The North Carolina Estuarium is starting its new year of programming by dabbling in the arts.

Artist Nancy Scoble will launch a weekly painting class on Jan. 13. Scoble is a lifelong artist, one who doesn’t focus on a single medium, but explores all artistic media. The Estuarium hosted an exhibit of Scoble’s latest work in the summer of 2015 — a show largely comprised of watercolors on Japanese rice paper. The six-week series at the Estuarium is an exploration in discovering one’s own creativity, rather than how to paint like her, according to Scoble.

“I don’t want them to paint like me. I want them to paint like themselves,” she laughed.

Scoble actively encourages experimentation and learning from one another during the class, at certain points requiring students get up from their own work and see what others are doing — celebrating the difference of styles and techniques, she said.

“When we’re together, we all start with the same scene, but we all end with a different product,” Scoble said.

This is third class Scoble has taught at the facility on the waterfront in downtown Washington. The class is a mix of all levels, with many students returning for a second, or third, series.

“A lot of them that do return are coming because they want to have continued structure in their life, once a week, and that makes them paint,” she said.

Scoble’s class is the first in a schedule of programming that Estuarium operations and programming specialist Russ Chesson is finalizing for the new year, and art and the museum have long been associated.

“That history, in part, came from playing to our strengths with Linda Boyer being head educator and her being a painter,” Chesson said. “(It plays on) the idea that people can enjoy the environment around them through art.”

The Estuarium has been home to revolving exhibits of local artists, many of which represent nature in a variety of media, from oil paintings to textiles. Chesson said in addition to returning popular events like summer “Crab Cruises,” River Roving boat trips, and “Third Thursdays,” in which experts are invited to speak about their particular fields, he hopes to offer more craft-oriented classes in the future.

Scoble said that both she, and her students, have found success in past classes.

“I’m really proud of them that they’re proud of their work — know that their work is worthy. It’s important,” Scoble said.

Classes will be held Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Nature Room at the Estuarium. The fee is $85 for all six classes. To reserve a spot, call 252-948-0000.