Local artist joins Ohio Watercolor Society

A bit of experimentation has paid dividends for Jennifer Sowders. Already highly decorated as an artist, the resident of rural Fostoria, she has earned "Signature" membership of the Ohio Watercolor Society.Sowders and five other Ohio artists were granted the honor for this year, which entitles them to use the initials "OWS" following the signature of their names on paintings."Being that it's just my third year since joining, I'm surprised and honored," she said.A formal induction of the new "Signature" members was to have taken place at Watercolor Ohio 2020 earlier in the year, but the event was postponed due to coronavirus concerns.But she's still an honoree, and she pointed to her involvement with a technique that was new to her as being a key to her success. Each candidate submitted a handful of previous unjuried works to the OWS board for evaluation."I started doing watercolor on yupo at the very beginning of this year," Sowders said, referring to a technique that utilizes a synthetic, water-resistant paper that enables paint to dry only through evaporation, thus resulting in a greater vibrancy in colors."I hit a piece that got into two nationals, back to back, and it was kind of like a big 'wow' thing," she said. "... Even before I'd entered it in the show, I was also excited about working in this new technique and everything. So, I just kept pumping out more pieces and it just kept getting more and more exciting."The pieces that I submitted for the Ohio Watercolor Society for the board to review were all these new pieces I was doing. It's like I hit a vein," she said with a laugh.Sowders said she had been working on landscape scenes, and they comprised the work she submitted to the OWS board.Other inductees with Sowders were Ron Beahn of Uniontown, Jim Gerken of Lancaster, Gina Judy of Richmond, Joan Satow of Berea and Jeff Suntala of Strongsville.Sowders' work will also be included the rescheduled Watercolor Ohio, the 43rd annual juried exhibition, which has been rescheduled for in-person viewing from Feb. 26 through March 21 during the normal operating hours of the Marathon Center for the performing arts in Findlay.The exhibition can also be seen virtually at www.ohiowatercolorsociety.org/Exhibitions.Sowders' MON Gallery and Art Studio, located at 1034 TR 293, is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and by appointment. For more information, call or text (567) 245-1179.