“Tree by Lake Monroe,” Watercolor, Laura Brown
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.
The gallery is also available to enjoy online at https://bloomingtonwatercolor.smugmug.com/Spaces-and-Faces-Fall-2024
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.
Discover more about the local event at Bloomington’s Out of the Darkness Walk.
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.
