Plateau Creative Arts Center will present Drawn to Color, a vibrant new exhibition by watercolor artist Donna Cronce, who uses her expressive, light-filled works to celebrate the emotional power of color and the beauty found in everyday moments.
Cronce is the Featured Artist for this exhibition, with her show on display Oct. 2-Nov. 5.
A free public reception will be from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 2 at the arts center at 451 Lakeview Drive. Visitors are welcome to meet Cronce and fellow member artists while having light refreshments, including wine and nonalcoholic beverages.
Cronce has been drawing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she filled scrap paper with cartoon characters and imagined entire worlds, discovering early on that creativity was simply part of her identity.
In high school, she gravitated toward portraiture, developing a love for detail and the challenge of capturing expression. That passion led her into a career in graphic design, where she spent many years creating logos, brochures, and visual identities for companies across southeastern Wisconsin.
Her relationship with watercolor began 12 years ago during a beginner’s workshop at the Racine Art Museum. The medium immediately resonated with her — its translucency, unpredictability, and especially its luminous color.
Watercolor offered Cronce a way to merge precision with spontaneity, and it quickly became her artistic home.
While flowers remain a favorite subject, color itself is the driving force behind her work. Inspired by the vibrance of nature and the shifting play of light, Cronce seeks clarity, glow, and intensity in every piece, drawing influence from artists such as Marny Ward.
Drawn to Color showcases her radiant watercolor paintings, rooted in her love of bold, saturated hues and the way watercolor allows light to move through every layer. Her florals glow with luminous, expressive color, and remain central to her work, but the exhibition also highlights pieces inspired by “found” color — moments where color appears unexpectedly in daily life, often in places easily overlooked.
Cronce’s process begins with photography. She captures blooms, foliage, and found color in dynamic light, where shadows and highlights reveal shape, texture, and intensity. She often blends elements from multiple images — a bloom from one photo, a bud or color fragment from another — creating compositions that feel both natural and intentionally crafted.
Each painting develops slowly through translucent washes. Watercolor demands patience, and Donna embraces that rhythm. Layer by layer, vibrance and clarity build until the subject feels alive on the paper.
Visitors are encouraged to explore Cronce’s Drawn to Color display, explore the gallery, meet the artists during scheduled events, and experience the vibrant creative community flourishing in the region.
The October member challenge, A Season of Holidays, invites artists to explore the rich tapestry of seasonal celebrations through personal creative expression. Members may draw from memories, cultural traditions, and meaningful experiences to create works in any medium.
Glitz and Glitter
The fifth annual Glitz and Glitter returns to the Plateau Creative Arts Center next month for a festive weekend of art, crafts, and community spirit.
The event will be Oct. 17-18, with hours from 4-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Guests can enjoy wine tasting, door prizes every 30 minutes, a Sunday bake sale, snacks, hot cider, music, and more.
Sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission, this annual event encourages early holiday shopping while supporting community artists and makers.
Admission is free; donations are appreciated.
Plateau Creative Arts Center is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. It is dedicated to teaching, learning and inspiring by cultivating the artistic talent and abilities of people, making all art accessible in a welcoming and enriching environment.
Membership is open to artists, art lovers, and those who believe in the power of creativity to bring people together. Membership opens the door to classes, exhibits, and friendships that grow through shared inspiration.
Visit the Plateau Creative Arts Center, or call 931-707-7249 for more information.
Plateau Creative Arts Center/Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and an equal opportunity provider. Visit plateauarts.org, Facebook and Instagram to learn about other art classes, exhibits, membership, opportunities and events.