By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

When senior Beverly Dawn heard a painting class was available Saturday in Peabody, she knew she wanted to participate.

“It was on my bucket list,” she said. “One thing I wanted to do was get some painting classes.”

Not only did Dawn get to paint, she got to work alongside daughter Ginger Whitney.

“It’s something we can do together that we both enjoy,” Whitney said. “We can spend time together while doing it.”

While Whitney has enjoyed painting since her teenage years, the weekend class was a joy for painters of all levels of experience.

“These painting classes focus on all levels,” Whitney said. “You can do it if you’re a beginner because they just take it step by step.”

Participants painted pumpkins and sunflowers this past weekend. Since there were varying levels of familiarity, people could use stencils to start outlines, or freehand their own designs.

Making the class available was an important opportunity for leisure and a creative outlet, instructor Bonnie Shaw said.

“It’s a relaxation thing, and an avenue where you can express yourself,” she said.

Shaw started painting three years ago, mainly with acrylic paints. Shaw started because many locals asked her to.

“When I got started, it was because I had several people ask me to do it, and a high percentage of those were seniors,” she said.

Even as a retiree, Dawn said taking classes is a way to keep her mind sharp.

“It helps to keep learning something new,” she said.