The latest milestone in Bev Jozwiak’s painting career was a decade in the making.
The Vancouver painter gained a signature membership with the American Watercolor Society earlier this month.
The society hosts an annual exhibition in New York City and showcases about 100 paintings out of the thousands received, Jozwiak said. “It’s the biggest watercolor society in the United States and the hardest to get into,” she said.
Her work had been previously displayed in 2003 and 2009 at the society’s show.
Jozwiak, 58, wasn’t sure what to expect when she submitted her watercolor painting, “All Dressed Up ………..,” for consideration.
“I don’t usually ever think I’m going to get in,” she said. “I just wait for another rejection letter, but this year I thought I might.”
Signature membership is extended to artists whose work has been selected for the national show three times in the span of a decade.
Jozwiak was thrilled to receive the accolade. “I was excited. I felt like jumping up and down for a little while,” she said.
But she isn’t resting on her laurels. Jozwiak has painted in acrylics for the past six years and hopes to gain more notoriety for those efforts. “Now I want to get into the Impressionist Society,” she said. “I’ve always got another goal. I’m never going to reach them all before I die.”
Local couple watch daughter on TV
Joel and Geri Lengyel had especially exciting holidays this year. The Woodland couple went to Las Vegas to have a “Wheel of Fortune” viewing party with their daughter, Sarah Lengyel, who appeared on an episode that aired Dec. 29.
“It was a blast,” said Joel, manager of Cascade Title Company of Cowlitz County. “We just had so much fun seeing her on national television.”
Calls from friends and family members came pouring in from around the country, added Geri, who works for PeaceHealth.
Sarah, who lives in Las Vegas, taped the episode in late July. Her mother and her sister, Jill, were in the audience.
Because producers knew Sarah’s episode would air the week before New Year’s, she had to do a little acting.
“I had to pretend it was New Year’s. I had to talk about my New Year’s resolutions,” said Sarah, 28, an administrative assistant for the Sands Foundation.
Sarah finished second, winning $6,200 in cash.
“It was definitely something on my bucket list,” she said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m glad I took it.”
Bits ’n’ Pieces is written by The Columbian’s Life staff and appears Mondays and Fridays. If you have a story you’d like to share, call Features & Business Editor Courtney Sherwood at 360-735-4561, or e-mail features@columbian.com.
