Art class splashing color onto winter blues

Wrangellites looking for ways to brighten up the fall and winter offseason have another option this winter.

Resident Jennifer Bates last month began holding art classes, focused on bringing out locals' inner artist.

"I started Resurrection Artworks in October, because winter was basically coming," she explained. "There was nothing like it in town that I know of."

Several classes have already been held, with between six and a dozen participants per session. Aimed at beginners of all ages, they focus primarily on painting with acrylics. Bates imparts to her students the different techniques of brushstrokes, as well as how to make use of highlighting and shadowing.

"If you're not a painter you don't think of those things," she pointed out.

So far the themes have kept pretty seasonal, with the latest batches of work depicting cheery snowmen. At the moment, Bates offers traced patterns for participants to follow, but intends to move more toward freehand designs in future.

"I've given people options," she said. "People have more talent than they give themselves credit for. It's mainly getting out of your comfort zone and having fun. And that's the main thing, having fun."

Bates hopes to continue holding courses twice monthly on Sunday evenings, inside the Salvation Army building at 611 Zimovia Highway. With the upcoming holidays filling up people's schedules, Bates will try to hold one course in December, either on the 11th or 18th. She provides all the necessary supplies – for up to 20 people – and beyond the costs the fee covers, the rest goes to support missionary work abroad. Bates said this past weekend's funds have gone toward a mission in Mexico.