Elaine Sletten and Everett Hays will be featured at the Austin Area Art Center in August.

Sletten will have an art show and Hayes is the featured artist of the month.

An open house will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Austin Area Art Center located in Oak Park Mall, Austin.

Sletten's story of how she became an artist involves her husband Arnold, and an advertisement to test her artistic skills.

"I started drawing and doodling in my teen years, but never thought much about being artistic until my husband, Arnold, suggested I try the 'Grow Me' correspondence course," she said. "I did very well, so I took the course and learned some of the basics from them. I then began doing some paintings with tempera colors."

When the couple moved to Brownsdale in 1970, she became acquainted with a small art group and began using oils before eventually choosing acrylic paints.

"My paintings are usually done on my dining room table, so it's always a mess," she said. "I'm finally using an easel and that is very helpful. I used chairs before to help me get a perspective view of my paintings."

Sletten said she joined the Austin Area Art Center and does "what I can do to help out there." Also, she praises the friends she has made at the Art Center.

"When you make a painting, so much of what you are goes into the picture, because you become involved in what you are creating," she said.

Artist of the month

Everett Hays continues to distinguish himself in local art circles.

He can sketch anybody and

anything.

Hays recently Ed concluded another summer art course for children and teenagers, using Austin landmarks as the subject matter for his budding artists.

Perhaps, Hays is most famous for his sketches of athletes.

His subject matter ranges from professional athletes to the student-athletes who graduated Austin High and Pacelli High Schools each spring.

His sketches will be on display at the Austin Area Art Center throughout August.

The Art Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, beginning at noon each day.

The public is invited to Sunday's open house and to visit the Art Center during regular gallery hours.