Diane Zepeski has been working away to complete a new watercolour series in time for the Fort Langley Artists' Group summer show.

Using her large garden as inspiration, the Fort Langley retiree is producing four works for the FLAG Artists' Choice show that opens Canada Day. Each summer FLAG allows its member artists to decide which pieces they want to showcase. That means Zepeski's irises could be sitting right next to a sculpture of a hand or an abstract painting awash in colour. The not knowing is part of the fun.

Zepeski has been a FLAG member for about four years, after moving to Langley about 11 years ago and taking up painting. Zepeski's preferred medium is watercolour. "The transparency of the watercolours is good with florals," she said.

She jokes that it's also good for her as an artist to work in a medium that she can leave for a while, to chase after a toddling grandchild. She can also leave the painting to let it dry before adding the next layer.

She's tac thought to broadening her palette. "I keep thinking about acrylics," she said. "Maybe later this year I'll try some."

Artists' Choice kicks off July 1 with the annual art in the garden demonstrations which are free to attend. FLAG members will not only be painting but will also have some 3-D art on the go. People are invited to stop in noon to 4 p.m. to chat with the artists and see them at work.

Worn and Rusted
The third show of the 2011 season in the FLAGstop gallery opens July 30, runs to September 5, Labour Day. Works by Julie Bourne (mural) and Robin Bandenieks shown in photo from The Langley Times August 24.