'Color My World' opens

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'Color My World' opens

Posted Monday, February 1, 2010

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"Coloy My World" artist Jackie Liddell.

The Brazosport Art League announces their newly installed exhibit “Color My World”, featuring the artworks of Jackie Liddell and Bridget DeFlora. The opening reception will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the BAL Gallery at The Center for the Arts & Sciences.

The public is invited to attend the opening reception to meet the featured artists. This show is sponsored by YellowBird Studio, 11 Red Oak Ct., owners Glenn & Cherie McBride of Lake Jackson.

This is a must-see exhibit. Both artists have outdone themselves for this show, creating bold and expressive artworks that have come alive with vibrant striking color. The paintings seem to call out to the viewer saying, “Stop, look at me.”

Liddell, who paints what she has experienced firsthand, says “From the time I could hold a crayon, I wanted to express myself visually.

“I was born and grew up in Houston where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from the University of Houston, and a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. I am both a practicing artist and an art teacher.

“My favorite painting medium is transparent watercolor. I worked as a high school art teacher for twenty-seven years, nineteen of which were in the Clear Creek School District. I served as the Fine Arts Chairman for Clear Creek High School for the last six years of my tenure. During those years I was rewarded with numerous honors from the Space Center’s Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge Lamar Teaching Award Medal, the Mayor of Houston’s Excellency Award in Teaching, the U.S.A. College Board Excellence in Teaching Award, Who’s Who in Education in America, The NASA Teaching Recognition Award, and the Region IV of Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year for The Clear Creek School District in 2002.

“After retiring from CCISD, I enjoyed participating in several community projects involving art, such as the “Painting an Empty Sky” mural dedicated to the memory of the Columbia crew, the Watercolor Society of Houston’s outreach program at Texas Children’s Hospital, and teaching workshops for inservice. I was an active member of the Board for two years from 2007-2009 for The Watercolor Art Society of Houston, and a committee member for three years from 2007-2009 for The Art Alliance of Clear Lake Art Auction and Gala Fundraisers, and for the last two years I was one of the chosen artists for Creative Motives, a charity art show and sale for The Galveston Resource and Crisis Center.

During the last eight years I have enjoyed teaching drawing as an adjunct instructor at the University of Houston Clear Lake. I am a member of The Galveston Art League, WAS-H, TAACL, TWS, AWS, NWS, and a signature member of The National Society of Art. My paintings have won top awards including Best of Show and The Purchase Awards in numerous juried local and several BAL International shows. In 2009, I was honored as one of Texas’ best painters by being selected as a finalist in the prestigious Hunting Art Prize, and recently second place honors in the Rice University Water Conference .

DeFlora, whose paintings, “Restaurant in Colmar,” “Rubens home in Antwerp, and “Dutch home in Dordrecht” also reflect some of the places she has visited during her travels, says, “a desire to attain the ability to create something visually pleasing has been a part of me since my earliest memories.

“ I took every single art class they offered in my high school, and in college in New York, I took so many art courses I earned a minor in art. However, with work and the raising of children, an active participation in art took a back seat, becoming an observation-only activity.

“When I finally did begin classes again, I was working in pastels, pen, and acrylic. Two years later, after moving to Texas, I realized that it was always watercolor I was drawn to. The way the medium unpredictably expresses itself contrary to the artist’s control was an intriguing balancing act for me. So I dropped everything else and focused exclusively on watercolors and they continue to fascinate me today with their limitless possibilities.

“Over the years I’ve realized how fortunate I was to be in Houston, home of the Watercolor Art Society of Houston (WAS-H), when I turned to watercolor. Through WAS-H I was able to see many major watercolor artists demonstrate their approach to painting and methods of handling watercolor. I took away a little bit of each of them from every demonstration I saw. I have also been privileged to participate in classes, workshops, and seminars taught by some of these artists. These teachers, and my fellow artists, taught me more about painting than I ever could have learned in my collegiate career. To this day I still attend and enjoy the stimulation and challenge provided by these workshops.

“Prior to moving from Texas ten years ago, I participated in many juried shows from Baytown to Galveston, earning several awards. I’ve also sold many paintings; some even before the show was completely hung and once, the same painting was sold to two different people on the same day.

“But with or without shows and sales, painting with watercolors will always be a form of creation that brings me excitement, challenge, and delight. When I struggle with a work, I know I’m learning and expanding my abilities and when a painting paints itself it’s a treat and a gift like no other. Painting has heightened my ability to see the hues of colors I was blind to before and brings the beauty of the world into sharper focus. Beauty I try to capture on paper. Capture it so that maybe, others will be able to see it just the way I do.

“I hope there are many who will come to the show, and see their world a little differently after having viewed it from another’s perspective. I’m glad to have returned to Texas, the birthplace of my training and interest in Watercolor. I’m also pleased to have the opportunity to share my work with the public again.”