June 11 meeting

Program to explore mixed media abstracts

Sara Steffey McQueen will guide BWS members in an exploration of abstraction and mixed media with watercolor. Members will take a short look at the history of nonobjective art and talk about their own experiences with abstraction.

“We will then jump into playing in abstract expressions,” Sara said. Members should bring a small painting to donate for “deconstruction.” These “rejected” images will be cut and torn and shared. “This will be a playful and intuitive approach to abstraction, using our knowledge of composition to create a small mixed media painting with collage and other water media,” Sara said.

Bring any watercolor crayons you have, glue, and masking tape. Sara will have materials to share also.

The program follows a brief business meeting that starts at 6 p.m. The monthly meeting is at the First Christian Church at the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Washington Street. Please use the Washington Street entrance.

How I did it

Myrtle Beach Summer, Version 2

By Jerry Harste

Myrtle Beach Summer, Version 1

Myrtle Beach Summer, Version 2

To explain how I did “Myrtle Beach Summer, Version 2,” I have included an image of an earlier version of the same subject as it clarifies at least part of the process I used in creating Version 2.

I worked from the same photograph to create both paintings. Both versions are on a full sheet of 300-pound watercolor paper. Version 1 was made using watercolors; Version 2 was painted using Golden Fluid acrylics.

In Version 1 I worked wet on to dry using every color in the rainbow by laying down short rectangular brushstrokes of first one color, then another, using three different flat watercolor brushes (1/4-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch). Color governed my decision making both in terms of composition and unity. I varied the brushstroke size as well as making sure dominant colors in one area also showed up in other areas.

In Version 2 (the acrylic painting), I began wet on wet by first wetting down the entire sheet of watercolor paper and then, while still really wet, crumpling up a sheet of white tissue paper and laying it on the watercolor paper lightly so that some areas touched the surface while others did not. While everything was still wet, I spritzed the tissue paper with a watered down solution of Quinacridone Crimson, making sure some areas would stay white. In this process, remember that acrylics dry darker whereas watercolor dries lighter.

Once this was completely dry, I took pieces of heavy duty aluminum foil, painted a thin coat of black gesso on the back, and then while still wet (but not too wet — I count to 10) I turned it over and placed it lightly on the sheet of watercolor paper. Working rapidly and using a blunt stylus, I drew an outline of the house you see in the painting. Once the house was dry, I used the same process to put in the boat. (Caution: Once you turn over the gessoed foil do not touch it with your fingers or hands. Use only the stylus, or you will end up with a big glob of black on your paper that you will either have to work around or incorporate into the painting itself.)

Once this gesso was perfectly dry, I worked wet on dry limiting myself to only three colors: Quinacridone Crimson (my red), Turquoise Phthalo (my blue), and Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold (my yellow). By combining and varying the intensity of these colors, I began laying down the paints using the same brushstroke technique I had used in Version 1.

Jeanne Dutton stopped by my house just as I had completed Version 1, and I asked her what she thought. After a moment of silence, she said, “Well, it is colorful!”

“I know,” I said. “I’m thinking of doing another version only with a much more limited palette.”

“Great idea,” she said.

Since then, I have found some people like Version 1 better than Version 2. Some even see a bird sitting on one of the pier’s posts in Version 1. Although using gesso on aluminum foil is tricky, I like the effect as it produces a varied line that opens up new possibilities for both the artist as well as the viewer.

Reminder:

Your dues are due

It’s time to renew your BWS membership. Single membership is $35, family membership is $50 (for two from same household), student membership is$15, and associate membership (nonresident) is $15. You can bring payment to the June 11 meeting; mail a check to BWS, P.O. Box 5236, Bloomington, IN 47407-5236; or go to BWS website www.wepaintbloomington.org, click on Join BWS and use PayPal. You can use a credit card if you do not have a PayPal account.

BWS Scholarship awarded

Clara Smith of Bloomington High School South received the 2018 BWS Scholarship, which will provide her $300 to purchase art supplies for her college art classes.

Jo Weddle attended the BHSS Honors Program to present the BWS Scholarship in addition to the Eberly Scholarship, which is awarded every other year to a senior who will be studying fine arts at Indiana University. Clara received both scholarships.

Playing with portraits

Cassidy Young (left) had members studying their own faces by doing continuous line contour drawings at the May meeting. She then led members through exercises to help them understand facial proportions before venturing in to looser portrait work. Center: Bess Lee measures Ann Umphress’s facial features. Bottom: Barbara Hoffman and Cathy Korinek “trace” their faces with one hand and draw with the other.

July 14

Saturday morning in the Park

BWS is trying something different. Its Saturday paint-out in July will be in People’s Park at the corner of Kirkwood and Dunn from 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. July 14. Note that this is an early morning paint-out in an effort to “beat the heat.” Bagels and coffee will be provided.

Get ready for We Paint!

2018 Member Show

Aug. 3 — Sept. 27

This year’s BWS Member Show, “We Paint … the Past, the Present, and for the Future,” is a bit earlier than previous years, so it is time to finish your painting and framing.

Paintings should be created with aqua media on a two-dimensional substrate. Paintings may include other water-based mediums (collage, pastel, pen and ink, etc.) as long as their use does not exceed 50 percent of the work. Encaustic and oil are excluded from the member show. To enter the show, artists must have paid BWS dues for 2018.

Each member may submit one framed watercolor. Work should be matted, and flat hangers should be used. Sawtooth hangers and screw eyes are not permitted. Maximum size is 24 inches edge to edge, not including the frame. Neutral matting and framing are encouraged.

Important Member Show dates

July 7: Submit images for publicity

Aug. 1: Deliver painting between 10 a.m. and noon to The Vault at Gallery Mortgage, 121 E. Sixth St.

Aug. 3: Opening reception 5 to 8 p.m.

Sept. 7: September First Gallery Walk, 5 to 8 p.m.

Sept. 28: Pick up painting at The Vault

For more information and labels to be used when submitting artwork, go to http://www.wepaintbloomington.org/,and follow the link Show Rules in the menu at the right.

Upland Painters worked at the Cedar Creek Winery May 29.

Upland announces its summer schedule

June 19: Yellowwood Shelter hosted by Betty Wagoner

June 26: Kinder Farm hosted by Kitty Garlock

July 10: Moody Farm hosted by Sande Nitti

*July 23: Harvest Moon Farm hosted by Kristen Stamper

July 31: Mary Hartle property at Walnut Pike and Allendale Drive hosted by Betty Wagoner

August 7: Waycross hosted by Jacki Frey

August 14: Lampkin’s Ridge hosted by Jacki Frey

August 21: Bean Blossom Bridge hosted by Lory Winford

August 28: TBA hosted by Katya Alexeeva

* Designates that this is NOT a Tuesday. July 23 is a Monday.

For more information on Upland, email upland@bloomingtonwatercolor.org.

Donna Whitsitt’s start

Sande Nitti at work

Francie Agostino’s work

Obituary

Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson works on a painting of Carla Hedges in a 2009 class.

Bob Ferguson, longtime member of BWS and a frequent watercolor classmate of many BWS members, died May 25. He and his wife, Deanie, moved to Bloomington 12 years ago after Bob retired as a corporate executive in retail industry. He was active in the Northside Exchange Club and the YMCA as well as BWS. Bob brightened every room he entered with his humor and interest in people. Many of us will miss him.

Anyone wanting to write a condolence note to Deanie can email  Nancy Davis-Metz for Deanie’s address.

Member news

In the Hills of Brown County, by Kristen Stamper
oil on watercolor paper

The Brown County Art Gallery recently juried in Kristen Stamper as a member artist for her watercolor and oil paintings. “I am thrilled to join with this talented group of painters in this historic Indiana arts institution and honored to have sold a painting in the first week,” Kristen said. Several of Kristen’s paintings will be featured in a special exhibition, “Petals to Paint,” July 8 – 31. The Gallery is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Brown County Art Gallery is located at 1 Artist Drive, Nashville.

Betty Wagoner, Don Geyra, and Joanne Shank will be participating in the Open Studio Tour 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 9 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 10. You can find them at Flowing Colors Studio, 112 N. Walnut St., Bloomington.

Susan Savastuk has a showing of recent works at La Vie en Rose Cafe, 402 W. Sixth St., Bloomington, during the month of June.

Erin Duff‘s “Paintings” are on display until June 23 at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St., Bloomington.

Beyond BWS

Learning opportunities are abundant this summer. Here are some we have come across:

Plein Air Painting with Jacki Frey, June 13-14 and June 20-21, offered by Pygmalion’s. To register, call 812-332-0025 or visit the store at 108 N. Grant St., Bloomington.

The following are Ivy Tech Center for Lifelong Learning offerings. To learn more and to register, go to https://www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/cll/index.html.

Beginning Watercolor I, 6 Wednesdays June 13 – July 25, Ivy Tech Waldron, Carol Rhodes

Paint and Picnic at the Old Farmhouse (Burton Kimble Farm in Orleans), June 23, Ivy Tech CLL, Jeanne Dutton

Watercolor Improvers’ Series: Through the Windows with Edward Hopper and Henri Matisse, June 30, Ivy Tech Waldron, Carol Rhodes and Nancy Metz

Day Trip to Twinrocker Handmade Paper in Brookston, Ind. July 19, Ivy Tech CLL, Dr. Judith Burton and Jeanne Dutton

Watercolor Improvers’ Series: Geometry in Motion with Paul Cezanne and Charles Demuth, Ivy Tech Waldron, Carol Rhodes and Nancy Metz

Beginning Watercolor II, 6 Wednesdays Aug. 8 – Sept. 12, Ivy Tech Waldron, Carol Rhodes

Watercolor Guided Practice, 6 Thursdays Aug. 9 – Sept. 13, Ivy Tech Waldron, Carol Rhodes

Watercolor Improvers’ Series: Rejected Impressionists Berthe Morisot and Claude Monet, Aug. 25, Ivy Tech Waldron, Carol Rhodes and Nancy Metz

IMO

Social media users recognize IMO as an abbreviation for “In My Opinion,” and each month we close by giving you the chance to share your opinion on a specific question. This month the question is:

Where are you currently finding new ideas and inspiration? Identify a book, website,video, or other resource that you rely on to keep your creativity clicking.

Claude Cookman

I thought about my response for all of two seconds before the obvious answer lit up my frontal cortex: the Monroe County Public Library, especially its 751.422 section on watercolor techniques. There are at least five lifetimes of instruction, ideas, inspiration and wonderful images in these books. You’ll find my fingerprints on most of them.

Lynne Gilliatt

Andy Evansen, a national workshop instructor. I also get inspiration from music — percussion sounds, winds in Michigan and Mexico, suede shoes, Van Nooten’s outfits, beautifully written prose — Katherine Swift’s gardening memoirs like The Morville Hours.

Jeanne Dutton

Inspiration Central for me is Facebook’s Artist’s Journal Workshop group. All the various artists’ sketching, paintings, and collages, at all different skill levels, provide infinite ideas for this chronic journaled. Some of my favorites are Cathy Johnson, Dee Ludwig, and Pat Southern-Pearce.

Summer question(s) for IMO:

This one comes BWS leadership. They want to know what BWS means to you.

What role (creative, social, educational) does it fulfill for you?

How has BWS enriched your life?

Why are you proud to be a BWS member?

Send your 1- to 3-sentence response to Nancy Davis-Metz by July 15, and look for your opinion to be published in the summer issue. Please use IMO as your email’s subject line.