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Watercolor creations flow from hands of seniors
(by Lisa Kintish - April 30, 2008)
There are many talented residents in Montville Township. Just visit the Senior House any Wednesday and you will find a group being instructed on painting with watercolor. After years of raising families and building careers, it is now their time to pursue a long-held interest.
Take for example their instructor, Margaret Varetoni. She is a retired stockbroker. “It was always a hobby, now I have more time to play with it,” she said.
Painting was never too far from Varetoni’s life. She said that she has always painted and is a member of various art leagues and societies. In fact, it is her reputation as a painter that led to her being asked to teach the class. Initially, there were only a few people attending, but nearly four years later, the group has grown to about 25.
Varetoni provides her students with copies of her own paintings as well as photographs, for which to copy. She said that typically, in art class, techniques such as perspective, contour, and composition are taught. She, on the other hand, allows her students to get right to the fun of painting by seeing what she has done and in the process, they learn. While all may be painting the same thing, the interpretations are as unique as each of the students.
The subject matter is often florals.
“I’m a botanical painter, but we try to branch out and do landscapes and still life,” said Varetoni.
One of the joys in teaching the group is watching the progress. “It’s really amazing when you see what can be done,” she said.
The group is not limited to meeting at the Senior House. Often, they go on trips. Recently, they went to the New York City-based headquarters for the American Watercolor Society, and this fall will be visiting Vassar College for a tour of the school’s art works.
Referring to this group as a class may not be entirely accurate. Georgianna Manderioli, who has been with the group for six months, said, “I wouldn’t call it a class, that sounds defined, we are very independent.”
The Towaco resident has been interested in art since childhood and reminisced about the time she asked her mother for art supplies, to which her mother handed her a pencil and paper. Outside of the group, she has painted murals for residences and is enjoying the change to watercolor from her usual medium of acrylics.
Similarly, Sonja Schloss of Pine Brook, views the group more as a family than a class.
“When I come here I feel really loved. We encourage each other,” she said.
Schloss has been painting much of her life and said Varetoni’s instruction has helped her to “control” her “wild” and “free” painting style. As an example, she showed paintings she did of irises as inspired by visits to the Presby Iris Garden in Montclair. A painting done before class had many flowers and colors, while one painted after attending the class was focused on an individual flower.
When painting at home, Shashi Sang of Montville, is often inspired by images of her native India. Among her works are ones done on material, over which dyes, particularly reds, are used. She has been in the group for two months. “I retired and was always anxious to learn new kinds of painting,” she said. Adding, “My free time is spent doing painting and writing.”
Anil Mathur, of Lincoln Park, has been painting for the past three years and has had her work on display in libraries and in a show at Chilton Hospital.
“I never went to art school. My grandmother was an artist, so I inherited it from her,” she said.
Retired from a job at a nursing home, Mathur used to teach watercolor and crafts to the patients. Now, she has the time to pursue this interest for herself and paints in all mediums. Inspiration for her paintings comes from all around.
“If I see a nice photo, I keep it and go from there. We go outside and paint outdoors. I like variety, I do everything, scenery, faces, figures.”
Maureen Lang has been with the group since the beginning. “We just don’t leave,” she joked.
Initially, the Montville resident responded to a newspaper ad for the group, but then found painting to be relaxing. Of the Wednesday class she said, “It’s my favorite day.”
In the past, she would “play” at painting, noting “I raised seven kids so I didn’t have too much time to paint.”
Now, her paintings, many of which are of flowers, adorn the walls of her children’s houses.
On April 23, the group presented their artwork in an exhibit at the Senior House, though this was not their first. Last year their paintings were on view at the Montville Township Library. Titled, “The Doorways of Montville,” the paintings were representations of antique doorways found around the Township as depicted in photographs taken by Varetoni. The group also had paintings on display at an event at the Doremus House. Varetoni took pictures of aspects of the house, a windowsill or a door, and then presented the photos to the class. Each one painted a piece of the Doremus House.
Regardless of whether it is called a class or a family, the weekly gatherings allow artistic inclinations to be nurtured. According to Varetoni, artistic ability is the capacity to see something and render a two-dimensional paper as three-dimensional thanks to attention to even the smallest of details. “But you need an eye for it,” she said. “Once you develop the ability to see those kinds of things, you improve. Everybody can paint. We may not be Rembrandts, be we can all paint.”
Lisa Kintish can be contacted at kintish@northjersey.com.
Staff photos by Pierfrancesco Baccaro
Photo 1: Katy Leva, left, observes art with her daughter, from left, Julie, 7, and Madelyn, 10, at the Montville Township Senior House Art Show on April 23. The event showcased the work of residents who meet at the Senior House on Wednesdays to learn painting with watercolor. Last year their paintings were displayed at the Montville Township Library.
Photo 2: Detail of a batik painting, titled “Village Girl” by Shashi Sang. This was one of the many works of art displayed recently at the Montville Senior House Art Show.
Photo 3: Shashi Sang’s batik painting, “Shakuntala,” was inspired by a traditional tale.
Photo 4: Georgianna Manderioli with one of her watercolors exhibited at the Montville Senior House Art Show.
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