JWS General Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, 6-8 pm
Guest Artist: Rebecca (Becky) Mentz
Topic: “Varnishing Watercolors and Aquabord"
Cypress Village, Egret Room 

Varnishing your Watercolors and Working on Aquabord Watercolor paintings are increasingly being accepted into Exhibitions with a varnish finish instead of glazing. The American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the Florida Watercolor Society, and other similar organizations accept varnished paintings. Becky will explain how to varnish your work, along with the advantages and disadvantages of the process. Aquabord is often a substrate that is varnished. Becky will paint on Aquabord and talk about the differences between it and conventional watercolor paper.

Becky’s painting, Diverse Roots, was in last year’s Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition. Her painting was made into a tea towel by the Orlando Museum of Art to sell in their gift shop. She will bring several of the towels to raffle off at the meeting.

Becky continued her love of art with an undergraduate degree in Art and a Master of Architecture from North Carolina State University. After a 35-year career in Architecture in Jacksonville, Florida, she redirected her attention to her original passion: art, with a particular emphasis on watercolors. Becky is a representational artist who finds watercolor freeing. She revels in its lost edges, indistinct images and wide range of color.

Becky has been active in JWS as an award-winning artist in many JWS juried shows, VP of Membership and weekly outreach classes for many years. She holds Signature Membership in the Georgia Watercolor Society (GWS), the Florida Watercolor Society (FWS) and the Southern Watercolor Society (SW).

You can view more about Becky, her beautiful paintings, and many awards by going to her website www.rhmentzart.com.

Come early at 5:30 to socialize with fellow artists and enjoy the refreshments generously provided by Cypress Village.