Commissioner Hall supporting local artists
Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall is supporting local artists by giving them an opportunity to display their artwork in her Fort Myers office.
This month Arcadia resident John Watkins, will display his acrylic originals in Commissioner Hall’s downtown Fort Myers office until February 19, 2010. Watkins is a self taught artist. He paints with acrylics and builds many of his custom frames from old barn wood. The public is welcome to view the artwork and learn more about the artist (see below). Please call 533-2226 to confirm office hours for viewing the artwork.
“The arts are an important part of the cultural and development of our community” says Commissioner Hall. “I believe that government can play an important role in public awareness, developing the use of public spaces for display and interaction of art, and for the encouragement and commitment of continued financial support both public and private of all the arts.”
Other local artists will be featured every four to six weeks. Commissioner Hall’s office is on the first floor of the Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers.
Commissioner Hall is the recipient of the Angel of the Arts Award Business Sponsor 2009. She was elected to the Board of Lee County Commissioners in 2004 and re-elected in 2006. Her district includes North Fort Myers and the central and northern portions of Cape Coral. For more information on this program, please contact Carmen Salom, Executive Assistant, at 239-533-2226.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
John Watkins is a local artist residing in Arcadia, Florida. Originally from the coastal town of Poquoson, Virginia John grew up along the marshes of the eastern coast. His early love of this area is reflected in his work featuring wildlife and marsh scenes reminiscent of his lifetime near rivers. Watkins is a self taught artist and has never taken an art class or lesson. His passion for painting is equal to his love of the oral history of Poquoson, Virginia where he grew up and learned to spin a yarn from local story tellers. Many of these historical events and landmarks are captured on canvas. Depictions of a ducks, geese, herons, owls and a variety of birds grace many of the canvases. When Watkins finds a subject that strikes him he puts it into a painting. His body of work is varied but his attention to fine detail is prevalent. Sometimes he painstakingly creates detail so tiny you have to squint your eyes to capture the image. This attention to detail is what makes viewers take a second and third look at his work.
Watkins also builds large wooden models of work boats. Many of the work boats have long since retired from duty on the waterways in Virginia. Many rest in boatyards along the Back River in retirement and precious few in restoration. Future plans include building more model boats from the Chesapeake Bay waterways.
Watkins mainly paints with acrylics and builds many of his custom frames from old barn wood. His studio in Arcadia includes a woodworking studio where he builds the model boats, custom painted rod racks and other fine wood crafts in addition to his daily paintings. Tours of the studio are available daily upon appointment and Watkins accepts private commissions.
Contact J.W Arts & Crafts Studio at (863)494-6817.