'Watercolor Ohio 2022' a stellar display of landscapes, portraits, abstracts and more
Watercolor painting is tricky business. The medium is unpredictable and hard to control. Mistakes aren’t easily corrected.
Which is why an exhibit such as “Watercolor Ohio 2022” is impressive. The 60-some landscapes, portraits and abstract works by members of the Ohio Watercolor Society show the full range of the medium with many standout works.
The 45th annual juried exhibition continues through Oct. 7, Downtown at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery. Juror Pat Moseuk, of the National Watercolor Society in California, surveyed more than 200 paintings by Ohioans or artists with Ohio connections, arriving at a mix — mostly figurative paintings but some abstracts as well.
In “The Adeline 2,” Jeanette Ferguson of Troy paints a fanciful carousel with a giraffe, horse, zebra and rabbit. The colorful, glossy animals are set against a black background that makes them pop.
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The same sort of vibrant color is found in “Fun & Games” by Gary Brooks of Amelia. His still life is crisp and happily cluttered with toys including a truck, lunch box, dominos, comic books and a Batman figure.
Chris Krupinski of Maineville goes bigger than life with the still life “Log Cabin Picnic.” Her portrait of apples and green grapes resting on a quilt is bold and detailed.
Christine Misencik-Bunn of Fredericktown captures movement and emotion in “In the Moment,” a painting of a woman sitting poolside, her head thrown back in laughter or just delight.
“Anniversary,” by Jennifer Sowders of Fostoria, captures a restaurant scene with a man holding a glass of red wine in the foreground and activity with other customers and servers in the background — a nice display of perspective.
Strongsville artist Jeff Suntala presents a trio of singers before a microphone in “Three Part Harmony,” a scene so animated you can almost hear them sing.
Abstract works include the violet- and gray-colored “Symphony” by Mel Grunau of Berea, and Salem, S.C., artist Frederick Graff’s beautiful “The Amish Way,” shapes in shades of blue interspersed with white house figures.
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The Ohio Watercolor Society is 45 years old with about 300 members dedicated to celebrating and keeping the medium going, said Gary Brooks, society vice president and exhibit artist. Nearly every state in the nation has a watercolor society.
“Watercolor isn’t taught so much in art schools anymore — there, it’s all acrylics or oil painting. I think the watercolor societies started in order to keep the medium going and elevate the skill level,” Brooks said.
Watercolor artists can practice their craft in the studio or outdoors with plein-air painting. They can paint strictly with watercolor or a mix of watercolor, gauche and watered-down acrylics, depending on the criteria of their society, Brooks said. Regardless, painters have to be mindful of the rigors of their medium.
"If you have a piece of paper and put some water on it, and you say, 'Here’s what I want to do,' the water says, 'No, I don’t think that’s going to happen,'" Brooks said. "Watercolor is a medium that has its own mind."
At a glance
“Watercolor Ohio 2022” continues through Oct. 7, in the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery, 77 S. High St. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Call 614-644-9624 or visit www.riffegallery.org.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Watercolor Society's 45th annual juried show runs through Oct. 7
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