Its summer and thoughts turn to all kinds of ways to start enjoying the water - from boating at the lake or rafting on one of our great rivers to relaxing on a float in a shimmering pool. And don’t forget the classic Southern summer favorite pastime of jumping through the sprinkler in the front yard to beat the heat. But, I have another way for you to explore the wonders of water this summer. Why not try your hand at taking a class in watercolor painting from one of our area’s best instructors – Barbie Smith Mathis.

Barbie has a wonderful way of manipulating water and
pigments into beautiful, organic florals, lush Southern landscapes and masterful
portraiture. She has been a Signature Member the South Carolina Watercolor Society since 2006 (that means she knows her stuff!) and her award-winning work is part of public and private collections around the country.

Lucky for us, she is one of our talented local artists and she will be teaching classes this summer in two areas of town. You can benefit from her expert instruction on Mondays from 1-3:30pm at Village Artists at the Village at Sandhill (www.villageatsandhillonline.com) and on Tuesdays from 1-3:30pm or 6-8:30pm at Tapp’s Arts Center downtown (www.tappsartscenter.com).  Each class is $120 for 6 weeks of watercolor exploration.

To sign up and get a supply list, you can email Barbie directly at Barbie@BarbieMathis.com. See more of her work at www.barbiemathis.com.

So, dive into some creativity this summer! Take the plunge and bring your inner artist to the surface!

Wayne Thornley is an artist working in mixed media painting, collage and assemblage. His work has been represented by galleries throughout the Southeast and his work can be found in several public and private collections. In addition, Thornley has been a successful writer and marketing professional for more than 25 years.