OUR ARTISTS

Lou Davidson Tillson

THE PAPA GALLERY

Lou Davidson Tillson

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved to draw.

She drew with crayons, pencils, and charcoal—which made a wonderfully big mess. She didn’t particularly like to paint, but she loved to draw. Then she grew up. She put away her pencils, charcoal sticks, and sketchbooks and earned three college degrees, married, raised a family, and became a college professor—not in Art, but in Organizational Communication.

She loved her life. She loved God, her family and friends, her students and colleagues, and the work she felt she had been called to do. She found joy in teaching, writing, cooking, traveling, and finding ways to help others grow. She was grateful for the many gifts and opportunities God had placed in her life. And yet, somewhere along the way, a small but persistent part of her knew something was missing.

Then came COVID.

As life slowed down and the world changed, a childhood friend introduced her to watercolor pencils. She began sketching, added water, and watched as color exploded across the paper. That little girl who had always loved to draw was still there, and something wonderful happened…

She. Was. Hooked!

Watercolor pencils led to watercolor pans and tubes, different papers and brushes, online tutorials, in-person classes (thank you, John McLaren!), and eventually a room in her home dedicated entirely to art because as every artist knows, art supplies multiply like dust bunnies and need a place to call their own.

Looking back, Lou sees her return to art not simply as a hobby discovered during a difficult season, but as a gift—an unexpected reminder that some of the things placed within us early in life are not lost when we set them aside. Perhaps they are simply waiting for the right season to bloom.

Today, Lou Davidson Tillson works primarily in watercolor, creating landscapes, florals, still lifes, animals, and abstract works often inspired by the beauty of western Kentucky and the mountains of West Virginia. Her faith, love of nature, and appreciation for the quiet wonders of everyday life continue to shape her work.

After a lifetime spent creating for work, family, students, and others, Lou has rediscovered the joy of creating simply because she must. She considers that rediscovery one of God’s unexpected gifts. The little girl who loved to draw never really went away – she was just waiting for her turn.

Artist statement

The landscapes of western Kentucky and the mountains of West Virginia are at the heart of my work. The changing light, colors, seasons, and solitude of these places continually inspire me. I see in nature an abundance of beauty, wonder, and evidence of God, the Master Creator. Painting has become one of the ways I slow down and take notice.

I am drawn to landscapes, florals, still lifes, animals, and abstract subjects—anything that captures a particular mood, moment, or sense of place. I work primarily in watercolor, combining a representational approach with impressionistic influences. I attempt to record what I see and convey how the place or subject makes me feel.

Nostalgia is an important thread in my work. I am drawn to the way a color, place, object, or season can awaken a memory or evoke a feeling of having been somewhere before. My hope is that my paintings invite viewers not only to look, but to pause—to notice the beauty around them, remember something meaningful, and perhaps experience a moment of gratitude and wonder of their own.

For me, watercolor offers the perfect balance between intention and discovery. I can begin with a drawing and a vision, but the movement of water and pigment inevitably introduces something unexpected. That element of surprise keeps me curious and reminds me that creating art is not always about controlling the outcome. Sometimes it is about paying attention, being open, and trusting the process.

I am so thankful for the quiet beauty of nature and try to express my gratitude through watercolor. Soli Deo Gloria.

SELECTED AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• 12 Artworks featured in a permanent collection – Dam Brewhaus, Benton KY – August 2026

• Wild Bouquet – February 2026 People’s Choice Award,
PAPA Gallery, Paducah, KY

• Committed – 2025 Mountain State Forest Festival
Elkins, WV – Juried Exhibition

• Rustic Blooms – 2025 Mountain State Forest Festival
Elkins, WV – Juried Exhibition, Short Show

• Bloomin’ Happiness – 2025 Mountain State Forest Festival
Elkins, WV – Juried Exhibition, Short Show

• Streamin’ – 2024 Mountain State Forest Festival
Elkins, WV – Juried Exhibition
Recipient of West Virginia Watercolor Society Award for Best Watercolor

• Out to Pasture – 2024 Mountain State Forest Festival
Elkins, WV – Juried Exhibition

• Evening Blooms – 2024 Mountain State Forest Festival, Elkins, WV – Juried Exhibition