Pre-K students to show off painting skills

A band of pint-sized artists will have a one-day art exhibit in Costa Mesa — right in the middle of nap time.

Orange Coast College is showcasing “The Language of Paint,” a single-day exhibit of 24 paintings created by the pre-kindergarten students in the college’s Harry and Grace Steele Children’s Center.

The 5-year-old students were given disposable cameras to capture the world around them and asked to re-create their favorite photo in paint.

The children had no special arts training, but figured out how to mix the colors themselves and learned through experimentation about different techniques like applying paint with a sponge or Q-tips.

The paintings will be on display from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a reception from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Children’s Gallery of the Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion. OCC is at 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

Admission is free.

—Britney Barnes