Introducing Guest Artist for Vintage Show: Elizabeth Campbell Warhanik

While our Vintage Watercolor show features watercolorists who are still working, each year we highlight one watercolorist who left a legacy of art in Washington. Last year we had a beautiful watercolor by Perry Acker, that was generously loaned to us by the Stanwood Historical society.

For our 2019 show we’re thrilled to announce that we are featuring Elizabeth Campbell Warhanik 1880-1968).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Here is a short introduction to Elizabeth from A Fluid Tradition, by David Martin, that tells the story of the first seventy-five years of the Northwest Watercolor Society.

Here’s the blurb:

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Moved to Seattle in 1907. Warhanik studied at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and earned a degree in classical literature. She studied painting with Charles Woodbury at Ogunquit, Maine. At the University of Washington, she studied with Walter Isaacs and Helen Rhodes, and privately with Paul Morgan Gustin and Edgar Forkner.

Warhanik was one of Seattle’s most prominent early artists. She worked in oil, watercolor, and printmaking. In addition to being a longtime member of the NWWS [Northwest Watercolor Society], Warhanik was one of the founders and the first president of Women Painters of Washington.

Based on her stature as a Washington artist alone, I’d be excited to have Warhanik in our 2019 Vintage show. But I’m thrilled because of a more personal connection. Here’s the story of how I stumbled upon her work.

STORY

On January 4th, Jenny and I spent an afternoon at Ed and Susan Nudelman’s home in Seattle. I know Ed and Susan, and their kids, from the five years I served as Assistant Pastor at Green Lake Presbyterian Church in Seattle (1997-2002).

Jenny and I had a great time catching up with them. We fed their specialty ducks, talked family, art and books.

Besides being a scientist and a dealer in rare books, Ed is a super gifted poet.

They showed us some of the paintings of Susan’s grandmother, Elizabeth Warhanik. It didn’t take long to realize that she was not only a very gifted artists, but a real player in Washington’s early art scene.

Not only was Elizabeth a gifted artist, but her daughter, Winnifred Clifton (1916-2006), Susan’s mother was too. I had met Winni during my time in Seattle.

I tried to refrain my excitement, and tried to calmly ask if possibly, by chance, just wondering, if they might consider… allowing us to show a painting of Elizabeth’s. They quickly and graciously said YES!

And that’s how I stumbled upon this and many other beautiful Warhanik paintings! How cool it that!

2019 Vintage Watercolorists of Washington

• Opens Saturday, March 9, 10am-5pm
• Meet the Artist Reception: Saturday, March 9, 3-5pm
• Runs also on Saturdays March 16, 23, and 30, 10am-5pm
• At Sunnyshore Studio: 2803 S.E. Camano Drive, Camano Island, WA
• Featuring watercolors by artists: Jack Dorsey, Nancy Fulton, Cooper Hart, Seiko Konya, Sandy Langford and Jack Dorsey.
• In partnership with the Northwest Watercolor Society.