Brushstrokes -- January 2011

by Kriste Lindberg

Presidential column

Greetings for the New Year!

Hope you had a happy/safe holiday season and were able to get a painting or two in. For the first time, I created a watercolor for my Christmas card. It’s a bit past the season, but thought I’d share it with you; it has brought joy to many, and I hope it will provide inspiration for you, particularly if you have signed up to paint a park! 

We have a terrific board line-up for you. Thanks to all who have stepped forward to help us with the administration of this wonderful organization. All committee chair positions have been filled. And there is ample opportunity to jump in and help with just above every committee – from helping set up exhibits to bringing in homemade (or not!) goodies.

We’re currently busy putting together meeting program ideas, paint out locations/dates, workshops, our annual show, and more – getting as much done ahead of time so we can have more flexibility to enjoy our scheduled interests as well as come up with a few new activities here and there. A little spontaneity now and then would be welcome, too.

For example, this year’s Brushstrokes will feature members talking about paintings they have created, adding a bit of depth and personalization to the subject. We will have plenty of opportunities during paint-outs, sketchcrawls (introduced last year) and just what we do on our own.

I look forward to working and painting with you throughout 2011

~ Kriste

BWS meets Jan. 10

The first meeting of 2011 will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at the First Christian Church at the corner of Kirkwood and Washington. Start the New Year off right with your painting pals.

1st Vice President Jo Weddle, Treasurer Carol Rhodes, President Kriste Lindberg, Secretary Charlotte Griffin, 2nd Vice President Betty Wagoner

Holiday Party Gallery

 

Russ and Vi Working

 

Carla Hedges

 

Deborah Rush and Jacki Frey



Meadowood’s holiday décor, the hearty appetizers and even heartier fellowship combined for a memorable Holiday Party for BWS Dec. 6. The evening’s main event was an Artist Trading Card swap, which happened spontaneously and connected members in an easy conversational manner.  Plus, everyone left with a multitude of miniature masterpieces.



Jan Brittain and Jo Weddle



Thanks to everyone who made the evening possible, especially Hospitality Chairs Sue Haverstock and Kathy Karnes and the Meadowood staff.

Take a class; Get a new perspective

BWS members will be teaching in several venues this winter. Here are some opportunities:



Jacki Frey workshop

5024 W. September Dr., Bloomington

Friday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Rural scene with barns and snow. Bring Chinese white and a toothbrush

$40

e-mail jackifrey@hotmail.com or call 320-6745

The following class is offered through Bloomington Parks and Recreation’s People’s University. To register, go to http://www.Bloomington.in.gov/arts-and-crafts .

Beginning Watercolor

Nancy Davis Metz

Tuesdays, Jan. 25 to Feb. 15

6 to 8:30 p.m.

Allison-Jukebox Community Center

$41

The following Ivy Tech classes meet at the Waldron Arts Center. To register, go to http://www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/enrichment/arts.html .

Beginning Watercolor, Part 1

Jeanne Dutton

Thursdays, Feb. 3 to March 10

9:30 a.m. to Noon

$119

Paint to Paper

Jeanne Dutton

Tuesdays, Feb. 1 to March 8

6 to 8:30 p.m.

$119 + $10 materials fee

Watercolor PLUS

Jeanne Iler

Thursdays, Feb. 3 to March 10

6 to 8 p.m.

$99

Stretch Your Wings in Watercolor: Find Your Voice in Paint

Linda Meyer-Wright

Mondays, Jan. 31 to March 7

12:30 to 3 p.m.

$99

Mixed Media Collage Exploration

Linda Meyer-Wright

Thursdays, Feb. 3 to March 10

6:30 to 9 p.m.

The following Ivy Tech class will be at the Burton-Kimble farm, two miles east of Orleans. To register, go to http://www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/enrichment/health.html.

Give It a Try: Beginning Watercolor

Nancy Davis Metz

Fridays, Feb. 4 to March 11

9:30 a.m. to Noon

$119

Wanted:  BWS members to talk about their art.

Each issue of Brushstrokes this year will feature a BWS member talking about a specific painting or piece of art he or she has created. All you have to do is volunteer to be featured, select one of your creations, and agree to be interviewed. To be featured in “Inspiration,” the name of this new monthly feature, e-mail me at nancy.davismetz@gmail.com.



WSI announces workshop schedule

Watercolor Society of Indiana will offer four workshops in 2011, each featuring a different instructor and style of painting. For more information on any of the workshops, call the WSI office at 317-814-6194 ext. 150 or the workshop chairperson at 317-257-4597.

A Classic Approach to Watercolor

Richard Stephens, who paints in a classic, loose watercolor style, will lead a four-day workshop, March 14-17. The cost is $325 for WSI members and $335 for non-members.

Finding Your Style

Christopher Schink, editor and co-founder of The Palette magazine, will help students find their own style, identify their strengths and help find a focus at his June 6 to 9 workshop.  Schink is one of the group that conducts the Taos Intensive Seminars each year (along with Katherine Chang Liu, Skip Lawrence, Fran Larsen and Alex Powers). The cost is $380 for WSI members, $390 for non-members.

Fearless Abstract Painting in Acrylics

Joe DiGuilio, a non-representational painter using acrylics, will focus on the four basic elements of abstract composition – line, shape, texture and color – at his July 25 to 27 workshop.  The cost is $250 for WSI members, $260 for non-members.

Landscape Painting with Stained Paper and Collage

Gerald Brommer will be in Indianapolis to lead a Sept. 13 to 17 workshop and to jury the WSI fall show. He will teach landscape collage, using washi (Japanese rice papers) to add layers of texture and depth.

News from Visual Arts Guild
The Visual Arts Guild will meet upstairs at the Irish Lion Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. Representatives from various visual arts groups are invited to share information about their organization and talk about networking benefits. For questions or more information, contact joanneshank@juno.com.

National Show Prospectus

The deadline for entering the Watercolor Missouri National 2011 exhibition is Jan. 18. The exhibition will be held at the world-famous National Churchill Museum on the campus of Westminster College. Juror of Selection is California artist Jerry Stitt, AWS, NWS and  MOWS. Juror of Awards is Missouri artist Stephen Bates NWS, MOWS. Both men are masters of watermedia painting. The exhibition will offer 14 cash awards, with a $1,0000 Award of Excellence. Download the prospectus from http://www.mowsart.com

SketchCrawl
The next SketchCrawl, an international drawing marathon, is Jan. 22. You can sketch in any medium and then post your work to http://www.sketchcrawl.com/. Find a paint pal, load up your paints and paper and find a warm spot to capture. The IU campus has hundreds of warm, dry vantage points from which to sketch.

Editor’s note

I hope you’ve enjoyed  the first issue of the 2011 volume of Brushstrokes, the (almost) monthly official publication of the Bloomington Watercolor Society. This electronic newsletter has been ably guided by Jeanne Dutton for several years, and now I am stepping into the editor’s slot.

I hope Brushstrokes will continue to be a valued source of information about watercolor in the Bloomington area. You can help make that happen by notifying me about where you are showing your artwork, any prizes won, and classes you are teaching. Also, clue me in on any watercolor news you’ve come across: a show prospectus or announcement, a workshop, an exhibition, etc. If it interests you, it will most likely interest others.

I will continue to put out a Call for Brushstrokes material, as Jeanne has done, but don’t think you have to wait for the call. E-mail me at any time (nancy.davismetz@gmail.com) or give me a call at 339-5353.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Nancy Davis Metz