By June Norvila
The Bentley Drop-In Centre was a kaleidoscope of colors and fancy swirls when a face-painting workshop was held there on Oct. 14.
Thirteen youth aged 12 to 17 years, who had brought their own models to work on, watched and listened while professional face painter/artist Mai Maclean from Red Deer showed techniques using different kinds of paint, sponges and brushes to create flowers, a dog, cat, rabbit, butterfly, princess, Spider-Man or a bat face, and unicorn, bat and pumpkin emblems. It was almost magical how quickly and easily she transformed a human face into something unique and in some instances even added glitter and body jewels.
The three-hour session was almost too long to hold the attention of all the registrants. A kit with 12 appetizer colors, rainbow glitter, a brush, and a special face painting sponge were supplied through the course fee so registrants could take home the kit they had been using.
Co-ordinator Joan Ree, who has herself enjoyed face painting for years, saw Maclean at work saw Mai at work at a farmers’ market and asked if she would come to Bentley to put on a course.
Organizers are hoping that some who took the course will volunteer to do face painting at the Santa Breakfast and during the Ag Society fair when face paining is offered free to the general public.
Bentley and District Agricultural Society paid the instructor's fee to help keep the cost down for participants.
Bentley Community Services helped with advertising, registration and supplying meeting space.