The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) will host artist Melody Asbury, who will be demonstrating animal portrait painting in oil, at its meeting on Wednesday, February 25, at 1:30 pm.

The meeting and program will take place in the lower level of Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street (at the flagpole). The demonstration is open to the public, free of charge.

Art has always been an important part of Ms Asbury’s life. She started painting at Ridgewood Art Institute in New Jersey while in her teens, specializing in portraiture.

Ms Asbury continued her studies at Wesleyan University and Dayton Art Institute. Her wide range of subjects includes research and paintings of American Indians, figurative and portrait paintings as well as wildlife and farm animals, which was prompted by her involvement at Ellis Clark Regional Agri-Science and Technology Center in Woodbury.

Ms Asbury was awarded a prize for her work at Hospice Regional Show and also the Connecticut Pastel Society Members Show in 2008. In 2011 she won the Best in Show-Farm Award at the Flanders Artist Day show. She has recently been designated a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists based in New York City.

Ms Asbury is also a signature member of the Connecticut Pastel Society.

Reservations are not needed for SCAN programs, but for more information, contact Ruth Newquist at 203-426-6654 or visit scanart.org.