ARTISTS in TRAINING

When an apprentice puts in thousands of hours learning their trade, they become a journeyman and reap the benefits of promotions and higher pay. For a group of painters in Thompson Falls, their apprenticeships are generating artwork that will be heirlooms for generations to come.

Willie Brickzin's Monday Painting Class meets weekly from October through March and includes artists of all skill levels.

"The best part is seeing someone complete something that will be in their family forever," Brickzin said during this week's class. "I like seeing the results."

Brickzin's students use primarily oil paint, but some also dabble in watercolor and acrylics. She said it's a structured process, and she makes sure students learn depth, contrast, light, and how to distribute their color palette. In mixing colors, Brickzin says she makes students tie their palette together. "Instead of using black, I make them mix purples and browns to get the right color," she said.

While the class is informal and students can work at their own pace, Brickzin preps them with an orientation to explain the process and supplies, and basic composition. Then the class includes one-on-one help with her.

"It's kind of like on-the-job training," Brickzin said.

Students come to Brickzin's class with photos or ideas, and she helps bring them to life on canvas. Liane Keane was using watercolors to create a floral piece on Monday, and Juanita Triplett was painting a building from memory. Triplett said she remembered an old building between Fort Benton and Loma, and decided to create it in the class. Triplett had rotator cuff surgery recently, so along with learning painting skills, she was learning how to use her non-dominant left hand.

The class on Monday praised Brickzin for her positive reinforcement and teaching method. Artists said they like having time set aside to paint each week, with no distraction. Student Kay Clarke has been in the class for three years, and said she hopes people will come

Brickzin, of Thompson Falls, has been painting for almost 40 years, and teaching the art of painting for about 35 of those. She said she has seen the art world expand throughout the years, noting that art is everywhere now, and people are paying for it. "Paintings are going for over a million dollars," she said.

The Monday Painting Class will present their work at an open house Thursday, March 29, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Sunflower Gallery in Thompson Falls. The event will include refreshments, and the students' art will be on display through April 30.