Local artist earns honors in watercolor competition

PALMER — Judi Betts, a summer instructor at Mat-Su College and the Machetanz Art Festival May 29 to June 1, has won second place in the annual National Watercolor Society 2012 Members Exhibit.

Her original artwork of boats and ships, called “Traffic Jam,” was one of 90 paintings accepted from 400 entries.

The artwork will travel around the United States with a group exhibit for the next year.

People who wish to study with Betts may register online for her summer workshop at matsu.alaska.edu. Click on “Su 12 Schedule” in the right column. Her workshops cost $200 and are designed for water media artists of all levels. A supply list is available upon registration.

Betts also will teach at the Machetanz Art Festival June 2. Cost for the day is $50 and includes lunch. She is one of 15 artists who will offer workshops during the four-day festival.

Other offerings include Athabascan beading, digital photography, collage, glass glob terra cotta pots, oil painting, drawing, watercolor, interior design, printmaking, pastel, embossing and oriental painting.

Register for Machetanz Art Festival workshops online at matsu.alaska.edu. Just look for the 2012 Machetanz Art Festival logo.

For more information, contact sebach@matsu.alaska.edu or 745-9755.

Suzanne Bach is director of the Machetanz Art Festival and the Fine Arts Coordinator at Mat-Su College.