Start 2018 with new perspective —
Aerial perspective, that is
Storm Over San Juans
by Betty Wagoner
Betty Wagoner will teach an aerial perspective lesson at the Jan. 8 BWS meeting. She will demonstrate how to use color mixes and glazes to create depth in landscape painting, and members will work with simple landscape images. Bring the following supplies to the meeting: a pencil, several sheets of watercolor paper (can be scraps), a couple of brushes, a water container and paints in the colors common to landscapes (green, blue, red, and brown).
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the First Christian Church, which is at the corner of Kirkwood and Washington.
Get your winter paintings published
Bloomington Herald-Times has invited BWS members to submit paintings of winter scenes for an Attractions cover in a January issue. Images should be high resolution (at least 200 dpi) and emailed to jtilley@heraldt.com with the subject line “BWS winter scenes by Jan. 10.
All images will be considered for print and web, although all may not be used. Publication date will most likely be Sunday, Jan. 14, but that is subject to change.
Thanks go to Sara Steffey McQueen, BWS publicity chair, for arranging this opportunity with the H-T arts editor, Jenny Porter Tilley.
by Sande Nitti
BWS Portrait Group announces schedule
After the holiday hiatus, the BWS Portrait Group is poised to resume sessions for 2018. Please mark your calendars for the coming months.
Jan. 11 Connie Brorson
BWS’s own charter and signature member and a great artist in her own right, Connie has been invited to model for the group a second time after members had a successful session with her last summer. If you’ve been contemplating portraiture but shying away from it, this would be a great session to take the plunge — with one of our own as the model. Note: This session will be at the Meadowood Retirement Community,
Jan. 25 Brian Bourkland
Brian, a competitive body builder and personal trainer, also models regularly for IU art department classes and figure sessions. Location: Banneker
Feb. 8 Shelley Given
Shelley is an MFA graduate from IU’s art photography program, who has taught photography at IU for several years. Location: Banneker
Feb. 22 TBA
Portrait Group sessions are open to all BWS members and their guests. Participants are welcome to work in any medium. However, if your medium is a messy one, please bring a drop cloth. Typically, models pose for 20- to 25-minute segments, alternating with 5-minute breaks. We share the cost of the models, with a minimum of $3 and a maximum of $5 charged for each session. Sessions are every other Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. Most are at the Banneker Community Center, 930 W. Seventh St., Bloomington, with some exceptions, such as Jan. 11 at Meadowood.
For full details, including maps, directions, parking information, etc., please email Claude Cookman.
We Paint … Jazz!
BWS is once again participating in The Week of Chocolate, a LIFEDesigns fundraiser by providing artwork for an exhibit at The Vault at Gallery Mortgage Feb. 2 to April 2. BWS chose “We Paint … Jazz!” as the exhibit’s theme in conjunction with the fundraiser’s Mardi Gras theme. The Opening Reception will be Feb. 2, 5 to 8 p.m., as part of February’s Gallery Walk.
Each BWS member may enter one framed piece of any medium; the maximum size including frame is 24″ either direction. Use D-hooks and wire for hanging; no sawtooth hangers or screw eyes are allowed. Glass or Plexiglas is acceptable.
Paintings must be delivered to The Vault Gallery Tuesday, Jan. 30, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Pick up will be Monday, April 2, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you are unable to deliver or pick up your painting, arrange to have someone else responsible for these tasks.
The sales commission of 50% goes to LIFEDesigns. It is recommended that artwork be priced below $500. Gabe Colman of the Venue Fine Arts and Gifts will handle all sales and issue payment to the artists by the end of the exhibit.
Best of Show will receive $100, sponsored by John La Bella at The Vault, and two tickets (value $150) to the Keynote Event on Feb. 10. A panel of three jurors, including John La Bella and Gabe Colman, will judge the entries. The runner-up will receive two tickets to the Keynote Event. All participating artists will be entered in a raffle for two tickets to the Keynote Event.
Members wanting to have their work considered should submit scanned or photographed artwork to Jeanne Dutton at Jazz@BloomingtonWatercolor.org before Jan. 20.
Additional information and labeling requirements for paintings are available in the Prospectus at http://wepaintbloomington.org. Email any questions to Jazz@BloomingtonWatercolor.org.
Young thanks supporters of ASE Art Show
ASE art teacher Cassidy Young and BWS member Carla Hedges
ASE Art Show
Cassidy Young, BWS member and art teacher at the Academy of Science and Entrepreeurship, thanks those who attended the Dec. 15 Art Show and especially Anne Karine Bley for volunteering to help students put up the show. Students displayed and sold artwork, played music, ran a photo booth and brought snacks. “We sold out of the coloring books before the end of the night,” Cassidy said. “So if you didn’t get one I’ll bring more to the January BWS meeting. They are $5 each.”
Upland organizes 2018 adventures
All BWS members are invited to attend the Upland Organizational meeting Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jacki Frey’s home. Along with discussion of plans, the meeting includes a pitch-in lunch social and a chance to share artistic endeavors.
- Arrive between 10 and 10:30 a.m.The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m.
- The address is 5024 W. September Rd., Ellettsville.
- Bring your personal calendar, a pitch-in dish for lunch, and a current artwork to share.
Members can contact Upland anytime at upland@bloomingtonwatercolor.org.
Burning Bales, Cleaning Fencerows
by Robin Edmundson
Check out these Facebook groups for artists
Robin Edmundson, BWS member, has created two Facebook groups BWS members may enjoy.
White River Landscape Painters is an online critique group for all artists ( not just watercolor, not just landscapes) serious about improving their skills. Every post receives both positive feedback and options for possible changes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/663672027166173/
The Well Balanced Artist is an online support group for professional artists of all kinds trying to balance their art, business, and personal lives. It’s a lovely, varied group of artists from around the globe. https://www.facebook.com/groups/752036078321666/
BWS celebrates the holidays
Meri Reinhold created the winner in the hanging ornament competition. Her Tanabata Matsuri Tassel was inspired by the Star Festival celebrated in Japan in July or August. People display bamboo branches decorated with paper origami, paper dolls, and tassels. The decorations on the paper symbolize desired success in a chosen area. Meri’s ornament was origami butterflies and bells with pasta beads and a bell. The origami was decorated with Brusho watercolor crystals.
BWS president Jane Matranga, Cassidy Young and Claude Cookman
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Harste and Cathy Korinek
Carol Rhodes and Deborah Rush
Candi and Steve Bailey
Member news
by Sara Steffey McQueen
BWS signature member Sara Steffey McQueen will share a workshop on Personal Mandalas at the Winter Bliss Wellness Retreat Jan. 14 at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park. “We will be exploring personal symbols, stories of our life, meditation, and a variety of techniques to create an expression of our own Mandala,” Sara said. For more information about the workshop and registration, go to https://www.facebook.com/winterblisswellnessretreat/.
Jane Matranga will exhibit her work in the IU Art, Architecture & Design Faculty Exhibition, opening Friday, Jan. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. The show is in the Grunwald Gallery on campus from Jan. 12 through Feb. 9.
Betty Wagoner will be joining Flowing Colors studio this month.The studio address is 112 N. Walnut St, Suite 600, Bloomington.
Jacki Frey, BWS signature member, received the Merit Award for The Fisherman at the Indiana Art Association show, which hung at the Brown County Art Gallery this fall.
Beyond BWS
Each issue will announce opportunities for artists that are sponsored by other organizations. If you know about shows, competitions, workshops or other activities that might benefit your fellow members, please send web links to Nancy Davis-Metz.
Heads Up! The Watercolor Society of Indiana has moved its annual juried show to earlier in the year. Entries will be due May 11. Springfield ArtPaintings juried into the show must be delivered to the WSI office June 11 to 29, and the Juried Exhibit will hang at the Indianapolis Museum of Art Aug. 5 to Sept. 29. The prospectus will be mailed to WSI members March 1 and should be available on http://www.watercolorsocietyofindiana.org about the same time.
AquaVenture is a regional juried exhibit open to Kentucky Watercolor Society members and non-members.Its entry deadline is Feb. 2 with delivery of paintings to Kaviar Forge and Gallery in Louisville March 1 to 3. The show hangs from March 17 to April 28. The prospectus is available at http://www.kentuckywatercolorsociety.org/files/AquaVenture2018Prospectus_trifold_Final_1_.pdf.
Springfield Art Museum has published the prospectus for the Watercolor USA 2018 exhibit, which will hang in Springfield, Mo., June 2 to Aug. 26. The online entry deadline is March 6 with a painting delivery deadline of April 25. The prospectus URL is http://www.sgfmuseum.org/DocumentCenter/View/910.
IMO
Social media users recognize IMO as an abbreviation for “In My Opinion.” Let’s have a little fun by sharing opinions on a specific question. Each issue will close with a question that you can answer in 1 to 3 sentences. Send your response to Nancy Davis-Metz by Jan. 21 and look for your opinion to be published in the next Brushstrokes. Please use IMO as your email’s Subject Line.
This month’s question: In your opinion, who is the best watercolor artist of all time and why?
