How to go
What: “Exploring Watercolor”
Where: Hithergreen Senior Center, 5900 Hithergreen Drive, Washington Twp.
When: Continues through March 30
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday
More info: 937-435-2415 or www.hithergreen.org
Some of them arrive at the Hithergreen Senior Center in Washington Twp. on Monday afternoons to learn the nuances of mixing acrylic paint with water to create a pleasing composition.
A few are further along the learning curve and just want to challenge themselves creatively. All of them want to hear what Nita Leland has to say about the art of watercolor.
Leland has been teaching watercolors at Hithergreen since 2002.
Nineteen of these adult art students are showing their works in the “Exploring Watercolor” exhibit at the center through March 30. Most of them are presenting at least two paintings.
“Some of these people have been with me since they were beginners, and I am astonished at their progress,” said Leland. “One student was with me many years ago at Riverbend Art Center, and she became a very accomplished artist. I hadn’t seen her for a long time, and then she showed up.”
She’s referring to Lucille Nagy Carroll, who is showing “Spring Still Life” and “Plums in a Brass Bowl.” The most interesting aspect of the latter work is not the plums in the bowl but rather the folded black-and-white-striped fabric that is artistically draped around it. Another professional artist is Jane Phillipi, who is showing “Three Little Kids” and “From Betty’s Garden.”
Leland’s student class size ranges anywhere from 15 to 32. She starts the beginners and newer students with black and white brush strokes only. They practice creating trees, clouds and buildings for four to five weeks before they dip their brushes into colors. She encourages them not to copy her style, but rather find their own subject matter and original material.
Susan Whitbeck of Centerville started out with a rather challenging subject for her very first watercolor. It was a lion, and she kept working on it until she was satisfied.
“I just did arts and crafts before this class, so I never thought I could learn to paint,” said Whitbeck,who is semi-retired. “Now I do a lot of painting outside of class. I have trouble expressing myself and my emotions with words, and painting is a way that I can express myself without using words.”
In this exhibit, Whitbeck is showing “In The Spotlight,” a vibrant painting of two goldfish, and “Enjoying the Beauty” and “Nature’s Beauty” in delicate hues. She crafted the latter work from a photograph of a girl’s violet dress, and imagined a young child in a garden.
Other artists in the show are Suzanne Bruns, Tom Colthart, Lona Deardorff, Diane Dermody, Sylvia Dugan, Barbara Evans, Betty Green, Jo Hecker, Karen Livingston, Wanda Nanna, Dianne Olix, Johnnie Polly, Linda Skuns, Kam Sai-Ophelia Tan, John Velbeck and Judy Whittaker.
“It’s my motto, that’s it never too late to create. I cherish teaching adults,” said Leland, who will also teach classes at Evandale Cultural Arts Center this year.
Hithergreen also provides instruction in drawing, pottery, quilting, stained glass, photography, and woodworking.
“I love the exhibits at the Hithergreen Gallery. We change them out several times a year,” said program coordinator Rick Lewis. “It’s one of my favorite things to do, to showcase the artists and the photographers.”
About the Author