Marge describes the inspiration for the painting which is rendered in watercolor and Perma Pencil ( artists’ quality colored pencils.)

“I painted it after returning home from my daughter’s house where I spent time with her two very rambunctious boys, age two and three.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching them and playing with them and marveling at their constant motion, bouncing up and down, jumping all around — unlimited energy.  After I got home, quite exhausted after spending a week with them, I tried to express their movement and my joy at being with them.”

Otley is well-known in the area for her award-winning and widely exhibited abstract art. Trained as an art teacher, the Michigan native has studied at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis and with Medina’s water-color guru, Fred Graff.  It was a class in a Detroit suburb, however, that pushed her onto  the path of abstract art.

“I came into this class and everyone was doing abstract art,” she recalls. “All I had ever done was realism.  This abstract art was  foreign to me, bewildering.  But everyone there was obviously well trained and talented.  They knew what they were doing.  So I tried it.  And I became hooked.”

She explains the difference.  “With realism, I always know where I’m going and I usually know when its done.  With abstract art, the paint and I just work together.  Sometimes it leads the way.  I never know where it’s going to end up, but it’s always an adventure.”

An outstanding art show is on exhibit at the Medina County District Library during the month of November — the Ohio Watercolor 2009 Exhibit.  This exclusive travel exhibition is comprised of 40 paintings by Ohio’s foremost water color artists and can be viewed on the third floor of Medina’s spacious new library on Public Square.

In addition, painting demonstrations by northeast Ohio Water Color Society (OWS) artists are scheduled for each Saturday and Sunday throughout November.

Saturday, Nov. 21    1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M., Cathy Welner: Richfield will present “A traditional Wintern Landscape Using Color”

Sunday, Nov. 22    1:30 – 3:30 P.M. , Sally Heston: Broadview Heights will present “A Transparent Watercolor Landscape”.

Saturday, Nov. 28   1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. , Sharon Borror: Medina will present “A Still Life Watercolor Painting.”

This exhibit is sponsored by the Medina County Art League and made possible by grants from the Medina Community Fund, The Medina County Arts council and I.O.O.F. Morning Star Lodge  #26, Medina.

The cover art is by Fred Graff of Medina

Don’t miss it.