PARKERSBURG - A group of children worked on crafts they can give as gifts during a Sunday afternoon workshop at the Parkersburg Art Center.
Jessie Siefert, the art center's education coordinator, said the Christmas gift and craft workshop for children is an annual holiday program at the art center, geared for children in first through sixth grades.
During Sunday's workshop, the group of 22 children worked on six different craft projects, along with with a Christmas card. The crafts included making pressed tin ornaments, decoupage vases, painting wooden ornaments and making decorative cone trees.
"We organized the day like we do our summer camp programs, where we alternate two different classes," she said.
In addition to the periodically changing exhibits in the main galleries, art classes for children and adults are another of the main attractions at the art center, which is located at Eighth and Market streets in downtown Parkersburg.
Along with Sunday's holiday workshop, the art center has been offering free "Arty Parties" throughout the year. The current round of "Arty Parties" will continuing through the second weekend in February, with a break on Dec. 22 due to the Christmas holiday, Siefert said.
The parties run from 10 a.m.-noon and offer children ages 12 and under - accompanied by an adult - a chance to try different art activities.
Art center director Abby Hayhurst said the next group of art and craft classes for children and adults will begin in mid-February, but she is trying something new this year by offering one-day "Trial Size Classes" in January at a reduced cost.
Hayhurst said people have talked to her about being interested in trying something at the art center, but aren't certain of committing to a multi-week class in terms of time and money if they are not certain they will enjoy it. The new class is a chance for them to try new things without a big investment in time or money, she said.
Interested people can pre-register for the classes by calling the art center at (304) 485-3859. All of the classes are $25 for members of the art center and $40 for non-members. There will be day and evening sessions for some classes, while others will be offered primarily in the evening.
The "trial size classes" for adults and high school students will include: Hand-built Mugs on Jan.. 10; Watercolor Basics on Jan. 15; Sculpey Funky Faces on Jan. 19; Pottery on the Wheel on Jan. 1 and 22; Drawing for the fun - Everyone can Draw! on Jan. 24 and 25; Stained Glass on Jan. 26; and Decoupaged backlit canvas (home decor) on Jan. 31.
The children's classes will include: Three dimensional design for grades 2 and up on Jan. 8; Canvas and cocoa (acrylic painting workshop) for grades 3 and up on Jan. 12; Handbuilt pottery for grades 1 and up on Jan. 16; Pottery on the wheel for grades 5 and up on Jan. 21; and Watercolor to collage for grades 5-12 on Jan. 31.
