Ours is a stressful, frenetic planet, and it always seems like a healthy idea to loosen the tension a bit by joining a club or a band or theater group or any similarly active organization. A group of local artists called Brushstrokes formed and regularly convene for all the best possible reasons. They frequently paint together - in studio and en plein air - and a new show, "Blurred Lines, Sharp Art - Local and Beyond" will be on display Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Essex Art Association, 10 North Main St., Essex. Members are Rosemarie Cushing, Diane Aldi DePaola, Gail Estrade, Catherine Jackson, Elaine Lifland, Jill Beecher Matthew, Brenda Newbegin, Carol Robertson, Maureen Tarbox and Phyllis Bevington. An artists' reception takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Hours for the show are 3-8 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., and noon-4 p.m. Sun.; (860) 227-7485.