Shirley DeBell looks inquisitively at her husband's face.
Her eyes fall on the salmon-colored hue of his cheek, and she sighs.
Christy Wooten/The Daily Sentinel |
Spontaneity and expressiveness were two characteristics that renowned watercolorist Janet Rogers emphasized in her weekend workshop for Watercolor East Texas members. Rogers said she wanted the women to become looser with their interpretation of art, as is shown here with a painting of fresh flowers.
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Christy Wooten/The Daily Sentinel |
Janet Rogers began each day with a demonstration. An angled mirror was set up in the studio so that the women of Watercolor East Texas could visibly detect Rogers' intricate brush strokes and use of color.
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Christy Wooten /The Daily Sentinel |
Fresh flowers were used on the first day to help students develop a more loose and natural approach to watercolors before advancing to portraits.
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"I normally do flowers," she says, tilting her head in concentration.
It's a Sunday afternoon, and DeBell, like many of the other Watercolor East Texas painters, is attempting to inject spontaneity and expressiveness into her portrait — characteristics that renowned watercolorist Janet Rogers has emphasized throughout the organization's weekend workshop.
"We're learning about changing colors and getting flesh tones," explains Rogers from the front of the Nacogdoches studio where the workshop is being held. "I'm trying to get them to think spontaneously... to get looser with their paintings... to interpret a portait rather than copy it."
Rogers walks about the room, stopping at each table to comment on the works.
"This is a good group of painters," she says, pointing to a collage of unfinished paintings on a table that has just been vacated for lunch.
The paintings, a mixture of portraits and floral representations, are situated on various backing boards — a flat surface made from cardboard, foam or coroplast that secures the painting. Next to each portrait sits a photograph of the family member or loved one from which the women have been working and a handful of their initial sketches. A palette of watercolors, a vase of fresh flowers from the nearby Josie Crowson flower farm and several cups and bags of brushes sit on the other side of the backing board. Some of the sketches have a deluge of colors — a suggestion that earlier in the day the women had experimented with color tones and brush strokes.
Rogers stops at a portrait of a small boy. As she looks at Wanda Cuniff's intrepretation of her grandson, Jud, Rogers explains that watercolors — unlike any other medium — produce a lighting effect on a page.
"The color changes," she says, pointing out how the paper's whiteness shines through the watercolors, giving it a serene illumination. "It makes it come alive."
Rogers makes her way toward DeBell's portrait and smiles.
"That's a good use of color," the instructor says.
DeBell, who only moments ago seemed unsure of her choices, lights up.
"I work as a nurse," she says, detailing the edges of her husband's face with a pointed brush. "And being in that hi-stress occupation, ... this is kind of like therapy."
At the opposite end of the studio, Mary Hooper stands in front of her painting of Sam Elliott, one of her favorite actors.
"A lot of the (women) are doing their children or grandchildren," she says, glancing toward the additional detailed sketches of Elliott adjacent to her painting. "But, ... I decided on Sam."
While chatting with the other women in the class, Hooper explains that workshops are an important part of Watercolor East Texas.
"Our aim is to have a workshop every year and an exhibit to promote an appreciation of watercolor," she says, as the women near her nod in agreement.
Watercolor East Texas began nearly 25 years ago through the efforts of the late local artist Reece Kennedy. Kennedy, who had been a member of a similar organization in the southwest, arrived in Nacogdoches in the late 1960s, and with his wife Lucile, started weekend watercolor classes at his local gallery.
"I was an oil painter and moved into watercolors when I began taking lessons from him," says Peggy Fare, as she details her 2-year-old granddaughter's portrait. "Like most of the others, from that point, I just fell in love with it."
In addition to the annual workshops, which are held every spring, Watercolor East Texas also hosts an annual juried show during the summer.
The show, typically held in August, brings noted watercolorists from across the nation to Nacogdoches.
"We have a committee that picks the juror," says Hooper, breaking away from her portrait of Elliott for a moment. "We've had Naomi Brotherton and Judy Betts. Both were recognized jurors."
The show, which runs for a full month, is held in the Old Pilar Antiques and Arts Gallery, where Watercolor East Texas members also offer watercolor instruction and weekend workshops.
Hooper said no date has been set yet for the upcoming exhibit this year.
Carolyn Rorie, who was awarded first place in the 23rd annual exhibit, welcomes anyone to visit the gallery or attend the organization's meetings, which are held on the third Monday of every other month. To find out more information about Watercolor East Texas, contact the gallery at 564-6888.
While the meetings and classes are an important part of the organization, many of the women agree that the annual workshops are always the highly anticipated event.
"It's like a weekend with your best friend. You're able to talk and just truly relax to a certain degree," DeBell says, while she details her husband's cheek bone. "You get all your anxieties out through art."
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