TOWNS CO. ART STUDENTS ROCK AT ARTWORKS

By Verlee Jones

Ten children from the Towns. Co. Elementary and Middle Schools gathered at ArtWorks in downtown Hiawassee on a very special day of their Spring Break.   Budding artists Abby and Maria Castro, Caroline and Rebecca Duckworth, Abi David, Sara Scott, Gabe Gillilano, Tori Morgan, Danielle Diehl, and Grant Arencibia put their creative hands to work at a “Painting on Rocks Party” prepared for them by members of the Mountain Regional Arts and Crafts Guild, Cherokee Trail Decorative Painters, and Mountain Arts Association.  All three organizations are devoted to sharing the love of art. 

Eight members of the Mountain Regional Arts & Crafts Guild gathered paint, brushes, rocks and other art supplies needed for the paint day and provided the classroom at their Artisan Center, ArtWorks, in downtown Hiawassee on Big Sky Drive.  Local artists Verlee Jones, Barbara Eastwood, Joan Stoneham, and Ann Thompson shared their art expertise with these young painters.   

The young artists were first guided through a project of painting a on a fish-shaped rock.  Maria Castro commented “I’m happy I came.  I like my fish!”  After the “fish” were painted, these rock painters picked their choices of what to paint from the different shaped rocks available.  One of the children, Grant Arencibia, envisioned a rock that was the shape of an apple slice and painted a rock that looked good enough to eat.  Several kids went home with rocks that they turned into art masterpieces.  Gabe Gillilano when asked which of his rocks he he enjoyed painting the most, responded, “I don’t have a favorite.  I liked painting all of them.” Young artist Rebecca Duckworth, when asked if she was enjoying the class, answered, “I like painting rocks.  You look at the different shapes and then decide what to paint.” 

Lin Wellford, an international artist from Green Forest, Arkansas, and author of many painting books, donated autographed copies of her book “Painting on Rocks for Kids” for each of the children.  She spent time as a child during the summers at Lake Burton.  She also donated copies of her latest book “Painting on Rocks for Everybody” and her video “Painting  Animals on Rocks” to both the Towns Co. and Union Co. Schools. 

Sandra Sharrock, a Union County Art Teacher, was presented with many boxes full of art supplies which were donated by members of the Guild.  Boxes and bags full of paint, rocks, and other supplies left over from the “Rock Party” on April 9th were delivered to the Towns County Schools.