|
THE VERMONT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY
| JANUARY 2012 |
|
|
Upcoming
VWS Events
January 01, 2012
Membership Dues are Due
April 29, 2012 - SundayVWS Spring Event
Lake Morey Resort
Fairlee, VT July - August, 2012
Annual Juried Awards Exhibition - Chaffee Art Center, Rutland
October 2012VWS Annual Fall Meeting
October 22 - 26, 2012
VWS Workshop
Alvaro Castagnet
|
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
All membership related correspondence, including new member applications and membership renewals, will now be sent directly to our Membership Director, Joann DiNicola. Joann's mailing information will now be on all membership related forms.
|
HUB-BUB-BUB
New Hampshire NEWS
Exhibition
The NH Hub had the opportunity for an open show in the Alumni Hall & Cultural Arts Center , Haverhill NH for the month of December. Alumni Hall generously hosted the Open House December 4, 2011.
Everett W
New Hampshire
Yupo Class
with Isobel Cochran All are welcome!
January 14, 2012 at the Plainfield, NH Fire Station,1260 Rt 12-A, 10:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. Cost $50. Sign up by December 30, 2011 Bring a sack lunch, there will be hot soup provided and hot water for tea.
Yupo Paper can be purchased at the workshop and it is suggested that participants bring some of their usual paper so they can compare the effects on the different surfaces. Bring a small spray bottle if you have one and some reference material would also be a good idea!
This is an informal workshop demonstrating various techniques for working on small YUPO paintings. The drying time on the paper is such that I would expect everyone to be able to work on several paintings, trying out different effects. It is such an interesting surface, with sometimes surprising results, I think it will be a fun time for everyone! If the effect is not one that is desired, it can just be wiped off and the painting started over - so, no pressure, just plain fun. A great activity for a winter day.
For Sign up or additional information, email Isobel Cochran at: isobelcochran@gmail.com or phone 603 643-7726
Burlington/St.Albans News Archival Framing Techniques
The VWS Burlington/St. Albans Hub held their November Event at Artists' Medium in Williston. Kristin Richland of Artist' Medium gave a three hour talk and demonstration on Archival Framing Techniques. 13 Hub members attended this very informative session. Each were supplied with precut mat board and different types of linen tape to practice the several methods of hinge mounts being demonstrated. She also showed us proper metaland wood frame assembly from start to finish. Most of us were very much enlightened on the correct framing technique for our watercolors.
Thanks to Kristin Richland and Artists Medium for a great demo and to Amanda Amend for setting the whole thing up. Burlington/St. Albans
Upcoming Winter Show
January 20 - February 19, 2012 UVM Davis Center, 4th Floor Fireplace Lounge Opening Reception Friday, Jan 20 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Some early entries 
|
 |
Member Offered Classes & Workshops
Lynn Cummings
Place: S. Burlington
Time: 9:30 - 3:00
Price: $65
Max: 7 students
January 12 Fun with Color: through a series of fun and unusual exercises, we will explore characteristics of watercolor pigments, mixing color, and color theory. With increased knowledge about pigments and color theory, you'll learn how to produce clearer paintings, lessening the amount of "mud" from overmixing and using more transparent pigments.
January 20
Abstract/Non-Traditional Techniques: we'll work on capturing the essence of your subjects, and creating more abstract, less representational shapes of lights, darks & color. You'll discover some new ways of applying paint that can be useful as well as fun, to create very different looks in your paintings.
If you are interested, please email me so I can put you on the list, and then follow up with the registration check for $65 to: 1811 Spear Street, S. Burlington 05403. Thank you!
|
| Volunteers Needed!
Many thanks to those of you who volunteered in 2011. The VWS has become a leading arts organization in the Northeast because of you, our members who give of your time and talents. We still have open positions or tasks that we need help with in 2012. Please join your friends/fellow members in volunteering for one of these positions:
Volunteer for Event Announcements
- Job Description: Email event announcements (6-8 in 2011) to identified news carriers (regional newspapers, radio stations).
- Purpose: To invite the Public to our exhibitions and public demonstrations and to promote the VWS through announcements of our events in regional newspapers and radio stations.
- Note: Materials are already developed such as a press release template and a list of regional news carriers. No prior experience needed.
- Requirements: Must have email capability.
Hub Point People for Middlebury/Rutland and Montpelier/Stowe.
- Organize a get together in your area. You could meet at a restaurant or have a potluck in your home or at a local community center. You could get together for tea. Want to get something going but don't know where to start? Contact Pam Dexter, Pam Dexter your Hub Director. She'll help you figure it all out.
|
|
|
President's Message
2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Oh my, here we are in a brand New Year. It always feels like a new start, a fresh breath, a beginning of something new, a reflection on what has passed and an adjustment or two going forward.
How did we fare this past year and what is on the agenda for the New Year?
2011 IN REVIEW
2011 was a very good year for the VWS. We continued steady and strong growth with 35 new members in 2011 bringing our active membership number to 234: we ended the year fiscally sound and within budget; we gained a fabulous new partner, HK Holbein manufacturer of professional artist materials; our member volunteerism was up significantly and the number of you participating in programs, events, exhibitions, workshops and meetings was at an all time high.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING
TO MAKE THIS A GREAT YEAR!!
2012 LOOKING AHEAD
The Board of Directors, having added two new positions, Lynn Cummings as Co-Exhibition Director and Pam Dexter as Hub Director, met for our annual Strategic Planning Meeting last November where we reviewed 2011 results against plan, made necessary adjustments and course corrections, and identified the Board goals for the next couple of years.
BOD Goals 2012 - 2014
- Improve the VWS membership experience by providing education and development opportunities for all abilities and skill levels
- Foster and support the continued development of the VWS Hubs
- Produce timely, transparent and accurate financial reporting
- Improve community outreach
Each BOD member will write their own functional objectives that will help us successfully attain these goals. These will be presented and reviewed at our first board meeting of 2012.
Our primary focus will continue to be on assuring slow and steady Hub development along with greater attention to communication within the Society. We know we need to do a better job getting information out to you in a timely manner. We will also be doing an exhibition specific member survey very soon. Please be sure to participate when you see the invitation.
And lastly, this is my last year as President of this really great organization. Our Bylaws limit the length of time we can serve on the BOD which is a great way to assure the BOD stays fresh and new ideas keep flowing. This is a planned transition where Mark Neilson, out now VP, will take the reins starting 2013. For those of you who have met Mark you know he is a consummate professional and a person of tolerance and sound reason. Over the next twelve months please make a point to introduce yourself to Mark and ask how you can lend a hand.
Again, so many thanks for a great year and I will see you at our Spring Event, April 29th at the Lake Morey Resort.
Warmest Regards,
Jan Olmstead
|
|
New Newsletter Administrator
Hello all- A very Happy New Year to everyone. I'm your new newsletter editor/administrator. I'll be working with Jan, the BOD and our "Hub-Bubbers" to bring you the latest and greatest VWS monthly news. If you have personal news such as a show, event or workshop, send it to me. You can just send an email with pictures attached, but please keep pictures small. (72 dpi, and around 3" x 5", and under 250k). If you don't know what all that means, don't worry. Just do your best and I will let you know if it works. Hub news should be reported by your Hub Point People- don't send individual Hub reports to me. DEADLINES: All news must reach me by the 20th of the month for the following month's news. We will try to publish on the first of each month or close to it. Cynthia Crawford Cynthia Crawford (click here to email)
|
|
Membership Dues are now overdue!
Membership dues are due prior to January 01. If you have not paid your dues yet, please submit along with this renewal form. Remember, dues must be current in order to participate in any VWS activities.
Membership Renewal Form
|
2011 Volunteers of the Year
Congratulations!
Pamela Dexter & Lynn Hoeft
At the November VWS fall meeting we honored two of our members, Pamela Dexter and Lynn Hoeft, as volunteers of the year. Through their work as Hub Point People, Lynn and Pam have furthered the VWS mission of enhancing participation, education and fellowship among our members and of promoting the awareness and appreciation of watercolor to their communities. Thank you again, Lynn and Pam! We asked them to tell us a little bit about themselves, so that we could get to know them better: Pam Dexter: Although I am a NH resident I do have close ties with Vermont as my Mum grew up in South Woodbury and I spent many wonderful summers in Vermont with my cousins. Upon retirement as a guidance counselor (K-12), I began Tole painting in order to do something with the 300+ sap buckets that were no longer used in my family's Maple Syrup production. As it happened, about a year after I began decorative painting I responded to an ad for watercolor instruction in my local newspaper. This was seven years ago. Since then I have continued with my decorative painting but have become totally enthralled with watercolor. I get "lost" while painting and time fades away, even though for me watercolor is a struggle as I work out what the painting is to be. For me painting is a very personal interaction with the medium and the "vision" and is a process filled with challenges and problem solving. As I improve and grow as an artist I am finding I have a better sense of what I am trying to capture/convey and I am doing more preplanning and practice before I begin a painting. I love flowers and light, and I love to capture the essence of a moment, a meaning, even of irony. I just follow my artistic "road" as it takes me. Jeanne Thieme encouraged me to join the VWS in order to have the opportunity to show my work, as some of my paintings under her mentoring were improving. It was time for me to challenge myself to go further. My goal is to become an accomplished, creative watercolor artist.  Pam Dexter's "Moonstruck" Lynn Hoeft I probably painted and drew about the same amount as most kids until I was in high school, but at that point, with lots of encouragement from my family and from art teachers, I recognized that art would be my calling. I attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and got my degree in Industrial Design, and even though I spent 30 years working in the family wine business (Chicama Vineyards, on Martha's Vineyard), I always drew and painted. I came to watercolor in 1987 or '88. What drew me was the transparency of it. It amazed me that paint could be both fully transparent and incredibly vibrant and intense. Although I admire the work of many of the big 'names' in watercolor today, I feel more directly influenced but Paul Klee (a great sense of color and composition) and by the drawings of Albrecht Durer and the watercolors of Swedish artist Carl Larsson. I am primarily a still life painter, and I like to paint from a bird's eye view. Often I accumulate collections of things - feathers, leaves, nuts and berries for instance, or maybe shells, moths and leaves - and organize them into a painting. I started working in colored pencil about ten years ago. These days I spend about half my time with watercolor and half with colored pencil. I also teach several classes-- watercolor, a colored pencil class, a calligraphy class, and a workshop on making Origami boxes.
I joined VWS last year, went to the annual meeting, and liked the friendly feeling I got from people there. Being Hub Point Person is my first volunteer position. I retired from the wine business in 2008 (and moved from Massachusetts to Vermont), so now I'm free to paint as much as I want.  Lynn Hoeft's "Lemon Meringue" |
|
VWS Facebook
We are now on Facebook!
Grafton award winner Molly Poole has created a Facebook "group page" for the VWS members as a way for us to share ideas, artwork, and announcements, offer tips and critiques, and plan get-togethers. A Facebook "group page" differs slightly from a personal Facebook account or a Facebook professional page. Molly has created the VWS group page with privacy settings set so that anyone on Facebook can see that the group exists and see a list of the members, but only members of the VWS group page can see posts and join the commentary and add content. If you are active on Facebook, please consider joining. In order to join the group, a VWS member has to have a facebook account and submit a request to join. Molly is the administrator of the group, the request to join gets sent to her, and she will approve based on the latest membership list. To join, type "Vermont Watercolor Society" in the FB search bar. The group shows up and click on the "submit request to join" button. Members can upload images of their artwork to show off or get feedback. There has been mention of artists' having concerns over uploading images and theft. There is always risk and rewards in sharing artwork over the web. There are a few ways to minimize the risk. Only upload low resolution photos and a small size that a not very useful for reproduction. If you have photo editing software, it is a good idea to add a copyright signature over the image. This won't 100% prevent theft but will make it difficult. If members have questions about how to upload images or need help using the site, feel free to email Molly here: Molly. Please let Molly know if you would like to be an admin for the group. If you are not comfortable sharing images over the web, there are other ways to participate. Use the group to ask a question or to recommend a book, event or technique. Tell the group about your latest show or award! It is all about making VWS members feel more connected even though we are spread out over many states and regions.
|
|
Member News
Colette Paul has recently achieved her signature membership with the Alaska Watercolor Society in Anchorage, AK.
Colette has been juried in the following exhibitions: "TREES" theme member show at the Bryan Memorial Gallery, in Jeffersonville, VT; the International Society of Acrylic Painters 4th Annual Signature Members Online Show http://www.isap-online.com/ ; the National Watercolor Society's Donor Exhibition NWS Gallery, San Pedro, CA; the 55th National Fall Open at the Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT.
____________________________________________________
Joann DiNicola will have three works on display at the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville, VT starting on February 3 and ending on April 1, 2012. There will be two juried exhibits at the same time at the Bryan Gallery. Joann has two works in the THINGS THAT MOVE exhibit and one painting in the TRAINS exhibit.
____________________________________________________
Local Artist's Painting Wins Second Award
A painting by Northwestern Vermont artist Harald Aksdal was one of 105 watercolor paintings selected for the 30th annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, which ran from August 13-October 2 at VIEW, the Arts Center in Old Forge, New York. His painting, "Stillness," was chosen by Juror of Awards Ted Nuttall AWS, NWS, TWSA to receive the "Realism in Nature" award. In addition, Aksdal was recently notified that visitors to the exhibit voted his painting to receive the "2011 Viewers Choice Award." Aksdal's work, both originals and prints, may be seen at the Village Frame Shoppe in St. Albans, Artist in Residence in Enosburg, and the Gruppé Gallery in Jericho. His studio in Fairfax is open for visitors by appointment. .
|
|
Carole-Anne Centre, one of the winners of the Library Arts Center 2011 Juried Regional Competitionwill be exhibiting new work in the Library Arts Center 2012 Selections Exhibition , Feb. 4 - March 16
Opening reception Friday, Feb. 3, from 5-7pm
location: 58 N. Main St., Newport, N.H.
Library Arts Center
|
|
2012 Spring Event
Save the Date - Sunday, April 29th
This years Spring Event will be held at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT. Our theme will be, Exploring New and Exciting Painting Techniques..
Be Sure to mark your calendar!
|
|
VWS Sponsored Workshops
Alvaro Castagnet comes to the Landgrove Inn
 Attention Members! There are only 3 slots left in the 2012 Alvaro Castagnet workshop, and we are beginning to receive nearly daily inquiries from people on Alvaro's email list. If you are at all interested, please send your deposit in soon (details below). Alvaro from Uraguay is one of the world's most highly respected watercolor artists. He has been recognized with top international honors for his painting and his art graces the walls of many private and corporate collectors worldwide.
Alvaro Castagnet will be coming in October 2012 teaching "Painting with Passion" at the Landgrove Inn in Landgrove, VT. Register for a discount. Contact Claudia Carl. $595 for members; $650 for non-members. Send in $100 to Claudia Carl at PO BOX 990, Middlebury Vt 05753 to reserve a spot.
Call the Inn at 802 824 6673 or go toLandgrove Inn webiste for accommodations. See Alvara's website at:
Alvaro Castagnet Website .
|
|
|
|
VWS Board of Directors
2012
Jan Olmstead, President
Mark Nielsen, Vice-President
Peter Land, CPA, Treasurer --Newly elected
Reggie Springer, Recording Secretary
Claudia Carl, Director of Education & Programs
Rebecca Gottesman, Co-Director of Exhibitions
Lynn Cummings, Co-Director of Exhibitions -- New position
Joann DiNicola, Director of Membership
Amanda Amend, Director of Volunteers
Pam Dexter, Director of Hubs -- New position
OPEN - Director of Communications
|
|
|
VWS Partners
It is very exciting to have Holbein, USA as a VWS Partner. Being a Vermont based art supplier and full time supporter of arts and the artists who make them, it is a perfect fit for both of us. Please get to know Holbein and support them not only because they are one of our partners, but because they are a world leader in colors and mediums for artists. The Landgrove Inn is the premier, all-in-one lodging, dining and fun space in which to create, exhibit and learn. Check out the 2010 workshop schedule at www.landgroveinn.com, or call 802 824-6673. Tom and Maureen Checchia, owners. |
|
|
|
| Save 25% |
If you are using a special coupon or promo code, include it here. Or, indicate if the coupon must be printed and presented in person. Is the coupon transferable? If so, encourage recipients to share the offer with friends and family to maximize the viral effect of the coupon. Add a link to your website with more information to drive traffic and to gauge what offers your customers find most appealing. |
| Offer Expires: Enter Expiration Date here |
|
|
|
