The origins of watercolor painting go back to prehistoric times when the first known artists painted cave walls with natural pigments. Watercolors have dominated Asian art and they have also had a prominent place in Western art history. They became particularly popular in Europe and the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries; this can be seen in works by modern masters Wassily Kandinsky, Emil Nolde, Paul Klee, Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keeffe.

This distinctive medium, in which paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble solution, produce a translucent effect not attainable with any other technique. Watercolors appear more vivid than acrylics or oils because the pigments are laid down in a pure form with no fillers obscuring the pigment colors. What separates watercolor from other painting mediums is its transparency.

The exhibition Transparencies features works by Jerome Chesley, Terry Denson, Kathleen Durdin, Libit Jones, Donna Morrison, and Mary Louise Ringers – distinguished members of the Florida Watercolor Society, one of the state’s oldest and most respectable arts organizations. These award-winning artists and art educators present a series of solo shows featuring a variety of subject matters including portraits, still-lives and landscapes. While each painter has his or her own personal style, they all look at Florida’s West Coast as a source of inspiration. The area’s flora and fauna is masterfully represented in beautiful works that transport the viewer to tropical gardens, sandy beaches, and deep seas. Art Ovation Hotel is honored to present this wonderful selection of works honoring the beauty held in watercolor art.