The Brevard Watercolor Society is celebrating three decades of bringing artists together, with over 200 members who range from beginners to award-winning professionals. Founded in 1995, the group has maintained a reputation for inclusivity, according to Therese Ferguson, a founding member who served as president and still teaches classes at Highland Art Studios in Cocoa. Ferguson’s work, including her piece 'Spoonbill in the Marsh,' has been displayed at events like the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge’s Flora and Fauna at the Refuge show.
Ferguson, who runs her own studio and gallery at Highland Art Studios, teaches three weekly watercolor classes there and also instructs for the Satellite Beach Recreation Department. Her students include Lynn Devlin, a New Hampshire native who discovered the society’s annual 'Splash! of Watercolor' show by chance. Devlin said she was struck by the group’s warmth. 'I never met such welcoming people,' she said, crediting the society with expanding her understanding of watercolor techniques and community.
The society’s anniversary comes as it continues to host exhibitions and classes that draw both longtime members and newcomers. Events like the annual 'Splash! of Watercolor' showcase the diversity of the group’s talent, from amateur enthusiasts to seasoned artists like Ferguson, who has earned numerous awards and a following of collectors.
Local residents interested in joining the society can attend meetings or classes at Highland Art Studios, which has been a hub for watercolor instruction since the group’s founding. The society’s focus on collaboration and mentorship has helped it grow over three decades, with members like Devlin citing the sense of belonging as a key draw. 'It’s not just about art,' Devlin said. 'It’s about people who genuinely care about each other’s growth.'