Duneland.com > News & Announcements > Painting Classes at Sunset Hill Farm County Park

Painting Classes at Sunset Hill Farm County Park

January 03, 2012

Shirley Massey fell in love with art when she started working with simple paint-by-numbers sets in elementary school. She has been hooked ever since.

As she continued to develop her craft, she began selling her work and teaching painting classes. She has worked as a professional artist since the early ‘90s and, for the past two years, Massey has been sharing her passion for the arts during her Decorative Painting lessons offered through Porter County Parks and Recreation.

Classes take place on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Sunset Hill Farm County Park Interpretive Center (next to the playground), 775 Meridian Road in Valparaiso. It is an open studio format, which allows students of all abilities to work on a wide range of projects.

Porter County Parks and Recreation Art Instructor Shirley Massey works on a mural project. Massey teaches Decorative Painting lessons at Sunset Hill Farm County Park

Massey said she enjoyed working with diverse skill levels. She helps beginners develop techniques that give them confidence to continue pursuing painting as a hobby, and provides guidance and advice for more advanced artists.

“What I believe people will gain from these classes is an appreciation for not only the arts, but also a general appreciation for nature, wildlife and their habitats, and a new vision and understanding of their surroundings,” she said.

Acrylic paints are provided by Porter County Parks and Recreation for all Decorative Painting classes. The fee is $10 per class if the surface is proved by the instructor, or $5 per class is the student supplies his or her own surface.

An Earth Day class will take place on April 21 from 10 to noon, during which students will paint their own reusable tote bags that promote conservation. A Mother’s Day Gift Class is scheduled for May 5 from noon to 1:30 p.m., giving kids ages 8-12 the chance to paint a garden stepping stone for their moms. The fee for the Mother’s Day class is $8 to cover the cost of extra supplies.  

A free class will also be available on April 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, during which volunteers will work with Massey to paint a large sign promoting the Porter County Parks and Recreation Spring Out to Sunset event.

Past projects have included landscape, wildlife, holiday projects and nature scenes. Massey also encourages students to bring their own photographs for inspiration or to develop their own projects, which she will help guide them through.

“Sunset Hill Farm is the perfect place for these classes because of the inspiration that Sunset Hill Farm County Park brings to artists, who often develop interests in not only other forms of art, but also in the preservation of nature and the history of the park and surrounding area,” Massey said.

For more information on Decorative Painting classes, or to register, contact Shirley Massey at 219-465-3586 or smassey@porterco.org.