Beth Cundiff has rediscovered her love for art through painting classes at the Turner Center for the Arts.

Two beginner-friendly painting classes – Paints & Pastries and Paint & Sip - meet each month in the Art Annex on the Turner Center campus. Regular art education instructors include Nancy Crombie, Annette Crosby, and Hunter Pope. The next Paints & Pastries is on Mon., Aug. 12, 2024, 6-8pm. Paint & Sip will resume in September 2024.

Cundiff’s artistic journey began in the eighth grade, when a local artist in her small hometown began offering after-school classes. Cundiff quickly fell in love with art and took all the classes she could through high school. Art took a backseat during her higher education and the years she spent raising a family – until she moved to Valdosta.

Cundiff began to look for painting classes after her move, and while searching online, discovered the Turner Center’s monthly beginner-friendly painting classes. After the first class, she felt so encouraged and motivated that she became a regular student, and began pursuing acrylic painting on her own time. She now paints almost daily at home, favoring landscapes and also practicing still lifes. Cundiff was one of over 200 artists featured recently in the Turner Center’s 37^th Annual Spring into Art Exhibition.

She highly recommends enrolling in painting classes at the Turner Center, saying “Whether you’re a beginner, picking it up painting again, or looking to further your skills, these classes provide a fun and supportive experience in a safe environment. Any uneasiness about your skill level (or lack thereof) is replaced with encouragement and confidence building.” Cundiff encourages others to pursue their artistic interests, and she recommends pursuing your art every day, or as often as you can. She says “Make it a part of your routine. Don’t get discouraged by the days you make no progress. Just show up. This is the quickest way to find your voice.” 

To learn more about painting and other classes at the Turner Center, visit turnercenter.org/classes, or contact Turner Center Art Education Administrator Hailey Rathmann at 229.247.2787 or [email protected].