Today’s Hernando County Library System offers far more than just books. It also provides a place for patrons of all ages to create beautiful works of art and develop their creative skills through the library’s Art Attack program. And now the program has gotten a real boost, via a $836 grant from the Hernando County Fine Arts Council’s Community Arts Grant program. Art Attack is conducted once a month at each of the Hernando County library system’s four branches, with separate programs provided for children and adults. Various art-themed classes encourage patrons to create and showcase their talents and learn new and different techniques.
All sessions of this inclusive art program focus on the seven elements of art: line, shape, form, space, color, texture, and value. All supplies are provided for this program, where guests are encouraged to come and learn about an artist’s technique and use your imagination in creating your own artwork. At any given session, guests can be found learning and creating tape art, making masks, painting art cards, drawing both everyday objects and fanciful characters, making jewelry, designing Valentine’s day cards, painting rocks, and mastering other forms of artistic creation.
Operations Coordinator of the Hernando County Public Library System, Colleen Ludington, says that the Art Attack is a program that serves artists of all ages and across the county. She states, “Each of our 4 branches plan one children’s program and one adult program per month. We are scheduled to do programs throughout 2022.” Registration is required for these programs as the appropriate amount of supplies needs to be bought. By participating in Art Attack artists are exposed to a vast variety of artforms, as well as different creative techniques. Ludington states, “Each branch has been given the opportunity to develop their own special program so each one is a bit different. Each class will be geared toward the different elements of art.”
A look at the Art Attack calendar (www.hernandocountylibrary.us) shows a virtual tour of the artistic landscape, with May lessons focusing on the element of Color. Artists will create complimentary colors with watercolor paints. In June, artists will learn the element of texture by creating crayon or pencil rubbings. In July, artists will learn the element of value by creating pointillism with Q-tips and acrylics. Specific activities will be geared toward different age groups. Check out their website to view the full calendar and schedule of activities!
At the culmination of each session, one can see smiling artists of all ages showing off their work. Efforts are now completed with help from funds that come courtesy of the Hernando Arts Council. “We received a grant from the Hernando County Fine Arts Council and are utilizing these funds in order to purchase the supplies for each program,” said Ludington. “They have given us a couple of grants in the past years that we used for different art programs.”
Cheryl Hill, Community Arts Grants Coordinator of the Hernando County Fine Arts Council, feels that the Art Attack program is a prime educational tool that can inspire a lifelong interest in art. Hill states, “When students learn about art when they’re young, they’ll appreciate it when they get older. And now, they’re expanding the program to include adults. More people to create and appreciate art.”
Registration forms are available on each Art Attack calendar page at www.hernandocountylibrary.us.
