WOW Art Show & Sale

Spring Into the ART GARDEN!

Watercolor Art Show & Sale Celebrates Mom & Dad with Paintings & Gifts for Everyone

Fans and followers of the art guild, Women of Watercolor, a.k.a. WOW!, will celebrate as the Guild rolls out another unique and audaciously beautiful art show on May 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th at the Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin. The show runs Friday, May 4^th from 11am to 8pm; Saturday, May 5^th from 11am to 7pm; and Sunday, March 6^th from Noon to 6pm. Admission is free and parking is easy with overflow spaces available at the adjacent Police Station.

New original art on display will be watercolor paintings and some mixed media. Best loved pieces and most popular art from earlier shows will be available in print form in “bin art,” (a term used for the un-hung stash of good stuff for viewing in racks off to the side.) “Giclees” are museum quality reproductions of fine art which are almost indistinguishable from the real thing but sell at more affordable prices, and some artists will be making these available to the public also. The ART GARDEN will be blooming with art greeting cards, too, which have been a huge hit in previous shows.  Subject matter in the art ranges from everything floral, to landscapes and seascapes, still-lifes and scenes that appeal to sportsmen. Men and women alike will love the art which could bring new life and spirit to your walls at home. You might even find some original Beaver and Duck art to compliment your private collections.

Not just another art show ~  A superb display. Few art shows go to the lengths WOW! does to make the display as artistic and worthy of viewing as the art. Built around a “Saturday market” theme, the ART GARDEN represents the artists’ attempt to place their original fine art paintings, giclees/prints, and art cards (greeting cards) in a garden market setting with large blooming florals both living and fabricated. Both a gallery show and art sale, visitors will find art to enjoy and art to buy for those last minute gifts for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. The artists remind you not to skimp on yourself and buy that painting or print you see and love. Shoppers are asked to pay for their items with cash or checks only.

Besides the art, perhaps the most stunning feature of the show will be the larger-than-life indoor tulip decorations. Think “Little Shop of Wonders,” these individually hand-painted watercolor boards will be the backdrop for the display of the art cards in the show and encircle the hall.  The overall decoration / design concept is the vision of WOW! artist and Exhibitions Chair, Candace Bebout, who has an educational and professional background in decorating and a personality that incorporates BIG imagination and style. She is also the Vice President of the art guild. Candace, working together with Angela Wrahtz, President and Marketing Director, and Karen Berg, WOW! Newsletter Editor and Secretary, and others from the Board and Guild, plans a colorful and entertaining show.

An opportunity to paint. Speaking of entertaining…how about hands on activity? WOW! will offer more than a feast for the eyes…Visitors to the show will have the chance to see artists in action. Artists will be working on projects during the show and demonstrating certain watercolor techniques. Interested onlookers will have the chance to try it out for themselves as well as long as the samples of paper and paint last in “the learning corner” of the room. Class schedules will be available for Linda Aman’s Spring classes and workshops.

Who are the artists? Guild artists represent a diverse mix of professional and emerging artists, award winners and art students. Many of these artists are or have been students of master watercolorist and local celebrity Linda Aman, who teaches watercolor classes every month at the Tualatin Heritage Center. (Learn more about her class offerings at amanarts.com or pick up a brochure at the Tualatin Heritage Center.) Some are hobbyists and others are professionals with large aspirations. And when it comes right down to it, they are friends who share about life as work on their projects.

What is W.O.W.? Women of Watercolor functions like a non profit and is working toward full nonprofit status around a teaching mission. It was founded in 2010 by a small group of women who wanted the opportunity to paint together more often in a friendly and “safe” group setting where they could enjoy friendship and camaraderie but also progress in their art by offering each other helpful critiques in a positive spirit and advance their learning through art classes and instruction.

The idea must have appeal because the group has grown from 7 to 40 local artists who now meet monthly at the Tualatin Heritage Center for their “group painting sessions,” also know as “GPS’s.” WOW! members talk about how the group is a “happy place” for them and their art, and people who have never painted before also get inspired and want to join and learn. WOW! invites local watercolorists who are looking for an art group to paint with and socialize in to check contact WOW! President, Angela Wrahtz at angela.wrahtz@comcast.net.

WOW! in the Community. WOW! is excited about enhancing art life in the community by providing a place where artists can learn and grow while having fun. In the future, WOW! looks to build meaningful partnerships in the business community, developing a program for member artists to display their works in public and private buildings.  Meanwhile, the Guild wishes to thank the Tualatin Heritage Center and the City of Tualatin for their support.