Arts Council to host watercolor workshop with Montana painter Loren Kovich

By Fischer Genau DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD

The Arts Council of Big Sky will host a two-day watercolor workshop with decorated Montana painter Loren Kovich on Oct. 4 and 5 at its classroom in the BASE Community Center. The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and is open to ages 11 and up, and all materials will be provided, though participants can bring their own tools.

The class is limited to 16 participants, and registration is now available online at bigskyarts.org. Kovich will begin the workshop with a watercolor demonstration, then participants will create their own paintings with his expert input and direction.

“He’s delightfully talented,” said Julie Edwards, the Arts Council’s education director. “I love when people extend themselves beyond their direct community and explore other places, so I’m really excited to have him.”

Kovich has a colorful history as an artist and teacher. A native Montanan who lives in Helena, Kovich has been painting full time for over 40 years, teaching art in high school and junior high for almost a decade before embarking on a solo career. He has followed his muse across the country doing art shows and festivals, winning many awards along the way, and he’s had paintings published in eight books, including “The Best of Watercolors” and “The Best of Acrylics.”

The workshop operates on a sliding-scale fee, part of the Arts Council’s Contribute What You Can program that provides affordable access to art classes for the Big Sky community. Participants can either pay a suggested fee, a suggested fee plus a donation, or opt for a 30%, 50%, or 70% discount. Kovich approved of this model—when he spoke with Edwards to arrange a class, he requested that it be made affordable to its participants.

“It’s nice when someone joins the forces of making art not just affordable but accessible for everyone,” Edwards said.

Kovich is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, as well as a member of the Transparent Watercolor Society and Montana Watercolor Society, and his work focuses on the effects of light on Montana’s wildlife and wild landscapes.

The Arts Council regularly hosts artist workshops, and Edwards says one of their goals is to create, “a healthy place to be with other creatives in a sober and safe environment.”