Friday, July 21, 2017

MY FRIEND BEVERLY

I first saw Beverly Montgomery at an art workshop in Ardmore, Oklahoma, in late 1999.

I was blown away by her colorful and vibrant watercolor paintings. I said to myself that I wished that I could paint like her. I was a greenhorn of a painter, seeking advice and help. I wanted to know Beverly. And I did.

Beverly became my mentor, my teacher, and my good friend.
We traveled to Mexico, Italy, and Portugal to paint.
Of course, we painted in many places in Oklahoma - Murray State Park, Turner Falls, Sulphur, Ardmore, etc.

Beverly Montgomery was always interested in Art. However, It was not until her boys were grown that she went back to school and obtained her art degrees - BA from University of Texas at Dallas, TX; and MFA from Texas Women's University in Denton, TX.

A resident of Texas for many years before moving to Marietta, Oklahoma. She was active in the art communities in and around Dallas, TX. and later in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

She mastered her art so well that she was awarded the coveted title of Member of Southwest Watercolor Society (SWS).

Beverly taught briefly at Murray State College, Tishmingo, Oklahoma; and for the last few decades, she taught at Goddard Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Arddmore, Oklahoma. She did workshops in Ada, Holdenville, Madill, and Sulphur, Oklahoma.

She touched many of us, want-to-be artists, and helped many of us to become true artists.

Beverly passed away in the early morning of July 15, 2017 - while we, some good friends of hers, prepared an Art Show in honor of her, at the Conservatory at Plano, TX.

Beverly passed away.

The show went on.

Her art lives on.