The Galveston Art League’s Featured Artist for April, Karen Lehr, shows a breezy style in her award-winning paintings. About a dozen of her artworks may be viewed and purchased from 12:00pm to 6:00pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays thru April 25 at the Art League’s gallery, 2117A Postoffice St. in Galveston.
The league changes its gallery exhibits every month, and Lehr’s works are part of the nonprofit organization’s April member show. Dozens of works are offered for sale throughout the roomy downtown gallery, and they will also be sold online at www.GalvestonArtLeague.com around April 6.
Lehr has been in Galveston more than a decade, arriving a little ahead of September 2008’s Hurricane Ike. At the time, she said she was a new retiree and “snowbird Texan,” and Lehr now spends the majority of year on the island, calling it “a great place to live.”
Primarily concentrating on watercolors, she has “had years of enjoyment in exploring the possibilities of that medium.” And Lehr’s brushwork has drawn accolades including the Best of Show award for “Old Barn” in the June 2020 juried contest held by the nonprofit, all-volunteer Galveston Art League.
Lehr continually works to polish her skills, she says. “Most recently I took a three-day Zoom watercolor class from a woman who was in North Carolina. I have received many ideas and lots of direction from quite a few watercolor artists through classes and workshops in Oklahoma, Colorado, Wisconsin, Houston and here in Galveston with Sallie Anderson.”
She credits the Art League with helping her improve her artwork. “One of my retirement goals was to paint more, and was I ever glad to find the Galveston Art League! After all, if I paint more, I need an art community and a way to show and share my work. One of the great advantages of belonging to the Art League is getting positive feedback as I have grown as an artist.”
Lehr is a professional member of the league, one of many membership levels. The Art League depends on the tax-deductible membership fees to further its mission of advocating for visual arts, local artists and art education in the Galveston County area and beyond.
To join, make a tax-deductible contribution or learn more about the 107-year-old organization, visit www.GalvestonArtLeague.com, email gallery2117@gmail.com or call 940-222-1958.
NOTE: After a long pandemic postponement, Galveston Art League scheduled its fundraiser gala, a casual lunch, from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at Garten Verein in Galveston. Guests will enjoy a catered meal, music, silent auction, and two raffles. One raffle includes assorted alcoholic beverages; the other will be gardening-related items in keeping with the gala theme of A Garden Party. Raffle tickets are $10 each or three for $25 (you don’t have to be present to win), with purchase available in the league gallery at 2117A Postoffice St. as well as at the gala. The gala’s silent auction will offer varied items such as local art, jewelry, gift cards, and donated products and services from Galveston County merchants. Gala tickets, which will cost $100 and up per ticket, will be available for purchase at the downtown Galveston gallery and on the website (reservations are being accepted now). If you have questions, please email gallery2117@gmail.com or call 409-938-1671.
