Experience Follow the Leader

No,”Follow the Leader” is not the game you remember from your childhood, but just the same, it’s fun, exciting and gives that wonderful feeling of being a free spirit again.

Local artist, Joan Williams, leads this fun and creative day, instructing in a step by step “paint along” oil class. No skill or previous experience in painting is needed; the only requirement is a desire to join the fun, meet new people and learn new techniques to create something you never thought possible.

All materials are provided and each student goes home with an 8 x 10 completed painting. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see if painting is for you or to try oil painting without investing in the materials beforehand.

Williams, with the assistance of several other artists, has held four one-day classes of “Follow the Leader” at the Artists League of the Sandhills since July with over seventy new or fairly new artists creating their own little masterpiece.

“Follow the Leader is one of the most exciting things I have done with my art,” Williams explains. “The enthusiasm and energy of those participating in this class is overwhelming – everyone feels really good about their painting and surprised by their results.”

Four sessions of “Follow the Leader” will be included in the Artists League of the Sandhills’ offerings during the Palustris Festival. Williams will be the leader with the assistance of several other League artists. In each session the participants will complete an 8 x 10 oil painting and each session will have a different theme. The sessions will run as follows:

Thursday, March 25 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Thursday, March 25 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Saturday, March 27 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
	Mary Ann Halstead with her painting of Hydrangeas

The cost of each session, which includes all materials, is $25. Those interested in participating should contact the League’s office at 910-944-3979 (M-F, 10-4).

An “Artistic Lunch” will be offered between sessions Thursday and Saturday from noon-1 for an additional $10. Reservations may also be made through the office.

The Palustris Festival is presented by the Arts Council of Moore County and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area. More information on activities at the Artists League and other venues is available at www.PalustisFestival.com