By David Patterson
For more than ten years, members of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society have volunteered to teach watercolor painting to residents of Westminster Woods on Julington Creek. What began as an outreach effort has grown into a welcomed tradition.
The participants who gather for these sessions come from remarkably varied backgrounds. Some arrive with years of artistic experience, eager to refine their skills or explore new techniques. Others bring business expertise, approaching watercolor with the same curiosity and problem‑solving mindset that shaped their careers. One participant, a former scientist, delights in the interplay of water, pigment, and paper. Each person contributes a unique perspective.
Participants learn techniques such as washes, layering, color mixing, and brushwork, but they also learn to embrace the unexpected, the way pigment blooms on wet paper or how a small mistake can transform into something beautiful. The benefits extend far beyond the paintings themselves.
Over the last decade the Jacksonville Watercolor Society’s volunteers haven’t just taught painting they’ve nurtured confidence and connection. Their dedication has left a lasting imprint on Westminster Woods, proving that a few brushes, some color, and a willingness to share can enrich a community in profound and lasting ways. The 2026 JWS Fall Juried Show will be exhibited from October 27 at Christ Episcopal Church located at 400 San Juan Drive in Ponte Vedra.
