“I have always wanted to do this,” Tucci said. “Virginia is a wonderful teacher who helped me graduate from chalk to acrylics.”
   Tucci was among 12 artists presenting their work Thursday at the senior center’s annual outdoor art show. While many of the painters, like Tucci, derive inspiration from their children, grandchildren and friends, others prefer utopian landscapes like a quaint lunch at a Parisian cafe, an emerald forest or a grotto in Italy.
   “It’s just something that I love to do,” said Gasper Vitale, 80, who showcased three original works. Unlike Tucci, Vitale said he has been painting since childhood.
   “They all have different degrees of experience,” Burstein said. The instructor, who holds a master’s degree in painting from Brooklyn College, has taught at the center for seven years and said she is open to letting the seniors express themselves in whatever artistic form they favor. “Artists are happiest when they can paint what they want.”
   Monica Ottomanelli, the program coordinator, said the center helps seniors realize their artistic potential.
   “We help pull their skills and gifts out,” she said.
   The Howard Beach Senior Center is located at 156-45 84th St. For more information, call (718) 738-8100.