As one walks through the three rooms of the Bedford County Arts Center this month, it's like flipping through the pages of a photo album, except, instead of ogling over vacation smiles and baby drool, it's a peek into everyday life in rural America.

Lynne Magee, a watercolor artist exhibiting approximately 20 paintings through June 29, captures the hidden, sometimes forgotten or taken-for-granted moments that shape an individual.

Magee said that her subjects have a strong emphasis on artistic narrative. "The inspiration for my paintings comes from my everyday life, memories from my childhood and old family photos," Magee said.

Magee's paintings include a wide variety of subject material. Old vehicles and older men appear side by side. In"Ol' Blue," an ancient truck lies rotting in the woods while"The Blacksmith" shows a man who is much more than a blacksmith. He holds his chin with two fingers and looks pensive, with the shade from his hat covering his sly grin.

A young lady appears in a couple of Magee's paintings, hanging laundry outside to dry in"Going on Line" and"Back on Line." One can almost feel the breeze trace the bottoms of the pants and shirts as wisps of hair fall into the woman's face.
Across the gallery from her, references to nature can be seen.

Pink and purple petals protrude from a painting called"Iris" next to "Delicate Flower," in which a young woman wearing a summer dress seems to be completely surrounded by brightly-colored wildflowers.

The colors in Magee's paintings vary considerably from one to the next. Just as there are bright hues in paintings like"Iris," there also are more neutral tones in paintings like"View from Halfmoon Valley Road." In the
latter, a farm is shown on an overcast winter day.

Magee said that she creates a painting in her mind before committing to the paper. "I start with a photo, value sketch and a drawing," she said."I try to relinquish control of the medium as much as possible when I begin. I let the
colors mix and melt on the wet paper and respond to that."

Magee said that she enjoys a feeling of spontaneity and freshness when an idea successfully takes shape in one of her paintings. "My goal is to take advantage of the glowing luminosity, vibrancy and granulation that are intrinsic to watercolor," she said.

Magee is considered a signature member of the American Watercolor Association, a title which is obtained by having previously exhibited in two of the AWS' past annual shows. In addition, Magee is a member of several other art organizations and has exhibited nationally and internationally. She also has had her work exhibited in several one-woman shows and has received numerous awards.

Magee taught art for several years in New York and Pennsylvania schools and has been involved in more than 40 residencies for the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, in addition to teaching workshops for children and adults at the Altoona satellite location.

Last year, one of Magee's paintings was featured in Adirondack Life magazine.

Magee will be in attendance for a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 10 at the arts center.

First example -In several of her watercolor paintings, Lynne Magee chooses
subjects from nature, such as this bouquet of brightly-colored flowers
displayed in a vase in "Floral Confetti"; a young woman surrounded by
wildflowers in "Delicate Flower"; and dark purple and pink petals in "Iris."

Third example - In Magee's painting, Booker and Izzie B., a young girl rests her
chin on the belly of her best friend. T