Exhibit runs through Feb. 27
By Page H. Gifford
Work by students of the Innisfree Painters watercolor group is currently on display at the Fluvanna County Public Library.
The exhibit features pieces created under the guidance of Linda Bethke, a Fluvanna Art Association member, founder of the Innisfree Painters, and a longtime watercolor instructor. Students worked within set themes, choosing either landscapes or still life.
The collection is light and inviting overall, showcasing a confident grasp of watercolor technique. In several pieces, artists push further, hinting at deeper emotion and atmosphere.
Trish Dalkin’s Fanciful pairs bold color with a softness that keeps the composition grounded. Debbie Morrow’s Where the Moon Rests leans impressionistic, evoking an ethereal, dreamlike mood.
Diane Kerr presents two works, Stillness in Balance and Stillness in Motion, both notable for their rich color and careful precision. In Stillness in Balance, polished stones arranged in a column serve as the focal point, rendered with striking detail and harmonious complementary tones. In Stillness in Motion, delicate yet confident brushstrokes suggest subtle movement in koi fish gliding beneath the surface.
Jeni Flathers adds a touch of surprise in her rustic barn scene by placing a bright yellow plane in the foreground, shifting the viewer’s attention and adding an unexpected narrative element.
Fluvanna Art Association member Nancy Shaffer continues her artistic evolution from decorative arts to acrylic and now watercolor. Her Flowers for Sarah blends strong and soft washes with crisp detail, while Ocean Mysteriesconveys turbulence and emotion, waves crashing in dark, clear tones against the rocks, softened by a distant glimmer of light.
“My favorite moments teaching watercolor are when students begin to see the purple shadows beneath the trees, the quiet textures of bark, and the way light moves in the world,” Bethke said. “Capturing that on paper is not easy. Watercolor asks us to plan ahead and protect the light, for its glow doesn’t come from paint but the paper itself.”
Bethke said she is grateful for her talented students and enjoys guiding them as they develop their craft.
The exhibit runs through Feb. 27.
