Classes and Events

Classes

  • Contemplative Watercolor, series of classes starting September 9, 2019 at the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center (Iowa City, IA):  This course will be taught mostly by some of my talented former students (I organized the course and will stop in as my schedule allows). For information see The Center’s Fall 2019 Program Guide (PDF, approx. 6.1 MB) or online registration page.
  • Watercolor Workshop, Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at Lutheran Church of the Master (Omaha, NE), coordinated by Omaha artist & art teacher Barbara Bishop. See the Omaha Artists, Inc. “Opportunities” page for details.
  • Blissful Watercolor Painting, series of classes starting October 3, 2019 at Beréskin Gallery & Art Academy (Bettendorf, IA)
  • Watercolor Workshop, Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Octagon Center for the Arts (Ames, IA)
  • Contact me (email jomyerswalker@gmail.com) if you’d like to plan a class, workshop, or retreat.

Events

  • Thursdays through September 19, 2019:  Art, music, and food at La Poste (Perry, IA) — see the IWS Annual Exhibition information below
  • Sunday, September 22, 2019:  Iowa Watercolor Society Annual Luncheon and Meeting (La Poste, Perry, IA) — see the IWS Annual Exhibition information below
  • Ongoing:  ArtiFactory’s Life Drawing Drop-In sessions are usually held twice a month — see the ArtiFactory’s website for more information (I’m not teaching at these sessions).

Temporary Exhibits

Ongoing Exhibits

In shops

Call ahead if you want to make sure my artwork is in stock.

Blissful Watercolor Painting, series of 4 classes at Beréskin Gallery & Art Academy (Ages Adult & HS)

Summer, watercolor painting of country house in summer by Jo Myers-Walker

   

  • When:
    Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
    October 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2019
      
  • Where:
    Beréskin Gallery & Art Academy
    2967 State St
    Bettendorf IA  52722
    Phone (563) 508-4630
    Email bereskinartgallery@gmail.com
    Website bereskinartgallery.com
       
  • Cost:
    $150.00 for the series
    (supplies not included)

Watercolor painting is gentle and unburdened, alluring us with colors, shapes and exciting compositions if we act intuitively and let the painting paint itself, honoring those ‘happy accidents.’ I’ll begin with drawing and composition, concentrating on value and overlapping shapes for distance making. I will demonstrate each week color mixing with 3 colors on the paper to give a fresh, lively effect stressing a cool or warm dominance. I will also show layering, glazing, wet-in-wet and salt resist. I will provide handouts on flowers, landscapes, trees and my favorite, birds and chickens. If we don’t take ourselves too seriously, we learn more while we are having fun and, yes, unburdened.

Bring watercolor supplies you have on hand to the first class and I will provide a supply list for you to consider purchasing. I will have 22″ x 30″ sheets of 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper available for sale at $5.50 each. See the class page on Beréskin’s website to register.

Watercolor Workshop at Octagon Center for the Arts (Ages 16 years old and above, all skill levels)

Backyard Chickens, watercolor painting by Jo Myers-Walker

   

  • When:
    Saturday, October 12, 2019
    9:00 a.m. – 1:00 pm
       
  • Where:
    Octagon Center for the Arts
    427 Douglas Ave
    Ames IA  50010
    Phone (515) 232-5331
    Email info@octagonarts.org
    Website octagonarts.org
       
  • Cost:
    $120.00

Join me in exploring the fluid and magical medium, watercolor. I’ll guide students with demonstrations on how to paint neighborhoods, backyards, etc. inhabited by people, giving artwork a sense of place. The fall season will be used as a backdrop, taking note of its long lingering shadows and brilliant warm colors. There will be focus on color mixing, composition, value and putting down big shapes first.

Bring watercolor supplies you have on hand. Some loaded paint pans and brushes for beginners will be available, if needed. Students will be given one sheet of 22″ x 30″ 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper. Bring a sack lunch if you wish! See the Octagon registration page to sign up.

Iowa Watercolor Society (IWS) Annual Exhibition at La Poste (Perry, IA)

Jo Myers-Walker in front of archway with renovated woodwork at La Poste in Perry, Iowa

La Poste’s building itself is a work of art. Built in 1914 as a post office, it has been painstakingly restored.

  • When:
    See description below
       
  • Where:
    La Poste
    1219 Warford St
    Perry IA  50220
    Website laposteperry.com

I’m honored to have two of my paintings in this year’s Iowa Watercolor Society (IWS) Annual Exhibition at La Poste. They join the work of artists from across Iowa, in a wide range of styles. A smaller set of these paintings will be chosen to join the IWS’s 2019-2020 Traveling Show which travels to art centers around the state.

IWS members are signing up to paint at La Poste on Thursdays through September 19 (4 p.m. –8 p.m.) and make the exhibit available for viewing — you can see who’s scheduled on the Painting at La Poste page. Plus, there will be live music and food to complement the visual show — see La Poste’s Facebook page for each week’s musical artist and menu. (The building is open for scheduled events or by appointment.)

The artwork will be at La Poste until just after the IWS Annual Luncheon and Meeting on Sunday, September 22. You don’t have to be a member to go to the luncheon and get to know fellow artists! Details are on the Luncheon and Meeting signup page; register by September 9.

Noted watercolorist and teacher Alexis Lavine will serve as judge for this year’s Exhibition and will give an art demonstration after the luncheon on September 22.

Ceramic Story Wall at St. Thomas Aquinas Church

Ceramic Story Wall at St. Thomas Aquinas Church

Ceramic Story Wall at St. Thomas Aquinas Church

  • When:
    Ongoing
       
  • Where:
    St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center
    2210 Lincoln Way
    Ames IA  50014
    Phone (515) 292-3810
    STA Art on the church website

Stories from the Bible depicted in a tableau 20 feet high.