Students at Chute Lake Elementary are showing off their latest creative projects.

Tonight the public will have an opportunity to see the watercolour exhibits, painted by the students and directed by artist Janice Kierstead.

The Art Gala is themed after Canada鈥檚 15oth birthday and features native animals and plants.

Grade 5 student Adam Wasti, 10, has been drawing since he was two and created a piece for the gala. Grade 6 student Kirsten Curliss said she got into drawing last year because her family was artistic. Both students enjoyed working on their projects which focused on painting native plants and leaves.

鈥淚t was really fun and I didn鈥檛 know anything about watercolour,鈥� said Curliss, adding she felt she was a better artist after the project.

鈥淚t was really creative because (Kierstead) sort of gave us license to do whatever we wanted within a restricted topic area so the kids could create different backgrounds,鈥� said teacher Joan Mackay.

鈥淲ith this art project we also looked at things that were native to this area, the flowers we chose were lilies and Okanagan sunflowers and we tried to pick leaves that were local to this area,鈥� she said.

Mackay said the school plans to do another watercolour project.

Parent Patty Glover helped set up the gala and has a Grade 1 student, Laura Glover at the elementary school.

鈥淚 like to be involved with the school. It contributes to the child鈥檚 success later in life when the child feels confident and the parents are involved,鈥� said Glover. 鈥淐hute Lake Elementary definitely has a very strong community.鈥�

The gala will be presented tonight at the elementary school from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Cards of the children鈥檚 artwork will also be on sale tonight.