AQUAVENTURE 2024
exhibit march 4 - April 26, 2024
Artists' Attic · 401 W. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507
Celebrating 46 years of awarding the talents of national artists
The Kentucky Watercolor Society is proud to sponsor AquaVenture 2024, an exhibition of paintings featuring water-based media by forty regional artists who primarily reside in Kentucky and surrounding states. The exhibition is being held at Lexington's Artists’ Attic from March 4 to April 26, 2024 . This year’s show features 46 paintings selected from 73 submissions by the juror, Mary Seymour Neely. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we employed another juror, Eric Johnson, to make final selections for the winning artists and their paintings. Organizing the exhibition this year is Sherrie Graham-Greene, KWS Board Member/Chairperson for AquaVenture, with assistance from Connie Tucker, KWS Board Member, and Sarah Charmoli, our webmaster. We also give thanks to the following studio artists at Artists' Attic for assisting with hanging the show and organizing food for the wonderful reception- Andy Bass, Marianna McDonald, and Sandra, Kryst. We also would like to recognize the many people who support KWS with memberships and donations. It is with this support that we can continue offering quality shows and prizes for our amazing artists.
Mary Seymour neely, juror
Mary graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Art Education. She studied further at the University of Michigan, the Dayton Art Institute and with contemporary instructors including Daniel Greene from the Art Students League of New York.
For the past 40 years she has taught in university adult learning programs as well as an on-going class at the Artists Attic in Lexington Kentucky. For over 25 summers Mary has painted in Paris and villages all around France.
After receiving many honors and awards and having her paintings in numerous private and corporate collections, Mary is concentrating on legacy paintings of her beloved Kentucky and France. Her professional memberships include Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, and Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass.
ERIC Johnson, juror
Eric Johnson lives in Nonesuch, near Versailles, in Woodford County, Kentucky. Eric has his own gallery and studio at 120 North Main Street in Versailles, and also shows at Main Cross Gallery in Lexington. Along with his landscape and figure work, Eric has also painted many portraits on commission, though he takes very few commissions these days. His portraits hang in private and public collections, including seven portraits of Deans for the University of Kentucky Medical Center.
Eric trained in illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and has studied watercolor extensively with Tony Couch. He has completed illustrations, through his representative in Atlanta, for such clients as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Turner Broadcasting. He has also been the poster artist for all four U.S. Opens played at the famous Pinehurst No. 2 golf course in Pinehurst, NC (1999, 2005, 2014, and 2024).
Eric has been juried into nine Oil Painters of America National Exhibitions (including this year's, being held in Wichita, Kansas), and is an OPA Signature Member. He was awarded Best Associate Honorable Mention at the 2017 OPA National, as well as the Third Place award in that year's Wet Paint Plein Air exhibit. He won First Place in the 2018 OPA Wet Paint Studio division with his portrait "Silas," and Awards of Excellence in the 2021 Wet Paint Plein Air and the 2022 Wet Paint Studio divisions. And, also in 2021, he was awarded the OPA National Exhibition Silver Medal in the Signature/Associate division for his portrait of "Jesse." He has also won awards for his watercolors and in numerous plein air events around the Bluegrass, and is a signature-member of the Kentucky Watercolor Society.
For information about purchasing, please contact the Kentucky Watercolor Society at kentuckywatercolor@gmail.com.
FIRST PLACE
$500 CASH
Gina Judy, Richmond, OH
“Veteran’s Memorial Bridge Stubenville, OH”
28 3/4x20 1/2
$1100
SECOND PLACE
$400 CASH
Malinda Seig, Ekron, KY
“On My Morning Walk”
11x17
NFS
THIRD PLACE
$300 CASH
Christine Alfery, Lac du Flambeau, WI
“Red Poppy”
11x11
$900
HONORABLE MENTION
$100 CASH
Marian O’Shaughnessy, Lexington, KY
“Yellowtail Snapper”
22x30
$950
honorable mention
$100 CASH
Manish Rajguru
“A Walk in the Park”
14x20
$500
Good Morning Neighbor
by Pat Banks
Richmond, KY
30x22
$1575
Sizzle
by Jacque Camp
Louisville, KY
22x14
NFS
Roosevelt’s Coast
by Robert Comer
Frankfort, KY
16 5/8 x 10 1/4
$750
Connie Comes Through
by Terri Friel
Louisville, KY
12x9
$700
Old Natchez
by Johnny Guthrie
Mr. Pleasant, TN
22 1/2x16 1/2
$1495
Simple Structures
by Charlie Jolly
Lexington, KY
18x12
$900
Château Royal de Collioure
by Marjorie Leinbach
Lexington, KY
14x18
NFS
Shell Mandala
by Sara McQueen
Bloomington, KY
24x36
$350
Jim and Maggie
by Sixia Pulsifer
Lexington, KY
13 1/2x18 1/2
NFS
White Iris
by Pat Banks
Richmond, KY
30x22
$1650
Ocean Treasures
by Peggy Charmoli
Louisville, KY
11xx15
NFS
American Geese
by Joann Cullip
Roscommon, MI
23x17
$2500
Sunrise Sentinel
by Jude Gamel
Independence, KY
16x20
NFS
Pointing to Heaven
by Richard Harlow
Lexington, KY
11x15
NFS
Sunrise Odessey
by Jane Kinser
Louisville, KY
12z12
$350
Hydrangea Summer Dream
by Joyce Lupresto
Elizabethtown, KY
10x13
$575
Blue Moon
by Benjamin Nay III
Shlbyville, KY
14 1/2x9 1/2
$760
Green Onions at the Ready
by Keith Shebesta
Amelia, OH
17x12
NFS
Creek Side
by Connie Tucker
Lexington, KY
10x14
$450
Naked Ladies
by Catherine Bryant
Louisville, KY
36x48
$3600
Peaceful Doves
by Susan Christensen
Bardstown, KY
13.5x19
$600
The Abundant Astromerias
by Joann Cullip
Roscommon, MI
23x17
$950
An Abstract In Time
by George Gow
Louisville, KY
8x10 1/2
$200
Bloomin’ Miracles
by Nell Horman
Lexington, KY
12x16
$350
Mardi Gras
by Mary Sue Klusman
Lexington, KY
14x21
NFS
Untitled
by Michael Maxson
Lawrenceburg, KY
8x10
NFS
Young Dylan
by Benjamin Nay III
Shelbyville, KY
10x8
$260
PatSea
by Jane Stoddard
East Amherst, NY
17x24
$1800
Hot Pots
by Michelle Vance
Corydon, IN
12x16
$500
Cattle Drive
by Joe Burchett
Prestonburg, KY
15x22
NFS
Hot Stuff
by Barbara Coats
Lexington, KY
12x16
NFS
Vernal Falls
by Wyn Ericson
Middletown, KY
15x22 1/2
$1800
Flamingo Stand
by Sherrie Graham-Greene
Lexington, KY
11 1/2x17 1/2
$500
Goldfinch in Snow
by Charlie Jolly
Lexington, KY
24x18
$1800
Sled Ride in Devou Park
by Julie Larger
Fort Mitchell, KY
15x10 1/2
$495
A Walk In The Woods
by Jule McLellan
Henderson, KY
18x14
$475
Fallen Leaves
by Betsy Pollock
Louisville, KY
8 3/8x10 3/4
$500
Market Watch
by Katheryn Sholly
Cadiz, KY
21x13
$450
My Little Show Pony
by Kea Thompson
Independence, KY
20x16
$1000
A Red Barn After Snow
by Anil Vinayakan
Louisville, KY
18x24
NFS