Alabel next to the colorful painting of Indian women displayed at the Silver Circle Studio in Putnam reads , “ Painting is an excellent medium to express one’s inner feelings – to convert the intangible of us into tangible . ” The studio located on Main Street had a reception for the artists who participated in an exhibition entitled “ Forms and Figures” on Thursday , Feb . 19 .

Local artists participated in the show , which is a collection of conventional paintings , photographs and alternate art , that reflects different facets of human shapes and figures .

A 26- x 21-inch black-and-white photograph of a man with tattoos on his arms holding a baby was one of the highlights of the exhibition . The artist , Lindsay Shaw of Hampton , is showcasing some of her pictures from a series entitled , “ Our Markings” , a collection of photographs of people with tattoos on their bodies .

“ I’ve always loved photographing a person , seeing in the inside of people , ” said Shaw , 32 , who says that she has always been fascinated by tattoos and stories they tell . She approached local models for her series .

“ People seem comfortable talking to me , ” said Shaw , a mother of two and a high school art teacher . She says that she also finds her inspiration in children . “ There’s so much life in children . I just love photographing kids , ” she said .

A graduate of Rochester ( NY ) Institute of Technology , Shaw said that after school she didn’t want to follow a fastpaced career where she would have had to work under people . “ I was too insecure of people yellingat me , and I wanted to be my own boss , ” said Shaw , who found a perfect opportunity to have a home near family , when she found an opening for a teacher at Pomfret School , where she’s been working for the last 10 years.

Carol Dunn was another local artist showcasing her alternative artwork . Dunn creates art with photographs and collages , using non-conventional methods called solarplate etching , overprinted collage and acrylic skin , which gives her work a facade of layers .

One of her artworks in the exhibit was an image of a woman covering her face with her hands , which was created through paper and cloth collage .

Dunn says she gets inspired by nature and abstracts . “ More than anything else in the creative process , I love the interplay of color and texture , ” wrote Dunn in her artist’s statement . “ I have spent countless hours photographing peeling paint and rusting metal . ”

Explaining her fascination , Dunn said , “ I just get a lot of pleasure out of finding beauty in things . ” The 56-yearold artist , who also runs workshops at her studio , Little River Studio and Gallery in Baltic .