An inside look at the Essence of Water exhibition at Fort Myers Beach Art Association & Gallery. -COURTESY PHOTO

For locals and visitors of Southwest Florida, beauty is everywhere. From the sunset views over the horizon shared with friends and family on a sandy beach to the afternoon park strolls with a waterside view.

The Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery (FMBAA) is taking that shared love for the water that locals get to visit daily and putting it into an exhibit, “Essence of Water.”

JoAnn LaPadula, Vice President of FMBAA, has been drawn to designing several of her pieces inspired by her love for the ocean, displayed within the exhibit.

LaPadula shared some of her creations she is currently working on and her favorites created over the years.

JoAnn LaPadula, VP of FMBAA, working on a watercolor painting at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association Gallery. -COURTESY PHOTO

“Southwest Florida birds, sea life, water with pastels, I’ll be doing the water and the sunsets and things like that,” LaPadula said.” I like to call myself a colorist because I use a lot of color.”

The current exhibit was created by members of the FMBAA, which holds 49 entries with 22 artists who put their artwork on display.

FMBAA Co-Chair Kathy Taylor describes the gallery as a scene filled with blue

“It’s really colorful, lots of blue. You know, it has a lot of people. They paint it to the theme. Sometimes people don’t,” Taylor said. “We say we want good work, number one, and so they might not paint in the theme. They bring in something that’s really good. But a lot of these, look at all the blue, it’s about the sea, about water, and so it’s sort of harmonious.”

Taylor has been with the FMBAA for years and describes the artwork at the gallery as a mixed genre of creations

“It’s different mediums,” Taylor said. “I mean, some are watercolors. There’s oil, acrylic and pastel.”

 Many visitors to Southwest Florida come looking to get involved in the community, and art galleries like the FMBAA open their arms to newcomers, inviting them to try their hand at creating and learn from experienced artists. For LaPadula, the gallery was an opportunity to make new friends and build local connections.

“I was visiting here, and I came down to visit because I looked on the web to find everything, and this was back, I think, 2013,” LaPadula said. I spent a day on the beach, and then I actually joined the Alliance (Alliance of the Arts) first. I lived in a condo community around the corner, down the street from here, and a friend from there convinced me to go down and visit the gallery, and then I joined the gallery.”

Acrylic work titled The Last Days, by Yvonne Sermak. -COURTESY PHOTO

Acrylic work titled Serenity and Surrender, by Nanci Polomski. -COURTESY PHOTO

Views of Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s the Essence of Water exhibition. -COURTESY PHOTO

Views of Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s the Essence of Water exhibition. -COURTESY PHOTO

Since becoming a member of the gallery, LaPadula has had the chance to grow her skills and help other upcoming artists develop, as well as grow the FMBAA.

“We have new members that are starting to show, which is great, and they’re learning a lot about framing and getting paintings ready for the show and things like that,” LaPadula said.

After Fort Myers Beach devastated the original FMBAA location, they moved to a new South Fort Myers location four years ago and hope to continue introducing new members to the gallery so they can connect and explore local art.

“We’ve only been here for a year and a half now, almost a year and a half. This is our new home for a period of time, and we’re just trying to get people to come and visit and see us and find us,” LaPadula said.

Taylor hopes to see the FMBAA grow as people continue to discover their new location.

“We’re trying new things. I mean, we’re beefing up our classes and workshops next year, because often people are just beginners and want to learn, so we’ll have more for them,” Taylor said. “We’re also increasing the sales opportunities and we’re going to have courtyard sales. Like any organization, as people get older, they move away, but we’re having a lot of new and young people coming in.”

The gallery hopes to one day return to Fort Myers Beach with donations raised on their website. For now, the gallery plans to continue showcasing local art and being a meeting space for visitors.

Watercolor work titled Pelicans in Sepia, by Helen Kinkin. -COURTESY PHOTO

Pictured are some of Cheryl Fausel’s works titled Birds Over Water(above) and Going in Alone(below). -COURTESY PHOTO

An inside look at JoAnn LaPadula’s works on either side of fellow artist Carol E. Baskin’s work titled Captiva Shores seen at the center. -COURTESY PHOTO

A look at JoAnn LaPadula’s workspace while working on a watercolor painting at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association Gallery. -COURTESY PHOTO

In The KNOW:

WHAT: Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s “Essence of Water” exhibit
WHEN: July 23- Sept.5, Thursday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m.
MORE INFO: fortmyersbeachart.com

Front exterior sign at Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery. -COURTESY PHOTO

Front exterior of Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery. -COURTESY PHOTO