Lucy Graves McVicker is one of Princeton’s most well-loved artists. A founding member of the Princeton Artists’ Alliance, she is also a prime mover in the Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS), which is having its 46th Annual Juried Show, “Nature’s Beauty,” at the D&R Greenway now through September 25.

This year Ms. McVicker didn’t apply to the annual juried show. But fans of her work will not be disappointed; a separate exhibition titled “Imaginary Landscapes,” also at the D&R Greenway, features some 20 recent paintings by this remarkable artist who has had an enormous impact on local and regional artists and art enthusiasts.

“I felt it would be unfair to participate [in the Garden State Watercolor Society show] when I will be having a solo exhibition,” said Ms. McVicker in a telephone interview Monday.

A celebratory reception for the artist will take place tomorrow, Thursday, August 27, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Of the work in “imaginary Landscapes” Ms. McVicker said: “I don’t work from photographs but rather abstractly at first, and I love nature, especially trees, which sadly are being threatened in Princeton by the Emerald Ash Borer, and much of this exhibition is devoted to trees.”

As the exhibition title suggests, the artist works from her imagination, allowing the viewer to discover the scene within the painting, which may appear to be abstract until a closer encounter reveals a grounding in the natural environment.

“The moods of nature have been my primary concern. But I do not wish to portray them in a literal fashion. Using various media, I attempt to capture the essence of the natural world in a more creative, semi-abstract way,” she said. “I endeavor to create a mood (or even a mystery) which encourages the viewer to explore and participate, along with me, in the creative process.”

One aspect of the show, which is of significant import to the artist, is that a percentage of all sales of the paintings on view goes to support the D&R Greenway’s preservation and stewardship of nature in New Jersey. Ms. McVicker is more than happy to contribute to the Land Trust, not only because of its commitment to artists — Ms. McVicker’s work and that of her husband, Charles McVicker, has appeared in D&R Greenway exhibitions since the restored barn opened as the Land Trust’s offices in 2006 — but primarily because of its land preservation goals.

Besides showings at the D&R, Ms. McVicker’s artwork is familiar to visitors to the new Princeton Health Care System complex and the Edward and Marie Matthews Center for Cancer Care. In addition to over 80 exhibitions, 38 of them juried, Ms. McVicker has received numerous awards, including a gold medal at a recent Audubon National juried exhibition in Manhattan and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Purchase Award. Her work is popular with collectors such as Johnson & Johnson, Princeton University, the DuPont Corporation, Capital Health System, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and ADP Corporation.

Her work has been described by Russ Johnson, director of the New American Gallery, as “a bold and refreshing take on the familiar.” She is an artist who imbues the ordinary with extraordinary meaning.

“Imaginary Landscapes.” will be on view through September 25 in the Evelyne V. Johnson Room on the ground floor of at D&R Greenway Land Trust’s circa 1900 barn, One Preservation Place, Princeton. To attend the free opening reception, contact rsvp@drgreenway.org.

Garden State Watercolor Society

Founded in 1969 by noted watercolorist Dagmar Tribble, the non-profit GSWS encourages painting in water media and provides educational and exhibition opportunities for artists and residents of New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

The 46th Annual Juried Show, “Nature’s Beauty,” will feature 65 artists from Cape May to Sussex County as selected by juror Jeanne Dobie, a nationally respected author, educator, and artist trained at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art (now University of the Arts).

Ms. Dobie’s popular book Making Color Sing, has been distributed internationally in English, French, and Chinese and she was recognized by Watercolor Magazine as one of the “20 Great Teachers” in 2006.

Many of the watercolorists in the show, such as Tom Chesar, Joan Gantz, Charles McVicker, Beth Shoenleber, and Jinnie May, are nationally known.

“We are delighted to partner once again with the Garden State Watercolor Society,” said D&R Greenway Land Trust President and CEO Linda Mead, adding that the inspiring artwork on display harmonizes with the Land Trust’s mission of preserving and protecting a permanent network of natural lands and open spaces. “Together, D&R Greenway and GSWS hope to inspire a conservation ethic that results in an increased public commitment to land preservation and stewardship.”

“Many artists are inspired by the world around them,” commented Judy Hummer, GSWS exhibition co-chair. “Their experiences are shaped by the environment and the interactions that occur in their day-to-day lives. This influence is transmitted and expressed when an artist creates work. Such seemingly simple decisions as what medium to use, the type of paper, and choice of palette all play a role in how the artist’s intention will come across to the viewer. There are many ways to interpret the theme of the show and our artists have responded beautifully with a variety of subject matter, media, and technique.”

The Garden State Watercolor Society’s 46th Annual Juried Show, “Nature’s Beauty,” will be in the Marie L. Matthews Galleries through Friday, September 25, when a closing reception for the artists will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. To attend, contact rsvp@drgreenway.org. For more information, call (609) 924-4646, or visit: www.drgreenway.org. For more on the GSWS, visit: www.gswcs.com.