2016-2017 BWS State of the Society
Submitted by Charlotte Griffin, BWS President, 2016-2017
The year from July 2016 to June 2017 was very busy with many activities for artists to participate in. The membership count was at 78 as of June 2017.
Many thanks to the committee chairs, co-chairs, and officers for 2016-2017 (listed below) for their work on behalf of BWS.
- Nancy Metz, 1st VP
- Jeanne Dutton, 2nd VP
- Patty Uffman, Treasurer
- Carol Rhodes, Secretary
- Activities: Jeanne Dutton
- Brushstrokes: Jeanne Dutton
- Historian: Candi Bailey
- Hospitality: Betty Wagoner and Mary Walker
- Nominating Committee: Patty Uffman, Kathy Barton, Bev Ohneck-Holly
- Programs: Jo Weddle
- Publicity: Susie Graham
- Scholarship: Jeanne Dutton and Jo Weddle
- Show: Tricia Wente and Anne-Karine Bley
- Technology: Carol Rhodes and Charlotte Griffin
- Upland Painters: Kristen Stamper
The treasury stood at $1633.58 as of June, 2017.
Meetings Programs and Activities
Our regular meetings throughout the year except in the two months of summer, have a business and an artistic component. The artistic component is provided either by one of the members or by outside artists. Our December meeting is a holiday celebration with no business component; however, we made the meeting “artful” by exchanging handmade holiday cards. Our programs this year were:
- September: Show and Share, members talking about work they created over the summer
- October: Sea Scape Demo by South African watercolor artist Grant Wood
- November: Grisalle Technique for Watercolor by Nancy Davis-Metz
- January: Perspective Techniques and One Minute Drawings by Steve Dawson
- February: Mastering Disasters (Fixing Errors) by Carol Rhodes and Tricia Wente
- March: Value Study Sketching by Jackie Frey
- April: Gamboling Goats by Jerry Harste
- May: Color Harmony by Robin Edmundson
- June: Watercolor Underpainting and Pastels by Sandra Nitti
Many members participated in the sporadic Saturday and the Tuesday (weekly) paint outs. There are so many that not all can be listed here but here is a sampling.
Peden Farm (during the Children’s Festival), Bybee Limestone Company site, TC Steele Festival of Flowers, Bloomington Garden Walk (Artist in the Garden), May Creek Plein air, Columbus City, Butler Winery, Tibetan Center, Harvest Moon Farm, Moody Farm, and many more.
BWS had a number of shows during the 2016-2017 year and they were well attended by the artists and the public.
- From December 6, 2016 to February 19, 2017, BWS displayed its Members Show at the Monroe County History Center with Indiana’s Bicentennial as its theme
- In February, BWS participated in the Annual Art of Chocolate event which had a Mardi Gras theme. Over 30 works were on display at the Vault at Gallery Mortgage during February
- The Upland Painters Plein Air group had a show of works done en plein air on April 6 through May 2 at the Bellevue Gallery at the Farmer House Museum
- The Signature Members of BWS had their own show at Meadowood between May 5 and May 27.
On November 5, 2016, BWS was fortunate to engage a visiting artist from South Africa named Grant Wood who gave 15 attendees a workshop showing watercolor techniques used in the seascapes that he sees from the deck of his house in South Africa.
In June 2017, the BWS Scholarship was awarded to Benjamin Zumbrun. In an effort to raise the award in future years, a number of art supplies and books were contributed by members and were offered to other members at a table sale during regular meetings. Proceeds were sent to the Foundation for Monroe County School System to be used in future awards.
BWS members often contribute their time and works to charities and philanthropic organizations. This year was no exception.
- Three artists painted watercolor cards for sale to attendees at the Art of Chocolate Gala. All proceeds went in support of Life Designs.
- Many members volunteered to be part of the Peden Farm Children’s Festival at a booth where local school children had the chance to learn about watercolor and color mixing using a card with thee dots of primary colors.
The Bloomington Watercolor Society begins its 13th year as an active, convivial group of artists who share their love of art with everyone.
