The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – For local watercolorist and co-founder of the Blue Mountain Artists' Guild Meredith Dedman, art is joy – something to be taught and shared. Through Sat., March 12, Dedman will share her art as the featured Pacific Northwest Art Event Artist at Dayton's Wenaha Gallery, with an artist's reception on Sat., Feb. 20.

Dedman said she was drawn to watercolors for the most practical (and non-artistic) of reasons. She began taking nighttime art classes about 15 years ago and, after working all day, her feet were tired. Unlike artists who stand to paint with acrylics, watercolorists sit to paint.

It turned out that watercolor was a good fit and Dedman continued taking classes and even attended workshops by nationally acclaimed artists. By the time she moved to the Pacific Northwest ten years ago, she was confident enough to begin instructing others.

Courtesy Photo

Dancing Coneflowers by Meredith Dedman

While watercolor remains a true love, Dedman continually explores different mediums and embraces a wide variety of subject matter. As co-founder of the Blue Mountain Artists' Guild, with Vivian McCauley, Dedman produces a work each month in line with the group's theme – a color, concept, or material object.

"Creating art is such a joy. To have an idea, devise a plan, attack a piece of paper or canvas with a brush and paint – then you watch magic happen as the paint colors mingle and begin to tell the story you imagined," said Dedman.

"I simply try to capture the beauty and color in the world around me and capture a moment in time with the filters of my eyes, rather than the lens of a camera," she said.

There will be an artist's reception on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 1-4 p.m. at the Wenaha Gallery, with free refreshments and an opportunity to meet and greet the artist.