The Sooner Decorative Artists are just that -- artists who take a keen interest in painting and doing it well.

The Norman-based group is one of about 400 chapters of the National Society of Tole and Decorative Painters Inc., a group organized in 1972 to "stimulate worldwide interest in and appreciation for decorative painting; to recognize diversity of and excellence in the art form; and to serve as the resource center for all aspects of decorative painting," said the society's Web site.

The local group's work goes far beyond just members' personal interest in art. Their artwork adorns memory boxes that then are donated to families of patients at Children's Hospital.

"We met one lady one time who had received one, and all his precious little things were in it," said group member Janette Ward. "She said 'one day I'll get brave enough to take it down and look through it.' She said after that she would bring it back to get his name put on it."

The group meets monthly, typically for a lesson on a certain type of painting, as well as the fellowship and sharing of ideas for projects.

There are two other similar groups in Oklahoma, the Tulsa Town Tolers and the Central Oklahoma Society of Tole and Decorative Painters in Oklahoma City.

The Norman chapter was chartered in 1992, and Joan Kozlowski said it has 23 members and "about 15 who show up pretty regularly."

On this day, the artists are meeting at Ward's home outside of Norman. A bright, sunny day makes the window-surrounded room a vibrant place to see all the colors of their projects.

Kozlowski spent the session teaching a watercolor class, providing a base design for each artist to begin from. She uses a similar outline for the rose that is featured in her magazine article.

"It's really hard for me to teach watercolor because it's hard to talk and paint at the same time," she said. "It's not so hard when I'm not painting."

Kozlowski has been with the group since its inception and has painted watercolor for more than 30 years.

Group members have their own areas of expertise and are at different stages in what they are able to do. Like anything else, it just takes practice to get better, Kozlowski said.

"I'm one of those people that never though I could paint," Ward said. "My motto is to tell people that 'yes, you can do this.' I never would have dreamed it before that I could."

More information about the group is available through the national society's Web site, www.decorativepainters.org.

Christian Potts 366-3544 cpotts@normantranscript.com