NEW GLOUCESTER – Wanted: artists who paint with oils, acrylics, watercolors or pastels.

With nature as their inspiration, such individuals are being encouraged to participate in Fiddlehead Center for the Arts’ “Autumn Celebration: Fresh Paint Event and Auction” fund-raiser Saturday, Sept. 25.

In its second year, the Fresh Paint Event celebrates local artists and the beauty of this area’s natural environment.

Artists will be asked to create paintings within a six-hour period that are then auctioned off that evening, with proceeds benefiting Fiddlehead Center.

They choose their own painting location for the day, but it must be in one of eight communities: New Gloucester, Gray, Yarmouth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Pownal or North Yarmouth.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for area artists to enjoy a day of painting inspired by our natural surroundings, gain visibility for their work and network with other artists,” says Mary Jo Marquis, Fiddlehead’s artistic director.

“Last year, over 40 artists participated and we had a wonderful attendance at the auction. This year we expect to exceed those numbers.”

Painting will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with a string quartet and gallery exhibition of all the artists’ work. At 7 p.m., the “fresh paint’ auction will begin, led by auctioneer Jim Cyr of Cyr Auction Co. Artists donate a portion or all of their proceeds to Fiddlehead Center for the Arts; they also have the chance to win a cash prize awarded to the top three paintings in a judged contest.

Artists can get applications and more information at www.fiddleheadcenter.org or by calling (207) 688-2244.

Fiddlehead Center for the Arts helps children be directly involved in the performing, visual and creative arts and sciences. It’s been a comprehensive multi-community arts center at the Pineland Campus in New Gloucester since 2002.