Rumford Artist Among Those Featured at RI Watercolor Society Exhibition

Looking for something to do Sunday? 

If your tastes run to the artistic, you can take a quick trip to Pawtucket see the Rhode Island Watercolor Society's opening reception of the New Artist &  Signature Member Exhibition, including a local Rumford artist.

This show is held once a year to honor and showcase artists who have achieved a new level of membership status at the Rhode Island Watercolor Society. To become an Artist member you must have been accepted into three open juried exhibitions held by RIWS. To become a Signature member you must have been accepted into 3 National Shows. 

The opening reception will be from 1 -4 p.m., at the gallery, 775 Armistice Blvd. Pawtucket, RI and the exhibition will run till Feb. 6, featuring work by 20 local artists. Here's a look at five, including a local name:

Donna Kenny Kirwan

Donna Kenny Kirwan, of Rumford, RI, has been painting in watercolors, acrylics and oils for more than 30 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, where she combined her love of writing and art by pursuing a major in Journalism and English and a minor in Fine Arts. A journalist by day, working as assistant editor for the Pawtucket Times, she pursues her passion for painting, usually watercolor, as often as she can.

Donna’s subjects range from found objects in nature to landscapes and street scenes in her native Rhode Island and other places that she finds inspirational in her travels.

Donna has achieved signature member status with the Rhode Island Watercolor Society.

Eva-Lynn Loy 

Eva-Lynn (Evie) Loy is an artist, expressive art therapist and teacher living in Monadnock region of New Hampshire. Her artistic vision often reflects an image with new colors that show the spirit of the subject rather than how it might, actually, appear. Her work has appeared in national and regional juried shows as well as many local exhibits. Evie’s paintings are part of private collections from the east to west coasts. 

She has just achieved Signature member status at the Rhode Island Watercolor Society.

Stephen Ellery Manning

An award winning painter, Stephen was encouraged to draw at an early age by his artist mother, a graduate of the Worcester Art Museum School. 
He began painting in high school and thought about going to art school, but the Vietnam War had begun, so he joined the Air Force.  While working at Wiggins Airways in Norwood, MA, he painted over 300 watercolor and acrylic commissioned illustrations of private, corporate and military aircraft. Busy with his career and family life, Stephen laid his brushes aside during the 1990's and didn't pick-up them up again until after he retired.  He started back with oil painting, with encouragement from his twin sister, Susan, also an artist.  Then he began painting watercolor again. 

Stephen is a Pawtucket resident and has achieved Artist member status.

Sally creates semi-abstract work in watercolor on paper She playfully abstracts familiar everyday objects or scenes using a kaleidoscope of harmonious color and interesting shapes. 

Sally has achieved Artist member status.

Kristin Stashenko 

Kristin studied illustration and painting at the New England School of Art and Design, the MFA School and Massachusetts College of Art and is currently working from her space at the Fountain Street Studios in Framingham, MA.

Her work features architectural themes and interior spaces. Their geometric lines provide a perfect template to render patterns of light and color in a more abstract way. 

Integrating representational and abstract concepts has expanded the possibilities of unique, personal interpretation by the viewer. She was recently accepted into the 2013 American Watercolor Society exhibition at the prestigious Salmagundi Art Club in NYC. 

Kristin has achieved Signature member status.