SAXONBURG — When Stanley Iwanski moved from his home in Natrona, he gave little thought to the original watercolor images he abandoned under the bed.

But the images eventually found their way to Elmcroft Assisted Living and Memory Care center, where Iwanski, 88, now lives.

The 25 watercolors will be sold at a silent auction April 2 in the Elmcroft lobby on Bella Court. Proceeds will benefit the Associated Artists of Butler County.

"I am delighted that I can show the community the wonderful art that he has created," said community relations director Tina Lamaison, who suggested the fundraiser when she learned of the salvaged watercolors.

Iwanski was reunited with the artwork after his brother stumbled upon it while cleaning out the house, which Iwanski vacated last year to relocate to Elmcroft.

"They brought this whole box and said 'What do want to do with it?' I said 'I don't care what you do with them,'" Iwanski said.

Paul Scanlon, president of AABC, said the auction comes at a good time, since the recent past has shown a decline in grants and donations."At the end of last year we went to an all-volunteer basis instead of having paid staff," he said, noting the change has helped AABC regain financial stability.To round out the auction selection, Scanlon also will contribute about 10 original photographs. The photos and watercolors will be matted, with frames recycled from materials already on hand at the center on Main Street.Minimum bids for many of the pieces will begin at $15, Scanlon said.Iwanski began painting in the 1980s after retiring from his job as a hospital administrator in Cleveland.An avid traveler, he learned the basics of watercolor painting while on an Elderhostel trip to Kentucky."I always traveled," he said.Although much of Iwanski's art depicts travel destinations, some also includes still life and landscape scenes."Stanley gives me inspiration to pursue things in life that one would only dream about doing — because he started to paint at a later stage in his life," Lamaison said."I hope that this will inspire many people to do what they have always just dreamed about doing and have been afraid to take this first step because they feel they should have started (earlier)."Since moving to Elmcroft, Iwanski has stopped doing larger projects, but instead is painting greeting cards — many to be sent for Easter."I've always enjoyed it as a hobby," he said."It's for recreation more than anything else."

<B>WHAT:</B> Silent art auction featuring original watercolor images by Stanley Iwanski and photographs by Paul Scanlon. Proceeds will benefit the Associated Artists of Butler County<B>WHEN:</B> 6 to 9 p.m. April 2<B>WHERE:</B> Elmcroft Living & Memory Care facility, 100 Bella Court, Saxonburg<B>INFO:</B> Call 724-352-2827

Artist Stanley Iwanski, 88, tests his watercolors as he paints Easter cards in his room at Elmcroft Assisted Living and Memory Care center in Saxonburg. Twenty-five original watercolors by Iwanski will be sold at a silent auction April 2 in the Elmcroft lobby on Bella Court. Proceeds will benefit the Associated Artists of Butler County.