When the Hopkinsville Art Guild planned Saturday’s Christian County Art Loop, the organization wanted to include opportunities for live demonstrations by local artists.
One of the youngest artists who participated was Cheyenne Peterson, 18, of Pembroke, who began a large watercolor painting of the Alhambra Theatre building Saturday afternoon inside the downtown theater lobby, which is where Peterson and her sister, Sahara Peterson, had their works displayed. It was one of several locations in the art loop where patrons could view and purchase paintings, art photography, pottery, woodwork, textiles, fused glass and other pieces.
“One thing about watercolors, once you figure it out you can just kinda use your instincts,” Cheyenne told me as she began dabbing colors to paper on an easel.
“I’ve had people tell me watercolor is very hard for them,” Cheyenne said. “… but you can just start painting, even if it’s just colors.”
In other words, a watercolorist doesn’t need a plan to begin making art, she said. Something will emerge.
The timing of her demonstration proved worthwhile for art loop patron May Broadbent, who is recently retired and hoping to make more time for painting in her life. Cheyenne showed May how to use different brushes and techniques for adding water to colors to create different shades.
This kind of connection — where a rising high school senior can teach watercolor methods to a new retiree — is exactly what comes from events like the Christian County Art Loop.
Here’s hoping the Hopkinsville Art Guild organizes the event for a third year in 2027.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
