The Weight of Freedom — Veterans Day Painting Class

Join Hope Blakely in Sterling, Colorado on Veterans Day for The Weight of Freedom, a meaningful 16 × 20 acrylic painting centered on service, remembrance, and home. We’ll build a glowing sunset and autumn landscape, paint the seated service member and camouflage textures, add the small American flags, and create transparent red, white, and blue bubbles carrying tribute words, names, or messages that make each painting personal. Along the way, students will practice acrylic blending, layered landscape depth, simplified figure painting, camouflage texture, bubble transparency and highlights, lettering, and small detail work. Exact copying is not required; each painter can make the tribute their own. All painting supplies are included in the $65 class cost, including the 16 × 20 canvas, paints, and use of brushes. Ages 14+. The class is open to 25 painters. Since the class begins at 6:00 PM, students coming straight from work are welcome to bring drinks, snacks, or something to eat for the evening. The church usually has coffee and water available.