Library system offering paint class summer program

When 7-year-old Evelyn Doyle went to the Palatka Library last week, she had no idea she would be pouring paint.

It was part of the 2023 Summer Reading Program, “All Together Now,” which is loaded with lots of summer fun activities at all five Putnam County library branches during the summer months. Thursday’s program featured Makerspace Practical Pour Painting.

“Our goal with the class was to allow library patrons to use their creative minds and imagination to create unique artwork,” said Wendy K. Symonds, the Putnam County Library System’s media program specialist since Feb. 6.

The artwork will be displayed in the library for other patrons to see in hopes of sparking an interest in them to participate in upcoming Practical Pour Painting classes or any of the other programs going on this summer at local libraries. For scheduled activities, visit funinputnam.com.

The Practical Pour Painting classes began at the Bostwick Library on June 14 and will end July 29 at the Interlachen Library with dates scheduled at all five Putnam libraries in between.

“I’m calling my painting Zoe Elf,” young Evelyn Doyle said. “It was so much fun.”

Her mother, Amanda Doyle, agreed.

“You know, I feel like there aren’t very many opportunities for kids to do stuff like this in the summer,” she said. “We are just happy for the opportunity. I just love that they did it.”

Twenty-seven individuals were signed up for last week’s class, but 37 showed up at the Palatka Library with the idea all they needed was a paintbrush, paint, canvas and the desire to create.

“Besides giving kids and adults activities to participate in, it helps to expand their imagination and mind to new ideas,” Symonds said. “This class teaches an easy-to-create art piece that looks or resembles marbling on canvas. It is a project that young children, as well as adults, can take part in.”

To create the pieces of art in the class, Symonds said, all students had to do was take a blank canvas – either 8 inches by 10 inches or 11 inches by 14 inches – and use a paintbrush to spread white tempera paint for children and acrylic paint for adults across the canvas.

“They did not have to let it dry to start their masterpiece,” she said. “After the base coat was down, participants then took different colors, or whichever type of paint they were using, and began to pour, drizzle or use whatever technique they wanted to do to put the paint on the canvas.”

From there, students completed their individual projects by slowly moving their canvas around and tilting it to create a unique design. They also had the option to add glitter to the painting to give extra dazzle.

“I’m going to hang mine on my wall,” said Cameron Leonard, 8, of Palatka. “This was amazing.”

Cameron’s mom, Betty Leonard, also brought to the class her other two children – Gabriel, 7, and Tariq, 4, along with her God son, Kayson Hall, 5.

“We had a lot of fun,” said Betty Leonard. “It was a really nice experience.”

She said this was the first library class she has taken her children to this summer, but she plans to do more.

“We need more of this in the community,” she said. “I wish more people heard about it so they could do it, too.”

Symonds believes classes like Practical Pour Painting are good for kids and adults because of the interaction and socialization with others. She hopes her pupils will become entrepreneurs in the future.

But that’s not all that makes it worthwhile.

“It’s the pride and smiles on their faces when they see what they have created,” she said.