by Arlene Wright-Correll

This weekís Kentucky artist is Margaret Bevarly

Margaret Bevarly of Smiths Grove, KY says being 77 years old has not slowed her down in the least when it comes to being a transparent watercolorist.

Like many artists, Margaret says she has been dabbling all her life. However, it wasnít until the early 70ís that she entered into her first art show. “Prior to that most of my paintings went under the bed”, she says.

Transparent watercolors have no black or white and are quite difficult to make successfully. The specific term watercolor refers to paintings done on a special rag paper with pigments very finely ground in a binding medium composed of a solution of gum Arabic. Watercolor paintings are done in a thin, transparent manner; pale tones are obtained by dilution of the paint with water thus producing such a thin layer of pigment that the brilliant white effect of the paper is mingled with the color. This method of coloring generally is called the transparent or glaze system, and it is entirely different from the other coloring method called the opaque or body-color system.

Margaret has mastered this technique well and from time to time has won many art awards. She started out in oils, but she was introduced to watercolors she says through a romance when an 80 year old man married a 70 year old gal and decided to give a class in watercolors.

Margaret has a home studio that has progressed over the years from a kitchen table to a sewing room to finally one of her childrenís bedroom after they moved from home. She sells her paintings mostly in a ª sheet and the prices range from $250.00 to $300.00. One can make an appointment by calling Margaret at 270 563 3291 to view her work.

Margaret says she cannot improve upon working at her simple drafting table and her brush in hand is total contentment. Her advice to other artists just beginning is to just do it and donít get discouraged!

(Contact Arlene Wright-Correll at 270 524 9567 or email her at askarlene@scrtc.com  if you want to be next weekís column of Whoís Who in KY Artís and Crafts)