Each Wednesday, you will find a group of highly-creative local residents honing their painting skills in the Stettler United Church.
The group first formed about 10 years ago.
“I retired about that time, and I had always liked to draw,” said Joan Baltimore. “So I thought, well, there might be some ways that we can utilize this building a little bit more,” she said during a recent chat in the church. She talked with a couple of friends, and the Church Mice group was launched.
And they’ve been having lots of fun ever since as they individually hone their creative skills.
“Anyone is welcome from anywhere, at any level,” she said. “We basically do our own thing. We have had other pros come in for various workshops and something different like that once in a while. Once, we also went up to the Donalda coulee and painted outdoors,” she added.
Members of the group tap into everything from watercolours to the intricate painting of porcelain.
Baltimore said about 16 currently belong to the group.
“I love it because it keeps your mind on what you are doing,” she said of the joys of painting.
“You get involved with it, and you forget about everything else that’s going on in life,” she added with a laugh. “I call it my ‘day away’.”
Phyllis Starling, who has taken several art classes over the years as well as having taught, said that delving into her paintings has the effect of taking a person away just for a bit.
She’s loved art since she was a child. “It takes you out of yourself,” she said.
“And it gives you a sense of accomplishment.”
Meanwhile, the public will soon have the chance to drop by and see what the members have been up to.
The Church Mice Art Show & Sale is coming up on May 11th at the church from 1 to 4 p.m.
@mweberRDExpress
editor@stettlerindependent.com.com
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