There’s no library atmosphere when water media artist and President of the Tallahassee Watercolor Society Penny G. Anderson, starts creating. Reggae, ska, and punk rhythms can be heard in the background, along with bands such as Third Eye Blind, Matchbox 20, Steely Dan, and George Ezra. She’s often told that she paints joyfully, something she attributes to this practice. “I think I paint happy because, first of all, it fulfills me, and secondly I have those beats in my head,” says Anderson. “It really carries me through.”
As a teacher at Brush and Palette since January, Anderson puts on music for her students every day, and believes it greatly enhances the process. The group calls themselves the Hot Splashes, and as their leader, Anderson tries to find whatever is newest in the world of watercolor in order to enrich everyone’s work. She learns something from everyone, and never wants to hear “I can’t” in the studio.
“Can’t never could. That’s an old southern thing,” laughs Anderson. “If you feel like you can’t do something, you won’t be able to. But if you feel that you can, dive in and do it.”