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 pain...