Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Brushstrokes -- June 2012


June 2012
IN THIS ISSUE
  • June Meeting
  • June Paint Out
  • French Lick in the Fall
  • BWS Scholarship
  • Connie Brorson's Art at Renwick
  • Henryville Thank You's
  • Birds, Bottles and Brushes
  • Urban Bird Day
  • Member Activities
  • Opportunities and Events
JUNE MEETING
Monday, June 11, is the next BWS meeting at 6:00 at First Christian Church, but…we will meet in the meeting room on the main floor.

The newest Signature Members will be announced, and then Vi Working will present a program about dry brush painting.  Vi is providing Arches 4.5" x 6" watercolor paper and will prepare each paper with a blue wash for members to work with the "dry brush technique.”   The other supplies to bring are:
White tempera paint (Michael’s offers a 16 oz jar for under $2)
One tube of color paint
One or two smaller sizes of stiffer brushes, which can be very old, worn brushes
Water cup to clean brushes
Paper towels

Two important notes: 
1. This is the last meeting before Summer Break. The next meeting is Sept. 10; however, there are summer activities in the works.  Watch your email for updates and news.


2. 2012-2013 membership dues are due by June 30.  Please pay by check or cash at the meeting; mail a check to BWS, PO Box 5236, Bloomington, 47407; or, to pay by credit card or check, go to http://bloomingtonwatercolor.org/join.htm and click "Join Now."

Many thanks to Betty Wagoner for her presentation on figurative painting at the May meeting!

Everyone is hard at work.

JUNE 16 PAINT OUT
Meadowood, 2455 Tamarack Trail, Bloomington
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Reservations required

Connie Brorson is hosting the June 16 paint out at Meadowood Retirement Community.  There are many scenic spots on the property just right for plein air painting.  Connie has graciously arranged for the BWS artists to be served lunch - reservations are required!  Please RSVP to members@bloomingtonwatercolor.com no later than Tuesday, June 12.  If it rains, we can still find dry places to paint, so come on out and enjoy the day!


Directions:  Take SR 45/46 (the ByPass) to Dunn.  Take Dunn Street NORTH.  Look for the Meadowood sign.  Turn right and just follow that road around to the main building and you'll find us in the garden along the street.  Get a map at http://maps.yahoo.com/#q=2455+Tamarack+Trl%2C+Bloomington%2C+IN+47408&conf=1&start=1&lat=39.18965755919961&lon=-86.51696920394897&zoom=16&mvt=m&trf=0


FRENCH LICK IN THE FALL

Southern Indiana fall foliage, a world-class resort and all its amenities, hours of watercolor instruction, and the opportunity to share ideas with artists in a three-state area. All this and more are coming together for "We Paint ... the Springs" Sept. 21 to 23 at French Lick Resort. BWS is producing this weekend watercolor conference in collaboration with Ivy Tech.

In addition to the workshops, registrants will receive three tubes of Dick Blick paint and a sheet of Twin Rocker paper. Gifts from Jerry's Artarama will be presented randomly throughout the day. Preston Arts Center from Louisville will set up a small shop where participants can purchase supplies for the Saturday workshops or Sunday Paint Out.

To register, call Ivy Tech Center for Lifelong Learning at 812-330-6041 and be prepared to choose the sessions you want to attend (Go to www.bloomingtonwatercolor.org/conference for program information) and to provide credit card information. You may also register by completing the registration form at www.bloomingtonwatercolor.org/conference and mailing it with payment to Ivy Tech Center for Lifelong Learning, 122 S Walnut St, Bloomington, IN 47404. If you do not have access to a computer and need to have a registration form sent to you, please call Nancy Metz at 812-339-5353 or Jeanne Dutton at 812-331-1628.

The full weekend conference fee is $199 and includes Friday reception; Saturday breakfast, lunch and social hour; Sunday Paint Out registration and lunch). The Saturday-only fee is $179 and includes Saturday breakfast, lunch and social hour. The Sunday-only fee is $40 and includes Paint Out registration and lunch.

To make room reservations, call French Lick Resort at 1-888-936-9360 and use the code 0912BWS for the conference discount. The room reservation deadline is Aug. 20; however, BWS conference planners learned at a recent site visit that the West Baden Springs is sold out Sept. 22, and that will make the French Lick reservations move more quickly. The advice is to reserve a room earlier rather than later.


BWS ART SCHOLARSHIP
by Jeanne Ellen Dutton
It is a pleasure to announce that BWS has established an Art Scholarship!  The $300 scholarship, designated for the purchase of art supplies, will be awarded in Spring 2013 to a graduating senior from Bloomington High School North or South.  Working with the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools (FMCCS), the committee set up a system of application and award through the Foundation.  Once the student is enrolled in an accredited institution of higher learning, and majoring in visual fine art, architecture, design, or art education, a gift card will be provided for the purchase of art supplies only. 
The scholarship will be funded at first with a donation from BWS but, meanwhile, donations are coming in and the fund has nearly grown to that amount already!

If you would like to support students in the arts through a tax-deductible donation, checks may be made to the Foundation, with a note that it's for the BWS scholarship fund, and sent to
FMCCS
315 North Drive
Bloomington  IN   47401.

Many thanks to the committee, which included Jo Weddle and Vi Working, retired educators, and Sara Steffey-McQueen, currently an art teacher in MCCSC, for their hard work and great thinking on this project.  And many thanks also to Sara Neely of FMCCS for her support and input.

HENRYVILLE ART
Most of you received individual thank you notes for your contribution to the art supply drive. Here's a special card sent to BWS for your efforts.


CONNIE BRORSON, ART ON A WALL

Connie with her painting, String Ensemble

BWS Signature Member, Connie Brorson, was honored with a proclamation by the mayor of Bloomington, Mark Kruzan, at a reception on May 31.  Renwick Village Center has spearheaded an initiative to bring art to the east side of town.  Working with Miah Michaelson of the Mayor's art development program, Renwick chose Connie's painting, String Ensemble, to expand to two stories tall!  It can be seen as you head south from College Mall Road and Moore's Pike.  Renwick also is developing "Art on the Piazza," which will feature art events around its fountain and an ongoing art display.  Connie's painting can be seen for the next six months.


Wild Horse at Creekbend Vineyards

Birds, Bottles, and Brushes
by Kriste Lindberg
The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department hosted its first ever wildlife, wine, and watercolor event - Birds, Bottles, and Brushes - at Oliver Winery's Creekbend Vineyard on the pleasant evening of May 10. 
It was a truly inspiring and relaxing way to end the day... and, in some ways, was even quite magical! We were visited by a wild horse who escaped from a neighbor's farm and refuses to be caught.  But one could imagine a unicorn by envisioning a horn in the right spot.
After an introduction to the vineyard by Oliver Winery staff, wine tasting, and a walkabout to explore the vines and local wildlife, participants settled in to instructions on watercolor painting.
Folks had such a nice time that we are doing it again on Wednesday, September 19. Save the date! We will be looking for more instructors from BWS ranks to help.Thanks to Sandy Belth and Cathy Meyer, and BWS members Jeanne Dutton and Julia Ferguson for sharing their expertise.
BWS Mini-Show at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center
By Charlotte Griffin
On May 19, a number of BWS members presented their art for the public to enjoy as part of the “Celebrate Urban Birds” event at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center in conjunction with Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Monroe County Parks and Recreation.  Here are a few pictures of the show.  I want to express many thanks to the members who loaned their table top easels for use at the show and to Betty Wagoner and Joanne Weddle who guarded the works and provided information to the public about BWS during the event.
BWS members provided numerous paintings for Urban Bird
Day at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center.

 


BWS MEMBERS ACTIVITIES
Nina Ost sends greetings from St. Pete Beach where she is “doing pretty much nothing and loving it. Regards to all.”


Sammye Dina Smith has moved to Linton, Indiana and opened a small gallery and studio (see photo at right).  Want a tour?  Contact Sammye at sydina@earthlink.net .


T.C. Steele Festival of Flowers
Three BWS members earned Honorable Mention at the annual Festival of Flowers competitive paint out - Bob Burris, Jeanne Dutton, and Deborah Rush.  It was a perfectly enjoyable day to paint en plein air, and a great opportunity to meet and visit with dozens of other artists.


Bob, Jeanne and Deborah display their paintings at T.C. Steele

Watercolor Society of Indiana
Nancy Metz, Connie Brorson, Jacki Frey and Jeanne Dutton currently are exhibiting paintings as part of the WSI Spring Membership Show.  The exhibit is at the OneAmerica Building in Indianapolis through June 23.

Kathy Barton and Jacki Frey at the WSI Spring Show with Jeanne's painting
Kathy Barton highlighting painting by Connie Brorson

Indiana Artists Club
Tricia Wente has a painting in the annual juried exhibit of the Indiana Artists Club, now showing through June 6 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  And congratulations to BWS members Kathy Rice and Marianne Glick for being juried into the IAC! 

OPPORTUNITES AND EVENTS 

JUNE 8
Jacki Frey, BWS Signature member, is leading a workshop in her Blue Parrot Studio on Friday, June 8 from 9:00 – 2:00. The cost is $40, and the theme is Canal in Venice, Italy. Contact jackifrey@hotmailcom or call 320-6745 for more info.

JUNE 9
Bill Borden is one of the featured artists at We Paint…the Springs! and Bill currently has an exhibit at the Brown County Art Guild, 48 S Van Buren St., Nashville, Indiana.
Opening Reception is June 9, 5 to 8 p.m., and the exhibit continues through June 29.
Guild hours: Tues – Sat 11 to 5; Sunday 12 to 5; closed Mondays

JULY 27-28
Atelier’s in Martinsville is sponsoring a two-day watercolor workshop by Joseph Fettingis, NWS, July 27 and 28. One day will focus on landscape and the next will feature a portrait. The workshop offers a bonus field trip during which Fettingis will show participants the ins and outs of photography for artistic reference. Students may draw their subjects if they wish, but Fettingis provides a tracing so everyone has the same drawing and he can concentrate on teaching color and its application to his art.

The first day will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the second day will start at 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The workshop is at the Art Sanctuary basement, 190 N. Sycamore St. in Martinsville The cost is $150 for both days; a non-refundable $75 deposit will hold a spot. The remaining $75 can be paid at the first class. Participants will need watercolor supplies and a sack lunch each day. Breakfast foods, some drinks and snacks will be provided.

For more information or to register call Sally Hedges at 765-792-0328 or email

State Fair Art Exhibit
If anyone is interested in entering the State Fair art exhibit this summer, here, straight from a fair administrator, are the instructions.

Go to www.indianastatefair.com

Select Indiana State Fair, Competitions/Contests, then select Online Entry/Premium Lists. 
Choose the Open Class Handbook/Premium List, then open the PDF file named Dept 114 Home and Family Arts.

Look for the sections labeled with the title of your interest.  Here it will present the classes listed for the 2012 Fair and will give you the Terms and Conditions for entry.  The entry form is also listed under the heading of the Home and Family Arts Department, which can be completed and mailed in with an additional handling charge or you can enter online. Other choices are the  4-H book, Online Entry, Special Events or Brewers' Cup.  If you have questions, please call (317) 927-7515.


This issue brought to you by Jeanne Dutton and Nancy Metz