2023-11-21 05:38:46
Parkersburg resident Christine Rhodes discusses the process she used to create “Free Bird,” which was named Best in Show at the biennial West Virginia Watercolor Society exhibit that opened Sunday at the Parkersburg Art Center.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)
West Virginia Watercolor Society members, clockwise from left, Katherine Crim, Deanna Gillum and Nina Brode Everson work at an interactive table at the Parkersburg Art Center during the opening reception for the society’s biennial show Sunday followingnoon.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg resident Christine Rhodes discusses the process she used to create “Free Bird,” which was named Best in Show at the biennial West Virginia Watercolor Society exhibit that opened Sunday at the Parkersburg Art Center.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)
PARKERSBURG — The theme of the West Virginia Watercolor Society show that opened Sunday at the Parkersburg Art Center is “Anything Goes!” — whether that means painting on a different surface or creating a picture by removing, rather than adding, color.
For example, Debbie Lester, a Beckley area artist who serves as the chairwoman for the exhibit, entered a piece called “Roses on Yupo” for the slick, almost plastic-like surface on which it was painted.
“Paint just kind of floats” on it, she said. “It’s a challenge.”
Twenty-five artists from around the state submitted 72 paintings for the exhibit. It will be on display through Dec. 22 during the Art Center’s regular hours, and then by appointment from Dec. 26-29. Visitors can cast their vote for a people’s choice award.
“There’s a lot of interest in watercolor,” said Jessie Siefert, managing director of the Parkersburg Art Center. “It’s something that many people think they can do but not many can do well.”
West Virginia Watercolor Society members, clockwise from left, Katherine Crim, Deanna Gillum and Nina Brode Everson work at an interactive table at the Parkersburg Art Center during the opening reception for the society’s biennial show Sunday followingnoon.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)
A judge named Parkersburg artist Christine Rhodes’ painting “Free Bird” the Best in Show.
On Sunday, Rhodes explained that she painted one image, then tore up another painting and placed it on top of the first. There are also wavy lines and feathers created by stamps she made.
“I’ve been making art of one kind or another all of my life, but I didn’t start painting until the 1990s,” she said.
Rhodes became involved with the Watercolor Society in 2012.
“They’re very encouraging and supportive people,” she said.
Clarksburg artist Katherine Crim was asked to do a demonstration on Sunday, but she decided to make it more interactive, providing a variety of pens, brushes and objects like leaves for people to look at and attempt to render themselves.
“It’s way more fun if … you get your hands in it,” Crim said. “If you look at something real, there is no point at which you stop learning.”
Crim sketched a leaf using a simple pen like you might find in an office, then embellished it by spraying it with water, making the ink spread in interesting ways.
“You wouldn’t think that these would be art materials, just like you wouldn’t think bleach would be an art material,” she said.
That was a reference to her displayed piece, “Relics,” which depicts an older car at a service station and looks like it was rendered with black and grayish paint on a brown or gold surface. Instead, bleach was applied to the black to create lighter areas that built the image.
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