Painting isn’t just for the pros anymore.

Painters Anonymous is a student organization that encourages amateur painters to “advance talents to further themselves,” said Etienne Blanc, president of the club and senior in integrated studio arts.

“[The club] gives me a chance to get together with others as passionate about painting as I am and create art,” said Meghan Flynn, vice president of the club and senior in integrated studio arts.

Blanc enjoys making art with or around a group of like-minded people.

“I’m used to painting alone but having a group around you provides you with motivation and enjoyment,” Blanc said. “It is more productive because feedback and advice is everywhere.”

Members are given the chance to paint in a relaxed atmosphere with materials provided for them. They can “combine relationships and working to form a good balance,” Blanc said.

Club member and sophomore in culinary science Andrew Pugh said the environment allows for a creativity.

“Being a [Painters Anonymous] member allows me to use the painting studio, which is a great environment to work in,” Pugh said.

Joshua Cross, a member of the club and junior in integrated studio arts, said the clubs allows him to find motivation that is sometimes difficult to cultivate.

“I feel like being in the club lets me put aside an hour or two a week where I can just sit and paint freely,” he said.

Painters Anonymous paints 12-by-12-inch canvases at its meetings that take place at 5 p.m. every Thursday in room 54A in the basement of the College of Design.

The art can be purchased during the College of Design Art Club’s art sale. The canvases do not supply the artists with a profit but are used to acquire supplies for upcoming projects.

Cross’s favorite aspect of Painters Anonymous is “the enjoyment of being around other creative people who also like to paint.”

A large project that unifies Painters Anonymous is the creation of a large mural. Any interested artist or artist-to-be can work on the project, and the goal at completion is “to give the finished mural to either the College of Design or any other college at Iowa State,” Blanc said.

It is this project which first got Cross interested in the club.

“It struck my interest at the time so I joined to be a part of it,” Cross said.

Experienced artists aren’t the only ones invited to join, Blanc said.

“A lot of things in painting can be really frightening at first. This club gathers people who can provide help and those who need help,” Blanc said.

Flynn also encourages interested individuals to seek new membership.

“We are always open to new ideas and are looking for new projects. [Members] become part of our close-knit community right away.”