BRUSHSTROKES

Summer Edition, 2008It's been a busy, busy summer for BWS and its members! The main event, our membership show at Gallery North on the Square during the month of July, was very well received. Over three hundred people attended the opening reception, and one painting of Cathy Korinek's, "What to Do with Three Boys and a Boat," was sold. Congratulations to Cathy.

Kudos to Tricia Wente, show coordinator, and Nancy Metz, reception chair, for an excellent job putting it all together. Many members offered ideas, brought refreshments, and worked the night of the opening reception. Your enthusiastic participation is what makes BWS such a great organization. A huge THANK YOU to everyone!

Alice Sharp, our activities chair, organized several events for us, and at some delightful spots perfect for painting.

In May, a paint out at Stone Head on SR 135 south of Nashville was featured on the front page of the Brown County Democrat. Thanks to reporter Mike Kelley for the beautiful photo of Alice, an artist at work. View the story and photo at http://www.browncountyindiana.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=11418

The photo below was taken at Cheryl Duckworth's Flower Farm by Tricia Wente. A light rain had washed everything to a sparkling clean, the sun came out from behind the few remaining clouds, and the wildlife and flowers were sitting pretty, just waiting for us plein aire painters! Thanks a bunch to Cheryl for allowing us to visit her beautiful gardens again this year.

Our next venture was to the Mease Farm on Loesch Road, west of Bloomington, on July 13. There, we were visited by a rooster (saved from a rather nasty fate by the current tenants), and a mother cat and her kittens who spent most of the day climbing in and out of paint boxes, carriers, and easels. Alice captured the creatures below with her camera. The next door neighbor came over to say hello, then invited us to a wonderful lunch, right out of her garden. She was so taken with BWS that she signed up on the spot and invited us to a paint out at her farm next summer. Welcome to our newest member, Shell Ritter!

The schedule of remaining paint outs includes September 13 at the T.C. Steele home (details at www.tcsteele.org/); September 27 at Musgrave Orchard; Wednesday, October 8 at the 1800s Talbot cabins; and our end of summer get together and paint out on Sunday, October 26 at Oliver Winery. Watch your email for more information as the events draw nearer.

Tricia Wente, shown at right, created a beautiful portrait of Jill Behrman, in Jill's memory, for Jill's House. This facility was built with love by the community and will serve a much needed purpose, that of providing housing to people who are here in Bloomington for medical treatment. For more information and photos of the grand opening, please go to http://www.jills-house.org/

Jane Jensen was honored with a permanent exhibit at the new IU Credit Union. The IUCU purchased a collection of Jane's paintings and they will be displayed at the IU Memorial Credit Union. Stop by when you are on campus to get a look at this outstanding exhibit.

Jeanne Iler won second and third places in the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce's cover design contest.

Connie Brorson received a purchase award at the Napannee Spring Into Art Fair. She also will exhibit at the Jasper (Indiana) 15th Annual Art Show. This exhibit takes place in September at the Krempp Gallery, and details may be obtained at http://www.jasperindiana.gov/pages.cfm?departmentid=131#3754

ART for ALL SEASONS

The Art for All Seasons juried show, sponsored by the Sycamore Land Trust and Gallery North on the Square, offered BWS members an opportunity to be included in a project that works to conserve our vanishing landscapes. We are pleased to announce First and Second place winners are BWS members! Congratulations to Gillian Harris for her first place win, Gleanings, Beanblossom Bottoms, an amazingly intricate botanical drawing, and Lisa Tipton for her Second Place winner, a watercolor titled Indiana Boardwalk. Lisa's painting was also one of two "signature" images used in the advertising of the exhibit. Jeanne Iler's watercolor, Hawk - the Big Catch, received the Prairie Partner Barbara Restle Award.

Gillian also received a special invitation to exhibit her second botanical drawing, Houses, Beanblossom Bottoms, an honor extended to only five entries.

Several BWS members were juried into the show including Tricia Wente, Sammye Smith, Sara Steffey-McQueen, Cathy Korinek, Donna Kluesner, Linda Meyer-Wright, Carolyn Rogers-Richard, Jacki Frey, and Jeanne Ellen Dutton.

The exhibit moves to Stillframes in Columbus, and the French Lick Resort and Casino in September.

Artist-signed copies of the AFAS calendar are available at Gallery North for $14.95 plus tax (total $16.00). The calendar features works by several BWS members, and individual pages can be framed.

The AFAS exhibit is open through August 29, Wednesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Gallery North, 116 W Sixth Street in Bloomington.

OPPORTUNITIES

"Seeing the Land" is a juried landscape show open to Indiana artists by the University of Indianapolis. For a pdf entry form, due by September 15, call the U of I Art and Design Department at 317-788-3253 or email frieskj@uindy.edu

CLASSES

At the John Waldron Arts Center

Linda Meyer-Wright, A Different Point of View, a class about color and design.

Jacki Frey, Watercolor for the Beginning and Intermediate Painter.

Amanda Mathis, Outsider Art Painting.

Complete course content may be found at http://www.artlives.org/things_to_do/documents/TheWaldronFallCourses2008.pdf

At the Peoples' University, Bloomington Parks and Recreation

Jeanne Iler, Creative Drawing and, also, Basic Knitting

Course catalog is online at http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=546;

Through IVTC Center for Lifelong Learning

Jeanne Iler, Basic Jewelry...and More!

Jeanne Ellen Dutton, Introduction to Watercolor

Course catalog is at http://www.bloomington.ivytech.edu/CLL/classes/art.html

NEXT MEETING:

Monday, September 8, 6:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church.

Watch your email for details about the program.

See you there!

Brushstrokes is an (almost) monthly

publication of the Bloomington (Indiana) Watercolor Society
Jeanne Ellen Dutton, editor and 2008 President
PO Box 5236
Bloomington IN 47407-5236
members@bloomingtonwatercolor.org
BloomingtonWatercolor.org

BWS Meeting Minutes June 9, 2008

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:15 p.m.

Three new members were introduced: Gillian Harris, Betty David, and Sally Steele. James Yang introduced his granddaughter, Rachel Stahel.

The May 12 minutes were posted on-line; Mary Reinhold moved to approve; Tricia Wente seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as posted.

The CRITTERS poster, announcing the current exhibit at Gallery North, was circulated. It features a watercolor by Cathy Korinek titled "Study of Black and White in Color."

Jeanne Iler reminded us that the entries for the juried show, "Art for All Seasons," are due by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11.

Tricia Wente discussed the July membership show which will take place at Gallery North. Invitations will be printed and she will email participants when they are ready. Postcards will be available to be picked up at Gallery North. BWS will purchase wine, pay for the permit, and members will bring refreshments. Nancy Metz is in charge of the reception and circulated a sign-up sheet. The reception will be July 11 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Jacki Frey discussed the Judi Betts workshop. It's confirmed as we have enough participants to proceed. Connie Brorson commented that she had taken a workshop from Judi and highly recommends her teaching.