Watercolorist Deborah Conn celebrates inner resilience and strength through luminous, large-scale portraits of women in “A Sense of Herself.” Each woman gazes confidently, directly at the viewer. Each has a story, narrated in accompanying text blocks, from a woman who escaped an abusive arranged marriage to a Chinese immigrant housekeeper who managed to put four children through college.

Her work reflects the larger story of the women’s movement. “Art creates an emotional connection with the viewer. It can give us the strength to say things like ‘me too’ or ‘time’s up,’” Conn said. “I hope viewers will come away with a deeper connection to their own sense of self.”

Deborah Conn has been painting in watercolor for 20 years. Her work appears in national and regional shows, and recent awards include a first place in Potomac Valley Watercolorists’ exhibition at NOVA’s Ernst Community Cultural Center, an Award of Excellence at the Virginia Watercolor Society 2016 exhibit, and an honorable mention in The Art League’s April 2018 Open Exhibit. Conn teaches beginning and intermediate watercolor in her Falls Church home studio as well as on Cunard, Celebrity, and Azamara cruise lines.