Three artists from the River Valley & Ozark Edition coverage area are among the 29 selected for the 2017 Mid-Southern Watercolorists’ Juried Exhibition. Each of the local artists received a special award during the opening-night reception Feb. 17 at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock.
The award-winning artists are Donna Munn of Conway, Charlotte Rierson of Fairfield Bay and Mary Ann Stafford of Maumelle. Their works will remain on display in the 47th annual show through April 16 in the Samuel Strauss Sr. Gallery at the Arts Center.
Munn received the Arkansas Artist Materials Award for her painting I’m Beginning to See the Light.
The award, valued at $300, is provided by Art Outfitters Materials and Suppliers of Little Rock, Golden Artist Colors of New Berlin, New York, and by subscriptions to Watercolor Artist and Acrylic Artist magazines, which are published by F+W Media Inc. Art Community of Cincinnati, Ohio.
“I was thrilled to be accepted into the Mid-Southern Watercolorists Exhibition, and winning an award made it even more special,” said Munn, who moved to Conway from Colorado about five years ago.
“I also look forward to getting to know other members of the Mid-Southern Watercolorists, since I’m fairly new to Arkansas.
“While I was painting this and listening to old American jazz standards, the song ‘I’m Beginning to See the Light’ started playing,” she said. “It is one of my favorite jazz tunes to play on my gypsy guitar, so it seemed like the perfect name for this painting. I love bringing white florals to life with the play of light and shadow.”
Munn is a signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society and has won several national accolades, including awards from the Colorado Watercolor Society, the Boulder (Colorado) Art Association, the Plano (Texas) Art Association, the Texas Neighbors Exhibition and the Art Club of McKinney (Texas). A watercolorist and oil painter, she said she enjoys painting a variety of subject matter, including landscapes ranging from the mountains and rivers of Colorado to the waterfalls of Arkansas, old European buildings, florals and horses.
Munn also enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Scott Munn, mountain biking, camping, hiking and traveling. In addition to memberships in the Colorado Watercolor Society and the Mid-Southern Watercolorists, Munn holds a membership in Oil Painters of America.
Stafford received the Arkansas League of Artists Award of $250 for her painting Conversation. The award is donated by the ALA membership.
“I am honored to have received this award,” she said, noting that she is also a member of the Arkansas League of Artists.
“I have Diamond Status Signature Membership in the MSW (accepted into five-plus juried exhibitions), and I also won the Austin Wiggins Award for another watercolor, With Strings Attached, in the 2015 show,” she said. “I also have signature membership in the Pastel Society of the Southwest (in Texas) and the Arkansas Pastel Society. Pastel is my preferred medium, but I enjoy working with water media as well.”
Stafford said she has always been fascinated by Adirondack chairs.
“I saw them placed along shorelines, in front yards, in gardens, or anywhere people could sit in warm weather, drink iced tea and visit with friends,” she said.
“Grouped together, they seem to invite people to sit for a while and just enjoy a wonderful day,” she said. “I have seen them in all my travels, whether to the East Coast, the Northwest or here in the sunny South. I am reminded of pleasant conversation, relaxation and peace.”
Stafford said she combined three of these chairs from different photos in her collection and placed them to imply that their occupants had left for a short while and would be returning soon, as evidenced by the book on one chair and the drink on the arm of another.
“The white chairs contrast sharply with the dark background of the trees, perhaps even giving a sense of mystery to the scene,” she said. “I layered acrylic paints on 300-pound watercolor paper for their opacity and contrast, and dotted the foreground with the suggestion of grass and wild flowers.”
Rierson received the Lyda Merkle Memorial Award of $250 for her painting Enchanted City. The award is donated by Sarah and Bob Merkle of El Dorado.
“I am a signature artist and past president of MSW,” said Rierson, who was out of town and unable to attend the opening reception. “It is always so special to be juried into the annual MSW exhibition. This was my first time to receive an award in this highly prestigious exhibition, and I was so thrilled.”
Rierson said her “art spirit journey” led her from teaching the dance arts to expressing her deepest thoughts and emotions through painting.
“I paint with a passion, using loose, evocative brushwork techniques,” she said.
“The inspiration for this painting was a trip out west,” Rierson said. “I was awed by the majestic mountains and canyons. When looking at the canyons with the spirit of the wind blowing and the glow of the sun, I was inspired to paint my interpretation of Bryce Canyon with a mystic village waiting to come alive in the distance. I want my viewers to feel this same sensation.
“My art beckons viewers to learn more about my art.”
This is the third year in a three-year partnership between the Mid-Southern Watercolorists and the Arkansas Arts Center.
“This is our premier event, and we are pleased to be back here at the Arts Center,” said George Wittenberg of Little Rock, president. “This event defines the MSW mission of enriching the stature and encouraging the recognition of water media.”
Michael Holter of Plano, Texas, served as the guest juror. He viewed 137 paintings by 70 artists before selecting the 29 works of art for this year’s show.
Holter is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, the Southwestern Watercolor Society and the Society of Watercolor Artists. He is also a member of the American Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society, the Outdoor Painters Society, the Portrait Society of America and the American Impressionist Society.
The Arkansas Arts Center is at 509 E. Ninth St. in Little Rock. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed on Monday and major holidays. There is no admission charge.
For more information, call the Arkansas Arts Center at (501) 372-4000, or visit www.arkarts.com.
For more information on the Mid-Southern Watercolorists, visit www.midsouthernwatercolorists.com. Information is also available on Facebook: Mid-Southern
Watercolorists.