SALISBURY — Easy Street became Easel Street on Thursday as nearly a dozen youngsters tried their hand at plein air painting.
The open air exercise was part of a WaterWorks Visual Arts Center’s ARTventures children’s summer program.
“Yes this is my favorite camp I’ve done in like forever,” Alyssa Alley, 9, said as she touched up the wrought-iron arch and gold “Easy Street” letters that stood just a few feet above her. “I like going outside and I like painting, so (with this camp) my hobbies are squished into one.”
Phyllis Steimel, an artist and instructor of the class, said Thursday was the fourth day the group headed outdoors for a bit of downtown inspiration.
“The students come out, they set up their easels and they paint what they see,” Steimel said. “We’ve been focusing on different things like shadows and light and mixing colors.”
Kaitlyn Samples, 12, focused on a nearby tree for her painting Thursday.
She said the class was one of her favorites so far this summer.
“I think it’s really good. It teaches us more about painting,” she said. “It just gives me freedom to be me and paint what I want to do.”
Samples said the camp helps young painters express their creativity.
“I think it’s better because it teaches you more about what you can do and what you can create.”