World of Watercolor and Beyond continues

FALLBROOK – The ninth annual Signature American International Watermedia Exhibition "World of Watercolor and Beyond" in The Janice Griffiths Gallery continues, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays and, noon to 3 p.m., Sundays at the Fallbrook Art Center, 103 S. Main, through April 14.

The show features an expanded presentation of 120 paintings, all created by Signature member artists who hail from across the United States, Malaysia and Singapore – a true representation of the "best of the best" selected from over 398 entries by Illinois-based juror Ratindra Das.

Das describes his own passion for painting.

"There is no better reason to paint than just for the love of it," Das said. "I enjoy, I struggle and I exult. Sometime I will not follow the norms and rules of watercolor. Those who write prose will go by the rules; poets will not. Painting is a visual poem."

Since the show opening Feb. 3, over 1,000 visitors from San Diego, Los Angeles, the desert communities, Riverside County and the coastal communities have viewed the exhibition. Many tour groups have already come through the show, and more are scheduled, including Maie Ellis School, Palomar College and Saddleback College.

Awards for this show totaled $15,000, and visitors will have a chance to choose their own favorite with a "People's Choice" award that will be announced at the end of the show. Nine paintings have sold so far, ranging in price from $895 to $7,000. An online catalog of all the works in the Signature Show is available online at http://www.fallbrookartcenter.org.

General admission is $6, and is free to members. For other information, call (760) 728-1414 or visit http://www.fallbrookartcenter.org.