Jim Wingert's childhood memories of living in Queens, N.Y., and walking a couple blocks to the library are part of what drew him to the Rapid City Library with his three kids in tow Monday.

"It was a good place to hang out, always something to do," he said. "I used to love coming to the library."

It's now a way to get his kids out of the house and away from the TV.

"They're learning something," he said.

Monday afternoon, they learned how to use chalk to draw a porcupine, horse, squirrel and a number of animals from local artist Lori Harrington.

Wingert's kids, Doug, 6, and 5-year-old twins Kevin and Kelly, participated in the latest No School: Discovery Day, with Harrington guiding more than 30 kids through the basic shapes of drawing. For a cat, it was as simple as a rectangle for the body, a circle for the head, triangle ears, stick legs, a squiggle for a tail and a face.

Four-year-old Britney Pitman found inspiration for her drawing from her own home.

"I was gonna color it orange and call it Boots because that's our cat's name," she said, before scratching the chalk across the paper and smiling.

The turnout for Discovery Days has been great, said Marjorie Brekke, technical services librarian. The library held the same event Monday morning at the library's north location. About 20 kids showed up for chalk drawing there.

"I think it gives people something to do; the library is a great place to come," she said. "We really try to emphasize that this is a community gathering place as well, so if you make things available for people, they'll come."

Harrington, who is from Piedmont, said she uses all mediums for her art and often focuses on animals.

"I'm a real animal-crazy person," she said.

Her advice for the kids is to practice.

"I draw at least an hour a day," she said. "Do it a lot."

They shouldn't get frustrated if it doesn't come out how they hoped, she said. She said the inspiration for what you're working on won't come from scrutinizing the piece in front of you.

"Don't look at your work, look at what you're drawing," she said.

Kevin Wingert was doing just that, watching Harrington so intently that he smeared the chalk across his cheeks and nose.

"He's getting more on his face than on the paper," Kevin's dad, Jim said, laughing.

The next Discovery Day will be a hip-hop workshop with local rapper and recording artist K.O.D. from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29, at the downtown library. K.O.D. is scheduled to teach how to write, perform and make your own music.

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com