Venarella Hinkle will be our guest demo artist.

Venarella first studied the medium of Watercolor under a local Watercolorist who used the medium for 30 plus years. She put her paint brush miles in weekly classes for 2 years and fell in love with the flow of water and pigment. Since then she has continued her education in this wonderful medium under well know Artists and has worked hard to develop her own style and skills. She has been featured in the McHenry County Magazine as Artist Showcase in 2013. Received highest auction bid at Rockford IL Anderson Gardens Captured on Canvas Plein Air Event in 2015, and has won first place in Beeblys Watercolor Painting November contest challenge in 2023. Venarella taught in person classes at Cherry Lane Farm in her home town for 2 years, and online via Zoom for 2 years during the pandemic years. I learned what it means to paint what you love. She now specializes in Pet Portraiture and in teaching others the amazing effects you can achieve with the beauty and transparency of Watercolor.

Fatima Figueiredo gave a wonderful demo and presentation of her work to a packed meeting room at the Oak Brook Library. Her finished watercolor was greatly admired by all. Thank you Fatima for such a beautiful floral painting and motivating demo.

Fatima was born in Brazil, and lived most of her life in Rio de Janeiro. Her interest in the combination of pencil drawing, color, and landscapes view was evident at an early age, when she regularly created drawings of all the houses and yards in her neighborhood. In 1980 Fatima graduated with a degree in Industrial Design from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After graduation, Fatima worked in Industrial Design for over twenty years.

In 1999, a corporate relocation brought Fatima and her family to United States, Geneva, IL, and brushes and paints captured her attention once again.

Fatima began to paint watercolors as a means of expanding her techniques and integrating her varied artistic interests. She studied with several Chicago-area artists.

Through the years, Fatima became very involved in the community. She painted the mural “Once upon a time” at the Geneva History Center, and has several watercolors of Geneva historic landmarks in private and public collections.

Fatima is currently member of the Wayne Art League, Greater Geneva Art League, Transparent Watercolor Society of America and Signature Member of Illinois Watercolor Society. You may see more of her work at http://www.figtreestudio.com/home.

Here’s a copy of the IWS newsletter.

IWS winter 2015 newsletter