For Flo Simenson, there’s nothing worse than sitting still.

Growing up during the Great Depression, she learned at an early age how to work hard for what you want, and Simenson has done just that.

An accomplished artist and potter, she also worked as a machine designer and is a ranked, senior pingpong player, as well as an avid gardener.

“I went to school in a place that didn’t have pottery,” Simenson said. “But I liked art. So I drew. I drew on … wrappers when I was about 4 years old. I made mud pies with my neighbor.”

Now she’s offering a free pottery class for anyone who wants to join. She hopes to share her love of pottery with others who are either just starting out or want to indulge their own love of art.

She nurtured her passion for art growing up and has been drawing and painting for nearly all of her 82 years and helps teach others to do the same.

“I don’t say I’m a great painter, but I paint,” she said. “I’ve trained some great painters. I tell them, ‘I don’t so much as teach you to paint as I infect you with a love of painting.’ ”

She still tutors in painting and drawing but has recently decided to also teach a pottery class.

Pottery, for Simenson, is a relatively new hobby. She’s only been doing it for a little more than 45 years.

Now, she makes many things by hand or using a potter’s wheel and has sold numerous items at farmers markets, ranging from casserole dishes to necklaces.

She’s mostly retired from selling at markets, but she says she’s not done sharing her craft.

Simenson said that when she was working with a company that drove people to and from hospitals for treatment, she discovered a need: “Everybody wanted to talk to somebody and needed a friend as they got older.

“I thought, ‘Wait a minute, there’s a need for support,’ ” Simenson said. “Somebody to just cheer you on and say, ‘Hey, you can do it.’ ”

She sees her pottery class as a way to offer that support and cheer. She said people don’t have to come a lot, but if they do try it, they might find someone who can fill that need for more friends.

“You really want to think of the good things in life,” she said. “Do something positive. Have fun. Make somebody happy, for goodness sakes.”

The classes she’s starting will be an hour long and will be completely free. All she requires is for people to wear old clothes — clothes they don’t mind getting dirty — no rings, no fragrances and to be enthusiastic about pottery. She’ll provide everything else.

“In a one-hour class, you’d be surprised how many things you can make,” she said.

“The thing of it is, people need to be doing things. They need to be creating.”

When Simenson isn’t potting, she’s painting, drawing or gardening.

“To me, the worst thing in the world is sitting down and just visiting and not doing anything for over 15 minutes,” she said, laughing. “Inactivity is difficult for me.”

She keeps herself busy, and even at her age, is well- known for being “hyper” and active. Recently, she had three strokes. She was in the hospital for a while, but it didn’t slow her down long. She had too much to do.

“There’s always another project around the corner,” Simenson said.

She started using her hands to create with mud and wrappers when she was young. Now, she said, “This is almost 77 years later. I am still making mud pies and drawing. I don’t think I’ve advanced much.

“But I’ve had a lot of fun.”

To participate in a class, call Simenson at 360-675-3204.