Engaging fine art classes keep Mississippi College Art Department connected to the community

Students in Nate Jarnagin's woodworking class build charcuterie boards using exotic woods. The class is one of many fine art classes the ±«ÓãtvDepartment of Art offers to the community.

Faculty and staff in the Department of Art at Mississippi College are offering several fine art classes to help members of the community refine their creative talents.

Nate Jarnagin, administrative assistant in the ±«ÓãtvDepartment of Art and Gore Arts Complex coordinator, said the adults-only community art classes range from watercolor and acrylic painting to pastels, ceramics and woodworking and are taught by qualified ±«Óãtvfaculty and staff. The classes take place throughout the year at the Gore Arts Complex on MC’s East Campus in Clinton.

A “Wheel-Thrown Ceramics” course taught by Ray Gregory, ±«Óãtvassociate professor in the Department of Art, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on successive Saturdays from June 14 through 28. Participants of all talent levels are welcome to learn how to “throw” pottery on the wheel or improve their throwing skills. Some pieces will be fired and glazed. The cost is $150 per person and includes all art materials.

A “Pastel Drawing” class taught by Cheryl Presley Becker, adjunct professor in the Department of Art, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on successive Saturdays from July 12 to 26. The cost is $150 per person and includes all art materials.

A wide variety of community art classes are offered throughout the year. ±«ÓãtvArt Department faculty determine the courses based on instructor availability and popularity.

Jarnagin said all of the classes the department offers, including the woodworking course he taught last April, have been wildly successful.

“In the woodworking class, we taught how to build charcuterie boards using exotic woods in a variety of natural colors, textures and wood grains. I milled orange wood, canary wood and purple heartwood for the class, and we also used curly maple and figure flame birch,” he said. “When the class finished, the participants took their boards home with them.”

Jarnagin said positive social media feedback can be a factor when deciding whether to repeat a class offering.

The community workshops put the department’s emphasis on lifelong learning into practice.

“The Gore Arts Complex facility provides enough room for us to reach out to the community and offer multiple ways to experience – and learn from – art.”

For more information about the community art classes currently being offered or to keep track of future classes, visit .