Thompson’s watercolors featured at Sterling
From our weekly issue dated May 21, 2008
Bea Thompson and some of her fine floral watercolors. (Photo by Zina Booth, Illinois Valley News)
Longtime Illinois Valley resident and beloved watercolorist Bea Thompson is displaying 10 of her exquisite framed paintings at Sterling Savings Bank in Cave Junction through May and June.
The paintings reveal light, shadow, depth of color and texture often difficult to achieve in this medium.
Thompson states that she has been drawing since her high school classes. She studied art for a bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University; and taught drawing to many, including students at Rogue Community College since she moved to Illinois Valley in 1980.
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While living on an Indian reservation and raising her family she enjoyed viewing the beauty of Nature, and started working with watercolors. Now she pays attention to flowers in her garden while noting shape, lighting rhythms and context.
“Many paintings take place in my head first,” she explains. “Then, I might take some photographs until I get the angle that’s most pleasing. But I prefer painting directly from life whenever possible.”
While she practices whenever feasible at home, she finds the inspiration of the I.V. Fine Artists Inc. group most rewarding in getting new ideas and feeling supported. Preparing for the present exhibit motivated Thompson to finish forgotten paintings and begin new projects she had put off.
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The result is a fresh, lively and uplifting show.
Members and guests of I.V. Fine Artists Inc. meet Mondays at the RCC Belt Bldg. in Kerby from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone can participate in an open studio setting.
The group also sponsors workshops at various times and live modeling on first Mondays this spring. For further information contact Dorothea Hover-Kramer at 592-5296.
