Tuesday, February 2, 2010

BRUSHSTROKES

January 2010

DATES and UPDATES

Monthly Meeting
Monday, February 8
First Christian Church
6:00 pm
After a brief business meeting, Jacki Frey will present a follow up on the January perspective lesson by Vesta Seville. You have all seen Jacki’s beautiful paintings of buildings and street scenes. She will share some of her sketches of buildings, and bring a book about perspective.

("Chief's House," watercolor on paper by Jacki Frey)

For the lesson, please bring drawing and paint supplies, and a photo with some perspective: a scene with a house or building, or some other idea that represents perspective to you. You can do a study of your image, then do a painting, if time permits. Or, you may choose to have a completed drawing done with perspective to paint. If anyone has questions about perspective, there are several members who can assist you.
See what you are able to complete and then bring those back for Show-and-Share in March. Have fun!

FILL UP YOUR CALENDAR
It looks to be a busy year for BWS, so get out your datebooks – here is the list of activities for 2010. Of course, events are subject to change, so look for updates and details here in Brushstrokes or www.BloomingtonArts.info

March 8 – Monthly Meeting; Linda Meyer-Wright, Experimental Watercolor
April 12 – Monthly Meeting; Carol Rhodes, Color Theory
April 17 – Reception and Paint Out at Columbus Learning Center, 10:00 – 2:00
May 10 – Monthly Meeting; Nancy Davis Metz,
Brushwork: Getting Ready to Paint
May 15 - Paint Out: TC Steele Festival of Flowers, 7:00 – 3:30
June 12 – Paint Out at Meadowood, hosted by Connie Brorson, 10:00 – 2:00
June 14 – Monthly Meeting; Jacki Frey, Negative Painting
July 24 – Paint Out at Duckworth Flower Farm, hosted by Cheryl Duckworth, 10:00 – 2:00
August 7 – Paint Out at Bob Talbot’s 1800s Cabin, hosted by Bob Talbot, 10:00 – 2:00
September 11 – Paint Out: TC Steele Great Outdoor Arts Contest, 7:00 – 3:30
September 13 – Monthly Meeting; Bob Talbot & Carol Rhodes, Composition
October 3 - Paint Out at Story Inn and Bed & Breakfast, 10:00 – 2:00
October 11 – Monthly Meeting; Jeanne Dutton, Splatter Painting
November 8 – Monthly Meeting; Christmas Cards, Decorations, Paper Sculptures
December 13 – Holiday Party, Artist Trading Cards
(Many thanks to the officers and committee chairs who have cranked out this year's schedule in advance. We appreciate it!!)


GOOD NEWS and KUDOS
Linda Meyer-Wright has been elected secretary of the Watercolor Society of Indiana. All Bloomington watercolorists are encouraged to join. With that membership comes the opportunity to participate in workshops, enter shows, and “attend cool demos and fun social events.” There are two options for memberships: $45 or $60. Find more information on the WSI website at www.watercolorsocietyofindiana.org/

OPPORTUNITIES

SAVE OUR WALDRON
As you all have been reading, the John Waldron Art Center is in financial straits. The current board and executive director have spent the last few months assessing the current situation and exploring means to “Save Our Waldron.”
I, personally, cannot imagine Bloomington, the art destination of southern Indiana, without an art center. My granddaughter takes the summer session for kids, and wow! What an incredible experience. And, on the last day, the children even have their own art exhibit. Where else can such complete creative opportunity be found? Clay, collage, painting. It’s a special two weeks for children, that’s for sure, and only we can save all programs like these.

We, as citizens of the art community, can help in two ways:

ONE, subscribe to a membership. It’s only $50 for an individual, $75 for a family. And extra donations can be submitted at that time, too. What are the benefits, besides helping keep the Waldron open?
• 10% discount on Gallery Shop purchases
• 20% discount on classes
• 10% discount on facility rentals
• Special invitation to members-only events
• Bulk mailing discounts - As a member artist or arts organization, you may utilize the BAAC’s bulk mailing permit to substantially reduce postage costs for larger mailings.
Go to http://www.artlives.org/ for information, or stop by the Waldron and sign up!
TWO, VOLUNTEER! The staff are working without pay and we can support them in their efforts to “Save Our Waldron.” Tuesday evening, February 2, there is a call out for volunteers at 5:30 at the Waldron Conference Room on the mezzanine. I’ll be there. Will you join me?

Art Fest '10
Columbus, Indiana
August 28
Columbus Artfest issued an open call for entries for its annual Fine Art Fair, August 28, in downtown Columbus. This event is sponsored by Stillframes Photography and the Downtown Business Association
Online applications can be submitted at http://www.columbusartfest.com/.
Deadline for entry is May 1.
The jury process requires four images of your work and one of your booth. Images must be digital and not to exceed 1920 pixel on the longest side. Images can be submitted through www.columbusartfest.com or on a CD. The $15 jury fee must be sent with the application.
Upon notification of acceptance into the show, artists will be charged $50 for a single booth and $80 for a double booth. Booth space will not exceed 12'X12'. An end booth is an additional $30.

Artists may enter more than one category, but each category requires a separate application, set of images and jury fee. The 14 categories are Ceramics, Fiber/Leather, Glass, Jewelry, Furniture, Oil Painting, Sculpture, Metal, Acrylic Painting, Watercolors, Photography, Wood, Mixed Media, and Printmaking. For a complete listing of event policies, please contact Stillframes Photography, 408 Washington Street, Columbus, IN 47201 at 812-372-0762.

Greene County Marsh Madness Festival
Every spring, waterfowl and cranes migrate to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County. This year, organizers of the Marsh Madness Festival hope artists will flock there as well.
Festival organizers have asked artists, crafters and merchants who specialize in items related to birds and wildlife to apply for vendor booths. The booths will be indoors at Humprey's Park on Highway 54 in Linton. They will be open March 6 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spaces measure 8'X12' with an 8' table. A single booth will cost $45 and a double $80.
To apply for space, contact Wendy Spurlin via e-mail (wspurlin@juno.com) or call 812-699-0353:

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for application has passed, but there are two booths still open for vendors.

Watercolor Society of Indiana Scholarship
Know a high school senior who excels in the arts? The WSI board would like your assistance in helping to advertise the WSI scholarship opportunity.
The deadline for entries is May 1, 2010, and information about the scholarship can be found at watercolorsocietyofindiana.org/education_outreach.html

Applicants must be intending to pursue a degree in fine arts or art education. Please let interested students know about this opportunity, and, if possible, inform the art departments at high schools in your area.

PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE

BEAD, the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District, Newsletter can be found, full of fun stuff, at bloomington.in.gov/bead

Sandy Maudlin will be visiting us soon to present a workshop. (Stay tuned for all the details!) Check out her blog at sandymaudlin.blogspot.com/ and enjoy this artist’s beautiful work.

Do you subscribe to Watercolor Artist magazine? What a great publication for us painters! artistsnetwork.com/watercolorartist/ has an article about watercolor societies across the nation, and features work from each one. (I don’t know how they missed BWS, but we will forgive them for that oversight!!)

Brushstrokes is an (almost)
monthly publication of the
Bloomington (IN) Watercolor Society
PO Box 5236
Bloomington IN 47407-5236
Jeanne Ellen Dutton, editor
Jo Weddle, 2010 president