Master Watercolorist, Melinda(Mindy)Schnell, featured artist at the Presque Isle Library, is offering a workshop on watercolor landscape painting February 20th from 1 to 3/3:30 p.m. She will paint a landscape while explaining the process. Then participants will have time to create their own watercolor landscape. This is an opportunity to learn from a master. Participants are asked to bring watercolor paints, brushes, watercolor paper(preferably 140# coldpress) and a photograph to work from. There is no charge for this workshop.

Mindy will have a wide variety of work on exhibit at the Presque Isle Library for the month of February. When asked to describe this exhibit, she replied, “I decided to call this show "off the wall" because that's exactly what it is, I pulled the pieces from the walls of my studio, most of them are painted for nobody else but me and most people never see them. I thought it might be nice to include sketches that are not finished framed works but rather personal contents of sketchbooks and studies in various mediums. The main body of my work is transparent watercolor, my favorite, but I have also included pastel pieces and charcoal sketches. Quite honestly, I can't limit myself to one medium or one type of subject, I need to keep learning and exploring.” Mindy has included in the exhibit, three pieces by Peggy Coons who encouraged Mindy’s love of art. Peggy was a fashion illustrator in the 40’s and is Mindy’s mom.

Mindy, of Boulder Junction, was born and raised in Northwest Ohio, attended Columbus College of Art and Design and later The American Academy of Art in Chicago where the late Irving Shapiro inspired a love of transparent watercolor. While living in Chicago I worked in the commercial art field until moving to the Northwoods of Wisconsin in the late 80's when I resumed painting professionally. Works are included in private and corporate collections, currently two paintings associated with the DRAWING WATER project are traveling the country starting in an exhibit at the National Science Foundation in Washington D.C.

Mindy currently works with seniors conducting art therapy sessions, teaching privately and offering drawing and watercolor lessons to groups. Her favorite subjects are underwater-scapes , landscapes and portrait and figure painting in watercolor and pastel. Mindy’s work can be seen at the Presque Isle Library MWF from 10 to 4, Tues/Thurs 4 to 9 and Saturdays 10 to noon. For more information or to pre-register for the workshop please call the Presque Isle Library at 715 686 7613.