There are ladies who lunch and there are ladies who paint.

“The Thursday Painters” is a group of six women that has been exploring watercolor for more than four years, initially in a weekly class at Isothermal Community College and more recently in Tryon artist Patricia-Cole Ferullo’s studio.

“I am very excited by how far each has come”, said Cole-Ferullo.  “The show, ‘Watercolor Fantasies’, is a wonderful expression of their creative journeys.”

The exhibit may be viewed Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  A reception will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with the Tryon Gallery Trot. The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments.  The Depot of Millard & Company is located at 22 Depot St. in Tryon. This historically significant structure was restored by Andy Millard. Millard & Company provides the Depot Room as an exhibit space for local artists.

The artists include:

Judy Farr (Columbus):  Born and educated in Spartanburg, S.C., Farr taught art for many years in Charleston, S.C. and New Orleans. She now allows herself to explore her own voice and style as she experiments with abstraction through water media

Patty Holl (Mill Spring):  A native of Michigan, Holl has always loved color and the interplay of shapes, values, light and shadow.  A retired teacher and addictions counselor, she is delighted with the freedom watercolor has allowed her to pursue under the guidance of Pat Cole-Ferullo.

Gerda Hook (Columbus):  Born in Prussia and an area resident only since 2010, Hook is the group’s newest member. She’s learning to channel the magic of watercolor into abstract works with the help of the group and Cole-Ferullo.  Her inspiration remains nature and its organic shapes and shifting colors.

Susan Hopps (Inman):  After retiring from a long career teaching in the Spartanburg school system, Hopps is widely recognized for her representational watercolor paintings. Her abstract works reflect her new direction without sacrificing the principles of composition, color and form.

Harriet Spencer (Columbus):  Although a Tar Heel by birth, Spencer returned to this area drawn by the horse-centered lifestyle. Cole-Ferullo’s encouragement has inspired her to put paint on paper fearlessly, a process she finds liberating and transporting.

Patricia Cole-Ferullo (Tryon):  Born in West Virginia, Cole-Ferullo spent her formative years and many others living on or near the water, both in South Florida and Italy.  Painting allows her to express what words cannot.  She studied art at Florida State and in Mexico, teaching classes and workshops. She also studied passive solar home design, landing a position with the late architect Holland Brady when she first arrived in the area in 1987.  Her paintings have received top awards in regional, national and international competitions and are part of public and private collections in the US and abroad. Despite her many accomplishments, Cole-Ferullo has never lost her ability to play.

Joan Feagan (Columbus) is also a member of The Thursday Painters but is not exhibiting her work at this time.

 

— article submitted 

by Gerda Hook