Watercolors by Barbara

I’ve always been interested in some form of the arts even as a small child. In school I would always gravitate toward art, or music, or drama. I was more likely to spend high school study halls hanging out in the art room or the music room than anywhere else. It was always more exciting with more interesting kids and things going on. I loved being in high school musicals and entering art shows.

In college, I thought that a career in music was somehow going to be part of my future.  But the plans early in your life don’t always unfold the way you expect them to.

After what seems like a lifetime of corporate life, various moves, states, jobs, having 2 wonderful children and a very exciting, full life, things finally slowed down enough for me to think about dabbling in watercolor. This is something that I had thought about doing for a long time, but never seemed to “find the time”. My husband, Bill, bought a watercolor set as a gift several Christmases earlier, and I finally pulled them out of the closet.

One day while browsing through Michael’s craft store in Massachusetts I ran into the most interesting, talented funny lady doing a watercolor demonstration in the middle of the aisle!  She was demonstrating the art and soliciting interest in her Monday night class at the store. Lavonne Suwalski became a mentor and friend for many Monday nights of classes for years to come. She truly inspired my interest to start and keep painting. I’ll never forget the joy of studying and painting with her.  She had a big influence on my work.

Other influencers to my work:

• The Hunikai Studio of Fine Arts, Foxborough MA

• Coastal Maine Art Workshops, Rockland ME

  • Janet Rogers

  • Tony Couch

  • Tony Van Hasselt

• Andrew Geeson, UK, specialist in loose watercolors