By Kathryn Purcell
Managing Editor

Artist Becky Reynolds has been painting since she was two years old.
Consequently, she's been in more than a few art shows, including one at Atlanta's Waverly Hotel as well as the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, once held at Lenox Square. Her work has been on display in Athens, Madison and in the Susie Agnes Hotel in Bostwick.
However, if you've been to Bostwick's Cotton Gin Festival in the past 10 years, you've seen Reynolds' work. She's the artist behind the design of the festival's T-shirts.
It's appropriate, then, that Reynolds draws her inspiration, at least in part, from her Bostwick surroundings.
"Just being outside sometimes will do it," Reynolds said.
Aside from the outdoors, she is also very much inspired by her children and grandchildren.
"I have different inspirations; sometimes children will inspire me, sometimes animals, sometimes beautiful things in nature," Reynolds said. "I just have to run and buy a canvas."
The featured artist for the Madison Artists Guild's First Friday event, Reynolds works in all media, watercolor being her favorite. Further, she takes pride in the variety of subject matter she paints.
"I do a variety of things," Reynolds said. "I have many interests; I do animals, I do children, I do wildlife, I do flowers, I do horses. I run the gamut; there's nothing I haven't tackled to date."
In studying her craft, Reynolds studied under artist Jean Wilhite Trammell in Winterhaven, Fla. and learned from different workshops. She has also taught art to both adults and children.
"There are just some days you have more [inspiration] than others," Reynolds said, of her experience with painting. "Some days I can stand in front of a piece of canvas and nothing will happen, and sometimes I will wake up in the middle of the night and I will just paint until I'm crazy...I paint from the heart; I paint what I feel. Basically, it just comes together on the canvas."
Reynolds expressed excitement about the chance to have her work on display in the First Friday event, claiming that the opportunity allows her to grow as an artist.
"I am very honored to do this," Reynolds said. "I like to show my work because I think, like one of my fellow artists has said, 'Art does not exist in a vacuum.' You can paint all these things and they only bring pleasure to you until you put them out there."
The opening of April's First Friday exhibit, sponsored by the Madison Artists Guild and The Shops at the Ice House Underground, will be held Friday, April 4 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Shops at the Ice House Underground, located at 271 West Washington Street in Madison. Wine and refreshments will be provided, and there is no cost to attend.