CLEARWATER - Each month members of the Heart of Pinellas Decorative Artists get together for a painting workshop, followed by a business meeting, refreshments and some socializing. On a recent Saturday morning, the public was invited to join them for hands-on instruction in decorative painting at the Clearwater East Library. Dawn Lakin, Mary Ward and Suzanne Yankowski were among those who turned out for the opportunity to learn more about the art form which uses a variety of techniques and media to decorate both functional and non-functional surfaces. Sonja Sindell, the designated instructor for their table, soon had the ladies painting fine leaves and flowers on oval trinket boxes.
Heart of Pinellas Decorative Artists, which was founded in June of 1997, is a chapter of the national Society of Decorative Painters. Persons who already paint or those interested in learning to paint are welcome to join the group the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 10888 126th Ave. North, in Largo. A different painting workshop is scheduled each month. Participants learn to work with a variety of mediums, including acrylic, oils, watercolors, pen and ink, stamping and fabric dyes. The yearly membership fee is $15. You do not have to have experience in decorative painting to be a member. Skill levels vary among the membership, from beginner to advanced. Non-members are welcome as guests for three meetings. Persons who join the Pinellas chapter are required to be members of the national organization, the Society of Decorative Painters, as well. There are some 100 members throughout the Tampa Bay area.
The Pinellas artists will be presenting a Craft Boutique at St. Dunstan's on November 11. Hours for the sale, which is open to the public, are 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Items hand-painted or hand-crafted by chapter members will be featured.
Officers of Heart of Pinellas Decorative Artists are Nancy Koffman, president; Pat Stone, vice president; Linda McCurdy, secretary; and Linda Weingart, treasurer. For further information on the organization, you may visit its Web site at www.HPDA.net or call (727) 327-4057. The Web site for the national organization of decorative painters is www.decorativepainters.org.