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In 1975, Campbell Frost came from Columbia to Orangeburg to teach a six-week course on art for the Orangeburg County Council on Aging. He's still commuting all these years later.
"They liked it and said, 'Let's have another six weeks,'" Frost said.
Rush Button of Orangeburg is one of Frost's art students. He's been taking classes for a little more than two years.
"I had a friend in the class. She wanted me to join," Button said. "I didn't have much inclination. She got with my wife, and I was convinced to try."
Frost teaches both advanced and beginner classes. Button joined the advanced class because his friend was in that class.
"I'm 64, and most of the students are older than I am," he said. "Some have been taking classes for over 30 years."
Button's mother painted, so his talent comes naturally. But it took the classes offered by the Council on Aging to bring it out. The first year Button took classes, he entered a picture in the Orangeburg County Fair and won second-place. The next year he didn't enter, but this year he won first-place in the advanced category for his painting of a steam locomotive.
"I did the picture for my brother-in-law. He loves steam locomotives," Button said. "He has fond memories of riding them in college."
Button's painting also won the People's Choice Award at the county fair, an award that was especially meaningful for the artist.
"That was very gr.jpgying," he said.
Button and the other art students all praise their instructor, Frost.
"He has the ability to show you basic strokes and ways of painting. We call it his 'magic touches.' It's quite amazing. He's very easygoing and really loves art. He's really a master," Button said.
Other students describe Frost as "very talented," "very patient" and "very sweet."
"He's concerned not only about our painting, but also with what's going on in our lives," one of the seniors said.
The admiration is mutual.
"These are some of the finest students in Orangeburg," Frost said.
He likes to limit the classes to no more that 10 students so each one can get individual attention.
"We want to expose the Orangeburg community ... to painting, drawing, watercolors, oils, acrylics. We have different age groups, different levels ... We try to make it as interesting as possible," Frost said. "A lot of times I set something out for them to draw, and other times they bring in some things they want to draw. I try to keep a balance between structure and give them a little more free time to paint and draw.
"I don't say, 'You have to do this or you have to do that.'"
The classes meet every Thursday, and there's both a morning and afternoon session. Frost said some students have been with him for 20 years.
There is no minimum age, even though the classes are sponsored by the Orangeburg County Council on Aging.
"We take them from six months on," Frost said, smiling.
Describing his students, Frost said, "They all work together. We have a great time and have a good rapport. I do the talking, and they do the listening."
Classes cost $40 for six weeks, which Frost considers to be a bargain.
"I also teach in Columbia, and some of those classes are $80 and $90," he said.
Button has been so encouraged by his success that he plans to enter his painting of the locomotive in the South Carolina State Fair next year.
"I don't think I have much talent, but I really like art," Button said. "For my next project, I'm working on something easier, a lighthouse and seascape. That's not so demanding."
For more information about the art classes, call the Council on Aging at 803-531-4663.
T&D Correspondent John Ott can be reached by telephone at 803-829-3638. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.