image of art by Shelia Button

Local artist Shelia Button won first place with this entry in last year’s Watercolor East Texas juried exhibition. This year’s show opens at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in Cole Art Center.


NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The 35th Watercolor East Texas juried exhibition will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

This year’s juror is Houston artist Carla Gauthier, who is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society. She has degrees in fine art, art history and education. She is also a member of Canadian Society of Painters and Watercolor Art Society- Houston (WASH). She works in both watercolor and oils. She has received numerous awards on  regional, national and international levels. Her paintings are in collections throughout Canada, United States and Europe. 

Her artist statement: “Painting, for me, is an opportunity to make sense of an increasingly visual world. I get to enjoy the image making process, choosing the contrast, color and light that suit the subject at hand and the story being told. It is a pursuit which has its challenges and successes, but it is about the process, and the small gains made along the way.”

The exhibition runs through Aug. 25.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, contact WET member Carol Athey at atheycj@sfasu.edu or call the art center at (936) 468-1131.

Watercolor East Texas (WET) was founded in 1983 by Reese Kennedy and other community artists to promote the knowledge and enjoyment of art, to expand the public appreciation of water media painting, and to stimulate art education. Membership is open to all water media artists. WET invites water media artists to attend a meeting and join this group of regional artists. Next meeting is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, in  Regions Bank community room, 300 E. Main St., Nacogdoches.