Above, Ruth Cain, left, and Nancy Owens, start their art projects. Middle, local artists in training work on their lighthouse canvasses. Left, Ruth Cain, left, and Nancy Owens, review their art work in progress. The event was just one of many held by the San Marcos Dunbar Recreation Center.
Daily Record photos by Shannon West
Painting without numbers
Laughter filled the air at the Dunbar Recreation Center Friday as the 60 and over group came ready to raise their brushes and paint.
Canvasses ready, each person sat at the table with plates set with daubs of acrylic colors, and painted an ocean scene complete with lighthouse and a brilliant sky.
This highly well attended monthly event was led by instructor Andrea Garza and was sponsored by United Healthcare and the city of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department.
Garza led the group step by step through the painting, and I had permission to participate.
Starting with the blue background, then the ocean and land, then onto the white details, then the black.
Brush stroke by brush stroke, the paintings came into existence.
The class was easily digestible for any skill level. The men and women of the class were not afraid to poke fun at themselves or their paintings.
Behind me, Nancy Owens joked to Ruth Cain, “My kid’s getting this for Christmas.”
They both chuckled at the thought.
“You broke the number one rule of journalism,” Senior Citizen Programs Coordinator for San Marcos Parks and Recreation Nick Riali said. “You put yourself in the story.”
And that, I did as I trepidatiously painted along with the group. My lighthouse looks strikingly like a mushroom, so I think I’ll stick to writing. Although, I do think it adds a pop of color to my normally mundane brown work desk.
The over-60 painting course is not the only creative class held at the center. There is also an all-ages ceramic studio course that is currently full, but one can sign up for the waiting list online. It will be held each Monday night for a month.
Another month-long course that will be held each Friday afternoon at the center is an all-ages Expressive Compositions in Sepia and Black Inks which will focus on placement of shapes, contrasts, line quality and placement of values, shapes and textures to make small drawings with visual impact.
To check out the other activities available and to sign up visit www.sanmarcostx. gov/activesmtx.
