Jan Lauer is shown with some of her newest paintings.

I started coming to the painting classes at the Dunmore Activity Hub shortly after returning to Scranton in August, 2010. 

I love the class. Our instructor, Jill Swersie, is very talented and patiently shares her expertise and suggestions. The class is like a family, a special community that encourages and provides support. I am always inspired by the wonderful paintings I see others working on.   

I enjoyed drawing as a teenager and dabbled a bit with watercolors and acrylics over the years, but never used oils until I started coming to this class.  I love the brilliance and depth of color of oil paints.  

I like to try painting different subjects, often based on a photograph I’ve taken or an illustration I’ve seen in a book or magazine.  

I have sold some paintings, and given some to family and friends as gifts, but I also have them hanging in every room of my house where there is never enough wall space!