QU Gray Gallery to site of watercolor exhibit by John Preston through Oct. 22

QUINCY — Quincy University’s Gray Gallery, located in Brenner Library, is the site of an art exhibition of visiting artist John Preston.

This free exhibition will take place through Oct. 22 and is open to the public. The Preston Watercolors art exhibit will close with an artist’s reception from 4-5 p.m. on Oct. 22.

Preston will offer a watercolor workshop, “From Sketchbook Studies to Watercolor Works: A Creative Process” on Saturday, Oct. 22, in Francis Hall Room 436.

Preston grew up on America’s three coasts but moved to Iowa in 1979. He began painting the landscape after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Maharishi International University in 1984. Preston started with its expansive skies and fields but is currently exploring contemporary aspects of agriculture to complete that theme.

“My most recent work has been almost exclusively plein air: painted on location in one session or using those location images to create a studio work. I aim to express a particular moment. We live in times where life changes significantly in a day. Consequently, moments become precious,” Preston said in a press release.

Preston’s images have been exhibited regionally, nationally and as far away as Cambodia and Nigeria. His work is included in public and private collections at Iowa State University, John Deere and the Chicago Federal Reserve.

For more information, contact Gray Gallery curator Robert Mejer at mejerbob@quincy.edu.