“The Great Pacific” by MarySue Veerkamp Schwab
BWS to meet April 15
MarySue Schwab to present mini-workshop on color
The regular monthly meeting has been eclipsed. It was moved from April 8 to April 15 so members could avoid traffic congestion and participate in Solar eclipse activities. BWS will meet at First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave., at 6 p.m.
MarySue Schwab will present a mini-workshop following a brief business meeting. She says students always ask her, “How do you use color effectively?” This workshop is her response to that question. Nuggets of her advice include: “Limit your palette!” “Know your colors!” “Remember complements create contrast!” “Know the color temperature of everything in the scene you are painting!”
The supply list is based on MarySue’s own painting approach, and are SUGGESTIONS, not requirements. Students are welcome to incorporate their own material preferences. Members should bring watercolor paper, watercolor paints, brushes, hard pencil, kneaded eraser, sharpener, small ruler, paper towels, mixing palettes, mixing pans (can be from recycled yogurt containers) and two small water holders.
PAPER (The most important element: MarySue recommends Arches cold-press 140-pound paper, in block or sheet formats.
PAINTS: MarySue suggests a limited palette, 10 Winsor & Newton professional grade paints: 6 warm colors: Winsor Red, Winsor Yellow, Burnt Sienna, and Raw Sienna, Permanent Rose and Winsor Violet. 4 cool colors: Winsor Blue Green Shade, Winsor Blue Red Shade, Hooker’s Green, and Payne’s Gray.
OTHER ITEMS: Paper Towels, 12-inch Ruler, 2 small water holders or cups.
BRUSHES: Sizes: 1″ and 1/2″ flat; #4 or #6 round; Detail #2 round.
“Neon Dream” by Laura Brown
“We Paint … Peter, Paul, and Mary!”
By Jeanne Dutton
The 2024 Winter Benefit Exhibit, which ended March 29, was an artful fundraising success. Thanks to the generosity of our BWS artists who donated greeting cards and to the patrons who purchased paintings, we raised $435 for Teachers Warehouse.
Due to the purchasing power of Teachers Warehouse, which is calculated as $10 for every $1, that makes the total value $4,350.
Congratulations to Gail Fairfield for winning Best of Show and Char Dapena as runner up, and to the artists whose paintings sold – Don Madvig and Julie Boyd.
Many thanks to Gabe Colman for coordinating with Teachers Warehouse; John La Bella and Becky Lagle at the Vault at Gallery Mortgage for the space and Best of Show award; Bloomington North Rotary Club for sponsoring the video; the three judges who donated their time; and everyone who participated, helped with hanging the show, and came to enjoy the receptions.
The exhibit can be seen on SmugMug at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDer8bHUEhU.
Completed still life drawing by Deb Rush
March meeting program featured
charcoal instruction by Cookman
Our March 11 program saw a shift from painting to drawing and from watercolor to charcoal. Claude Cookman, BWS member since 2014, took us through his four-step process for drawing a still life with vine and compressed charcoal. Claude based his presentation on two premises: First, vine charcoal is endlessly malleable, letting us wipe out and redraw until we are satisfied with our drawing, and, second, charcoal lets us use values to define the edges of forms instead of drawing lines and filling them in. He promoted the still life genre as a convenient way to work from three-dimensional motifs instead of copying two-dimensional photographs. He shared his personal goal for drawing: concentrated, purposeful seeing.
Claude’s four-step process was intended to combine spontaneity with control. With apologies to Betty Edwards, to draw on both sides of our brain. We started with gesture to connect with the motif and achieve spontaneity. Then we refined the drawing, using a barbecue skewer as a tool for calculating proportion, angle and alignment. Next came reinforcing values and finally, details.
At the end of the session, Claude asked us two questions: In response to “What was the most important thing you learned,” one participant wrote: “The most important thing I learned is not to be too precise right at the start. Begin loose, then refine it.” Others wrote: “I learned about using the skewer for proportion. Never tried it before. It helps. I can use it all the time.” And, “The flexibility of the charcoal.”
In response to “What can you use from this session in your own art,” comments ranged from “Get the drawing right first.” To, “I can use this by structuring my painting by working through the stages.” And, “I will use this technique to get prelim drawing + values.”
Left: Nancy Davis Metz, Daniel Goebbert, and Babette Ballinger. Right: Charlotte Griffin, Betty Wagoner, and Sara Steffey McQueen.
Memorial Service
Linda Meyer-Wright
You are warmly invited to celebrate and honor the life of Linda Meyer on Sunday, April 14, at 2 p.m., in the sanctuary of Congregation Beth Shalom, 3750 E. Third St., Bloomington, Ind. Linda was a cherished and beloved member of both the Beth Shalom and the Bloomington artist communities.
We will gather for a heartwarming and uplifting service of “The Life, Legend and Legacy of Linda Meyer.” After the service, the grand opening of a comprehensive exhibit of Linda’s beautiful artwork throughout the years will be sponsored by the Beth Shalom Arts and Culture Committee, and a reception with light refreshments will follow.
Linda’s art, which many of you already have proudly and prominently displayed in your homes, was an expression of her heart and her love. The art exhibit was Linda’s final wish, so please consider attending to pay your respects, to offer your support and love to her husband Larry and sister Joanie, and to share special memories and stories with each other.
This will also be a final opportunity to own a piece of Linda’s artwork and/or acquire additional pieces. All proceeds from the sales will be donated to Beth Shalom.
Member News
Tim Lewis has three new watercolors: Above, left: “Bass Harbor Head,” Above, right: “Slush,” and Below: “Ice And Snow.” Tim has announced he is one of several artists selected to exhibit at a Gallery 02 in Fort Wayne, Ind., opening soon.
Below: Stephen Edward sent a photo of his just finished painting, “Duet in C Minor” Watercolor, 22×30, Arches 300# Linen Paper
Beyond BWS
An exhibition of environmentally themed art, “Depictions: Earth, Life, and Our Shared Responsibility,” will show until April 28 at the Arts Alliance Center in College Mall. The artists, who are members of Artists for Climate Awareness or Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington, are from various states across the U.S. This diversity in both medium and origin promises a rich and varied artistic experience of both 2-D and 3-D pieces.
Join us April 12 at 6 p.m. for a unique opening reception. This event will feature an environmentally themed interactive musical performance, “Ceremony for Earth: A Meditative Installation for Re-connection and Healing,” by Grace McKenzie, Daixuan Ai, and Micah Simmons from IU Jacobs School of Music. Chairs are provided for all, but for a more interactive experience, you may bring a sitting pillow for the floor! The evening will also include the presentation of art awards, followed by a reception with refreshments.
Associated events include an April 13 pastel workshop by nature artist Avon Waters and a climate-themed poetry and dance performance titled “Stormwash: Climate Awareness” by Bloomington Writers Guild and Windfall Dancers, Inc.
Visit https://artistsforclimateawareness.org/event/ for more information.
Artists for Climate Awareness is also offering a Watercolor Workshop on Pollinators!
Join us May 11 for an art workshop at Ivy Tech Community College where we’ll delve into the world of pollinators through watercolor. This special event aligns with World Migratory Bird Day, spotlighting the vital role of birds and insects as pollinators.
Our artistic journey will revolve around the intricate beauty of pollinators. From butterflies to bees, dragonflies to hummingbirds, we invite participants to capture the essence of these vital creatures through the graceful strokes of watercolor. You can bring your own photo references or subjects will be provided.
Autumn Brunelle, full-time naturalist for Monroe County Parks and Recreation (and annual Bugfest coordinator), will provide education about pollinators as well as information about the Indiana Master Naturalist Program and the Monroe County Parks and Recreation’s environmental programs.
To learn more and register, go to https://artistsforclimateawareness.org/event/celebrating-pollinators-in-watercolor/.
Calendar
April 12 6 p.m. ACA reception at Arts Alliance Center in College Mall for “Depictions: Earth, Life, and Our Shared Responsibility
April 13 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ACA’s Wet Pastel Workshop by Avon Waters
April 14 2 p.m. Memorial Service for Linda Meyer-Wright, Congregation Beth Shalom, 3750 E. Third St., Bloomington
April 15 6 p.m. BWS Monthly Meeting, First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave.
May 11 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ACA Watercolor Workshop on Pollinators, Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington, Ind.
May 13 6 p.m. BWS Monthly Meeting, First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave.
