2008 Woodie Awards
Bell watercolor display in Englert timeless, relatable
Lisa Barry - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 6/13/08 Section: Arts/mp3s
Janice Koerner Bell may be displaying her work for the first time with her new last name, but the themes of her watercolor pieces - serenity, peace, harmony - are ones universally relatable and timeless.
"I love the whole concept of the beauty of life. "I believe there are places for political statements in art, but I really want to bring serenity and joy to people's life through my paintings.
"The Nature of Things is my first show since having my new last name. I'm still here, folks, I'm just using a different name."
Bell's pieces - on display on the second floor of the Englert Theatre - incorporate the beauty of nature with her unique use of watercolor. Her exhibit, The Nature of Things, captures everyday life using many different color themes and watercolors to make the paintings translucent. She is able to take the natural world to a whole other level.
Working from her own photographs, she creates her watercolor paintings primarily consisting of objects found in nature. Most of her paintings in the exhibit consist of flowers and gardening, but her use of watercolor is brilliant and unique. The objects in the paintings almost seem three-dimensional through her of translucent colors.
"I thought that this exhibit would be a great opportunity," she said. "Watching body language from others at the exhibit was a treat. I saw that it really makes others smile."
"Janice has such lovely flowers that I thought her work would be perfect as a summer show for June Gallery Walk," said Linda Wicklund, Englert's gallery coordinator. Bell was recommended to the Englert after an exhibit she displayed at Melrose Meadows, she said.
"This has worked out well for the Englert, because it will hold several wedding receptions, and Janice Bell's work is like a beautiful wedding bouquet," Wicklund said.
"I have not had a gallery as visible as this particular one," Bell said.
"Painting is like giving birth to a child, and sometimes it is hard to see them go. There are only so many paintings that one house can hold, though."
E-mail DI reporter Lisa Barry at:
lisa-m-barry@uiowa.edu
"I love the whole concept of the beauty of life. "I believe there are places for political statements in art, but I really want to bring serenity and joy to people's life through my paintings.
"The Nature of Things is my first show since having my new last name. I'm still here, folks, I'm just using a different name."
Bell's pieces - on display on the second floor of the Englert Theatre - incorporate the beauty of nature with her unique use of watercolor. Her exhibit, The Nature of Things, captures everyday life using many different color themes and watercolors to make the paintings translucent. She is able to take the natural world to a whole other level.
Working from her own photographs, she creates her watercolor paintings primarily consisting of objects found in nature. Most of her paintings in the exhibit consist of flowers and gardening, but her use of watercolor is brilliant and unique. The objects in the paintings almost seem three-dimensional through her of translucent colors.
"I thought that this exhibit would be a great opportunity," she said. "Watching body language from others at the exhibit was a treat. I saw that it really makes others smile."
"Janice has such lovely flowers that I thought her work would be perfect as a summer show for June Gallery Walk," said Linda Wicklund, Englert's gallery coordinator. Bell was recommended to the Englert after an exhibit she displayed at Melrose Meadows, she said.
"This has worked out well for the Englert, because it will hold several wedding receptions, and Janice Bell's work is like a beautiful wedding bouquet," Wicklund said.
"I have not had a gallery as visible as this particular one," Bell said.
"Painting is like giving birth to a child, and sometimes it is hard to see them go. There are only so many paintings that one house can hold, though."
E-mail DI reporter Lisa Barry at:
lisa-m-barry@uiowa.edu
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