Pictured is one of Jeffrey Klinefelter’s incredibly detailed watercolor duck stamp entries.

By Darla McCammon

When most of us were children we likely received a long thin metal tin with bright colors on the outside design. Upon opening the tin, we found about eight or so hard, but colorful, pigments and a rather pathetic paint brush. The teacher, or our parent, would provide a small container of water, a sheet of paper or two and expect us to demonstrate agility in this medium with very little instruction.

Watercolor is one of the most difficult mediums of painting to master. Today the paint comes in a myriad of pre-mixed colors, usually in tubes, comes out with more of the consistency of toothpaste, and mixes much more easily. The paper comes in a zillion different choices and can completely change the results just by the nature of the paper. And oh my, brushes have improved.

Those old things had horrible bristles that started to fall out and stick to a paper after only a few attempts to create something. Today brushes can make a huge difference in the final product. From luxurious, and expensive, sable to premium synthetic, one can spend a small fortune on good brushes.

But the right equipment makes a big difference in the quality of the final product. You are going to see the work of two artists who obviously use the right equipment and also throw in a lot of talent.

We are privileged in this community to have Jeffrey Klinefelter and Cheryl Ringler among several who have mastered watercolor. These two excellent artists are going to have their work on exhibit all this month at Lakeland Art Association Gallery. I highly recommend you go take a gander at their work. The gallery is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. It is located at 302 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw, with plenty of parking along the street and the surrounding blocks.

Jeffrey Klinefelter from Etna Green has entered, and won, art competitions from coast to coast. He has taken over 30 prestigious awards and they were not small local shows, but large competitions in Ohio, Massachusetts, Nevada, California and Indiana, to name a few. In many cases he has won or had a high placing in the extremely competitive duck stamp rivalry held in many states.

Cheryl Ringler, also an outstanding watercolorist who focuses on wildlife, will share the gallery space with Klinefelter. You will be spellbound by the quality and attraction of her work as well. In a very special evening program by LAA at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, you will take home your own watercolor creation, taught under the direction of the same Cheryl Ringler, whose work was on exhibit the entire month of September. And it’s free. It shares the same address as the gallery listed above.

Upcoming And Current Events

Please contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or (574) 527-4044 if you have an event to mention.

• The Fred Olds Nostalgic collection is on display at Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery through the end of September. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
• The Jeffrey Klinefelter and Cheryl Ringler watercolor exhibit is now open at Lakeland Art Gallery through September.
• Coming up in October, amazing photography by Florida artist Darlene Romano will be on display at the City Hall Gallery.