AQUAVENTURE 2026
exhibit march 2 - May 8, 2026
Artists' Attic · 401 W. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507
Celebrating 47 years of awarding the talents of national artists
The Kentucky Watercolor Society is proud to sponsor AquaVenture 2024, an exhibition of paintings featuring water-based media by regional artists who primarily reside in Kentucky and surrounding states. The exhibition is being held at Lexington's Artists’ Attic from March 2 to May 8, 2026.
Peggy Lynn Bishop, juror
Raised in Dayton, Ohio, under the mentorship of her artist-mother, Peggy Lynn Bishop began her creative journey with a disciplined focus on realism. While she spent forty years as a professional in molecular biology and data engineering, she remained devoted to the watercolor medium, honing her technical skills throughout her career.
Peggy’s work has undergone a significant evolution, shifting from rigid detail to atmospheric compositions that explore the of fluid watercolor and "lost and found edges. However, her mastery of precision remains a hallmark of her skill; she recently received the James “Scotty” McArthur Award in the 2025 Aqueous competition for her hyper-realistic piece, Cherry Coke. This balance between controlled technique and spontaneous expression defines her current practice. As a juror and instructor, Peggy draws on this duality to help students navigate the challenges of watercolor, teaching them how to guide the medium to create works that are both technically precise and emotionally resonant.
For information about purchasing, please contact the Kentucky Watercolor Society at kentuckywatercolor@gmail.com.
FIRST PLACE
$500 CASH
Christopher Wynn, Rockville, VA
“Ascend”
29x21
$2,500
SECOND PLACE
$400 CASH
Marian O’Shaughnessy, Lexington, KY
“Sunlit Depths”
30x12
$595
THIRD PLACE
$300 CASH
Charley Jolly, Lexington, KY
“the Missing Years”
10x16
$1,200
HONORABLE MENTION
$100 CASH
Betsy Pollock, Louisville, KY
“Blue Ribbon Corn”
14x18
$500
honorable mention
$100 CASH
Michelle Vance, Corydon, IN
“Garden Gifts”
19x16
$1,500
Cold Snap - The Kentucky Horse Park
by Laury Gardiner
8 × 10
$425
Plein Air Artist’s On Gilfillian Lawn
by Gina Judy
13.25×21
$825
