Watercolor Society of Oregon visits MHCC

This term The Visual Arts Gallery is starting off by hosting an array of paintings from the Watercolor Society of Oregon (WSO), a traveling show. The pieces that are being seen in the Visual Arts Gallery have already visited 5 other galleries and still has one last stop after MHCC before heading home. Months and sometimes over a year prior, Doug Davies the Traveling Show Chair, makes phone calls and emails to perceptive galleries to set up date, commission rates, and pickup/drop off dates and times.

In 1957 Oregon had 2 organized watercolor groups. After 1966 the Oregon Amateur Watercolor Society became what is now the Oregon Watercolor Society. The group has semi-annual meetings in April and September, each hosting an art show where they vote for what pieces will go on the Traveling Show. At first all pieces of art were done only in the medium of watercolor, however in 1975 the group decided to include all aqueous media on paper into the shows. Back in 1966 the society started with 38 members. After taking their shows across Oregon in the Traveling Show the WSO gained more members reaching 500 in 2012. Now, the WSO has nearly 1000 members. In order to be a member of the WSO you have to send in art work in slide or digital form to be reviewed and judged by the WSO jury who will determine your membership.

Some of the pieces included in the show at MHCC are “Tell Me Why” by Charlotte Peterson, “Preparing For The Next Pose” by Chris Stubbs, and “Sheep Station” by Kathleen Haney. “Tell Me Why” by Charlotte Peterson is a watercolor piece featuring an iris with words in the background. Some of the readable words say “Tell me why the sky is filled with music,” and “could it be, possibly, you love me? Tell me why.” All of the words are set in the background of the painting fading from yellow to purple. A beautiful purple and white iris lays in the foreground. This particular piece really caught my eye because of its large size along with how realistic the iris looks.

The next piece to catch my eye, and my personal favorite, was “Preparing For The Next Pose” done by Chris Stubbs. In this art work is a woman who looks to be fixing her hair. What really makes this watercolor special is the detail and liveliness to the women featured. A viewer can see every strand of hair on the women. The entire piece is done completely in warm colors. This is a work of art I would want in my home. Somehow the painting makes me feel happy, most likely do to the color choice of the artist.

Kathleen Haney painted a piece called “Sheep Station.” Pictured in this work of art is a grassy hill side with a brick house sitting on the top of the hill. Around the house and on a trail up to the house is a number of sheep. This particular piece gives a viewer a sense of homey and peacefulness. In the background of the painting is a number of hills and an open blue sky. Most charming in this piece are the shadows that the house and sheep cast along with the bricks the artist painted individually.

The paintings in this Traveling gallery really show how talented Oregonians are. While looking at all of these pieces you have to remember that the artist who painted these are from all over Oregon. These particular pieces aren’t just from around our little city of Gresham. While looking at all of these watercolor works, one should imagine the talent the rest of the world holds.

To check out the art work of the Watercolor Society of Oregon go into the Visual Arts Gallery where you can also see work by Ed Labadie. The show will be open until February 4 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Advocate Staff