Artist reception held for Rebecca Pelley McWatters

McWatters speaks with student

The NTCC Art Department hosted an artist reception featuring Rebecca Pelley McWatters on Thursday, Oct. 26th. McWatters, who lives near Fort Worth, has been featured in the Whatley Center foyer gallery for the month of October. During the reception, she spoke about the inspiration behind her art and her overarching theme of "Paint Life Boldly." 

"I believe that we were all made by a divine creator and, because of that, we all have within us the ability to create. "Paint Life Boldly" is really a challenge for everyone to create and contribute to the world, regardless what field you work in or what kind of art you make," McWatters said. 

artist speaking to students

Rebecca is a native Texan having spent most of her corporate years in the DFW area. However, she has been a lifelong student of art. Although she received a BBA in Marketing / Economics, her university-accredited studies included the fine arts at Baylor University.  After 25 years working in Technology/Finance including a time in the Twin Towers on Wall Street, she began transitioning to her passion for oil painting. Influenced by the European Masters of the 20th century impressionism her focus allowed her to study under international artists in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Regional Artists in Santé Fe, NM, and art history appreciation thru travels in Europe and the United Kingdom.     

Rebecca has been a successful and popularly featured artist in several DFW and North Texas galleries over the past two decades.  Her new impressionism style brings a bold fresh approach in both brushstroke and palette.  She has received numerous awards for her work and has spent much time promoting the arts in her surrounding community. 

Her expressive brushstrokes and vibrant palette create a mosaic portfolio that reflects her experiential life blessings and observations of creation she wishes to record for others to enjoy. The next art exhibit scheduled for the Whatley Center is a display of quilts created by local quilters. It will run Nov. 10-29.