Women of Watercolor prepare for showcase at an art show Sunday in South Palm Beach, Yazzy's at www.williamverdult.com

Women of Watercolor members, front row, from left, are: Julie Martin, Gail Ganzlin, Diana Magenheimer, Betty Percy and Ellen Postrel. Back row, from left: Carol Ann Sherman, Katharine 'Bunny' Jones, Kitty Schachter and Sue Archer. Not pictured is member Marcie 'Candy' Dennis.

According to Palm Beach Life, WOW is the word for this weekend's art show.

Women of Watercolor — 10 artists — will exhibit 30 pieces at Sunday's opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at Town Hall.

Bernice Zimmerman, one of the show's organizers, said the WOW group came to her attention through a member of the town's Community Affairs Advisory Board, which is hosting the show and reception.

"As it turned out, I had a cancellation for the January and so did they," Zimmerman said. "It all worked out beautifully."

WOW member Diana Magenheimer, 63, of Palm Beach Gardens, said the 10 women, whose ages range from 50 to the early 70s, have formed social as well as professional ties under the unofficial leadership of Sue Archer, also of Palm Beach Gardens.

They usually meet at Archer's studio about every two weeks.

"We usually meet at noon to try to get all our gossip done," Magenheimer said. "At one o'clock, Sue stops us and says, 'Let's see what you've done all week.' "

According to Magenheimer, the friends assess each other's work and often paint together.

"Critique is so important," she said. "I don't just want to hear I have a pretty painting."

The group formed out of a class taught by Archer at the Armory Arts Center about nine years ago.

Most of the artists are self-taught, supplemented by local workshops. Subjects range from equestrian themes to fruit.

"Flowers are always nice, too," Magenheimer said. The picks for Sunday's opening will run the gamut, "from soup to nuts," she said.

The group has no plans to expand, according to Magenheimer, who said 10 seems to be the optimal number.

Each artist will exhibit three works at the South Palm Beach show. All will be for sale.

Artist Gail Ganzlin, 50, of Jupiter, said she is looking forward to the exhibit.

"It's good to get out of the studio and see how people react to your artwork," she said.

The WOW art will be on display at Town Hall, 3577 S. Ocean Blvd., through February.

Comments

[Jim Fraley]

I have a watercolor of a clown painted by Betty Percy of Casselton, North Dakota in 1979 and was wondering if this could be the same Betty Percy in West Palm Beach.