VGCC Offers Portrait Painting Course, Called ‘Difficult, But Very Rewarding’

Portrait painting is not easy, and Leslie Hall Johnson will not try to tell you it is. “However, those who work at it find they can do it, it is very rewarding and they don’t want to stop,” said Johnson, who will be teaching another course in portrait painting this fall at Vance-Granville Community College.

The three-hour sessions from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays will begin Sept. 14 and run to Dec. 7 in Room 5230 on the main campus.

During the 6-7 years that Johnson has been teaching portrait painting at VGCC, she has observed reluctance by people to try the skill. But those who do fall in love with it and soon fill the art classroom with paintings of spouses, children, grandchildren and others.

Another thing Johnson likes about the classes are that total beginners are welcome to participate, and more experienced painters are quick to help the newcomers.

Anyone interested in joining this fall’s portrait-painting class may pre-register by calling the VGCC Continuing Education Department at 492-2061, extension 316, or they may register during the first class Sept. 14.

Johnson said potential participants may call her at 693-7432 for information on art supplies they will need for the class.

In the photo above, Leslie Johnson, who will teach another portrait painting class at Vance-Granville Community College this fall, looks over a couple of paintings she did of family members. At right is her grandson, Sam Paynter, who was 18 months at the time of the painting, and at the back is a wedding portrait of Johnson’s daughter, Laura Ward.