“Enjoy and make art!”

That’s the philosophy of Jean Perry, an art instructor and an artist in her own right who has been offering art instruction at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center for the last eight years.

Perry and her students have been showing their works at the center.

“I want to stress what very nice people I have had in my classes,” Perry said. “How skilled they are, and I’m just thrilled with that.”

Each class focuses on a specific theme. Previous themes included thistles, woodpeckers, frogs, blue jays, trumpet vines and seashells.

“I bring magazine pictures, maybe photos, or we might go pick some plants, like thistle or trumpet vines that we did,” she said.

Sometimes they use some of the various stuffed birds or animals on display at the center as the subject matter.

“Our red-tailed hawk was an awesome model,” Perry said. “Our little bat was so cute! It’s great to observe the subjects first hand.”

Every piece of work is unique, something that inspires Perry. She brings a lot of supplies.

“My job is to encourage and assist the artist where needed. These artists know to mix colors, try different brushes, and use another sheet of paper if necessary,” Perry said.

Jeannie Carl works at the center and is one of the students. She said Perry challenges her to believe in herself and her art.

Perry, who makes it a point to teach beginner skills, has been an encouragement to her.

Having taught at several locations including Northampton Community College and at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey, Perry and her husband, Gordon, were both professors. She taught art; he taught biology.

Perry came from a creative family. Her father was a prolific artist and an archaeological draftsman during Paterson’s Morris canal restoration and her mother was a talented seamstress.

Perry graduated with a degree in art education from Kean College and continued on with studies in art therapy and extensive research in art history. She also obtained a certification in interior design.

After teaching art and art therapy classes in the New Jersey public school system, she started numerous art programs on both campuses of Northampton Community College, where she spent 20 years.

When being invited to teach an “Art Appreciation of Sport” course at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, Perry continued developing and coordinating courses with FDU’s varying academic departments, resulting in “Women Artists,” “Biological Illustration,” “Spanish Art and Its Influence on America” and “American Impressionism.” She spent 15 years at the university.

Her own artwork focuses on nature, historic scenes, flowers and her pet kitties. Her work has been published by the Pennsylvania Canal Society, Skylands, the Arthritis Foundation, and her painting of “Bread Lock Park” is in their museum.

Because of a strong interest in canals and mills, Jean and her husband, Gordon, co-authored a booklet on the textile mill industry, “From Bobbins, Spindles and Shuttles,” sold to historic districts.

Perry is also a regular writer for the Pennsylvania Canal Society newsletter.

She enjoys bringing out artists’ best work.

“There is something in art for everyone,” she said.

That’s the philosophy she brings to CCEEC.

Perry said students can learn a lot in two hours.

“Sometimes it is a bit of a struggle to get it to what you want. But when you get the work home, it looks better than you thought. Maybe you need to work on it a little more. That’s normal,” Perry said.

She thanked Carl and director Susan Gallagher.

“My classes at CCEEC have been such an inspiration to me. I am so blessed to have such a delightful group of talented artists,” Perry said.

Carl added, “I challenge you to come to one of the art programs held at the center and I promise you’ll connect with other artists and will want to come back.” Classes at the Environmental Center, 51 E White Bear Drive, Summit Hill, are held once a month. All supplies are included: paints, pastels, watercolors, canvasses, paper, etc. Upcoming classes include “Starry Night” on Dec. 3. The classes are held from 10 a.m. to noon. All materials are supplied for a $20 fee. Call the Center at 570-645-8597 for more information.

In addition to the Environmental Center, Perry teaches art classes at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Brodheadsville. She has offered classes at other area locations such as the Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Monroe County, and the Pocono Arts Council.

She exhibits regularly at First Keystone Community Bank branches in Brodheadsville and Scotrun; occasionally at Pocono Arts Council, Dutot Museum, and Warren County Arts in New Jersey.