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Mirror hosts parent, child painting class

Whether you’re a longtime painter or a complete newbie, families will have the chance to work together on a piece of artwork they can display at home.

The Altoona Mirror will host Mommy and Me Masterpiece, a painting class, on Oct. 3 at the Mirror’s office, 301 Cayuga Ave. Two different classes will be held, one from 10 a.m. to noon and one from 1 to 3 p.m.

Pre-registration is required, and each class costs $45 to attend for each parent-and-child pair, which includes all needed supplies and light refreshments. To register, contact Brittany Funcheon at 946-7536 or bfuncheon@altoonamirror.com.

Sarah Jubeck, a local artist and owner of Paint Party by Sarah, will lead the classes. Each pair will paint a grouping of pumpkins to get everyone in the fall spirit, Jubeck said.

The painting will be across two canvasses, allowing parent and child to work individually on each half if they chose, she said.

Though an example painting by Jubeck will be available as a starting point, she said she always encourages people to experiment.

“They can always change their color scheme,” Jubeck said. “I know kids love to use colors that are nontraditional, and parents like it to be exact.”

She said people often mix up the colors to match their home decor.

Candy Holliday, Altoona Mirror event marketing manager, said the idea for the event came out of a desire to get people into the newspaper’s offices. She said a series of speakers was another idea that was bounced around, but the events team settled on an art class.

And even if the painting only sees a few months on the wall, Holliday said the memories will remain.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity for moms and children to come out and create something together,” she said. “It’s always going to be a reminder, even if they only pull it out during the fall season.”

Holliday said the Mirror is looking to sponsor similar events in the future if Mommy and Me Masterpiece proves a success. A painting party for adults, called Wine and Unwind is already planned and scheduled for Nov. 12.

She said future subjects could include flower arranging, gardening and photography, in addition to painting.

“We’ll touch on some different things,” she said.

Jubeck said local interest in painting parties like Mommy and Me is growing. When she kicked off her company, she said, she was scheduling two or three parties a month. Now, that number tends to hover around 10 a month, which is “amazing,” she said.

“The word got out and it just kept spreading,” she said.

Paint Party by Sarah tailors the artwork and theme to the particular event, she said, and she works with the host to create an image that everyone can follow.

Painting parties, she said, offer something upbeat for people in the local area, especially as they’re always seeking something to do.

Everyone should take the chance to experience art culture, too, she said.

“Even if they don’t feel like they are good at art, they should try it,” she said. “People say, ‘Oh I’d be horrible,’ but by the end they’re like, ‘Wow, I made this.’ It’s really an uplifting thing.”

Mirror Staff Writer Paige Minemyer is at 946-7466.

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