Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

The Union County Arts Council is preserving the artistic nature in several adults by displaying a student art show featuring the work of Betsy Skipper’s 2010 adult watercolor classes. The show opened Tuesday and will be celebrated with a reception Monday, June 7, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. The reception will be open to the public.

Betsy Skipper taught at Buffalo Elementary School and later worked at Union High School as librarian for 10 years. Her career with the school system has influenced her watercolor classes, which she started five years ago.

“I have a very detailed schedule for the classes,” said Skipper. “The students always know what they will be painting and on which day.”

In addition to teaching fall and spring classes in the morning and at night, Skipper also teaches one-day summer workshops. She says the classes are progressive and include beginners as well as experienced students. She also describes the classes as relaxing.

“It is similar to therapy,” said Skipper. “Students can forget everything else in the world and concentrate on painting.”

“We all love it. Betsy is a lovely, wonderful and talented person,” said Union County Arts Council President Bennie Giles. Giles enjoys learning to identify the painting styles unique to each class member.

“I can look at some of the paintings and know the artist right away,” said Giles. “It has created a bond between all of us.”

Skipper also continues to learn by taking art classes on a regular basis in order to incorporate new ideas in her own teaching and show students the work of contemporary artists. She recently attended a class in figure painting and portraits in Boone, North Carolina taught by artist Ted Nuttall.

Anyone interested in enrolling in one of Skipper’s watercolor classes can contact her by calling 427-4933 or emailing efskipper@att.net.

Arts Council Meeting

The reception will be held in conjunction with the Arts Council’s annual meeting. “The purpose of the meeting is to recognize and honor our members,” said Arts Council Coordinator Lucy Fowler.

Several items will be discussed at the meeting including an upcoming photography class, an upcoming summer art camp for children and the success of the April concert at USC Union that featured music from Fayssoux McClean, Freddie Vanderford and Brandon Turner.

Photography Class

The Arts Council is also holding a photography class called “Pro Tips,” which is scheduled to begin on June 14 from 7-9 p.m. The class will be taught by professional photographer Harold Senn and will provide basic photographic techniques.

“It will benefit teachers who use photography in the classroom, beginning photographers looking to take their photography to the next level and anyone looking for a better understanding of the digital image process,” said Fowler.

Subjects covered in the class will include avoiding problems as well as shooting flowers, landscapes, people, travel and city life. The last week of class will have an “open exhibit” feel with invited guests and light refreshments.

Anyone interested in signing up can contact Lucy Fowler by calling 429-2817 or emailing ucac@bellsouth.net.

Art Camp

The UCAC Summer Art Camp will be a unique experience for youth ages 7-12 who love art. Local artist Patty Coleman will instruct students in the fundamentals of a variety of mediums and provide them with the opportunity to design and create their own projects.

Coleman returned to school to earn a degree in art after a 20-year career as a textile copy-artist. She graduated cum laude from Converse College in May 2008 earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in narrative figure drawing and oil painting. While attending Converse, Coleman received the Honorary Senior Art Student Award and the Endowed Art Award, in addition to being selected to design the Christmas card for Converse College in 2008.

The camp will last for one week— Monday, July 12- Friday, July 16—and will include morning and afternoon sessions. One project will feature screen printing and participants will be able to take home t-shirts they make.

Pre-registration is required by June 29.

Tickets for Boogaloo Folklife Productions’ “For Love or Money” by Betsy Trakas, which runs June 3-6 and June 10-13, are available for purchase at Union County Arts Council.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Union County Arts Council can call the council at 429-2817 or email HYPERLINK "mailto:ucac@bellsouth.net" ucac@bellsouth.net.

The UCAC is located at 116 East Main Street.