The Chenango County Arts Council is located on 27 West Main Street in Norwich, and their mission is to communicate, express and connect people together through the arts, Miller said. (Photo by Lilli Iannella)

NORWICH - The Chenango Arts Council is running a watercolor painting workshop over a four-week timespan in Norwich starting on Thursday night, and the council is still accepting participants.

The workshop will be held as a four-class series covering watercolor basics and drawing, said Mary Beth Miller, the council’s administrative assistant.

According to the council’s website, the workshop, instructed by Carl Houghton, is set to take place at 27 West Main Street from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday until July 29. But Miller said the last session on July 29 might take place on another night that week or be pushed to July 6.

Miller said that Houghton is considered a “veteran instructor,” as he has led many classes for the arts council in the past, including those covering watercolor and palette knife painting. She encourages painters of all experience levels to join the workshop.

The sessions progress as they go on, Miller said, but participants can take part in some or all of the four sessions. Registration costs $73 for members of the arts council and $75 for non-members, the council’s website lists, but Miller said that partakers can call the council to arrange participation details if attending all of the sessions is not possible.

The fees cover the supplies for the workshop, pay the council’s artists and help fund the organization, Miller said.

While the council’s mission is to communicate, express and connect people together through the arts, Miller said she enjoys watching and connecting with the artists, performers and community members who engage in events.

“It's really exciting to see all the different kinds of art mediums and all the different artists and how many different ways there are to participate in the arts and how open they are to everyone and all ages,” Miller said.

In addition to this workshop, the council plans to offer a children’s summer art camp among other summer painting workshops, Miller said.

Miller said the council will offer a visual arts and theater summer camp for children aged 10 to 14 on weekdays from July 31 to August 11. They are currently finalizing details and hope to announce them on their website soon, she said.

The council also works closely with the Norwich Theatre Company, and the company announced that they will put on the Wizard of Oz at the Martin W Kappel Theater from July 28 to July 30.

During other dates in July, the council plans to host a make-your-own greeting card class as well as some Sip and Paint sessions, Miller said. She said the council releases specific event dates as soon as they are available, and she encourages interested participants to consistently check the council’s website at chenangoarts.org.