Hanna Haser has always been passionate about art. The 21-year-old graduate of Donegal High School recalled starting to draw at the young age of 4 or 5 and noted that her interest developed as she became inspired by video-game characters such as the Super Mario Bros.

As an adult, she has completed commissioned pieces and has displayed her art at community events including Mount Joy's Art Walk. Last year, she decided to share her passion with kids by hosting Chill and Draw with Hanna once a month at the Milanof-Schock Library.

"I was looking for something to do with my time, and I wanted to somehow get into the community and contribute something," Haser said. "I remembered all the different library programs I had attended, and I thought, 'I'm going to go up to Miss Jan and ask her if maybe I could do a drawing club.'"

When Haser approached Miss Jan - otherwise known as Jan Betty, the library's director of children and youth - Betty was immediately receptive.

"I was thrilled, especially because it would involve teens and tweens, and they don't often come out for me, unless there's food involved," Betty said with a laugh. "I figured with Hanna, they'd come out because she's fun."

Haser said it was important to her that the program not be called a "class," but instead be structured for flexibility.

"A lot of kids, when they hear 'class,' they are expecting an overbearing teaching atmosphere, and a lot of kids don't want that," she explained. "This isn't like that. I'm not going to sit over you and just stare down your neck and tell you what to do or what not to do. I'm not going to sit there and talk the whole time. I'm literally there if you have a question about something, want to know how to do something or need help with something."

Some kids who attend the program work independently the whole time, she said, while others will ask for suggestions of what to draw or help with specific artwork.

"It's a very chill atmosphere," Haser shared. "You don't need to talk if you don't want to, but if you want my help, that's fine, too. It wasn't that long ago that I was in school, so I understand wanting to draw and being forced to draw a certain thing or being told you're not doing this right. A cool thing I always say about art is, there's not really a wrong way of doing it."

Betty said she's been impressed with Haser's teaching style.

"She's been great at knowing who wants to be approached and how to do it," she stated, adding that the library provides supplies or kids are welcome to bring their own. "Hanna is very personable to the kids."

Haser, who revealed that school was sometimes a struggle for her, said she always found art to be an outlet, and she wants her program to offer the same for others.

"What I'm hoping is that one day, a kid who is similar to me when I was younger will show up," she said. "If there's some kid who is interested in having a quiet, chill place to draw and possibly get some tips from someone who has done the more professional stuff like selling art and making full pieces or who has been drawing a little longer than them, they should come to this. I want this to be a place where kids can come, relax and enjoy some quiet time while also making art."

Chill and Draw with Hanna is held from 1 to 3 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month in the community room of the library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy. The next program will be held on Oct. 12. Registration is requested, and more information may be found by clicking on the calendar link at https://mslibrary.org.