Each year, Graceful Arts Studio hosts a painting class for kids titled "Youth Acrylic Painting" where students attend a six-week-long class learning techniques and practicing their painting skills. This class focuses on creating a winter-themed Christmas card design.

Jo Decker, director for the studio, selects an idea for the painting and each student is allowed to be as creative as they want, exploring color variations and style preferences. Once all of the students have finished their painting masterpieces, Alva State Bank employees vote on their favorite painting from the class. The winning painting becomes the Bank's Annual Christmas Card Design.

This year Taelyn Blackwood won everyone's vote with her blue Christmas gnome painting.

The image is then sent off to become the bank's official customer Christmas card. Bank employees get excited about this event each year because it helps to continue the legacy of the late Grace V. Wisdom, former owner of Alva State Bank. Grace was an avid painter and her paintings were used for many years as the Bank's annual customer Christmas Card. Since her passing, her daughter, Dr. Peggy Wisdom, founded the Graceful Arts Gallery & Studio in hopes of creating a passion for painting for future generations, through arts education. Participants range in age from 8-14.

Taelyn Blackwood is the 10-year-old daughter of Melanie Blackwood and the granddaughter of Bill and Becky Marshall, all of Alva. She loves to paint and enjoys being creative with her ideas.

Alva State Bank presented her with a brand new painting kit from Hobby Lobby, free tuition to the next art class she wants to attend at Graceful Arts and, of course, the fame that comes along with publishing your first piece of art.

Be sure and plan on your children attending next year's Youth Acrylic Painting class so they can compete to be Alva State Bank's official customer Christmas card winner.