Bloomington Watercolor Society will meet Monday, November 11, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. The meeting will not be on Zoom.
Program: “Winter Strokes” by Penny Lulich
“I’m looking forward to sharing my painting techniques for winter scenes. Bring watercolor paper, paints, brushes, water containers, paper towels, salt, white gauche, and a spray bottle. We will explore painting winter sky and trees, adding snowfall, and using negative painting to create mountains.
Paint colors I use: yellow orchre, burnt sienna, cobalt blue, phthalo blue red shade, undersea green, green gold, other greens warm and cool shades, dioxazine purple, indigo, hansa yellow deep, new gamboge, red (any kind), and any other color you want to bring. My colors are geared more toward winter trees and skies. The gauche will be for adding snowfall. It shows up better than watercolor whites.
I use 140 lb watercolor paper. You can bring watercolor cards if you like. I’ve painted and sold many cards.
Hope to see you there!
Paintings by Penny Lulich
President’s Message: From Laura Brown
“Our next meeting is our final official meeting of the year. Come find out all the details of the plans for December and 2025! Thank you to all for who participated in our Fall Membership show. Make sure to check your emails as many important ones will be or have already been sent out.”
Keep on creating!
Support the BWS Art Scholarship: Reading, Writing, Bidding
The BWS Art Scholarship is managed by the Foundation for Monroe County Community Schools (FMCCS) and awarded each spring to an aspiring young artist. Each fall, FMCCS holds an online auction to raise funds for scholarships and programs. Through donations from BWS artists and friends, and bids, we can raise money specifically for the BWS scholarship.
So far this year, we are offering a Phantom of the Opera music box, two framed paintings, a two-hour watercolor lesson, a set of three original holiday greeting cards, and two coupons for gutter cleaning. One person made a direct donation of $100 in lieu of an auction item!
Another item is a “unique handcrafted ukulele made from high-quality birch wood. This stunning instrument features an eye-catching underwater steampunk painting, blending artistry with music. Perfect for musicians and collectors alike!”
Watch for new items being added!
Registration is quick and easy at qtego.us/qlink/mccsc Bidding Opens: Monday, November 11th at 8 AM
Bidding Closes: Tuesday, November 19th at 8 PM
An Historical Tidbit
Linda Branstetter, BWS Historian, reported that The Indiana Daily Student had a nice article in their newspaper on Monday, November 19, 2012 when Bloomington Watercolor Society had a show entitled, “We Paint Springs & Other Things” at the City Hall. The IDS article was focused specifically on promoting BWS and local artists.
October Reports
Our October Meeting: Thanks Andy!
When BWS met on October 14, Andy Roberts presented a program on Paul Klee’s Oil Transfer Technique. Essentially, the technique involves creating a kind of “carbon” paper by brushing black oil paint onto copy paper. The next step is to lay the “carbon” paper, oil side down, on watercolor paper. A sketch is then laid on top and the sketch traced over, causing the design to transfer to the watercolor paper.
Lifting the “carbon” paper and the sketch off the watercolor paper reveals the transferred design. Once the picture is painted with watercolor, it often has the look of a woodcut as watercolor resists the oil paint.
Thanks to Andy Roberts for prompting our creativity with a new technique!
Andy Roberts teaching “Klee’s Oil Transfer Technique”
Meri Reinhold & Zain Mackey showing off their masterpieces
Patty Uffman, Jaime Gonzalez, & Jerry Harste display their final products
“We PAINT…Faces & Places”
“Chickadee,” Linda Mann
BWS artists created thirty paintings for the annual membership show at the Vault which in turn created a really interesting mix! The opening reception during Gallery Walk on October 4th brought nearly 60 art lovers to the exhibit. It was a busy weekend with many other events happening. Lotus Fest, Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, Paint Bloomington, and the beautiful weather all combined to bring more visitors to town.
Now through November 22, you can enjoy the show in person Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00 at the Vault at Gallery Mortgage, 121 E 6thStreet. Please call first to be sure someone is there. 812-334-9700.
VOTE in PERSON at the Vault for your favorite painting in the show. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the December Holiday Party and will receive a prize of $100.
“WE PAINT…Faces & Spaces” Reception, Photo compliments of Jeanne Dutton
Prevention & BWS:
The Out of the Darkness Walk is part of a national movement created by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to promote awareness. The local Walk took place in Bloomington on Sunday, October 27 with, according to coordinator Lisa Osmon, over 450 participants registered.
BWS partners with Project Stay’s initiative to provide painted “Prevention Rocks” for walkers to distribute during the event while Kiwanis SCI sponsors that initiative. Painted and decorated with words of affirmation, the rocks are laid along the B-Line in the hope of lending a positive, encouraging note to someone’s day…someone who may really need that encouraging note.
Michelle Martin Colman, co-founder of Project Stay, provided the rocks for the BWS artists to decorate. Then, a few members gathered around the dining table in early October, creating unique mini masterpieces with acrylic paints and Posca pens. Many thanks to Charlotte Griffin, Linda Branstetter, Sarah Ward, Julie Boyd, Laura Brown, Cheeri Dennis, and Judy Owens for painting over 50 rocks for the cause! Thank you, too, to Andrew Preston of Preston Arts Store in Louisville for sending the Posca Pens!
Remember, if you or someone you know needs help, call 988…the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Below are pictures of two of the volunteers (Sarah Ward & Charlotte Griffin) and some of the rock that were painted.
Paint Bloomington
Paint Bloomington 2024 was extremely successful, much thanks to the cooperation and talents of BWS!!! It was a gorgeous sunny day, and people showed up early to get their paper and canvas stamped, and then they disappeared. Cheri, Andy, and Kathy welcomed everyone in the BWS/Upland tent!!
Next, the families and individual artists came, and Carol Rhodes introduced them to the art of watercolor, and Sara Steffey made her wonderful nature wands.
Bruce Kell demonstrated urban sketching and memorialized the day!!! Anne Woods made paper for medallions and natural materials, another big success.
Jason Ballinger, with the help of Charlotte Griffin, did gelli prints, which was a major activity, and an all-day adventure.
The portrait group had a fabulous model. Zain Mackey taught creating abstract landscapes. Dan Alexander, a guest artist, did an incredible portrait of Kris Kristofferson on Yupo paper with watercolor.
Sara got out her gorgeous watercolors that she made with natural materials, and Patty Uffman demonstrated painting flowers with them.
People of all ages just plopped down everywhere and were drawing and painting. Penny Lulich did watercolor landscapes and Anne-Karine taught how to use a limited palette and Ellen Cramer did a still life with pastels, acrylic, and water-based oils (actually non-oils!!)
The day ended with Joanne Shank, Betty Wagoner, Mary Sue Schwab and Bill Schwab “judging” the best of the day!!
What was interesting this year was that so many people were really immersed in all the art classes, and no one wanted to leave the pavilion. We also had a lot of families who were new Immigrants to Bloomington, and from multiple places. They were thrilled to be able to have supplies to work with and Kitty and Angela helped them get started. One young girl told me she hadn’t painted since she left Afghanistan and that for me made my day.
Chandra Rettinger introduced Halloween masks of recycled materials!!
Kitty Garlock was the heroine of the day transporting tents, checking in people, and putting together a community mural!!!
Below are photos of Anne-Karine’s Plein Air Landscape, Bruce Kell’s Urban Landscape and finally
Outside BWS
Hoosier Art Salon
Shop Small, Shop Local Exhibit, November 16 – January 5, 2025 Reception, Saturday, December 7, 4:00-6:00 pm
Join us for the annual Invitational Exhibition, “Shop Small, Shop Local Fine Arts!” The gallery will exhibit members from Posey County and the surrounding area, from November 16 – January 5, 2025. A reception will be held on Saturday, December 7, 4 – 6 pm. We encourage our exhibiting artist to attend the reception to greet the public and discuss their art.
Art For Earth
Morgensterns bookstore held an “Art for Earth” sale of original paintings, posters, prints, and other artist works on November 2nd. Over 100 pieces valued at $3000 sold from $5 – $50 dollars each. 100% of the money went to various environmental non-profits chosen by the people who donated the art.
Swoop Art Museum
Light, Space, & Time
Light, Space, & Time is an online art site designed to help artist market their work. The next open competition is November 27, featuring nature.
Membership News
Timothy Lewis. I have two new watercolors:
“Barb’s Pumpkins” is a 15” x 11” watercolor of three pumpkins and a concrete rabbit displayed on the corner of our front entryway for Halloween 2024. You just have to love autumn colors.
“Panguitch” is an 11” x 7.5” watercolor of a rock formation near Panguitch, Utah from our western vacation a few years ago. (photo)
Jerry Harste. I attended WSI’s “Wild Woman Workshop” in Indianapolis from October 8 -11 with Jennifer Stone. Jennifer paints her figures on see-through collage papers which she has stamped and then picks up some of the stamping and integrates it within her final piece. Below is a detail of a painting that I created during the workshop.
Andy Roberts. Below is the painting I completed after the BWS Oil Transfer Demonstration in the Paul Klee style. I called it “Kosmos.” I thought those that participated might like to see it. I also wanted to thank all of those that participated it was a fun exercise and a great experience.
Jacki Frye. I recently hosted a paint-out for Upland Plein Air at Jackson Creek. Below is my painting of the area around the covered bridge.
CALENDER
Now to November 22: BWS Membership Show, The Vault.
November 11: BWS November Meeting, First Christan Church
November 11 to November 19: On-Line bidding in support of BWS Art Scholarship
December 10: BWS Holiday Party. Information to come.
Bloomington Watercolor Society will meet Monday, October 14th, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. The meeting will not be on Zoom.
After the business meeting Andy Roberts will demonstrate anOil Transfer Technique used by Paul Klee in several of his paintings.
Supplies to bring: Watercolor Paper Watercolor Paint & Brushes Copy paper or Drawing Paper Sheets Drawing Pencil(s) All other needs to be supplied.
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It’s Showtime!!!!
Across Cowden Road 1 – Barbara Coffman, Spaces & Faces Exhibition
From the desk of the BWS President Laura Brown:
Our Fall Show for 2024 begins next week! Don’t forget to drop off your paintings on October 1st from 10am-noon at the Gallery Mortgage.
Spaces and Faces: To each of us these words will spark different meanings, emotions, pull us into dreams or into our very own realities. What artistic images do these words evoke? Come find out as the members of the Bloomington Watercolor Society displays their interpretations of all the spaces and faces they encounter!
OPENING RECEPTION: Gallery Walk Friday, October 4th, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
SECOND RECEPTION: Gallery Walk Friday, November 1st 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Showing at The Vault at Gallery Mortgage October 4th 2024 – November 22nd, 2024 121 E 6th Street Bloomington, IN 47408 Normal Gallery Hours: 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday
The Percussionist – Timothy Lewis, Faces & Spaces Exhibition
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Joanne Weddle – Upcoming BWS Programs
November 11th — Penny Lulich will demonstrate how she paints Winter Scenes like the two attached.
December9th– Christmas Party/Dinner, The Farm Restaurant, Bloomington. More information to follow.
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SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER at the BWS GALLERY
“Art is Meditation”, an exhibit featuring the art of long time BWS board member Charlotte Griffin, is at the Bloomington Watercolor Society Gallery during September and October. Her artwork covers many years of painting and a wide variety of mediums and subjects, creating a very enjoyable show.
The Gallery is open Tuesday through Thursday, 8:30 – 4:30 or by appointment. Please call before you visit. 812-233-3286
Glad to say that all sales of fine art, prints and original greeting cards support the art programs of the Cancer Support Community.
Charlotte and other art lovers at the opening reception on September 13.
Coming this Week!!!Paint Bloomington!!!
One of BWS’activities this week centers around Paint Bloomington, a fun and free community art event on Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm at Bryan Park in Bloomington. BWS and other sponsors will be at the shelter on the east side of the park. BWS wants to thank those of you who are volunteering to staff the event, donating supplies, and teaching classes.
Two ways to participate
Classes are offered from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; they are free and supplies are provided. There are classes suitable for all age groups and experience levels. Many individuals and families attend – bring a picnic! Classes offered include introduction to watercolor, making Halloween masks, portrait painting, and many more.
Artists can register between 9:30 and 11:30, have their canvases or papers stamped, and spend the day anywhere in Bloomington producing an artwork that can be turned in by 3:00 pm for display and prizes. Artwork is displayed and prizes are awarded in categories such as youth, teens, adults, professionals, and group collaborative pieces (fun for families and friends).
Look for the Welcome/Registration tables when you arrive.
Hope to see you there!
Artists for Climate Awareness: Using Natural Materials to Create a Color Palette
Maria Schechter is a bio-artist who uses foraged botanical mycelium and mineral palettes. Maria grows her color garden and works with materials such as flowers, fruits, mushrooms, and roots to develop organic painting palettes. Learn more and see Maria’s biography at: http://artistsforclimateawareness.org/maria-schechter-bio/
Join Maria Schechter in exploring natural materials to create color palettes from fruits, flowers, and earth pigments. Prepare a couple of pigments from a recipe, and then paint with them. The painting and some supplies will be yours to keep. — November 2, 2024, 10 am to 2 pm — Ivy Tech Bloomington, Indiana — Room D201
Highlights:
Begin with a virtual tour of the Lascaux Caves in France.
Learn about the history and use of earth pigments.
Discuss tannins and mordants (substances used to bind dyes to fabrics) that are used in natural dyeing.
Process and create botanical colors from materials like black walnuts, onion skins, avocado seeds, and blueberries.
Learn from Ellen Jacquart, director of MC IRIS, why native plants are important and find out what we can do to help preserve and maintain healthy landscapes.
Activities:
Examine ancient wall paintings and illuminated manuscripts.
Process one or two colors with a group of others using pre-prepared materials and a processing video.
Understand mordants, tannins, and alternative salts/metals for dyeing.
Materials Provided:
Stretched, recycled watercolor paper that has been prepared with layers of processed onion skins; pipettes and brushes
Definition list, dyer’s method recipe, and list of mordant modifiers.
Recipe journal, brushes, magnifying glass, and reference books.
Link to Maria’s YouTube channel for detailed instructions.
Takeaways:
Confidence in processing foraged materials at home.
Encouragement to explore and experiment with botanical dyeing
A two-color bio art painting
A gift bag with: — Recipes — A list of reference books and links to videos — A handmade recipe journal to write down your own recipes — Brushes and a handheld magnifying glass
No prior skill required, just a love for nature and curiosity!
Fee:$60 nonmembers; $35 for current Artists Climate Awareness members (Not a member? The nonmember workshop fee includes a new annual membership. Already a member? Contact art4climate@carolrhodes.netto register.)
Outside BWS
The Hoosier Art Salon announces a shared exhibit viewing entitled “Two Friends; Two Perspectives.”
Featuring Barbara Northern & Linda Volz: A showcase of individual perspectives that led to fascinating differences.
NOW OPEN!THROUGH NOVEMBER 10TH, 2024 HOOSIER ART SALON507 CHURCH ST., NEW HARMONY, IN 47631
THURS & SUN 1:00 – 4:00PM FRI & SAT 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Watercolor Society of Indiana
WSI announces a “Wild Women Workshop” with Artist Jennifer Stone. October 8 to 11, 2024. Mixed Media.
Membership News
Andy Roberts. Here are two of my recent paintings. The top one is titled, “Jimsonweed in the Pumpkin Patch” and the bottom one is titled, “Sally’s Spartacus Dahlias.”
Saturday, October 12, 10 – 5 and Sunday, October 13, 12 – 4. Open house, refreshments and plenty of art. Stop by for a visit and see what she’s been up to at 560 E. Holland Dr.
Go to Bloomington Open Studios Tour to check out the website for other participating artists.
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Meri Reinhold. My wave painting got an honorable mention at the Persimmon Festival art show.
Congratulations Meri!!
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Jerome Harste. In addition to trying to learn to paint animals like Hazel Soan (you can see my painting of elephants in BWS’ Faces & Places Show), I took all of the flower pictures I snapped on a recent train trip to the West Coast and created this mash-up, Gustav Klimt-like, garden painting.
MarySue Schwab. Bill and I had a wonderful weekend painting with other artists in Madison Indiana with Indiana Plein Air Painters Association members. Attached are Bill and my paintings from that event. I won an honorable mention and sold my painting.
MarySue added ” Now is the time to sign-up now for watercolor painting classes at Ivy Tech. While you are at it, add Calligraphy to your repertoire! You will have fun and and learn a new skill! Next session at Ivy Tech begins October 31st!” MarySue added the schedule as well as three painting to entice.
Deborah Rush. The Springbok painting was inspired by watching a Hazel Soan videotape I found on-line. Hazel has a wonderful new book called “Learn to Paint Wildlife Quickly.”
Also attached is the painting I submitted for BWS’ fall show: Claude & Conner. As you know Claude Cookman became a grandfather recently. This painting is a celebration of that event.
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Calendar
October 1 — Drop off paintings for Spaces & Places Show, The Vault at Gallery Mortgage.
October 4 — Opening Reception for Spaces & Places Show, The Vault at Gallery Mortgage.
October 5 — Paint Bloomington! Bryan Park.
October 12 & 13 — Open Studio Tour.
October 14 — BWS Meeting and Program by Andy Roberts, Frist Christian Church
Now to October 25 — Art as Mediation Exhibit, CSC Center.
October 31 — Start of watercolor and calligraphy classes at Ivy Tech.
November 2 — Artist for Climate Awareness Workshop, Ivy Tech.
Now to November 10 — Two Friends; Two Perspectives Exhibit, Hoosier Art Salon.
“Seaside” watercolor by Laura Brown (Reference photo by Dennis Benson used with permission)
From the desk of the BWS President Laura Brown
Our first meeting of the 2024-2025 BWS year is under way! Come join us on:
Monday Sept. 9
First Christian Church, located on the block of Kirkwood and Washington
Bloomington, Indiana
We will be meeting in the downstairs of the
Chapel Gathering Space
Refreshments and light snacks
After a brief business meeting, the evening program will be “Show and Share!” This is an informal show of a piece you worked on over the summer. It does not have to be framed or formal; we simply prop our pieces up and create a mini display to see what we have all been up to over summer break. Please bring something you have worked on, or if not, please come and enjoy the impromptu show!
Further information including door code, agenda items, and a meeting reminder will be sent via email the Friday before the meeting.
Come join in the fun!
Have a friend who is interested in BWS? It’s the perfect time to bring a guest!
See you there!
Left: “Corn Dog County Fair” by Andy Roberts. Right: “Proud” by Jane Matranga.
“We Paint…Spaces and Faces!”
The BWS Annual Membership Show opens with a reception on Gallery Walk Friday, Oct. 4, at the Vault at Gallery Mortgage.
It’s apparent from the images pouring in that this will be a fun and interesting exhibit, so mark your calendars!
Once again, entries will be featured on the BWS SmugMug gallery. Please send your entries (and questions) to FallShow@BloomingtonWatercolor.org in jpg format with the following information: title, framed size, price, contact information, and medium, remembering your artwork must be at least 50% watercolor. (See the prospectus – link below.)
Linda Branstetter plans on bringing some of the history binders to the next meeting for new members to look at. She has added an old document about the history of BWS.
BWS Gallery and CSCSCI Win National Award
by Jeanne Dutton
In 2022, Stephanie Shelton, development director for Cancer Support Community of South
Central Indiana (CSCSCI), along with a team of BWS members, spurred the creation of the
Bloomington Watercolor Society Gallery. In September of that year, the gallery opened with an
exhibit by BWS Signature Member Meri Reinhold. In the months since, 15 BWS artists have
shared their work in the gallery.
The sale of fine art originals, prints, and hand-painted greeting cards has generated over $7,000.
Sales commissions, plus donations from the artists and patrons, support CSC’s art programs for
cancer patients, survivors, family, friends, and caregivers. Those donations and commissions
have generated in excess of $2,000 which, in turn, have provided:
10 art classes instructed by BWS artists
16 youth art backpack kits (with resources for parents about how to talk to their kids about cancer and difficult topics like death)
An assortment of art supplies for the classes and open art studio
In August 2024, CSC Indiana staff attended a national Affiliate Leadership Conference (ALC) in
Louisville, Ky. The conference consisted of CSC and Gilda’s Club affiliate organizations. There are
50 affiliate partners located across the US, in Canada and overseas. During the conference,
awards were presented to recognize outstanding programs among the affiliate organizations.
Innovation and Creativity in the category of Development/Fundraising is one honor, and it was
awarded to the Gallery partnership with BWS and CSCSCI (Bloomington office)!
BWS can be truly proud of its commitment to the Bloomington area, supporting the Cancer
Support Community, Teachers Warehouse, and the Art of Chocolate with exhibits, and such
projects as the Monroe County History Center’s cemetery calendar and “We Paint…Historic
Bloomington.” The BWS Art Scholarship assists aspiring art students graduating from the
Monroe County Community School Corporation. There are others, too numerous to mention.
The Gallery is located in the CSC Offices at 1719 W. Third St. in Bloomington, corner of West Third
Longtime BWS member Claude Cookman is one of three curators who have assembled Intimate Alchemy: David Levinthal’s XXX Polaroids. The exhibition of prints from Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute opens with a First Friday reception at IU’s Grunwald Gallery on Sept. 6 and runs until Nov. 11.
Levinthal burst onto the art photography scene in 1977 with the publication of Hitler Moves East: A Graphic Chronicle, 1941-43. The book’s text was written by his friend and Yale classmate, Garry Trudeau, creator of the Doonesbury cartoon. The images forecast what would become Levinthal’s signature approach. By arranging toys — in this case miniature tin German soldiers — in fabricated settings and photographing them with controlled lighting and extremely narrow focus, he achieved trompe l’oeil realism.
From 1999 to 2001, he used a rail-mounted Polaroid view camera that produced 20- x 24-inch images to photograph plastic figures, creating his XXX series. The Polaroid technology meant that — unlike analog photography in which multiple prints can be made from a negative or digital photography where duplicates are potentially infinite — each image is unique. Polaroid’s chemical process produced vivid, highly saturated color. With shallow focus and careful lighting, Levinthal performed alchemy, turning plastic into what appears to be human flesh. He photographed most of the figures — modeled on strip club dancers — numerous times adjusting the lighting, framing, and camera angles to create a widely varied but coherent body of 272 images.
Intimate Alchemy comprises 26 of those Polaroids. Several of the plastic figures are displayed near their corresponding images, allowing viewers to assess Levinthal’s transformations. Levinthal will speak in IU’s Fine Arts Building 105 from 5 to 6 p.m, Thursday, Oct. 17, followed by another reception at the Gallery. A selection from his XXX portfolio can be seen at https://davidlevinthal.com/artwork/xxx.html.
Jerry Harste writes: I’m on safari in South Africa staying at Tambamati Luxury Lodge collecting pictures of animals, many of which I’m sure you will see in future paintings. My favorite sightings have been the wild dogs (probably because I have never seen them on previous safaris). On the first occasion I saw a female dog with 10 pups playing, and on the second occasion I saw a pack of eight wild dogs on the hunt (a real trick to keep up with them). The elephants, of course, are magnificent. On this trip I found out that elephants are right-handed and left-handed (just like humans) and use their feet to do lots of things. The front of their foot also has extra sensors through which they can pick up communications from other elephants via vibrations in the earth. Their roars are also transmitted this way to other elephant groups. (Editor’s note: In Jerry’s absence, this issue has been edited by Nancy Davis Metz.)
“Bass Harbor Head” by Tim Lewis is a 15″ x 22″ watercolor of the Bass Harbor Head Light Station marking the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay on the southwest corner of Mount Desert Island. Inspired by a photo taken by Chip Merriman and used with his permission.
Tim Lewis‘s watercolor, “Bass Harbor Head,” was accepted into the 2024 Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Show. This event runs through Sept. 28 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfield’s in the Waller Gallery. Another of Tim’s paintings, “Eventually,” was accepted into the 100th Hoosier Art Salon. This show hangs through Oct. 22 at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Two of Tim’s watercolors, “Bearcat” and “Day’s End,” were accepted into the 2024 Fishers Art Council Juried Exhibit of Hamilton County Artists. This show will run from Sept. 13 to 27 at the new Fisher City Hall Art Gallery.
“Bearcat” is 15″ x 11″ watercolor of a 1914 Stutz Bearcat seen at the old Stutz factory in Indianapolis, IN in 2024. A classic in bright yellow with a large bronze horn. The sports car of its time.
“Day’s End” (left) is a 7.5″ x 11″ watercolor of a sunset. As the sky becomes bright red, the viewers’ attention shifts from the colorful flowers to the distant sunset. The end of another Wisconsin day was inspired by a photograph taken by Cathy Harvey-Slawkin and painted with her permission. “Eventually” (right) is a 15″ x 22″ watercolor of the St. James Tavern in Columbus, Ohio. This landmark is close to the Ohio State campus and the building has obviously been used for other businesses over the years. Tim loves the “ghost sign” for Gold Medal Flour and the graffiti stenciled on the entry steps. Classic.
Long-distance member Phyllis Taylor will be the featured artist at the Trails End Art Association Gallery in Gearhart, Ore., for the month of October. Her show theme is Musicians (especially cellists) she has painted and drawn over the years. Two high school students on violin and cello will provide music for the show’s opening Oct. 5. She hopes to present a painting of the duo to them at the opening.
Schwab workshop
While working with the Daughters of Charity and the Franciscan Friars, Bill and MarySue Schwab gave art lessons at the Cordona center for the Homeless in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Lynne Gilliatt shares her latest work, a gouache on black paper painting.
Beyond BWS
Artists for Climate Awareness
Enjoy an inspiring Nature Journaling workshop led by Bailey Russell, a recent intern with the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District. This all-ages workshop is perfect for anyone who loves nature and wants to learn how to observe and document the natural world through journaling and drawing.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Karst Farm Park (Park Shelter #6)
Skills Covered: Participants will learn how to observe and draw natural subjects, focusing on their roles within ecosystems. Bailey, a talented illustrator, will share her techniques for capturing the beauty and intricacy of nature in your journal.
Activities: Weather permitting, we will venture out on a charming, fully accessible trail with an interesting pond at Karst Farm Park to practice our observation and drawing skills. In case of inclement weather, we will bring natural subjects indoors to study and draw.
Additional Education: Marilyn Bauchat of the Uplands Network of the Hoosier Chapter of Sierra Club will provide a brief educational session on how we can support environmental action in our daily lives.
Artists for Climate Awareness is pleased to offer this workshop as part of its series to help artists learn how to use art as a way to bring social awareness to conservation efforts in your communities. Along with art, all events include education and guidance on climate and environmental action. A portion of the proceeds will go the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization.
Friends of the Library
Friends of the Library is looking for watercolor artists to propose and possibly facilitate activities in conjunction with its Armstrong exhibit next year at the library. The artist being featured is Matthew Cordell, a Caldecott winning (Wolf in the Snow) children’s picture book illustrator. Kathie Durkel from the Friends of the Library says 88 of his original pen & ink with watercolor drawings from 15 of his books will be displayed. The organization is looking for activities that can be offered to all ages. ” We can help you plan events in the gallery or other spaces in the library, or just brainstorm activities,” Kathie said. “Hands on, multigenerational would be great! We do have some funding for materials for participants.” The exhibit will run February and March 2025 and will include Youth Art Month. It will be open Monday through Thursday 3 to 7 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. with longer hours on President’s Day and Spring Break. Contact Kathie at kdurkel@gmail.com with ideas, proposals, or questions.
Left: Caleb Weintraub presents Best of Show Award to Anne-Karine Bley. Right: Rita Davis was awarded First Place in the Professional Category.
2024 Friends of T.C Steele Member Art Show
by Betty Wagoner
The show featured 48 regional artists and 79 artworks, reflecting a variety of art media, styles, and traditional and modern subjects. The judge was Caleb Weintraub, who is an associate professor at IU’s Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design. He was pleased with the range of artwork displayed by the Friends’ membership.
At the reception, the judge presented the awards and briefly discussed each award-winning artwork. The Best-of-Show was awarded to Anne-Karine Bley for “Red Abundance,” an oil painting of an alley in New Harmony.
In the Profession Category, the following awards were presented:
1st Place, Rita Davis, a watercolor titled “Celestial Wanderers”
2nd Place, Jacki Frey, an oil painting titled “Singing Winds”
3rd Place, Scott Miller, a watercolor titled “Starkey Park 2, Father’s Day Outing”
In the Amateur/Emerging Artist Category, the following awards were presented:
Photo taken at May Creek Farms Paint-Out by Deborah Rush
Meeting–June 10
Bloomington Watercolor Society will meet Monday, June 10, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. The meeting will not be on Zoom.
Remember: BWS is taking a summer break from business meetings! We’ll resume in September. Meanwhile, watch your email for announcements of summer activities.
Following the Business Meeting, Carol Rhodes and Nancy Metz will lead the evening’s program.
“Discovering your Artistic Voice”
“Every artist from beginner to professional possesses a unique voice: rich and powerful, shaped by their experiences and stories. This voice is encouraged to grow with practice and thought–not fabricated, but discovered. Your inner artistic voice is intrinsic and can be found in everyday experiences and choices in your life, reflected in things like personal handwriting, home decor, music, and favorite conversations. Your internal voice is always evolving; it is driven by continuous growth and inspiration, and your art will correspondingly change over time.
In our upcoming meeting on June 10, Nancy Metz and Carol Rhodes, along with four panelists (Jerry Harste, Jacki Frey, Zain Mackey, and Tim Lewis) will explore “Discovering Your Artistic Voice” and guide you in identifying and nurturing your own distinct style.
For the workshop, bring 3-5 photos of your artwork that you particularly LIKE (cell phone or tablet is fine) plus a pencil and paper to jot down some thoughts. You will use these for some exercises.”
REMINDER: Those who made folded journals in the May meeting are encouraged to bring their partial or completed work to share at the June meeting!
Inside BWS
Be an “Artist in the Garden” at the Garden Walk
Saturday, June 22, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday June 23, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Whether it’s the potting shed, the statuary, the vegetables, a magnolia tree in bloom, annual flowers or perennial flowering shrubs, you can find something to paint at one of the Bloomington Garden Club’s Garden Walk!
Want to go with a paint pal? Four of the six gardens have room for two artists. The attached descriptions explain which gardens can host more than one, so please read the attached to find one you might like.
(This year, there is a bit of confusion on the map about the numbering scheme for the gardens so let’s refer to the gardens by the street address and the owners’ names.)
Participating artist earn a free ticket for the day they aren’t painting. Just tell Kathy when you sign up.
Remember – this is a rain or shine event (within reason since a deluge of rain and paint don’t play well together).
Kathy Truelove Barton will be maintaining a signup sheet for each day. She will be sending reminders a few days ahead. If you need to cancel, please let Kathy know ASAP.
Descriptions of the Gardens
The first 2 of the gardens are compact and have space for only 1 artist each.
Jeff Soper & Erica Burrin — 900 w 2nd Street
There’s something for everyone here. A huge magnolia shades a splashing pond and a cool and calm dining retreat. Birds and their feeders abound. A small garden produces veggies. A charming playhouse is tucked in surrounded by a bounty of native and colorful plantings.
Joe & Merridee La Mantia – 82- W Howe Street
This small sunny garden uses space wisely. Tree peonies and annuals grown by seed fill the space between sidewalk and the street. In the back yard a “start” from a relative produced a jaw-dropping arbor covered with plump grapes. Willow trees offer privacy and their branches have been used in art projects.
The rest of the gardens below can each host 2 artists.
Beth Applegate & Trish Kerle – 911 W 3rd Street
Once you walk through the gate, you will be WOWED by this large, imaginative, and intricately designed garden. The path which is bordered by flowers and sculptures leads you to an infinity loop which spirals into a tour of more trees, plants, flowers, sculptures, and art.
Richard Balaban & Julie Bloom – 1916 E Ruby Lane
Welcome to the Zen Garden. This owner had problems to solve. Large trees and the lack of sun dictated the garden design and plant selection. Run off from a steep slope was diverted to create an attractive rock-filled dry stream bed. A small fountain and wisteria arbor combined to create a cool, calm retreat.
Vidan & Trace Jovanovic – 1209 S Pickwick Place
The front gardens give a clue to what is to come. Annuals planted among perennials provide summer long color. Zinnias of all types and colors grown from seed are favored by the owner. Beds of vegetables; heirloom tomatoes among them, create a continual feast for the tummy as well as the eyes.
Bob & Nancy Miller – 2369 E Linden Hill Drive
The owners designed, labored, and immersed their lives into creating this magnificent large hydrangea heaven. A walkway much like a tour takes you by a whimsical potting shed and off to see a tremendous variety of hydrangeas, Conifers, alliums, and imaginative vignettes.
Membership Renewal Time
Andy Roberts, BWS Membership Chair, wrote to say, “Just a reminder that membership renewal time is here and that our dues are still only $35.00 per year. Please go to our website: https://bloomingtonwatercolor.org/ and click “Join Us” at top of the page. The alternative ways to remit and instructions are easy to follow. We look forward to another exciting year and extend an invitation to join us in all our many creative art activities along with our monthly meetings.
In closing, I would first like to thank all the members of BWS and especially the Executive Board that has allowed me the privilege of serving with them and BWS membership the past three years. I have enjoyed all that being an officer entails and would encourage those that have never served in this capacity to step out of your comfort zone and give it a try. It is personally rewarding as well as a great service to the Bloomington Arts Community.
Announcing the 2024 BWS Scholarship Winner!
The Scholarship Committee, led by Sarah Ward, is pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 BWS Scholarship. Graduating from BHSS with an exceptional GPA and headed for Washington University, Miss Seongwon Park explains her education goal:
“My interest in communication design was sparked by the use of symbols in Mexico’s metro stations, aiding navigation during times of high illiteracy. This intersection of art and communication deeply resonated with me, inspiring my ambition to create impactful designs. In college, I plan to pursue interdisciplinary studies alongside a focus on visual communication design, aiming to convey messages through thoughtful visual elements.
In the long term, I aspire to become a graphic or UX designer, or even a product designer, dedicated to creating designs that enhance the lives of minority groups such as immigrants, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. I aim to find creative solutions for effective communication and propose innovative ideas that improve daily life. As an immigrant myself, I relate to the challenges they face and hope to address them through my unique designs.”
Seongwon is shown here receiving the First Place Award for her entry in Bloomington’s 2024 Eco-Heroes contest. (Photo credit: Kriste Lindberg via City of Bloomington’s Environmental Commission).
Seong’s artwork is outstanding in many mediums, including this mixed media creation titled “Rotating Through Memories and Dreams.”
May Creek Farm Paint-Out
Photograph compliments of Kathleen Truelove Barton
Kathy Truelove Barton sent in a picture of BWS’ Paint-Out at May Creek Farms. She reported, “Many thanks to Sara Steffy McQueen, Sharon Parsons, and Betty Wagoner who were the hostess for the paint out at May Creek Farm during May. The day was sunny and pleasant. We had access to flower gardens, painting tables in the shelter house which opens to a pond. Some folks painted on easels on the dam looking toward the pond and beyond. We had about 11 artists painting that day, including Jeanne Dutton, Sarah Ward, Linda Brandstetter Ann Woods, Bruce Kell, Krista August, and Charlotte Griffin and her sister Carolyn Frey.
Artists are invited to bring their paintings to the June meeting to share.
SHARE YOUR ART – HAVE AN EXHIBIT and SUPPORT CSC ART PROGRAMS
Two years ago, the Cancer Support Community and BWS partnered to create the Bloomington Watercolor Society Gallery and it’s been a fine success. Participating artists have seen combined sales of over $6500, averaging $650 per show!
The BWS Gallery is located at 1719 W Third (that’s at the intersection of West Third and Landmark Avenue) in the CSC facility. Great benefits for Exhibiting Artists include:
CSC hosts an Opening Reception on the 2nd Friday of the first month of the exhibit.
CSC provides professional marketing materials to support each exhibit.
CSC provides publicity through their mailing lists, social media, etc.
Staff assists the artist in hanging the show
Thirty Feet of wall space is available to display your 2-D artwork using a STAS rail system.
Racks for greeting cards and prints and unframed originals are available.
Artists retain 70% of sales, while the remaining 30% supports the CSC art programs. Share the Fun – Grab a Fellow Artist and have a DUO SHOW! APPLY NOW!
CSC holds programs 3-4 times per week, and the Gallery is open to the public Tuesday – Thursday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The gallery will generally be available during normal office hours.
Currently exhibiting “Fields, Flowers, and Felines” are Barbara Coffman, Linda Branstetter, and Jeanne Dutton, now through the end of August. A reception is scheduled for Friday, July 12, from 4:00-7:00.
BWS to Participate in IU’s Mini University
BWS has been invited to participate in the Eskenazi Art Museum part of IU Mini-University. Five artists from BWS can show how they do their art to participants attending Mini-University. One hour is required on June 12 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Eskenazi. A table and a chair can be requested along with a parking pass. Laura Brown, Claude Cookman, Jamela Jafari, Jane Matranga, and Arkady Roytman have signed up for this opportunity.
In July BWS & Upland Will Share a Paint Out
BWS and Upland are joining forces again this July for a paint out extraordinaire! We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to paint at the home of Karen Pacific and David Shipley who, through their love of flowers and art, have created stunning sculptures and gardens that we get to enjoy and paint! Besides many garden areas and vistas to choose from they have chickens, horses, a donkey, pastures, little out buildings, a big barn, and a uniquely charming home. This is a paint out you do not want to miss.
Date: Saturday July 20th Time: 9:00-1:00| Place: Home of Karen Pacific and David Shipley, 1600 W. Dittemore Rd., Gosport Carpooling is encouraged as parked cars tend to distract from the view. A map will follow when the invitation is sent closer to the time of the paint out.
Photograph compliments of Kitty Garlock
Dali Alive!
BWS is sponsoring a road trip in late July to Newfields to see the LUME exhibit, “Dali Alive!”
The exhibit includes four original and amazing watercolors Dali created as opera set designs. The LUME videos are mesmerizing!
Transportation provided by Rural Transit. Be sure to watch your email around July 1 for all the details on time and cost for reservations.
A Little Bit of History
Linda Branstetter, BWS Historian, sent in this note: “Wylie House exhibited paintings from Bloomington Watercolor Society March 1st to April 30th, 2014 from a previous paint out in July of the gardens, museum, and docents in period attire.”
Outside BWS
T. C. Steele Member Art Show
The show is open to all members of Friends of T.C. Steele or to non-members who apply for membership while completing the show’s entry form. BWS artists are invited to enter their artwork in the show.
Show dates: August 3 -24, 2024 at Brown County Art Gallery, Nashville, IN. Registration deadline: July 22, 2024 Delivery of Artwork: July 27- 28, 2024 Reception and Awards Ceremony: Aug. 3, 2024, 2-4 pm Pick-up Artwork: Aug. 25-26, 2024
Judge: Caleb Weintraub, Assoc. Professor, Area Head of Painting, and Director of Undergraduate at the Eskenazi School of Arts, Architecture, and Design at Indiana University.
All levels of art experience accepted. Award categories: Professional, Amateur/Emerging Artists, and Youth. Parents, grandparents, art tutors and teachers, please encourage young artists to enter the show.
Professional 2023 First Place; Photo Compliments of Betty Wagoner
Watercolor Society of Indiana
Tim Lewis, WSI President sent in this list of upcoming WSI events:
The Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Member’s Show opens June 14th at Gallery Forty-Two, 42 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, with a public reception at 6:00 pm. The show runs through July 26th.
The Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Show opens August 2nd at the Waller Gallery in the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields in Indianapolis. There is a a public reception and awards ceremony on August 4th at 2:00 pm and the show runs through September 28th.
There are several demonstrations and workshops by well known artists available through the Watercolor Society of Indiana over the next several months. Check out the WSI website for details: https://www.watercolorsocietyofindiana.org/
Membership News
Jerome Harste. While I don’t know whom to credit, I found this delightful poem on Facebook and decided it just had to be shared:
Tim Lewis. I have two new watercolors:
“Eventually” is a 15” x 22” watercolor of a local tavern near the OSU campus in Columbus, OH.
“Day’s End” is a 15” x 11” watercolor of three sandhill cranes returning to the Platt river in Nebraska to nest for the night.
Susan Savastuck. Susan shared her painting “Spring Iris After Dark.” Then added, “One more thing: Final Gallery Walk Reception at Bloomingfoods West : “Portraits in Pointillism.”
“Spring Iris After Dark” by Susan Savastuck
“Portraits in Pointillism” by Susan Savastruck
Andy Roberts. I have two recent paintings to share. Both paintings have been in some stage of completion for several months but I recently took time to complete them.
First: Owensburg District School- circa 1955 – was my school from 1st thru 8th grades. I have a lot of fond memories and some exaggerated stories from my days at Owensburg School. I am proud to finally put the image on paper. Pen and Ink- Watercolor
Second: Gnaw Bone Camp- Gnaw Bone, Indiana – a summer camp for girls that has been in operation for 50+ years and is a great place to paint en Plein Air. Pen and Ink- Watercolor.
Kitty Garlock. This painting was done at Terra Flora north of Bloomington and I always wanted to put something silhouetted in the very bright large space at the center right…an animal , person, a little thing of interest…any idea or suggestions as to do or not do?
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 10 – BWS Meeting – “Finding Your Artist Voice.” June 12 – Eskenazi Museum of Art, BWS artist providing “live art.” Registration required. June 22-23 – Garden Walk. July TBD – Dali Alive! Road Trip to Newfields. July 20 – Paint Out, Kitty Garlock, hosting, location TBA. August 10 – Paint Out at Owen Valley Winery, April Bledsoe and Zoe Dean, hosting. September 9 – BWS meetings resume. Show and share summer work.
“May is the most beautiful month of the year, a month alive with warm color. The flowers and trees are in full bloom, and even the sun joins this rhapsody be emitting warmer rays.” — Lillian Berliner,And The Month Was May: A Memoir — Painting, JCHarste
MEETING
Jeanne Dutton to Demonstrate Journal Making, May 13
Bloomington Watercolor Society will meet Monday, May 13, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the upper room as work is being completed in the room we usually meet in. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. The meeting will not be on Zoom.
Following the meeting, Jeanne Dutton will demonstrate how to create artist journals via different ways of folding watercolor paper.
Making a sketchbook out of a single piece of paper is a handy trick to have up your sleeve! These versatile sketchbooks can be made in a variety of sizes and used for drawing exercises, specific projects, special gifts, or even to accompany you on a plein air outing!
Easy to pack, take one on your summer vacation. Make them with the grandkids and create special memories. Remember, these journals aren’t fine art, they’re FUN art!
Jeanne says, “I love to pick a theme, gather quotations related to the theme, then get creative with my illustrations! The folds create pockets which can be filled with bookmarks, tiny paintings, or other ephemera.”
Jeanne will also bring several samples to, hopefully, inspire you!
Supplies to bring: A full or half sheet of 140# watercolor paper, plus a few smaller sizes. Scissors A bone folder for pressing creases Ideas for your theme Quotations related to that theme Bring whatever medium you want to start your journal with – pencil, pens, watercolor pens, etc.
Photo by Jeanne Dutton
INSIDE BWS
Presidential Notes of Thanks
Thank you to MarySue Schwaab, BWS Signature member, who presented the April program, “Using Color and White Space Effectively,” and discussed layering, using transparent watercolors.
Here’s a sample from the audience.
And kudos to Daniel Goebbert for sharing his Eclipse inspired painting at the meeting.
A Note of Urgency
Laura Brown, BWS Vice President, wrote to say:
“As I mentioned at one of the meetings, BWS activities are made possible by artists like YOU! There are a couple spots where we are in need of volunteers to make things possible this year. The hats to wear are very different from one another, so please read the entire email so you don’t miss what might be a perfect fit for you!
First off, every year for awhile now we have been taking a bus up to the Newfields Museum of Art in Indianapolis to see the LUME exhibit, a 360 walkthrough immersive art experience which has focused on great artists of the past. From the Impressionists to Van Gogh, this year’s exhibit is Salvador Dali! However, we still don’t have a trip coordinator to help make arrangements with the museum, verify our transportation, send reminder emails, and overall ensure a fun experience for our members. Without a coordinator, we will not be able to arrange this trip this year, something we all surely wouldn’t want to miss out on. Note, Dali Alive! closes on June 20.
Secondly, if you’re someone that would prefer to work behind the scenes, we have the perfect spot for you! We are in need of someone to edit Brushstrokes, our monthly online newsletter. It is the homebase for all our organization’s news, recaps, and upcoming events. Right from home, you could be the one that helps build a solid record of BWS events and a go-to spot for members and the public alike.
Please join BWS and Upland artists at the May Creek Farm for a morning of plein air painting on May 18 from 10 am to 1 pm. The beautiful rural farm offers a large grassy area surrounded by forest and a large pond with a babbling brook and outbuildings. In short, plenty of scenes to paint!
Directions: Head south on Rockport Road from S Rogers Street for about 8 miles. Look for a tall address sign on the left and the BWS sign. Park on the gravel parking lot and please be sure not to block someone’s driveway.
A shelter house and a large porch offer protection from the sun or the rain! A coffee pot and refrigerator are also available.
Transportation from the parking area is available for those with mobility challenges.
Hosts Betty Wagoner and Sara Steffey McQueen will be there to welcome you.Questions? Email info@BloomingtonWatercolor.org or call 812 420-0695.
Cancer Support Community Center
Jeanne Dutton, Barbara Coffman, & Linda Branstetter will be the featured artists at the South Center Indiana Community Cancer Support Center through May and June. The Exhibit is entitled, “Flowers, Fields, and Felines.” The opening reception will be May 10 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Historical Tidbit
Linda Branstetter, BWS Historian, sent in this little bit of history from June 2, 2014. Troy Kilgore, Tricia Wente, and Jerome Harste were three Bloomington artists among 15 Indiana artists chosen for the Hoosier Salon Annual Exhibition that was on display through August of 2014 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Historical Center in Indianapolis. This was Harste’s first time being a part of the exhibit.
Hoosier Salon has exhibited art from many of Indiana’s most notable painters, sculptors, cartoonists, and mixed media artists including Hoosier group artists, members of Brown County Art Colony, and other artists with ties to Indiana.
OUTSIDE BWS
Artists for Climate Awareness: Workshop, May 11
MarySue Schwab wrote to say, “Sign up for my watercolor workshop on May 11th at Ivy Tech Community College, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Painting Pollinators, Birds, Butterflies and Bees. I’ll share some thing I’ve learned about bird anatomy, choosing the best reference photo, and various watercolor techniques.”
This workshop on pollinators is sponsored by Artists for Climate Awareness.
“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.”
Watercolor Society of Indiana: Two Announcements!!
Membership Show: The Watercolor Society of Indiana’s Annual Members’ Show will be at Gallery Forty-Two at 42 East Washington St., Indianapolis, from June 14th through July 26th. There is a public reception on June 14th from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm.
Call to Artists for Entries: The Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Exhibition is accepting entries from members until 5:00 p.m. on May 24th. This Exhibition will be at the Indianapolis Museum of Art from August 2nd through September 28th. More information and a prospectus is available on the WSI website at https://www.watercolorsocietyofindiana.org/ where you can also see information about upcoming classes, demonstrations and regional exhibitions.
Hoosier Art Salon: Call to Artists for Entries
Celebrating 100 Years, the Hoosier Art Salon’s Annual Exhibition will take place at the Indiana State Museum from August 26 until October 22. Apply online from May 6 to June 16 at juriedartservices.com. For complete rules visit hoosierartsalon.org.
$100,000 in Artist’s Awards and Commissions are hoping to be distributed!!
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Gene Harrawood. His is something I’m working on:
Here are some I finished.
Tim Lewis. I was accepted to be represented by a new gallery. Gallery 02 is located at 1115 Broadway in Fort Wayne and will hold a grand opening celebration from 5 until 8 p.m. on May 4th. I will have six watercolors available and on display at the opening including “Snowed In” and “Ghosts Of Fenns.”
“Snowed In” – 22” x 15” watercolor, Tim Lewis, Artist
“Ghosts Of Fenns” – 16” x 12” watercolor, Tim Lewis, Artist
Carolyn Roger Richard. For the month of May, I will be a Featured Artist at the Hoosier Artist Gallery, a cooperative gallery in Nashville, Indiana. Also featured is Anabel Hopkins of Nashville. There will be an Art Walk on Friday, May 4th from 4 to 7 p.m. All are invited to attend. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day at 45 S. Jefferson St., Nashville, IN, directly behind the Brown County Art Guild.
One of the paintings being shown by Carolyn Roger Richards at the Hoosier Art Gallery
Zain Mackey. I’ve been having fun working with shapes and color mixing with abstracts. This painting “Ova Over Texas,” along with some older work is headed to the Boomerang Gallery, a pop-up art gallery at Boomerang Hall on Madison Street in Bloomington.
“Ova Over Texas,” Zain Mackey, Artist.
Patrica Uffman. This could be considered an homage to Linda Meyer-Wright. In one of her classes she told us that we could incorporate discarded items into our work; in fact, we could scape paint off our pallet to create something. That is what I did — scrape bits of hardened acrylic paint from my pallet to make this scene that I call “Paint Blob Panic.” It is 8” x 10” on canvas board.
“Paint Blob Panic,” Patricia Uffman, Artist.
Andy Roberts. I painted this En Plein Air as I love the house and many others in the Prospect Hill neighborhood. My Aunt Jennie actually lived in this house when I was a small child so hence the attraction also. Now that the weather is getting nice I hope to be more productive.
Andy Roberts, Artist.
Jerome Harste. One of the lessons the lions taught me during my last safari in South Africa is the secret to a long life. I’m calling this playful personification, “The Secret to Longevity: Marrying Well.”
Jerry also writes, “As many of you know I am a strong advocate of expanding society’s notions of literacy beyond reading and writing. To that end, when I teach courses (even those that deal with teaching reading and writing more effectively), I often ask students to recreate an artistic response to what they have learned rather than just asking them to write or talk about how they have grown. Below is a response from Elizabeth Pace, one of my students, that I thought was particularly powerful:”
Elizabeth Pace, Artist
“For this week’s art response, I felt that a butterfly would be a perfect representation of how my views on literacy have transformed over this course. Throughout this course, I have had to rethink what fundamental literacy means to me. Prior to starting this degree, I was very much a believer of a more phonics-based approach, especially in supporting students that had difficulties reading and writing. This has become what I now consider a “black and white” approach to literacy. Since then, my view of literacy has drastically changed to become one where fundamental literacy is the building blocks of who people identify themselves as and how they contribute to society, which has also become much more “bright and colourful”, as represented on the right side of the butterfly. Viewing literacy from a social perspective has improved my own practice, by stepping outside of the black and white, embracing more color, and finding new ways to engage, teach, and learn with students.”
Kathleen Barton. Here is one of the paintings I entered into my group show at Viridian Moon last spring. It is already framed and still available for purchase. More of my paintings can be viewed at: Https://www. Kathysartllc.Square.site
Additional security has been added to this site. Enjoy viewing.
Kathleen goes on to say, “I have been told by some people I have been influenced by Matisse. Below is a gesture painting I created following a drawing session by Claude Cookman in March. II try to maintain some naïveté; and I find some similarities to Matisse’s presentation on the paper or canvas of spatial placement .
Kathleen Barton, Artist
MarySue Schwab. There is still time to sign up for my workshop on May 11th on “Polinators” (Artistists for Climate Awareness entry above). I also wanted to let you know that my paintings of seascapes has been accepted for the Light, Space, & Time Art Competition entitled “Seascapes.” Light, Space & Time hosts an online art competition featuring artist from around the world.
“Before the Storm,” Aritist MarySue Schwab
“The Great Pacific,” Artist, MarySue Schwab
CALENDAR
May 1 to May 24 — Submit Entries to WSI’s Annual Exhibition, Indianapolis
May 6 to June 16 — Submit Entries to Hoosier Art Salon Annual Exhibition
May 10 — Open Reception for Dutton-Coffman-Branstetter Exhibit at Cancer Support Center
May 11 — Artists for Climate Awareness Workshop, 9-4, Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington
May 13 — BWS May Meeting & Program, First Christian Church, Bloomington
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.
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.
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.
How do we get from the gesture sketch, at left, to the finished drawing, at right, in four steps?
March 11
Claude Cookman to present a charcoal lesson
Bloomington Watercolor Society will meet Monday, March 11, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. The meeting will not be on Zoom.
Three, two, one – DRAW!
BWS member Claude Cookman will present the March 11 program, featuring a four-step drawing process using vine charcoal. He sends this prospectus:
Drawing is fundamental to the human condition. All children draw to represent their world and express themselves. Adults have been drawing to communicate for many, many millennia. The ability to draw realistically is not talent that a lucky few receive at birth. It’s a skill anybody can learn. All it takes is practice and the will to persist when your early efforts fall short of your expectations.
I have been trying to learn to draw since 1994. I’m still trying. I am a firm adherent of Frederick Franck’s statement: “I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen. …” For me, drawing is about concentrated, purposeful seeing. But that deep seeing is not about details but rather shapes, forms, light and values.
I will introduce you to a four-step process, give you an indispensable drawing tool and share some ideas about drawing. Most important, I will get you drawing. Even if drawing is not your primary mode of artistic expression, the ability to see more deeply should improve your paintings.
We will draw with charcoal for several reasons: It’s cheap. It yields a wide range of values. It produces rich blacks, much darker than graphite. It’s extremely malleable, letting us easily and continually correct our drawings. It lets us establish a base of tone on the page so we can draw negatively with erasers. The finished drawing can be exquisitely beautiful with delicate tonal modulations and seamless transitions. It’s fun to get our fingers dirty.
Most amateurs and even some artists equate drawing with creating an outline then filling it with tones or color. It’s difficult to escape the tyranny of those coloring books from our childhood. Instead, working from a simple still life, we will approach drawing as a four-step process:
1. Gesture. We’ll start with a gesture drawing, trying to capture essential shapes and relationships with spontaneity. Then we’ll rub it out with a tissue. Using the charcoal residue as a guide, we will do a second, more accurate, gesture drawing. Then rub it out again.
2. Refinement. With this pentimento as a guide, we’ll transform the objects in our still life into structural forms: spheres, cubes, cylinders and cones. We’ll use a bamboo skewer as a tool to refine proportions, angles and alignments. We’ll perfect the contours but try to turn most lines into edges.
3. Lighting. We’ll identify the light source and how it creates highlights, middle tones and shadows. Then represent them with correct tonal values to establish the forms in space.
4, Detail. As the final step, we’ll add detail with charcoal pencils.
Please watch these videos:
Emily at The Pencil Room Online on gesture drawing.
Proko on gesture drawing: Using C, S and I to capture gesture. This video is about figure drawing, but you can extrapolate it to objects for our still life. Caution: This video contains photographs of semi-nude models. If nudity offends you, please do not view it.
Proko on structure: Seeing spheres, cubes, cylinders, and cones.
The Virtual Instructor on shading.
Materials
Please bring:
Vine charcoal sticks
Kneadable erasers
Kleenex or other tissue
One object you would like to draw
Optional, only if you have them:
Compressed charcoal and charcoal pencils
An apron; things might get messy
Handwipes and/or Purell
A table lamp
BWS will provide charcoal paper, at least one charcoal pencil per table and other items.
Please watch for Laura Brown’s email announcement of the meeting. It will include a PDF handout on drawing. I hope you will read it; that will let us spend more time drawing and less time listening to me talk.
Right: Gail Fairfield with her painting, “Insight,” which was awarded Best of Show. Gail received a $100 award from The Vault. Left: “Flower Power 2” by Char Dapena was awarded Silver Second, an award that comes with $75 from BWS.
2nd reception
WE PAINT … Peter, Paul, and Mary!
BWS hosted the second reception for “WE PAINT…Peter, Paul, and Mary!” at March 1. There was a very nice turnout at for Gallery Walk in spite of the cold weather.
The show, inspired by the varied styles and eras of Peter Max, Paul Klee and Mary Cassatt features psychedelic color, cubism, and domestic scenes. We are pleased to announce that two paintings have sold. Congratulations to Don Madvig and Julie Boyd.
The exhibit is on display through March 29 at The Vault Gallery Mortgage, 121 E. 6th St. in downtown Bloomington. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, but please call ahead 812-334-9700.
Also note that all sales benefit Teachers Warehouse, a worthy organization that provides free classroom supplies and furniture to educators in nine counties.
Many thanks to the BWS members who welcomed the many visitors at the reception!
Penny Lulich shows an early version of her painting from the Tom Lynch live workshop that BWS artists gathered on Feb. 24 to view. The live workshop presented by Tom Lynch, nationally known artist, was compliments of Cheap Joe’s https://www.cheapjoes.com/ . Many thanks to Barbara Coffman and Carol Rhodes for organizing the event.
If you were unable to attend the Tom Lynch online demo/paint along, or are just curious, the video is now posted on YouTube. If you would like to paint along with him, look up “Cortona Path of Light Tom Lynch” for the photo and sketch.
Member News
Joe and Bess Lee present a reboot of Professor Animalia’s Menagerie of Endangered Animals.
Bess Lee will be the featured artist at the Cancer Support Center in March and April.
“SHELL MANDALA,” a watercolor by Sara Steffey McQueen, was accepted into Aquaventure Exhibit 2024 hosted by the Kentucky Watercolor Society. The show’s juror was Mary Seymour Neely. The Exhibit is from March 4 to April 26 on the fourth floor of Artists’ Attic, 401 W. Main St., Lexington, Ky. A reception is scheduled for 4 to 5:30 p.m. March 15 with a “Gallery Hop” going until 8 p.m.
“Fixing the Outrigger” by Tim Lewis
Lewis has a watercolor, “Fixing The Outrigger” accepted into the 2024 Midwest Juried Art Exhibit. The show will be at the HCCA Gallery, 195 S. 5th St., in Noblesville from March 1 through March 30 with an opening reception on March 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. The painting is of three workmen repairing the outrigger on a shrimp boat in McClellanville, S.C.
Left: “Sweet Owen Courthouse” by Tim Lewis. Right: “The Dance,” by Tim Lewis.
Tim’s watercolor, “The Dance,” was awarded third place out of the 87 entries in the Brown County Art Guild “2024 Can You Paint Challenge.” These are two sandhill cranes “dancing” in a snowy field in Nebraska. Tim donated “Sweet Owen Courthouse” to the Indiana Bar Association for its project to collect paintings of all 92 Indiana county courthouses for permanent display in its yet-to-be built headquarters in Indianapolis. This is the Owen County courthouse in Tim’s hometown of Spencer.
MarySue Schwab has a painting in the Indiana Watercolor Society at Brown County Art Gallery, which is hanging now through March 28. MarySue is a signature member of WSI and of BWS and a member of OWS, NAW, and NAWS.
“Cutting Corners,” a watercolor pastel collage by Lynne Gilliatt
Beyond BWS
Calendar
March 5 Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington, Arts Alliance Center in College Mall, 6 to 7 p.m.
March 9 Reception for Professor Animalia’s Menagerie of Struggling Species, Art by Joe and Bess Lee, Arts Alliance Center, 4 p.m.
March 9 Reception for 2024 Midwest Juried Art Exchibit, HCCA gallery, 195 S. 5th St., Noblesville, 6 to 8 p.m.
March 11 BWS Monthly Meeting, First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. 6 p.m.
March 15 Reception for KWS Aquaventure, Artists’ Attic, 401 W. Main St., Lexington, Ky., 4 to 5:30 p.m.
April 5 Reception for “HeArt is Where the Home Is…” by Bess Lee, Cancer Support Center, 1719 W. Third St., Bloomington, 4 to 7 p.m.
April 13 Pastel Workshop by Avon Waters, Arts Alliance Center in College Mall, Bloomington, Sponsored by Artists for Climate Awareness
April 20 Watercolor Workshop by Rena Brouwer at Delphi Opera House Gallery pf Contemporary Arts, Sponsored by Artists for Climate Awareness
April 27 Art Journaling Workshop by Pauline Kochanski at Ivy Tech Bloomington, Sponsored by Artists for Climate Awareness
Bloomington Watercolor Society will meet Monday, February 12th, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. The meeting will not be on Zoom.
February’s Feature Program
Painting Winter Scenes. This month’s program leader, Penny Lulich says, “I love painting snow scenes, so come and paint with me as we explore snow with mountains and pine trees, and maybe a skier or two. We’ll explore color, shadows, and even flick some paint! I find I enjoy myself more if I have my favorite things.”
So bring your usual watercolor supplies, plus a few small sheets of paper for practicing drawing trees and tree lines, a wax resist crayon, and some salt. Penny will show how to splatter snowflakes using white gouache, so you may want to bring an apron, too.
For Your Information here is Penny’s palette. (Stars ** represent most often used.) Permanent yellow light ** Yellow ochre ** Sap green Green gold Cobalt green ** Cobalt turquoise light Pyrrol scarlet Transparent pyrrol orange Alizarin Crimsom ** Opera, pink Ultramarine deep ** Indigo ** Cobalt blue Shadow violet ** Transparent brown oxide Quin deep gold ** Quin purple ** Burnt sienna New Gamboge
Penny recommends a number 10 round brush, and a three-quarter inch angle shader. It’s helpful to have a sword liner or an equivalent for the tiniest tree branches.
Penny will have a drawing for a couple of art giveaways.
Inside BWS
“WE PAINT…Peter, Paul and Mary”
February 2 – March 29, 2024
A BWS Exhibition Benefitting Teachers Warehouse!
Inspired by the varied styles and eras of Peter Max, Paul Klee, and Mary Cassat, the artist members of the Bloomington Watercolor Society have created a wonderfully varied exhibit full of psychedelic color, cubism, and domestic scenes.
Showing at The Vault at Gallery Portage (121 E 6th Street). Normal Gallery Hours: 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday, except for days of receptions for which Gallery Hours are. 9am – 8pm.
And Breaking News from President Jeanne Dutton:
The show is up, the opening reception over, and now to announce the winners!
Three judges each choose their top three using certain criteria, including adherence to the theme, materials used, composition, and presentation, etc. Comparing notes, they then team up to choose the top two.
Silver Second is “FLOWER POWER 2” by Char Dapena.
Her painting was from a drawing she did back in her college days when Peter Max posters were everywhere. Char receives a certificate and $75 from BWS.
Best of Show is “INSIGHT,” alcohol ink on Yupo, from first-ever-exhibitor, Gail Fairfield. Gail receives a certificate and am award of $100 from The Vault.
Winners of the door prizes are Babette Ballinger taking away a #10 Round Aqua Elite watercolor brush; Lynne Gilliatt winning a Peter Max inspired tote from MoMA; and Sharon Parsons taking home a beautiful handmade, leatherbound journal.
Congratulations to all the winners!
The video tour of the exhibit can be seen on YouTube, and thanks to Bloomington North Rotary for sponsoring it once again.
A second reception is planned for March 1, 2024 during Gallery Walk.
Enjoy!
Applications are Now Open for Signature Membership
Andy Roberts, 2nd Vice President, announced that applications for Signature membership would be processed during the 2024 year. The process will begin by those who are interested contacting Andy to express their intent to apply by the end of March. Physical applications need to be submitted by April 30. Judging will take place in September.
Outside BWS
Upland Plein Air
The Upland Plein Air Member Show opens at the Arts Alliance Center in the College Mall on Saturday, February 3rd, with a reception from 1:00-3:00 pm. Upland members will exhibit works in a variety of subject matter, styles, and mediums. Cards, as well as artwork, will be for sale. The show runs through Saturday, March 2nd. Arts Alliance Center hours are Thursday – Saturday, 11:00 am-8:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00–6:00 p.m.
Cancer Support Center
Artists for Climate Awareness
Artists for Climate Awareness will host an in-person workshop February 13 from 5:30-8 p.m., entitled “Embracing Emotions through Abstract Watercolors”. The workshop invites artists to express their emotions as they delve into the intersection of art and environmental consciousness by reflecting on climate change through the powerful medium of abstract watercolors. For more information contact Carol Rhodes.
Artist for Climate Awareness will also host a Juried Exhibition for its members at the Art Alliance Center in Bloomington from April 1-18. The theme of that exhibition is, “Depictions: Earth, Life, and Our Shared Responsibility.”
The Hoosier Art Salon
The Hoosier Art Salon has several upcoming shows:
Young at Art: February 17 – March 31. Reception March 9th, 2-4 pm. Featuring the artwork of local students, Kindergarten-8th grade.
Field to Finish: April 13-16. Reception Wednesday, April 17th, 5-7 p.m. Showcasing the lovely “field” photographs and “finished” pieces of art that were produced during the First Blush of Spring Paint-Out by Indiana artists. Canvases must be stamped. Entry fee of $30 is required for non-Hoosier Art Salon members and $25 entry fee for members. All work must be for sale. Art must be received by April 8th.
Simplify through Color and Shape with Lon Brauer Workshop. April 15 & 16, 9-4pm. Painting is a language – a visual language – and our goal as artists is to find a way to translate what we see into a form that will represent that vision on canvas. Photographic reference will be discussed as a tool to help us better understand what two-dimensional imagery is all about. This workshop will benefit any painter regardless of the chosen subject matter.
The Watercolor Society of Indiana
The Watercolor Society of Indiana is hosting a Regional Exhibit of Indiana Artists at theBrown County Art Gallery, 1 Artist Drive, Nashville, from February 10th to March 28th. Any artist over 18 and a resident of Indiana can apply to show their work in this show.
The Annual WSI Exhibition will take place in June and July.
More information about either of these shows can be found on the WSI website.
Membership News
Timothy Lewis. I want to announce two upcoming opportunities:
WSI’s Annual Member Show prospectus will be sent to members in mid-February. This show allows any WSI member to exhibit one painting in the unjuried show. The show this year will be at th Gallery 42 in downtown Indianapolis.
WSI’s Annual Juried Show prospectus will also be sent to members in February. This juried show will be at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
I will be serving as President of the Watercolor Society of Indiana for 2024 and 2025.
I was featured in an article in the Greenfield Daily Reporter on Saturday, Jan. 20th for being a part of the “God’s Gift of Winter” show at the 43 East Gallery in Greenfield. I have two winter scene watercolors in this show which will run through the end of February.
New work: “Obscured” is a 16” x 12” watercolor of a solar eclipse in tribute to the April eclipse that will be visible across Indiana this year. Painted using QoR Watercolors on 300# Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.
Jacki Frey. I put a painting of my ginger cat into the Upland show at Art Alliance. Consider this a personal invitation to come see the show!
Jerome Harste. I’ve been playing with pattern. I’ve entitled this, Landscape: My Ode to Kee. (Acrylic on 12×18″ cradle board).
And to experiment with color and explore the affect and effect of geometric patterns clashing with organic patterns, I created Eclipse. (3-D Collage Acrylic on 8×8″ canvas).
Bess Lee. Here is one of my paintings for the Cancer Support Center Art Show which features my work. The show will run March 3 to April 28.
Erika Wente. Here are three recently painted watercolors for the February Brushstrokes: (1) “ Three Horse Portraits” 14” x 11” ; 2) “Aspen” 7” x 8”; (3) “Mountain Snow” 11″ x 14.”
Deborah Rush. The only thing I managed to get finish is this painting of “Bridge at Stourhead Gardens.”
MarySue & Bill Schwab. Both of these paintings have a new home in Napa, California! Both are commissioned California scenes, I painted the field of poppies and Bill painted the old tree.
Meri Reinhold. I am in Antarctica on a Viking expedition ship Octantis. The majesty of the environment here is beyond words. However, one artist inspired me to try her very limited palette style. These two paintings are after Mona Eckhoff. Not really original works.
Andy Roberts. I have a painting that I created in anticipation of selling some of my works in Florida this next two months. I will be painting with the Sanibel-Captiva Art League and maybe enter a show of theirs while there. This painting is from a photo that I took last spring of a Sandpiper along waters edge. Watercolor on watercolor canvas.
Stephen Edwards. Attached is image for “Waiting For One Last Turn”. I was invited by the Hoosier Salon to participate in the Clowes Collaborative with 17 other artists. The work will have a reception on March 1st at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and be on display till June 9th. A fun little self portrait called “Just The Right Angle” I also attached. It is me taking a photo of an old lawnmower but looking at the scene in a reflected truck mirror propped up on the edge of the lawnmower. In the small circular mirror, you can see my wife holding a cell phone out to get the photo I worked from for the painting.
Calendar
February 1 to March 1 — Susan Savastuk’s Show at the Cancer Support Center.
February 1 to March 31 — Applications for Signature Status in BWS are open.
February 3 — Upland Plein Air’s Member Show at Arts Alliance.
February 10 to March 18 — WSI’s Regional Exhibit at Brown County Art Gallery.
February 12 — BWS Meeting, First Christian Church, Bloomington.
February 13 — Artist for Climate Awareness Workshop, Ivy Tech, Bloomington.
February 17 to March 31 — Young at Art Show at Hoosier Salon, New Harmony.
March 3 to April 25 — Bess Lee’s Show at Cancer Support Center.
Aril 1 to 18 — Artist for Climate Awareness Membership Show at Art Alliance.
April 13 to 16 — Field to Finish Show, Hoosier Salon, New Harmony.
April 15 & 16 — Lon Brauer Workshop, Hoosier Salon, New Harmony.
Bloomington Watercolor Society will meet Monday, January 8th, at the First Christian Church, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave. The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Enter through the Washington Street door; the door code will be sent by email. The meeting will not be on Zoom.
Program: Transparent Watercolors: How to Use Color
MarySue Schwab says that people always ask her, “How do you use color effectively?” In response to that question, MarySue will conduct a mini-workshop around the use of color. Nuggets of her advice include: “Limit your palette! Know your colors! Remember complements create contrast! Know the temperature of your painting? Value trumps all else! And, save and use the white of your paper.
Supplies: Bring watercolor supplies (paper, brushes, paints, etc.) and a reference photo if you are starting a new project. If you are already working on something, bring that.
Close Up Images of MarySue Schwab’s artwork
Inside BWS
BWS’ Christmas Party
As the pictures below show, BWS’ 2023 Christmas Party (a Christmas Card Exchange) at Meadowwood was a huge success with over 40 people in attendance.
Up-Coming Benefit Show: We Paint….Peter, Paul and Mary!
This year’s show will benefit the Teachers’ Warehouse. The theme of the show is “We Paint….Peter, Paul, and Mary!” The show will be held from February 2 through March 29 at the Vault Gallery (121 E. 6th Street). The Opening Reception will be held on February 2 (Gallery Walk Friday) from 5 to 8 p.m.
In the prospectus, you will find all the details along with links to sites about Peter, Paul, and Mary, their lives and their art.
Any medium is welcome for this show, so BE INSPIRED, BE CREATIVE, and HAVE FUN!
Jeanne Dutton provided the following up-date for the Newsletter:
“Many thanks to Linda Branstetter, Denise Lessow, Marcy LaMaster, Meri Reinhold, and Lynne Gilliatt!
The Foundation for Monroe County Community Schools manages the BWS Art Scholarship. Due to the generosity of the artist members who contributed auction items, to those who made direct donations to the scholarship, and to those who bid on our items, the scholarship fund increased by over $300 in December.
MCCSC seniors may begin applying in February. Information will be available through their schools.
Signature Membership — Open Applications
Are you interested in applying for 2024 Signature Membership?
It’s the honored status for BWS members who have developed skills, gained education, and been juried into exhibits sponsored by prestigious art organizations, such the Hoosier Salon, National Watercolor Society, the Watercolor Society of Indiana, et al.
a. Indicate your interest in applying by MARCH 31.
b. Applications must be completed and submitted by APRIL 30.
c. Final judging will be completed by SEPTEMBER 30.
d. Award to successful applicants will be announced at the October meeting.
Andy Roberts, as 2nd VP and Membership Chair, oversees the application process. Please direct any questions to him at info@BloomingtonWatercolor.org.
Outside BWS
Bloomington Portrait Group Reorganizes Along Upland Model
Arkady Roytman • Faces of Bloomington • Oil
Visual artists in the Bloomington area are fortunate to have several vibrant groups serving their interests. The groups share many members in common and have filial relationships. For example, the Upland Plein Air landscape group was a spin off from BWS. The Bloomington Portrait Group emerged from Upland.
In January 2017, it was too cold to paint outside, and Upland members were looking for an indoor winter activity. Somebody suggested a portrait session. Eight members met at Jacki Fry’s home in Ellettsville, where the first model was an Indiana University BFA student. Claude Cookman saw a vacuum and began scheduling bi-weekly sessions for artists to draw and paint portraits from live models. Since then, the group has met every other Thursday to paint and draw from live models. When the Covid-19 lock-down halted in-person sessions, Mary Sue Schwab suggested self-portraits. That expanded into monthly challenges — such as portraits of pets, statues, dolls, famous persons, and the artists’ younger selves — that members completed in their studios and shared by email.
BPG welcomes artists at every level from novices to professionals. The roster numbers about 50 regional artists, but typically 10 to 12 artists attend a session. They work in a range of mediums from oil and watercolor to charcoal, graphite, pastel, and collage. The group has met in several locations including the Banneker Community Center, the Monroe County Public Library, Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church, and The Vault at Gallery Mortgage. Recently it has alternated between Bloomington Parks and Recreation’s Switchyard Park Shelter House during the summer, and the Arts Alliance Center at the College Mall during the colder months.
Cookman recruited models who represent our community’s rich diversity in age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. During school vacations he scheduled children and teens. The youngest model was 8; the oldest, a nonagenarian. In addition to diversity, he also looked for people who help make Bloomington a safe and civil place to live: musicians, artists, athletes, ministers, WFIU radio personalities, journalists, fire fighters, and food security leaders. Models have included an IU women’s basketball star, performance poet, clown, belly dancer, cowboy, and roller derby skater. The one thing all models have in common is their interesting faces. “Interesting faces, interesting lives,” has become the BPG motto.
Because some artists like to include narrative in their portraits, models are asked to bring props that relate to their work or hobbies. Items have ranged from books and knitting to musical instruments and sports equipment. The most intriguing prop was Kundalini, a boa constrictor snake, which the model wore around his neck. The session got lively when the room warmed up and the snake started slithering across the floor. At that point, the moderator let the model break pose and retrieve his reptilian friend.
After six years as director, Cookman is stepping down at the end of December 2023. The group is reorganizing along the Upland model. Members will sign up for a month and be responsible for recruiting models and moderating sessions. Arkady Roytman has volunteered to be coordinator to keep things running smoothly and manage a website announcing the sessions.
If you are interested in participating in the Bloomington Portrait Group, go to this URL to join the mailing list and get information, invitations, and reminders about upcoming sessions!
Upland’s Membership Show will be held at the Arts Alliance Center in the College Mall from February 3th to March 2nd, 2024. Delivery of entries is on February 1 with the opening reception scheduled for February 3rd from 1 to 3 p.m.
Join us for a unique art workshop that goes beyond the canvas to explore the emotional impact of impending climate change. This workshop delves into the intersection of art and environmental consciousness, allowing participants to express their emotions and reflections on climate change through the powerful medium of abstract watercolors. Theme: The Emotional Landscape of Climate Change. In this workshop, we will explore the emotional depths inspired by the challenges our planet faces — droughts, fires, storms, oceanic changes, heat impacts, biodiversity damage, and more. Through abstract art, participants will have the opportunity to convey their feelings, fears, and hopes for the future in a visually compelling and evocative manner. Offered by Artists for Climate Awareness in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Living. Stephen Hale, board member, will provide a short educational piece about the organization’s many projects, and how you can help your home and community to be environmentally friendly. See https://ivytechbloomington.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=1506&int_category_id=0&int_sub_category_id=0&int_catalog_id=0
Zain Mackey, “Orca Rising”
Call for art. Juried gallery show opportunity: Depictions: Earth, Life, and Our Shared Responsibility
Artists for Climate Awareness is calling for 2-D and 3-D artwork to be displayed in a gallery exhibition April 1 – 28 at the Arts Alliance Center in the College Mall in Bloomington, IN.
We are proud to be offering this juried exhibition during Earth Month, and we anticipate exceptional patronage during that time. Bloomington is the hot spot for viewing the 2024 total solar eclipse, and we expect a tremendous influx of tourists to be in town, especially around April 8th. (https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/indiana-2024-eclipse)
We will be coordinating other climate awareness events related to this exhibition, including: a reception featuring environmentally themed new music performed by an IU Jacobs School of Music ensemble; a pastel workshop by nature artist Avon Waters; and a climate-themed poetry and dance performance entitled “Stormwash: Climate Awareness” by Bloomington Writers Guild and Windfall Dancers, Inc. For the prospectus, see https://artistsforclimateawareness.org/art-exhibition-prospectus/
In Memorial
Robert Anderson.
Susan Graham wrote to say “I learned the sad news last night that Bob Anderson passed away earlier this month. I don’t know if the HT ran an obit for him but here it is from Franklin, TN, where he and Frances have lived since 2020. I was lucky to work with Bob for years in the economic development community in addition to BWS. What a fun-loving and sweet gentleman he was. Also a talented painter!”
Dec 10, 2023 — Linda Meyer, affectionately known as “Linnie” or “Lin”, was born on January 24, 1946, and passed away on December 7, 2023.
After a social service career in Cincinnati, Ohio, Linda moved to Indiana in 1988. In 2000, she took her first art class and found a love for art and a joy in expression that has become her second career. Linda taught watercolor, acrylic, collage and mixed media classes for Ivy Tech’s Center for Lifelong Learning. Her style of teaching encouraged students to expand their watercolor horizons with surprising results, including quirky impressions and colors while exploring chaos and pattern.
Jeanne Dutton. Ivy Tech’s Center for Lifelong Learning offers a wide variety of visual arts classes. For the very amateur watercolor artist, I will teach Beginning Watercolor I starting January 25. Classes are 2:15-4:45 every Thursday through February 29 and will be held at the commons of the new Bloomington Fine Art Supply store. It’s located next to Rainbow Bakery at the corner of Rogers and Fourth Streets.
Note that I will be teaching Calligraphy and Drawing at Ivy Tech Bloomington, winter/spring session. Sign up now. Classes begin 1/18/2024 and space is limited, Use the link for easy registration!
Fundementals of Drawing Thursdays 10-12.: This class will help you to develop your drawing skills. Come just for the love of drawing, or to use the techniques to improve your other forms of art!
Calligraphy Thursdays 12:30-1:30.: Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing. Learn the basic strokes, size, and spacing of lettering so you can use these skills as a springboard for decorative lettering and flourishes.
Come join the fun!
Tim Lewis. Two of my watercolors, “Snowed In” and “Lonely Corner” are in the “God’s Gift Of Winter” invitational show at the Greenfield Christian Church in Greenfield, IN through March 3rd.
Jacki Frye. My granddaughter on the beach in Maui, entitled, “Surf’s Up!!”
Andy Roberts. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and productive paintings in 2024. I closed out this year with a painting I was commissioned to paint from a couple who traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii in June. It’s a watercolor on watercolor canvas. I like not having to put glass on these painting as you can coat with acrylic UV paint and frame. Thanks to all our BWS members for a wonderful year.
Susan Savastuk. The items in red under the flyer (below) are donations that can be brought to the Cancer Support Center. The donations will become part of the Cancer Comfort Kits which the Center offers to folks healing from cancer. Feel free to bring your donations whenever, or better yet, when you come to see my exhibition at the Center which opens January 8.
Patty Uffman. I have been juried into the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington. My work focuses on watercolors, but also includes pastels, acrylics, and collage. The Arts Alliance showcases nearly every media: watercolor, woodworking, collage, fiber, oil, photography, jewelry, oils, stained glass, pen and ink, glass, candle-making, and writing. I’m happy to join other members of BWS who also exhibit there, including Andy Roberts, Carol Rhodes, Don Geyra, Henry Leck, Rose Brenner, Sara Steffey McQueen, and Susan Savastuk. Please stop by the Arts Alliance at the mall Thursdays-Sundays to enjoy the wide variety of artists on display!
Zain Mackey. As we reach the end of 2023 I’ve been working with watercolor and playing with mixed media ideas. Here’s one of my paintings on that theme titled “Fleeting Thoughts.”
Jerome Harste. I had the chance to visit the Light, Space & Time Online Art Gallery. They are featuring an “All Women” Art Show. Below are some of my favorite paintings:
Artists: Susan Morris, Viv Buckley, (First Row). Jana Gaul, Michele Munyak (Second Row).
Calendar
Now through March 3 –“God’s Gift of Winter Show,” Greenfield Christian Church
January 8 — BWS Meeting, First Christian Church, Bloomington
January 8 to March 1 — Susan Savartuk’s Show at Cancer Support Ctr., Blmgtn.
January 18 — MarySue Schwab’s classes begin at Ivy Tech, Bloomington
January 25 — Jeanne Dutton’s classes begin at the Fine Arts Store
February 2 to March 28 — BWS Benefit Show at The Vault Gallery, Bloomington
February 3 to March 2 — Upland Plein Air Show at Art Alliance, Bloomington
February 13 — Artist for Climate Awareness Workshop begins, Art Alliance
April 1 to April 28 — Artist for Climate Awareness Exhibition, Art Alliance, Blmgtn.
Put on your holiday best and come to the annual BWS dinner party! Meadowood always provides a beautiful setting and delicious food to enjoy with your paint pals. There will be a greeting card exchange, a bring-one-take-one event. Any greeting is perfect! It does not have to be a holiday card.
The menu includes:
Elegant Chopped Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Chicken Marsala
Rice Pilaf
Lemon Broccoli
Holiday parfait
Rolls
Coffee, Tea, Wine
Please note on the reservation if you prefer a vegetarian option.
$20 per member or guest.
Reservation deadline is Sunday, Dec. 3. Cancellation deadline is Sunday, Dec. 3.
You can reserve your spot online by clicking the link below to make your reservation:
Up for bids to support the BWS Scholarship can be found under the categories of
Art – an original painting by Lynne Gilliatt
Services – gutter cleaning from Marci LeMaster
Watercolor Society:
printed greeting cards from Meri Reinhold
a pet portrait from Linda Branstetter
a handcrafted and painted soprano ukulele from Denise Lessow
hand-painted Holiday cards
a watercolor class from Jeanne Dutton
The BWS Scholarship receives 50 percent of our items sold.
Place your bid at the link below before Dec. 5! And be sure to check out all the other terrific items offered that support the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools.
November’s meeting featured a fun demonstration of how to create abstract watercolor art using plastic pieces. Any kind of heavy plastic, e.g., credit or debit cards, cut up in different sizes, provide a variety of sides and points to spread the color. Thanks to Zain Mackey for sharing her techniques!
Charlotte Griffin (left) and Daniel Goebbert (right) share their abstract paintings from the November meeting.
Viridian Moon invites BWS to its current show
of works by Middle School students
The 7th and 8th-grade artists’ show is back for the third time! This is a potluck effort from five local Middle Schools: Jackson Creek, Batchelor, St. Charles, Edgewood, and Bedford. This a unique opportunity to see young artists experimenting with different media and styles from collages to drawings, painting to digital arts, with guidance from their most supportive art teachers. The level of art skills, creativity, and boldness of the students’ art pieces make us, grown-up artists, rethink many aspects of our own works. This show inspires great interest in the Bloomington art society as well as the general public, and fosters bonds between creative people of all ages. Come support our wonderful young artists, and get inspired by the fruits of their hard work!
Until Dec. 9, come vote for your favorite work! The top 8 People’s Choices will receive awards!
The Gallery’s address is 1600 W Bloomfield Road, Bloomington, IN 47403 (the entrance from the lower parking lot)
Tim Lewis‘s newest watercolor, “Devonian Dawn,” is from a recent visit to the fossil beds at Falls of The Ohio State Park in Jeffersonville, Ind. Tim’s watercolor, “Darling Oyster Bar,” was awarded the John and Karry Hansberry Merit Award at the Richmond Art Museum Annual Exhibition by Indiana and Ohio Artists. This show runs through Jan. 6.
Susan Savastuk will be showing her work at the Cancer Support Community Gallery during January-February 2024. The Opening Reception is Friday, Jan. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Joanna Samorow-Merzer was commissioned to paint a small watercolor painting of two cats. The photo on the left depicts the playful cats and on the right you see the finished painting. She writes: “Since I had a limitation of the size of the painting, I had to maneuver the cats in order to get what matters most. So, here are watercolor cats 9 x 12 on Arches 140#, titled ‘Want to Join Us?'”
Andy Roberts sends “just a little holiday card” he created recently. He hopes everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Joe and Bess Lee will be showing their work together as Animalia.2 Save the Animals = Save Ourselves in January ay the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington. The show will hang at the Arts Alliance Center in Bloomington’s College Mall next to the Foot Locker. The hours are Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Beyond BWS
The Watercolor Society of Indiana is moving its Annual Membership Exhibit to Gallery Forty – Two in downtown Indianapolis. The show will run from June 14 to July 26 on the first and second floors of the Gallery at 42 E. Washington Street.
This exhibit allows for flexibility in medium and surface. For example, glass and plexiglass are not required (sealed surfaces only), canvas is allowed, wood surface is allowed, mixed-media and other types of water media are allowed. All paintings must be ready to hang with wire (D-rings are preferred).
All WSI members are accepted into the annual membership exhibit. Registration for this exhibit is $20. You may submit your painting NFS; however, a sales price is encouraged. This exhibit will reach a new audience with lots of exposure and opportunities to gain a new fan.
The Opening Reception is Friday, June 14, at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The Prospectuses for this exhibit at Gallery Forty-Two and for the Juried Exhibit at Newfield’s IMA will be released early next year.
Calendar
Now – Dec. 5 Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools online auction
Now – Dec. 9 Viridian Moon Middle School Art Show
Dec. 3 Deadline to reserve or cancel for Holiday Party
Dec. 11 Holiday Party at Meadowood, 6 p.m.
January Animalia.2 by Joe and Bess Lee at Arts Alliance Center in College Mall
January – February Susan Savastuk art show at Cancer Support Community Center Gallery
