Joyce Schlapkohl presents Reflections of Summer, on display August 1-31.

“For many years, I studied, taught and painted in watercolor,” says Joyce, who is a past president of the Blue Ridge Watermedia Society and a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina. “After a while, I felt a strong desire to switch to oils and have been painting almost exclusively in oils for the past nine years.”

Reflections of Summer will feature a range of subject matter, including landscapes, flowers, still lifes, and animals. “I try to transform ordinary images into reflections of color and light,” says Joyce. “A wonderful thing about painting is that you never stop learning, never stop developing your eye. I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate the process.

“Often, clear value patterns of light and shade draw me to a particular subject. Then I strive for strong design and color harmony. The changing mountain landscape, animals grazing, and flowers blooming are generally my subjects, as well as my inspiration. Painting is a solitary, nonverbal form of expressiveness that enriches my life and brings me joy.”

If You Go: A reception is scheduled for Friday, August 1, 2014 from 5 to 8 p.m. Asheville Gallery of Art, 16 College Street in downtown Asheville, across from Pritchard Park. For more details, call (828) 251-5796 or visit www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com.