The free class was planned to be limited to 12, but maritime historian and artist Berry received so much interest that he was able to squeeze in 14 to learn how to sketch several vessels located within the maritime center.

“We had extra people who wanted to come, so that was encouraging,” Berry said on Saturday. “I can see improvement from one sketch to the next, just in the hour or so we’ve been working here.”

Berry was happy to lead the inaugural class.

“First time here, and, to my knowledge, the first maritime sketching class in the Great Lakes, ever,” Berry said.

Courtesy Photo In this photo taken by Stephanie Gandulla, Maritime historian and artist Jim Berry teaches a full class how to sketch several vessels located inside the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center on Saturday morning.

Because of the high interest and enjoyment of the class, Berry hopes to offer another sketching opportunity in the near future, when the weather warms up. He thought it could be fun to head down to the harbor and do an outdoor class next time.

In the meantime, watch for Berry out sketching, around town.

“I will be sketching, around, and if people want to come sketch at the same spot and location, that’s certainly wonderful,” he said.

Berry said it’s a fun hobby that anyone can pick up and enjoy anywhere.

“This is something that people can take traveling,” he said. “We go all over the Great Lakes. We’re two hours from the Soo Locks — can you imagine the sketching opportunities there, while all those boats stand still?”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley This birch bark canoe suspended from the ceiling was one of the sketching options on Saturday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

In the summer, he can be seen sketching at maritime festivals in the area.

“Presque Isle Wooden Boat Show is one of my favorites,” Berry said. “Which is in June, up in the Presque Isle Harbor. Beautiful Chris-Craft cabin cruisers, all varnished up, tied to the dock.”

Sketching also keeps him connected with his ancestors, who have ties to maritime history on the Great Lakes.

“If you forget that I’ve got an art and history background as a profession, my ancestors were lake captains and boat builders, way back to the 1830s,” Berry said.

Berry was pleased with the participation and the willingness of the students to learn and grow during the session. He hopes to see them continue to sketch, and perhaps attend the next session, as well.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Sarah Szostak holds up her drawing in front of the exhibit that inspired her during the maritime sketching class on Saturday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

“They’re all, very much, returning to drawing after a long time having not done it,” he noted. “But it’s like riding a bike. If you’ve picked up a pencil and drawn, and had the pleasure of doing it, anytime in your life, you can recapture that in something like this.”

Participants spread out in the upstairs of the maritime center to focus on different exhibits of ships, canoes, freighters, and other vessels to draw. Everyone was working intently, and seemed to be enjoying it.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Annette Trelfa. “I, typically, am a stick person drawer, so this was fun to learn about lines and how you start with a line. Anybody can draw. I would love to do it again.”

She was impressed wit Berry as an instructor.

“He was very good at explaining things, and just his calm manner,” Trelfa said.

Sarah Szostak completed several drawings during the class.

“I loved the class,” she said. “I think it’s perfect for the area, too, given Alpena’s rich maritime history. I feel like it’s really special to have an artist come bring together the history of the town and his own passion. I was very excited to hear him share a story and, kind of, bring us into his world.”