LIHU‘E — Watching gravity move watercolor to fill a designated space can be “eggs citing” and intriguing as a young shopper watched spellbound Friday. Connie Inch is one of four watercolorists who is a part of “Tropical Eggs hibition” at
LIHU‘E — Watching gravity move watercolor to fill a designated space can be “eggs citing” and intriguing as a young shopper watched spellbound Friday.
Connie Inch is one of four watercolorists who is a part of “Tropical Eggs hibition” at Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center.
She was demonstrating the technique of “loading” color onto a section, which was pre-treated with water, and as Kathy Kovala, a watercolor artist and instructor, explained, Connie would move the artwork in different directions, allowing gravity to move the color into the section, with the movement speed determining the final shading.
In addition to Connie and Kovala, Connie’s husband, Major, and artist Jean Camp have work on display.
Camp is a student of Kovala, and continues to develop her own style and explore new subject matter. She has been painting both plein air and studio pieces on Kaua‘i, following her heart’s desire and enjoying the island through her media.
Kovala, a watercolorist and instructor, has been a longtime visitor to Kaua‘i, describing herself as an “artist in residence.” Described as a passionate, nurturing watercolorist who uses innovative teaching techniques, such as the gravitational technique demonstrated by Connie. Those techniques allow her to capture the feelings evoked by the beauty of Kaua‘i.
“I just discovered something new,” Kovala said. “While working with the people at Pictures Plus, by cutting out watercolor pieces and mixing it with mats, there is ‘hard and soft.’ I had the inspiration this week while working on matting paintings of the single ‘soft’ flowers, which look great on a geometric-shaped ‘hard’ background.”
Those pieces are available for sale during “Tropical Eggs hition,” which started Friday and will continue through Sunday afternoon, starting at 10 a.m. each day.
It joins the variety of original fine art pieces of varying sizes and unframed. Additional items include cards and prints.
Visitors to the “Eggs hibition” also have an opportunity to win a drawing, which will be held each hour for those who are present.
Connie and Major Inch are also students of Kovala, the couple now expressing their creativity through watercolors.
“Originally, I had work hanging in The Bull Shed, but when they shut for renovation work, I moved out the 30 pieces and combining with the work of the other watercolorists, thought we would have fun over the Easter weekend,” Kovala said.
Visit www.KathyKovala.com or call (715) 360-9929 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.