Seniors continue artwork

The craft room was full at the Golden Hour Senior Center Friday morning with seniors working on all kinds of painting projects.

For some, it was their first time, while others continued to work on artwork from previous weeks.

The new craze is alcohol ink. Several painters were working on their alcohol ink pieces. Some just started a piece, while others were working on ones from last week. 

Art teacher Theresa Stark said she is quickly learning the art of alcohol ink. First, she draws the outline of an flower, in this case an iris. Next, she completes the background. To keep the iris area clean she puts a product called Mask it on top of the iris drawing. This prevents the paint from drying on the iris. 

"That's kind of my own idea," Stark said. "I wasn't taught that."

Once she has the background completed to her liking, she pulls the Mask It off, revealing an untouched iris. She then starts to paint the iris.

What some of the class enjoy most about the alcohol-ink painting is if they decide they do not like the outcome of a painting, they can just take all the paint off with 91 percent rubbing alcohol. 

"It's kind of my new passion," Stark said.

Others seem to agree with Stark. She said she has sold a lot of alcohol paintings and knows she will sell more when she is finished. One woman was so inspired by one of the paintings,  that after she bought Stark's painting she decided to attend the class and learn how to make one of her own.

"I've sold a bunch of them," Stark said.

Other ladies were working on acrylic paintings. First timer, Madeleine Bonnabel said she always enjoyed sketching and using charcoals to create artwork; and she has used watercolors, but never anything so bright and colorful as acrylic paints.

"The colors are kind of bright. It scared me," Bonnabel said.

Painter Becky Strong completed an elk painting and started working on another. She not only enjoys the painting, but the socialization that comes with it.

Her favorite part of painting is using her imagination to complete the scenery. The painters meet every Friday morning at the GHSC to work on their projects.