Adults Turning Out Art Work Through New Class At Library

Art has been the topic of interest at the Roosevelt County Library in Wolf Point during recent Wednesday nights, as adult students bring enthusiasm to the new instruction offered by Glasgow artist Cat McIntyre.

The 15-week course is now entering its fifth week. McIntyre explains that so far topics have included watercolors, pencil drawings and oil painting.

McIntyre said the older female students will provide two finished oil paintings that will be on display at the library starting sometime in May.

“They are very enthused,” McIntyre said of the women. “All the participants have some type of background in art. Most just needed skills that they had to be brushed off.”

Two grants made the classes possible. The Montana Arts Council paid for the program’s seed money. The Western Bank Legacy Endowment Fund provided additional needed funds. A partnership with the Friends of the Library made the grants possible.

The group meets from 6-8 p.m. each Wednesday.

“Ideally, I hope it becomes a routine every year, but it depends on grant funding and donations,” McIntyre said.

She plans to apply for funds with different agencies in an attempt to secure grants.

McIntyre has been teaching students in the Bigger Sky Kids program since 2018. That involvement led her to understand the interest that some older people might have in an art class.

“I heard how their parents and grandparents used to paint but stopped,” McIntyre said.

Now, each Wednesday, McIntyre spends late afternoons with Bigger Sky Kids and then heads to the library for the adult classes.

“I’ve been really impressed with the work they are producing,” she said of her adult students.