NEW CASTLE, Pa. – For more than 30 years, artist Jocelyn Beatty has shared her love of watercolor with students at the Hoyt. This fall, visitors will have an opportunity to see both sides of that creative story.

“Realistic Reflections: A Collection of Watercolor and Acrylic Paintings” will be on view from Oct. 6 through Nov. 5 in the Main Galleries at Hoyt Arts Center, 124 E. Leasure Ave. A companion exhibition, “Inspired,” will feature work by Beatty’s students in the Blair Sculpture Walkway.

The public is invited to meet the artists during a free reception from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 10. Admission to the galleries and reception is free.

Beatty is known for richly colored paintings of wildlife, landscapes and flowers. Working in watercolor and acrylic, she combines careful observation and precise detail with a vibrant palette that brings the natural world to life.

Much of the inspiration for her recent work comes from travels with her husband, Ken. From Alaska to South America, Beatty has photographed and observed wildlife and landscapes firsthand, gathering the reference material that eventually makes its way into her paintings.

Her work has earned recognition in juried, group and solo exhibitions across the country, including the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, S.C.; the Easton Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Md.; and the Wild Wings Fall Festival in Lake City, Minn. Her imagery is also licensed through Wild Wings and has appeared on fabric, puzzles, prints, Cabela’s gift cards and other products.

But in New Castle, Beatty’s influence can also be seen in the artists she has helped develop.

For more than three decades, she has continued to teach watercolor at the Hoyt, working with students at various levels of experience and helping them strengthen both their skills and their individual artistic voices. “Inspired” brings some of those artists together, giving visitors an opportunity to see how one artist’s knowledge and encouragement can ripple outward through a creative community.

For more information, visit the Hoyt’s website.

Pictured at top: “Summer Ferns,” an acrylic painting by Jocelyn Beatty.