Watercolor is a medium which I’ve always considered a “wild child.” It wanders where it wants to go and easily gets puddled up in messes. From my own experience of just “dabbling and splashing about” with watercolors, its a very hard medium to tame. Thanks to artist, Frank Spino who was graciously giving of his time and explanation, he shared a few tips he uses to get the results he wants. I understand a little more of how he keeps control on a paint medium that strays and meanders. Using his easel set up with a work-in-progress, he talked with me about his process, which was so informative.

My meeting Frank Spino came last Sunday, when I went to an art exhibit he’d curated. He and four more watercolorists -Kathleen Maling, Joanna Barnum, Matthew Bird, Janet Means Belich “Five Voices in Watercolor,” was exhibited at the Gallery 220 in Havre de Grace, Maryland. All equally talented having earned what many might call “elite status” in the world of watercolor painting. Their work has been juried in to the prestigious American Watercolor (AWS) International Exhibition and many have been featured in top-notch art magazines.

Each one of the artists is set apart stylistically by what they bring to the paper. Frank Spino wowed me with the high level of color saturation he has been able to achieve through a very watery medium. A transplant from Florida, you can see where the interest in the citrus subject matter came from. His work is by no means limited to fruit.

As with former Floridian, Kathleen Maling, whose interest often lies in painting very large scale reptiles, such as lizards and crocodiles, alligators and Komodo dragons. Gigantic creatures! But that is not all! Her watercolor “Egret,” shows her adeptness at painting shorebirds.

Matthew Bird‘s work has a special softness to some of his figurative work, which upon my first introduction to him seems to be in-line with his demeanor. “Stopping by the Woods” and “Angel of Music,” as well as his classical still life paintings had me doing a triple-take, as I thought they were oil paintings.

“The Poet is a Funnel” by Joanna Barnum brought to the viewer a very emotive piece, depicting the face of Grace Cavalieri who was the tenth Poet Laureate of Maryland. It shows the poetess in three poses whereby her deep feelings for perhaps what she was writing or feeling about poetry she read are on full display. Grace has obviously been very moved. As you can see in much of Joanna Barnum‘s work on her website, it is affective, imaginative and powerful.

Last, but certainly not least, the Indian corn, leaf paintings and the Amish and simple life paintings brought to the exhibit by Janet Means Belich, were all synchronistic down-to-earth images. Much of what can be seen in her images are found in the fields and destinations in this partly rural county and in nearby Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Photo by Sue Leonard:

Back row – Artists Frank Spino (l) and Matthew Bird (r),

Front row – Johanna Barnum(l), Janet Means Belich (c), Kathleen Maling (r)

“Five Voices in Watercolor” was a spectacular exhibit. I enjoyed the art, speaking with each of the artists and taking in the “art vibe” once again in Havre de Grace, MD.