 Sherrill Road. For more information on any of the art classes, the Community Art Wall or any of their other offerings, call 315-363-5980 or visit www.sherrillkenwoodlibrary.org.