Harding Academy (HA) will host painting classes in the HA cafeteria for $20 on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. All necessary supplies will be provided. Proceeds from the event will benefit the HA art club’s trip to Chicago later this semester.

Paige Barnett, who teaches 8th-12th grade art classes at the Academy, will lead the painting lesson while students in the art club provide extra help and instruction. Barnett said she has hosted similar painting classes in the past, and the art club decided to begin utilizing them as a fundraising tool.

HA senior and art club vice president Maty Bain said after the art club’s last painting fundraiser at Christmas-time was so successful, the officers agreed to continue offering more classes throughout the spring semester.

“After contemplating many fundraising ideas for the art club, we decided to do a Christmas-themed painting night because there had been a recent hype over painting parties,” Bain said. “While Mrs. Barnett was the main demonstrator at the event, I and a few other art club members were stationed around tables either creating the painting along with everyone else, helping with brush technique and color mixing, or simply retrieving extra brushes, paints, and paper towels for whomever needed them.”

Barnett said she and the club officers chose the painting for the next upcoming class carefully, so that it would appeal to a wide audience and would also be user-friendly for guests with any experience level.

“The painting is of a bird’s nest using various colors and textures to give the painting dimension,” Barnett said. “The art club officers chose the piece we would create and then I tweaked the design to make it accommodate for anyone.”

Barnett said she and her students plan to host more painting classes in the future, as they continue to raise money for their trip to Chicago. The students will visit the Art Institute of Chicago and several other notable museums, as well as participate in an architecture bus tour led by Harding University interior design professor Amy Cox and watch a production of Beauty and the Beast.

HA senior and art club secretary Rachel Moore said she has never been on the trip before and is looking forward to the experience.

“We are going to take a walking tour around the city, and we will get to go to Willis Tower and have lots of free time to explore Chicago,” Moore said. “We are staying on Michigan Avenue, so we will be within walking distance of everything, and I’m really excited about that. I’ve never been to Chicago before, so I’m just excited about seeing everything and getting to explore the city.”

Barnett said the trip is an important teaching tool for her students.

“It’s a great way to expose the students to various types of art and cultures,” Barnett said. “I love this trip and it’s always a lot of fun for all involved.”

Although dates have not yet been set for future classes, Barnett said there will be more to come. Each class lasts for two hours. Barnett said their target audience is anyone who wants to come paint and have fun along the way.

The last day to purchase tickets for Saturday’s class through the Harding Academy office was Thursday, but students who are interested can contact Barnett at epbarnett@harding.edu.