Joyce David Harrington is shown with her featured painting, “Chickadee’s Quest.” She was inspired when she was watching chickadees eating sunflower seeds from a bird feeder.

Joyce Davis Harrington of Dunmore is February’s Artist of the Month at the Dunmore Activity Hub. Joyce began painting several years ago and has participating in the Dunmore painting group for about four years.

“Previously, I was into fabric design by sewing patchwork quilts,” Joyce explains. “I participated in hand quilting for 10 years with ladies at Christ the King Church in Dunmore.”

The retired teacher/counselor’s background includes 14 years of teaching, with 21 years as an elementary school counselor in Scranton School District.

Her featured painting, “Chickadee’s Quest,” was inspired by watching chickadees eating sunflower seeds at a bird feeder. “They are such sweet birds,” Joyce says.

Joyce gets most of her ideas by browsing through painting magazines, and from photography and art books.

“Everyone else is an oil painter except me,” she confides. “My medium is watercolor. I enjoyed several classes I took in watercolor batik at Abington Art Studio.” She also paints with watercolorists at Abington Senior Center.

“My philosophy for painting is learning from mistakes and building your experience,” she points out. “Attitude is everything! Be prepared for many paintings to fall by the wayside. We are all learning along the way, and it’s so much fun!”

She finds painting a great group experience, and credits Dunmore’s instructor Jill Swersie as being “outstanding and inspirational. Her dedication to her students and to her daily oil painting is unparalled.”

Asked about the Dunmore Activity Hub, Joyce said, “Our close-knit, supportive painting group is fortunate to meet in our beautiful facility here in Dunmore.

NOTE: For more information, visit the Dunmore Senior Center online.