Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Genevieve Peacock works on a watercolor during the final session of the Senior Program's Watercolor Painting Class. The current exhibit in the Council Chambers features works from the class.

Seniors show their stuff

By Kristin Kusumoto

Bright flowers, landscapes and wildlife scenes dominate the art exhibit currently on display at Art in the Council Chambers.

The exhibit represents the Senior Program's Watercolor Painting Class offered through the Los Gatos-Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation.

"People think seniors are going to do fuddy-duddy stuff. They don't do paint-by-numbers. It's annoying to me--they're accomplished painters," class instructor Jean Tannhauser says.

She also says of the artists: "Most are retired professionals. When they retired, they did things they really wanted to do. Watercolor painting was one of them."

At the final class in the eight-week session, the painters are upbeat and eager to learn from Tannhauser's demonstration. They are also willing to share their experiences.

Dorene Vettel is a former schoolteacher who taught physical education and physically handicapped learning at James Lick High School, West Valley College and Mission College.

"This is my fun time now. I like teaching, but this is fun to do this whenever I want," Vettel says.

Vettel has earned the respect of her peers, who voted her "Water Lily" painting the highlight of the exhibition. Vettel says she chose her subject because she wanted to tackle the challenge of depicting water drops on the petals.

According to Genevieve Peacock, a retired natural science teacher who is now a docent at the Santa Clara de Saisset Museum, the class has been "a great experience."

Peacock has two paintings in the exhibit, "Alpine Chipmunk" and "Hong Kong Tulip."

"You think it's gonna be easy, but then you try to execute it and it's awful," she laughs.

Ella Fischer, a retired manager of the state Department of Social Services, also has two works exhibited, "Mourning Doves" and "Butchart Begonias." She particularly likes working in this medium. "I like watercolor. It's spontaneous and free. You never know what it's going to do, sort of like cooking and not knowing how things are going to turn out."

The current exhibit is on display through June 27 in the Council Chambers, 110 E. Main St. If the door is locked, check with the Town Clerk.

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