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Painting classes make up for lack of holiday snow

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Above: In their matching blue painter’s berets, sisters Lexi (left) and Payton (right) Fluegge and 17 other students learn paint Santa Claus at the Grand Center for Arts & Culture.

NEW ULM — Thanks to unseasonably warm temperatures it is not beginning to look a lot like Christmas outside, but specially themed arts and crafts go a long way to lift holiday spirits.

The Grand Center for Arts and Culture held a holiday themed painting class for children Saturday morning. Around 20 children ages five and up learned the basic of painting from art instruction Rhonda Johnson.

Johnson said on average the children’s classes have eight students, but this month saw a surge in enrollment.

The Grand hosts this painting class each month, usually on the fourth Saturday, but due to the Christmas holiday the class this month was taught on third Saturday. In keeping with the holiday season the kids each painted an image of Santa Claus.

Johnson said the idea is to teach the basics techniques of painting like the different types of brushes and brush strokes. Johnson was able to show the children how to paint Santa’s beard to give it the perfect amount of fluff.

Katy Hemberger demonstrates the basic process for making a holiday yule log for the A to Zinnia Work Shop.

The fun was not limited to the children. An adult art class was held in the late afternoon, but instead of a canvas the grownups painted tree stumps taken from an ash tree. Painting on wood offers a greater challenge than using a canvas. Because the wood soaks up the paint an artist needs to use multiple coats and have the patience for it to dry.

Ann Hoffmann is a regular at the adult art classes. She said its a lot of fun to paint and it is something different to do. This months she brought alone her sister-in-law Karrie Hoffmann. Karrie caught the painting bug recently and decided to join in the fun.

A to Zinnia Floral & Gifts also worked on Christmas crafts. A special Yule Log Centerpiece Workshop was organized at the shops back room. Katy Hemberger led two classes in the finer points of centerpiece design. Each participant was given a log-shaped cement container and the greener necessary to design a custom Yule Log. The greens included holly, incense, pine branches and winter berries.

Jill Kalz took part in the class to take a hands on approach to holiday decorating.

“I just thought I could pay someone to do or do it myself,” Kalz said.

These art and workshop classes have prove popular in the community. A to Zinnia Floral & Gifts will hold another workshop at 5:30p.m. on Monday.

The monthly painting classes at the Grand are scheduled for Jan. 20.

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