“The Art of Watercolor,” through Nov. 8, Rotunda Gallery, Town Hall, Bethlehem, features 36 paintings by William Christine, Arlene Ginsburg, Sook H. Kim, Anne Landis, James Maria and Frank Wengen.

“We wanted to highlight the media of watercolor and the different approaches for the public to see,” says James DePietro, who assisted with organizing the curated invitational exhibition.

“We honed in on six watercolorists from different regions of Pennsylvania. They all use the same media, but their approach in subject matter is totally unique,” says DePietro of the six artists and their work, adding, “It’s a real mix geographically and artistically.”

Brightly-colored blue herons are the subject of Ginsburg’s “Three of a Kind” (2022; watercolor, 14.5 in. x 17.5 in.).

“Blue herons are my good luck bird,” says Ginsburg. “They’re often in the creek right near my house where I take my walk every morning.”

Inspired by seeing the blue heron and photographs of them, the artist paints on Yupo paper. “It’s actually a thin piece of plastic and so the paint just slides around,” says Ginsburg. “You feel like you are trying to tame a wild horse.” She also likes to use gouache.

Ginsburg, who has a PhD in Psychology from the University of Vermont, followed her passion with art during her undergraduate work and courses at Baum School of Art and private study. Her home studio is in Lower Macungie Township.

“This is a study for another painting,” says William Christine about “Goldenrod, Lobelia” (2021; watercolor, 9 in. x 12 in.). “It was done in a meadow garden that my wife created.

“These are native plants and they all kind of grow together and they tangle and tumble over each other.”

Christine creates studies of the wildflower patch all summer. He later looks for patterns and colors in the studies to inspire his larger works in watercolor and oils.

Christine, a Catasauqua High School graduate, Class of 72, pursued his education at four different schools then received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Brooklyn College. He works out of his Bethlehem studio.

Kim’s “COVID” (2020; watercolor, 12.5 in. x 19 in.) captures emotions with blended colors. While this is an example of her abstract work, Kim also enjoys plein air painting. She expresses hope that her paintings bring a sense of “calm, peaceful and serenity” to those who view them.

Kim, born in Korea and a graduate of Seoul National University, studied physics in Cleveland, Ohio, married a classmate who found work at Lehigh University. After moving to Bethlehem, Kim enrolled in art classes at the YWCA and studied with Fred Bees and other local artists.

The artist is proficient in muk wha (Korean black ink painting), collagraphy, and drypoint etching. Kim’s studio is at her Bethlehem residence.

Other featured artists include Quakertown-based painter and educator Anne Landis, Kutztown University graduate artist and educator James Maria and Wilkes-Barre native Frank Wengen.

Landis creates vivid florals, still-lifes and landscapes. Maria employs the visual language of entropy and abandonment in his artwork. Wengen is known for regional landscapes.

The Rotunda exhibition is sponsored by the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission.

“The Art of Watercolor,” through Nov. 8, Rotunda Gallery, Town Hall, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. Gallery hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Closed weekends and holidays. Information: https://bfac-lv.org/

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com