Family Worship Center pastors Don and Brenda Mower saw a need in Ocean Park and the surrounding community for people aspiring to do arts and crafts to learn from those with experience.

Don’s solution: the Oikos Collective.

Standing at a table with evidence of art supplies, from glue to paint, on his hands, he explained the concept during a break from making collages with his son, Ezra.

“This is a community for artists and crafts people. I developed it myself,” he said. “Oikos” is an ancient Greek word that dates back to Aristotle. “Our church developed a ministry built around Oikos, which means ‘family’ or ‘house.’”

That’s the first stage. “The second part is fellowship. The third, discipleship,” he said.

But this is not a church service. There is no collection plate.

“Pastor Don’s vision for Oikos Collective isn’t so much an introduction to art as it is an artist collaborative where trained and seasoned artists can sit alongside beginners,” Brenda, Don’s wife, explained. “Everyone has art and beauty inside of them, and the Oikos Collective is an outlet for expressing that art and beauty.”

Art for everyone

Don said beginners and advanced artists can flourish in this environment.

This was evident at the first monthly event, in February, when local artist Barbara Martin taught people how to make collages. All of the materials were provided: On a long table at the back of the room were stacks of magazines, rolls of crepe paper, tissue paper, a box of glue sticks, some burlap fabric and scores of supplies.

Don admitted that he has “no art skills.” Yet he scooped up supplies, sat with Ezra and dove into his first collage.

Others did the same. Within minutes, one of the round tables was strewn with magazines. Hands wielding crafts scissors were cutting without hesitation. Martin strolled through the room, offering advice and encouragement.

“Start with your background and build on top of that,” she said. Martin suggested they choose a picture from a magazine, their phone or other source for reference, and quickly sketch their idea on paper before working on their collage base.

On a creation of her own, atop a base of paper that was fairly heavy, she started her background with wrapping paper, then added colors and textures to create a portrait of Vincent van Gogh. Martin is a longtime painter and muralist and a former secretary for the Peninsula Arts Association. She quickly set a plan and used her skills to execute it.

Someone else in the class who at first said she “only came to observe” soon grabbed scissors and a magazine and started her own collage.

Free or low cost

Once a month, Don and Brenda will provide this artistic environment. Skilled artists on the peninsula will teach and make the workshops available to community members. “We are trying our hardest to keep it free or low cost,” Brenda said.

The next class will take place Saturday, March 23, and feature oil painting techniques led by Elizabeth Todd, who has won numerous local and national awards and is a signature member of the American Academy of Women Artists.

Todd’s March 23 class begins at 2 p.m. in the church’s all-purpose room. “We will try to wrap things up by 4 p.m., but we will be flexible to the moment,” Brenda said. “If the instructor needs more time to instruct, or if the participants need more time to finish their projects, we will accommodate them.”

Preregistration is not required at this time, but that might change, she added, “if it catches on and a lot of people start participating.”