Bonita library transforms into a painting classroom

Nancy Bryant had never picked up a paint brush until she attended the “Learn to Paint” session at the Bonita Springs Public Library.

She spent an hour learning to properly load a paint brush, mix paints and use a thin brush.

“I didn’t know I could paint!” said Bryant, 54, who brought along her mother Beulah Eby for the class that showed first time painters how to decorate a holiday card with style.

“Our mission is to spread the love of painting and these classes help people figure out if painting is for them,” said instructor Suzanne Mikulka, who teaches painting as part of the Society of Decorative Painters.

The society sponsors the classes hoping to gain more members but ultimately to show people alternative ways to paint decoratively.

“There is more to painting than picking up a paint brush ... you can paint all kinds of stuff. We teach them that they can paint boxes, frames and other things,” said Mikulka who taught her third class at the Bonita Springs library as part of a series for Lee County libraries. “Decorative painting has a lot of options.”

During the class Mikulka taught students how to properly load paint onto a brush and ways to prevent paint from smearing.

“I’m in shock! This is awesome that I can do this so well. I didn’t know I could paint,” said Bryant of Bonita Springs.

Being able to give her students a piece of art they could be proud of was Mikulka’s goal as well as increasing membership for the Society of Decorative Painters.

And to remind students that their first attempts at painting may not always be successful, she handed out name tags.

“I want everyone to write their name using the hand they aren’t used to writing with,” she said to the group of close to 20 women. “This shows you that you aren’t supposed to get painting right away, it takes practice.”

Bryant’s mother Eby created the holiday card that included a sponged border and holiday flowers with ease but says she will continue to practice what she learned at the session.

“This is very good. I’ve done it before but I think I’m pretty good at it,” said Eby, 83, of Bonita Springs.