By Leah Schwarting

NATCHEZ — Sarah Carey pressed an iron down onto a piece of paper as a group of children eagerly awaited the result.

When she lifted it, a flower appeared and the children rewarded her with a chorus of ahs and wows.

“Isn’t that neat?” Carey asked them.

Carey is the president of the Natchez Art Association and host of the Art Center’s Art Camp for grades 2-6.

Last Wednesday, the children worked on painting with milk, which disappeared when it dried but reappeared under heat.

Bailee Anderson, 10, preferred the week’s messier projects, her favorite a papier-mâché jellyfish, but liked painting with milk, too.

“It’s cool because of how it turns to brown with the heat,” Anderson said.

It’s one of many projects. Throughout the week, children created a variety of artwork, from 3-D paintings, yarn art and on Wednesday, papier-mâché jellyfish — Anderson’s favorite — clay sculpting and painting with milk.

“I like to introduce the kids to all sorts of things,” Carey said.

As soon as one project finished, the children started or returned to another one. Every time the children had to wait for something to dry, they had another project to work on.

“I just like to provide them with something that’s different and they’ll enjoy, because art is such an important part of their lives,” Carey said.

Art is certainly an important part of 8-year-old Madison Walker’s life.

“I love art so much,” Walker said. “I even asked Santa for an art easel.”

Earlier in the week, Walker created a 3-D painting by placing different layers of painted paper on top of each other with foam tape.

“You got to draw what you wanted for the third layer,” Walker said.

She decided to make a rainbow-colored dog the focus of her painting, giving him plenty of buildings in the background to keep him company.

For the milk painting, she decided to do more patterns.

“I’m going to put zigzags around the edges,” Walker told Carey.

Her sister, Caitlin Walker, 12, is looking forward to showing her projects to her parents, Ryan and Tracy Walker.

“She sends it all home at one time,” Walker said, referring to Carey.

Like the Walker sisters, Anderson is excited about showing her parents, Jessica and Josh Anderson, her completed artwork at the end of the day today.

Carey believes the camp will make a lasting impression on the children.

“We know that when we introduce art to children they carry it with them their whole lives,” Carey said.

There will be two more art camps for grades 2-6 during the weeks of July 13 and July 20. The cost is $115 per child and $100 if the parents are members of the Natchez Art Association.