Watercolor exhibit opens May 7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peggy Gregorski, Development Coordinator
262-653-4428

Apr. 27, 2011
Kenosha Public Museum
5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53140
262-653-4140

KENOSHA, WI – The Transparent Watercolor Society of America will host its Annual National Show May 7 through July 31 at the Kenosha Public Museum. The exhibit features artists nationwide in the museum's South and East Galleries.
An Artists Reception will take place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 8 on the Friends Gallery Mezzanine at the Museum.
Three TWSA board members will conduct public tours of the exhibition at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, July 10. These tours will provide an opportunity to find out more about the artists and techniques featured in the exhibition.
Awards for the exhibition will be announced at the TWSA's annual dinner on Saturday, June 18 at the Museum. The public is welcome to place their vote for a People's Choice Award at the Museum. More than 80 paintings were juried in from over 700 submissions nationwide. Artists in the show are eligible for awards totaling $12,000. The exhibit was coordinated by ExhibitionChair Sheryl Fletcher-Coon.
The TWSA's 35th Anniversary Celebration of Watercolor on June 18 will feature two public demonstrations by artists Joye Moon at 10 a.m. and Eric Wiegardt at 3 p.m.
Judges for this year's TWSA show include nationally known artists Eric Wiegardt and Roberta Carter Clark. Wiegardt has taught his unique painting techniques to over 3,000 students in the U.S. and internationally. He is the author of Watercolors Free & Easy and h is newest publication, Essential Design workbook . Following a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, Wiegardt graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago.
He is featured in many books on watercolor and has served as a judge as well as lectured and taught in the United States and Europe. Over 3,500 original Wiegardt paintings are in private and corporate collections.
Wiegardt will teach two workshops at the museum June 6 -10 and also June 13-17. Wiegardt's workshop is aimed at those who wish to loosen up in watercolor, from beginners to professionals. Painting techniques and a philosophy of design will encourage bold, loose paintings. There will be ample time for students to try the concepts presented.
Clark will teach a workshop at the museum the week of June 20-24. She has worked on the Advisory Board for the American Artist Magazine and has juried many national exhibits. She has published two books on portraiture, How to Paint Living Portraits , and Painting Vibrant Children’s Portrait s. Her work appears in 16 other books and magazines including illustrating a series of children’s books for Scholastic Magazine.
Clark’s workshop will incorporate live models posed with props and clothing to encourage students to create figure paintings with great color and strong design. With a simple palette, working wet-into-wet, blending colors on the paper as well as the palette, a fresh exciting paint is created each day. Discussions will range from placement of the figure on the paper, and achieving a likeness of the facial features, to what to do with the background.
Workshop classes will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Fees include a catered lunch. There will be morning and afternoon demos, group critiques, and ample time for individual painting. Class size is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $550 for non‐members and $500 for TWSA members. For further information on workshops, contact Suzanne Hetzel at: 847-372-5622 or email: suzannehetzel@yahoo.com.
The goal of the TWSA has been to advance the stature and foster appreciation of transparent watercolor as a major medium. TWSA recognizes an important distinction between "transparent watercolor" and "water-based mediums."

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Kris Kochman
Special Events Coordinator
Kenosha Public Museums
262-653-4406
kkochman@kenosha.org