Las Cruces' residents looking to dabble in the arts have a new opportunity to paint by numbers. The City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department is aiming to make painting accessible to the community by offering a Paint by Numbers class once a month through December 2024. According to the City of Las Cruces, these sessions will be hosted at the East Mesa Recreation Center, located at 5589 Porter Dr., and are scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: Oct. 23, Nov. 20, and Dec. 18.

For a fee of $20, each participant will be provided with a pre-numbered canvas featuring a themed painting for each month, along with all necessary supplies to complete the artwork. Registration is required to ensure a spot in the class and was set to quickly begin on Oct. 15. Interested parties are encouraged to quickly sign up either online or by visiting various locations during their regular business hours.

Detailing the registration process, locations such as the Parks and Recreation Administrative Building at 1501 E. Hadley Ave., Meerscheidt Recreation Center at 1600 E. Hadley Ave., Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center at 1401 E. Hadley Ave., and Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center located at 304 W. Bell Ave., are open for individuals to come in and secure their place in the upcoming classes. The class is targeted at individuals aged 13 and older and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited space.

Notably, the city's initiative provides a platform for budding artists and those looking to explore their creativity in a structured, affordable way. It rightly acknowledges the therapeutic and relaxation benefits that can often accompany the act of painting. The program also serves to bring together community members of Las Cruces around a shared, creative pursuit. Additional information about this program, including details on how to complete registration, is available on the city's official website.