When artist Theresa Goesling is in her watercolor mode, she always thinks of one of her favorite books in which the author reminds her to make every day a painting.
“You want to be seeing things that make your life shine, every day,” Goesling said. “And hopefully that is what people will see in this show.”
Shining bright colors in landscapes, portraits and collages: That is what’s in store at the “Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Member Exhibit.”
The show, presented by the Arts Council of Snohomish County, opens with an artists reception Thursday at the council’s gallery on Wall Street in downtown Everett.
Something special during this exhibit opening will be a demonstration by Cindy Briggs, an international watercolor workshop instructor from Bend, Ore. She’ll be demonstrating her translucent watercolor techniques.
The show runs through March 1.
To be a signature member of the watercolor society is one of the highest honors a watercolor artist can achieve, said Carie Collver, gallery director for the arts council.
“If you are looking at a watercolor, and you see that NWWS notation on the painting, than you know the artist has achieved that signature member status,” she said.
Collver said the gallery hadn’t had the watercolor society exhibit in six years. In general, guests to the exhibit will see lots of landscapes, florals and “anything from loose watercolor techniques to very very tight detailed watercolor,” she said.
There will be almost 50 pieces, including some miniatures.
“I expect quite a few of the artists will be here during the reception,” Collver said. “They’re an enthusiastic group.”
The Northwest Watercolor Society was founded in 1939 in Seattle to promote the art of watercolor. In 1992, the society expanded to include members from across North America. Today it has more than 1,000 members and is recognized nationally, according to the organization’s Web site.
Goesling said this would be her first time doing a show at the Monte Cristo and that she’s excited about the location and about teacher Cindy Briggs.
Goesling described Briggs’ work as “very transparent,” a difficult quality to achieve in the watercolor world.
Briggs will be teaching with Goesling this summer in a workshop in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Remarking about the watercolor demonstration Briggs is doing for the show, Goesling said “it’s really kind of a draw (for the show) and that’s why we decided to do that. Cindy is really internationally famous, with a long line of artists in her family.
“It should be a fantastic opening,” Goesling said, “with music, food and wine.”
Arts writer Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Watercolors
The Arts Council of Snohomish County presents the “Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Member Exhibit” with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
The free show runs through March 1 in the gallery at the Monte Cristo, 1507 Wall St., Everett. For more information call 425-257-8380 or go to www.artscouncilof snoco.org.
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