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Home Painting

Home Painting

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family painting deck

Purpose

Learn how to paint so you can beautify your own home and serve others too.

Description

Painting is a great way to serve, and it can be a lot of fun, too. Looking for someone to serve? Check with your bishop or branch president. You can also do this service within your own home.

For this activity, wear old clothes or cover up well. If you’re painting something overhead (like a ceiling), cover your hair with a scarf or hat and use protective eyewear.

If your group is not able to do an entire paint job from start to finish, you could choose one of the tasks below.

  1. Get Ready

    • Prepare surfaces. Clean the surface you will be painting. You may also need to spray it down, sand it, or scrub it clean. If you need to remove old paint, a chemical stripper might be your best option. Follow the product instructions closely.
      Next, put down drop cloths and cover large items such as furniture. Tape off the area you’re painting to help with clean lines. Remove items such as light fixtures, curtain rods, outlet covers, and so forth. That way, you can work faster and make fewer mistakes trying to paint around obstructions. Designate an area for tools and paint mixing.

    • Use good equipment. Different types of paints require different brushes or rollers (for guidance, ask at the store where the paint was purchased). Make sure your brushes, rollers, and pans are clean and in good shape.

  2. Paint

    • Prepare the paint. If you’re using more than one can of paint for the project, pour all the paint into one large bucket and mix it together to keep the color consistent. As you paint, mix frequently to keep that consistency.

    • Start painting! Paint from the top down. This way, it’s easier to see and correct drips as you go. Use long, smooth brush strokes or long, diagonal sweeps with a roller. Paint in a well-ventilated area. If you’re inside, make sure that windows or doors are open. Don’t worry about rushing to finish quickly. It’s important to take your time and do a good job.

  3. Clean Up

    • Store paint. If you didn’t use all the paint, pour it back into the container. Close the container tightly so the paint doesn’t dry out. You may want to label the paint container with the date and item painted.

    • Clean equipment. Make sure brushes, rollers, pans, and other equipment are cleaned properly so they’re ready for use next time.

    • Clean the area. Remove any tape and put away drop cloths. Clean up any stray drops of paint. Replace any items you removed, such as light fixtures, curtain rods, or outlet covers.

As you plan this activity, please follow the counsel given in chapter 13 of Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010) and review “Safety Recommendations for Church Activities.”

More Ideas

  • Help the painters—Provide treats and water for those who are painting.

  • Start small—Fun projects don’t have to be big. Try painting something simple, like a shelf or windowsill.

  • Paint a fence—Help beautify someone’s yard by painting a fence, whether you’re changing the color or applying a stain to protect the wood. Prepare the fence by cleaning and removing old paint. Then apply the new paint one area at a time. You may need to allow it to dry and add a second coat so it lasts longer outside.

  • Make repairs—If you know how, you could help with small repairs prior to painting, such as patching damage to a wall.

Discussion

Encourage participants to talk about what they are learning. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity. You could ask questions like the following:

  • Why do you think it is important to learn new skills such as painting?

  • When have you benefited from learning a new skill and using it to serve someone else?

  • What thoughts or impressions do you have about preparing to serve others by learning new skills?

  • How can you apply what you are learning in your life?

Related Resources

Sabbath Day Lessons

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