TEHRAN-The 2nd International Watercolor Festival opened at Niavaran Cultural Center in northern Tehran on Friday.

Organized by Mahsa Mehdizadeh, owner of IWS Mah Art Gallery, and Sogol Ghomsianchi, owner of IWS Sogol Art Cafe Gallery, the festival showcases about 150 artworks selected by a jury of Iranian and foreign masters, ISNA reported.

The Iranian members of the jury include Ali Golbaz, Bahman Nikoo, Shahryar Vosough, and Shahin Arvin. Aatanur Dogan and Ayşın Keskiner from Turkey, Amit Kapoor from India, Thu Huong Coco from Vietnam, Michael Solovyev from Canada, and Tere Lojero from Mexico form the foreign members of the jury.

Along with the display of the paintings, two workshops are planned at the festival, demonstrated by masters Ali Golbaz and Mauri Virtanen.

The talented artist, Mauri Virtanen, of Finnish and Ecuadorian descent, is the recipient of numerous awards throughout South America and Europe, where he is well-recognized for his talent, many beautiful works of art are exhibited throughout Ecuador and Romania, his paintings are in public and private collections worldwide.

His preferred subjects to paint are horses, birds, wildlife, or flowers. Mauri’s mission is to capture the beauty of nature and everyday life in its most natural setting. In each of his masterpieces, he strives to captivate his audience and to create a conversation between its viewer and the work of art, each painting can be linked in a jigsaw puzzle, composed of various parts.

The International Watercolor Society (IWS) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2012 to promote the world’s oldest and most deeply rooted painting technique; the art of watercolor. Its activities involve bringing watercolor artists and art lovers together. Its headquarters are in the ancient city of Teos, Turkey on the eastern shores of the Aegean Sea.

The 2nd International Watercolor Festival will conclude on April 9.

SS/SAB