a dreary day outside, but that didn’t stop a creative group of ladies from painting something bright. The painters were in every corner of the cozy studio, intently focused on their paintings, trying to get each stroke just right.

American Impressionist painter Elizabeth Blaylock was shuffling around the room, showing each artist the effect of bright colors. Dark clouds threatened and raindrops tapped the ground, but inside the Art Barn, Blaylock was orchestrating a palette of vibrant hues.

“Making Colors Sing” was the name of Blaylock’s workshop, taught at Ava Jane’s Art Barn in Brookhaven, owned by Ava Jane Newell.

“I’m teaching how to do a lively, colorful impressionist painting,” she said. “In this case, using water and figures as a subject matter.”

The painting the ladies were creating was an Impressionist painting of a young girl crouched down in the sand at the beach. Some women were painting from pictures they had of children, using the same techniques.

Blaylock, of Gulf Shores, Ala., specializes in children and seascapes, as well as other scenes. Her ocean paintings reflect a variety of colors, making them come to life, a technique she was teaching her students. She could completely transform a painting by instructing a student to barely touch the canvass with spot of color. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society and Woman Painters of the Southeast.

Students at the two-day workshop were from Brookhaven, Thibodeaux, La., Magnolia, McComb and Ridgeland.

Martha Thomassie of Thibodeaux said, “I’ve learned how to use bright colors and keep them that way.”

Sue Minter said she learned to use bolder colors.

“I’ve learned to be careful not to muddy up your colors – to keep your colors bright, not to fool so much with colors,” said Kathleen Smith of Brookhaven.

Ava Jane’s Art Barn is located on Newman Trail off of Highway 51. The studio where Newell teaches pottery and painting has been open since 2001. The red barn doesn’t smell of horses, but the fresh scent of paint. Paintings cover the walls, along with an appropriate saying, painted fluidly above a walkway, “Imagination Is More Important Than Knowledge.”

“Every February and August, I have a guest artist come,” said Newell. Cecilia Baker, pastel artist of Ridgeland, will be teaching at Ava Jane’s Art Barn this August.

The second day of her workshop, Blaylock would demonstrate a still life painting.

“We’re doing a still life with glass and fruit,” she said.

Paintings by Blaylock can be seen on her blog at elizabethblaylock.blogspot.com. Find Ava Jane’s Art Barn on Facebook.