April 2023 Brushstrokes
“Sunshine Came Softly” by Tim Lewis
April 10
BWS meeting program to explore
several watercolor mediums
The monthly BWS meeting will be both in-person and on Zoom, starting at 6 p.m. Following the business meeting, members/attendees will have time to sample various watercolor mediums under the direction of Jeanne Dutton and Carol Rhodes. Those attending should bring their own paints, paper, brushes, and mixing palette or plate. Tubes of paint work best; a few colors will suffice.
Our May 8 BWS program will be given by Matthew Schnaars, a custom framer of Framemakers. He is calling this “Watercolor Painting with Framing in Mind.” Let Joanne Weddle know if you would like Matthew to address specific topics in this session so she can pass them on to him. Matthew expressed great interest in doing this program for us and was glad we had asked him to do it. Zoom option is to be determined; the large-format content of the demonstration may not be suited to a Zoom setup.
“Courthouse” by Deborah Rush
Encore Exhibit
“We Paint…Historic Bloomington!”
The Monroe County History Center welcomes the encore presentation of “We Paint … Historic Bloomington!” April 25 through July 8. You won’t want to miss this collection of paintings by the Bloomington Watercolor Society, an exhibit featuring historic homes and buildings, trailblazing citizens, and landmarks. Entertaining and educational, the show also includes new paintings from Joanna Samorow-Merzer, Charlotte Griffin, Deborah Rush, and Joan MacDermid.
Mark your calendars and save these dates:
- Opening Reception, Friday, April 28, 5-7 p.m.
- “Paint on the Lawn,” Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Closing Reception, Friday, July 7, 5-7 p.m.
The History Center hours are 10 a.m.– p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and is located at 202 E. Sixth Street in beautiful downtown – and historic – Bloomington.
Art vs. Fiction
by Andy Rogers
I recently discovered novels by an American author whom you may or may not be familiar with; however, I have found these works stimulating and of artistic interest. The author Susan Vreeland has written several books that deal with the relationship between art and fiction. The Passion of Artemisia is an investigation of some aspects of the life of Artemisia Gentilecschi, while the Girl in Hyacinth Blue centers around an imaginary painting by Vermeer. My favorite was Luncheon of the Boating Party, an exceptional novel describing the creation of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boating Party” painting and the characters that were included in this composition. The painting, considered “one of the most famous French paintings of modern times,” combines Renoir’s signature impressionist style with portraiture, still life and an en plein air setting. Additional Vreeland novels are Lisette’s List, Clara and Mr. Tiffany, The Forest Lover, What Love Sees, and Life Studies: Stories.
Most of these books are available at the Monroe County Public Library or can be found on Amazon. If you haven’t read any of these, I encourage you to do so.
Have watercolors, will travel
by Penny Lulich
I have been doing a lot of traveling of late and when I travel, I try to connect with watercolor artists wherever I go. So I thought I would share some of my experiences and paintings from recent trips. I hope to encourage artists to reach out wherever they go because it can be fun and you can make new friends. I have learned so much from artists in other states here at home, and in other countries too.
Don’t wait for a workshop to connect with other watercolor artists!
Penny on a visit to the studio of watercolorist Anita Ulrich in Augsburg, Germany. What a lovely time I had with Anita, who served tea and cake in the garden. We chatted for quite a long time, and I went away with some of her printed cards, watercolor books, and a calendar.
I make it a mission, wherever I go, to connect with watercolorists ahead of time. Sometimes it works out to paint together or visit a studio. I got great tips for sketching in Ireland from the president of the Irish Watercolor Society who lives in Kinsale. I had been invited to visit her studio and go together painting one morning.
My sketch of daughter Rachel and my son Steven at the English Market in Cork, Ireland.
A watercolor sketch of Blarney Castle.
Irish lady at the English Market in Cork.
Recent sketch of a Venice trip in September
I have also developed relationships with watercolor artists in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. I am always encouraged by how friendly and welcoming artists are when you contact them and show up in their town. It’s a great way to grow as an artist, and to make new friends. I have found that people who do watercolor are the nicest people.
A look back
In 2010, Meadowood hosted “Art in the Garden” plant sale and craft fair. In addition to featuring flowers, herbs, vegetable plants, and gardening tools, they had an art show with Bloomington Watercolor Society. Quite a few artists displayed their work. Jeanne Dutton and Jo Weddle were just a couple who showed their paintings.
Avon Waters led a workshop on “Painting Nature in Wet Pastel.”
Artists for Climate Awareness brings
Avon Waters to teach wet pastels
Several BWS members learned how to use soft pastels with various mediums in an Artists for Climate Awareness workshop, “Painting Nature in Wet Pastel” last month. Avon Waters shared eight techniques he uses which add watermedia to pastels.
Waters taught various pastel techniques; Ann Connors from Sycamore Land Trust gave a short talk about what that organization is doing for the environment; Carol Rhodes led an all-group discussion about how to talk about climate change and caring for the environment. See the activities in progress and the works– both in-progress and finished– by going to the following website and clicking the pictures and advancing through the collection: https://artistsforclimateawareness.org/painting-nature-in-wet-pastel/.
“Bloomington has a large watercolor society and to my surprise a lot of the students in this class were watercolorists — they took to these techniques like a duck to water… Watching watercolorists us(ing) these techniques gave me new ideas to try.” – Avon Waters
by Meri Reinhold
by Jerry Harste
by Betty Wagoner
by Sara Steffey McQueen
Member News
Tim Lewis received a Distinction of Merit award from judge Jeff Hagan at the Brown County Art Guild’s Annual Patron Show in January for his watercolor, “Crab Bounty.” Tim is also the Show Chair for the annual Watercolor Society of Indiana Juried Exhibition this year. The show is open to WSI members only. Entries must be submitted by May 5, and the show will hang in the Waller Gallery at the Indianapolis Museum of Art from Aug. 5 through Sept. 24. More details are available on the WSI website at https://www.watercolorsocietyofindiana.org/Juried-Exhibit.
“Crab Bounty” by Tim Lewis
Leslie Gamboa announces a Beginning Watercolor class starting April 19, 5:30-7 p.m. at Owen County Art Guild. This class will meet each Wednesday for six weeks. The cost for the six-week session is $40 per person. Call 812-829-1877 or email Owencountyartguild@outlook.com to reserve your spot.
“Butterfly Dreams” by Stephen Edwards
Stephen Edwards’ painting, “Butterfly Dreams,” was accepted into the 2023 National Watercolor Society Members Exhibit. It won the Robbie Laird President’s Award of Excellence as well. Steve writes: “My wife, Sheree, and I would like to thank the group for their thoughtful get-well card. Sheree is recovering and progressing well after the car accident. Many thanks from both of us.”
Photos by Craig Barton
This month Viridian Moon Art Gallery hosts another group exhibition – “Places We Love” – featuring work in various media by three local artists: Kathy Truelove Barton (watercolor and acrylics), Bill Schwab (oils), and MarySue Veerkamp Schwab (oils and watercolor. These three artists teamed together to share with the public their traveling experiences and plein air adventures. The reception for the show is Saturday, April 8, 3-5 p.m. The details, as always, are here: https://www.viridianmoon.art/events.
Viridian Moon has also launched a fundraiser to help talented young art students from the Salvador Dali Academy of Contemporary Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine, pay their tuition. So far $700 has been raised for the cause. The ultimate goal is to raise $3,000. One hundred percent of the proceeds from print sales will benefit the Art Academy students. Learn more here: https://www.viridianmoon.art/post/prints-from-students-of-salvador-dali-academy-of-contemporary-art.
Nancy Davis Metz attended the weeklong Kanuga Watermedia Workshop in Montreat, N.C., last month. She worked with instructor Teresa Kirk. The workshop drew nearly 200 artists, who chose from 10 artists who who work in numerous genres and styles. Anyone interested in learning more about this annual workshop should ask for details. (P.S. She LOVED it.)
Nancy Davis Metz is fifth from the left in the back row of this photo of Teresa Kirk’s class. Teresa is fourth from the left in the front row.
“At the Union” by Jacki Frey
Calendar
April 8 3-5 p.m. Reception for “Places We Love” at Viridian Moon Art Gallery
April 10 6 p.m. BWS meeting
April 19 Beginning Watercolor class begins at Owen County Art Guild
April 28 5 – 7 p.m. Opening Reception Encore Exhibition “We Paint … Historic Bloomington”
May 5 Deadline for entering Watercolor Society of Indiana’s Juried Exhibition
May 8 6 p.m. BWS meeting
