FALLBROOK, Calif., Jan. 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- For the past 10 years, the nation's top watercolor artists have converged on Fallbrook, Calif. for a special five-week show that not only showcases the best of the best but helps train the next generation of painters.
For the first time ever, the Art Center at Fallbrook's bi-annual National Water Media Fine Art Show will feature 30 paintings from members of the Watercolor USA Honor Society along with 28 paintings from the National Watercolor Society's 87th Annual Exhibition.
It's also the first time that the Watercolor USA Honor Society has gone on the road. "We really don't have any traveling exhibits," said Caryl Morgan of Newkirk, Okla. and vice president of the society. "The opportunity (to attend a show in Fallbrook) looked good to us and the area has the discretionary income and the community backing needed to support the arts."
The show, which runs from Feb. 3 to March 16, is a unique opportunity to see works by the finest artists from 28 states and China working in a variety of water media including transparent watercolor, gouache, acrylic and collage.
"This is one of eight shows we produce each year that just about everyone can appreciate," said Mary Perhacs, executive director of the Art Center at Fallbrook, the epicenter of Fallbrook's art scene, which operates as a unique nonprofit art exhibition facility offering works for sale. "From the casual art buff to the serious collector, there is something for everybody."
For nationally recognized watercolor artist Donna Zagotta, the show is a chance to escape the harsh Midwest winter and collaborate with fellow artists. With her help, it's also an interactive learning experience for those interested in improving their craft.
Zagotta will lecture and instruct a five-day workshop in Open Air watercolor painting through the nearby Fallbrook School of the Arts.
"I'm from Michigan and we don't have anything like this here," she said. "In the watercolor world there is a large community of student artists, that's why workshops are a big deal these days."
People fly in from all over the country to attend workshops and demonstrations taught by top artists.
"It is a town that is on the way up," explains John Villani, art critic and author of 'The 100 Best Art Towns in America.' "It is making headway in a very crowded and competitive marketplace."
Over the years, Fallbrook and neighboring Bonsall and Rainbow have been very supportive of the arts. All three are home to dozens of resident artists and collectors, who enjoy the laid-back community and the artistic ambience.
Fallbrook, a rural and unspoiled enclave 1 hour north of San Diego with about 40,000 residents, is also a great venue for artists looking for scenes to paint.