NATCHEZ — Need peace of mind? Try this hobby — painting chickens and skateboarding turtles.

It truly helps lighten the load for Selma Fortenberry and Bobbie Funches.

On Tuesdays, the two, along with a number other regulars at the Seniors Citizens Multi-Purpose Center, can be found giving life to ceramic figurines through the use of a paintbrush and some glaze.

Fortenberry, the center’s ceramics instructor, does the mold filling and firing.

“It’s more of a hobby than a job,” she said. “My husband and I used to have a ceramics shop. But it got expensive since we gave away more than we sold.”

Fortenberry has worked at the center for eight years.

“Other than clearing your mind, ceramics is good therapy because it makes you feel good accomplishing something on your own,” she said.

Funches, a novice, began in April and enjoys the hobby because it takes her mind off everything else, she said.

“To know you can do such things after you get up in age feels good,” Funches said.

Ceramics class participants purchase plain pieces for about $3 each.

Finished pieces are also available for purchase for no more than $20.