Decorative paintings include a clock with Bavarian motifs by Penny Barto of Hughesville and a saw blade with the likeness of a W&NB engine and cars by Jane DeWire of Milton.

HUGHESVILLE – “Anything that doesn’t move, we paint,” said former Hughesville resident Jane Dewire, one of 14 original members of the PA Mountain Laurel Decorative Painters, a chapter organized in 1986.

Currently the group has sixty members who paint designs on glass, tin, fabric, stone, slate, tiles and wood.

During October, many of the finished projects can be viewed at the East Lycoming Historical Society at 66 S. Main Street, Hughesville. Free demonstrations will be given each Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. which will include nature printing, fall wildflowers, works and history and Christmas ornaments. The museum is also open Fridays and Saturdays for viewing the art from 10 to 3.

“I paint two of everything, currently a nativity scene and 36 Christmas projects,” DeWire said. She relies on husband Fred to apply varnish and help fix any flea market items before receiving strokes from her brush.

DeWire began painting at Edie’s Ceramic Shop, formerly of Muncy. “When we moved to Texas, I was bored with Fred working long hours and the children in school, so I spent hours painting,” she said.

A three year member of the group is Sherry Feigles who said, “I learned from Penny Barto who taught classes at A C Moore. She encouraged me to join the group. I loved to paint in school, this is right up my alley,” Feigles said.

The group’s president, Marie Gardner of White Hall said, ” I took lessons with Ava Walker at the Victorian Lady in Lewisburg. Currently my painting is confined to teaching classes at Ben Franklin and for myself.” Gardner has been painting creatively about fifteen years and does 30 to 35 projects annually.

The president shared a bit of history saying, “Tole is French for tin. People now use the same word to identify the decorative painting style on any surface.

Some examples on display for October at the East Lycoming Historical Museum include Early American Folk Art influenced by Hudson Valley artists, also German, Swiss, Bavarian and Russian inspired designs.