Formed in 1970 to bring watercolor to the masses, Mid-Southern Watercolorists have grown to a large group hosting many local events.
Current president Stephen Lanford joined a few years ago after rediscovering painting and wanting to connect with local art again. Connection is exactly what the club strives to provide.
Monthly “Paint-Ins” encourage people who are new to the medium, as well as pros, to paint together.
“You don’t have to be a member to attend,” Stephen says. “You don’t even have to know how to paint watercolor…. This is a way for us to offer watercolor to non-members and a way to introduce them to watercolor. It’s also pretty fun.”
Paint-Ins are held on the third Saturday almost every month at Trinity Presbyterian Church and are open to the public.
The club also hosts two exhibitions annually. One is an open member exhibition to show off member artists' work. The other is a juried exhibition showing works from members worldwide. This year the exhibition is on March 7 at 5 p.m. at Laman Library.
Though the group has watercolor in its name, they’re fans of all water-based media. Watercolor was the main focus of the founders because it’s an accessible medium for beginners, Stephen says.
Watercolor paints are less toxic than some and are comparatively inexpensive, lowering the barrier of entry for those starting. However, it’s also one of the more challenging types of painting to master.
“It’s weird because it's how people start, but people who paint for a living consider it incredibly difficult to master,” Stephen says. “I think it's that sort of dichotomy that attracts people because they already know about it, usually from childhood, and it becomes a challenge, like golf or playing music. You think it is simple, and you go try to do it, but then you get pulled in.”
For more information on the club's many initiatives and how to become a member, visit midsouthernwatercolorists.com.
You think it is simple, and you go try to do it, but then you get pulled in.