Palette to Pen - Painting & Creative Writing Classes

Cost: $10 for the entire program

Location: Strand Theatre

When: Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 7:15

Registration: Complete the registration below or call the Senior Citizens Center at 304-845-8200

The Strand Theatre is offering an 8-week program for painting and creative writing for individuals aged 55 and above.  The 75-minute workshops will be held in the Strand Theatre at 6:00 pm on Tuesdays beginning the first week in March.   Each participant will create a group instruction painting which will serve as the inspiration for the creative writing.  A final showcase of participants work will be held the first Tuesday in May.  Cost to participate is $10  Ruth Keim, a local middle school art teacher, will lead her class in creating a unique painting using one-point perspective. From the initial pencil sketch to the final acrylic painting, the students will gain understanding of process as well as learn how to create background color, add detail, and shading. The course goal is to encourage visual art as a form of self-expression and promote interest in continued art instructional opportunities in our area.

Local high school AP English teacher, Jonna Kusky, will guide her class in writing, assisting each person in developing their style. Participants will seek inspiration through the painting they created. She will assist students in designing a plot structure for their story, labelling their plot structure, creating an extended moment at the climax of their story, traveling through creative stations to improve their story, learning ways to publish their story for others to enjoy, and finding ways to continue writing.  The course goal will be for participants to have produced a text that tells a story of personal significance.

This program is offered with the assistance of a grant from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.