Part-owner of the King’s Gallery on Spanish Springs’ Main Street, Candy Coldwell, was delighted to have three talented female watercolor artists painting in the late afternoon and into Saturday evening during an artists’ show and reception held at the gallery. Upwards of 100 people stopped by to meet the Three Artful Women,watch them paint signature compositions and enjoy wine and refreshments. “We host professional local, regional, national and international artists from time to time here at our Gallery,” Candy continued, “and these three fine artists are the first from The Villages to have this opportunity.”
Although all three women were working in the same medium — watercolor — at the reception, each did distinctively different work. “We are very excited about sharing our art journeys and hope to inspire others to explore new art techniques and enjoy living in our community,” said Village of Chatham resident Diane Andrus, who was painting large, bright roosters at the show. “I think of my art as highly stylized, and it has an Oriental flair. Her work was brightly colored and showed high energy. “I like my subjects to appear wet, and shiny, on a dry background, so they stand out.”
Ruth Ann Maury, who gave an hour-long lecture about artists’ creativity at another Villages art show earlier in the day, was working on a gold and black angel image. “Sometimes my ideas for paintings come from dreams or meditation — from a collective memory — it’s hard to explain,” Ruth Ann said. Her career in teaching, literary analysis and theater arts impacts her choice of subjects and painting style. “I like to create my own world when I paint, blending fantasy with reality, illusion with true form.” Is it any surprise Ruth Ann’s compositions are somewhat surreal and semi-abstract? Her favorite artist is Salvador Dali, and her paintings feature ‘scenes within a scene,’ hidden images and optical illusions?
Kathleen Reinke, who attended the reception, described the women’s work as pure creativity. “I’ve enjoyed this so much,” she said. “Meeting these women, learning about their inspired creativity and use of color.”
Village of Mallory Square resident, Susan Jane Donohue, describes her work as whimsical and mostly realistic, Among her displayed paintings were quasi-comical depictions of ostriches and almost cartoon-like humans in awkward poses. I like my art to make people smile, to make them happy. For me, art is fun and exciting. It is a huge part of my life — I want to paint forever!”
