June News!

​Here is the good news for June!​

Paint Out at Jeff Smith's

Make plans to join us for the re-scheduled paint out Saturday, June 17, 9:00 to 1:00 at Jeff Smith's.   Address: 1508 South 800 East, Lafayette, Indiana 47905; take Hwy 26 east towards Rossville, turn right on South 750 East, follow the curves, it becomes South 800 East

Jeff says there is plenty of parking so driving on your own is not a problem.

Bring a sack lunch and plan on a great time of painting.

If you need inspiration - here are a couple of recent photos Jeff took of his garden.

​

June Program Tuesday, June 20, 7:00-8:30

​Venue - Harrison College, 323 Columbia St., across from the Court House, {the new venue for WVAS to display art to replace Sylvia's}.

Harrison College is on the south side of the Court House, long blue awning on the facade.  Push the buzzer to enter and take the elevator to the 2nd floor.  It is open evenings and weekends and available for events that we might want to hold, at no charge!  Parking on the street or in the parking garage.

Join us to see the new exhibit location for WVAS member artwork!

Exhibits will change quarterly featuring 3-4 WVAS member's artwork. 

Harrison College has joined TAF to be a gallery walk location for July and September.  They also provide the snacks for the public.  

 Verna Ritz, LaDonna Vohar and Jerie Artz have the first quarter, June - August 2017.  You will be able to see their exhibit that evening.

Bring something you are currently working on to share with the group.  It's always interesting to hear the stories and challenges behind the art.

Be ready to sign up by groups of 3-4 to exhibit your work:

*September - November 2017 (If you sign up for this quarter, you will be included in the September Gallery walk)

*December 2017 - February 2018

So plan on joining us for the June meeting and bring a friend and a snack to share!

Here are a few photos of the exhibit to give you an idea of our new space.  It is spacious, beautiful natural light with a view of the courthouse.

We were sorry to have to cancel the May workshop with Ron Burgess because of weather.  It will be rescheduled for the fall.  Because of this, we are rescheduling the Steven Blackburn workshop for spring 2018.  You will have a chance to see him demo at one of our monthly programs before the workshop.

Enjoy this lovely month!

Good Reads for a Frigid Winter's Night

I love to read about artists in either fiction or nonfiction, so I thought I'd share a few favorites.

In nonfiction: Sue Roe's The Private Lives of the Impressionists is a group biography of the impressionist circle. If you are a Georgia O'Keeffe fan, try this biography: In Full Bloom, by Hunter Drohojowska-Philp. Both of these are older books, so check the library or used books. Both are excellent.

In historical fiction, many of Tracy Chevalier's books include artists, such as Vermeer in Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring (alternatively, watch the movie with Colin Firth).

Another historical fiction writer who often focuses her novels on artists is Susan Vreeland. Clara and Mr. Tiffany is about the unsung women artists in Tiffany's studios and is a fascinating look at stained glass design and production. The Forest Lover is about Emily Carr, from British Columbia, and one of my all-time favorite artists (I was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw a gallery full of her work). Luncheon of the Boating Party fictionalizes the events behind the famous Renoir painting.



I hope one of these books will warm up your frigid days and inspire you to paint!

John Brett watercolor close-ups

On the Lines and Colors blog (one of my favorites), there is a watercolor and gouache of the Amalfi Coast by John Brett, along with close-ups so you can see the details:
http://linesandcolors.com/2015/01/17/eye-candy-for-today-john-brett-watercolor-of-the-amalfi-coast/

Alternatively, you can check it out here: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/near-sorrento/6gEt24mew4QJzA?projectId=art-project

Brett was part of the Pre-Raphaelites. There's a bit about Brett and images of some of his oils on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brett

Jane Dunnewold on Seeking Grace

This summer I took Artist Strength Training (an online course) with Jane Dunnewold. I've been fortunate to take a couple of in-person workshops as well. She is a really thoughtful, kind artist with whom I've always felt privileged to entrust my own ideas and struggles.

On her website is an inspiring talk called "Seeking Grace" (recording). She talks about a lot of things I suspect many artists think about, from our feelings of vulnerability in making art to creating work that is authentically our own. She summarizes many of the ideas we discussed in Artist Strength Training: cultivating trust in yourself, raising your energy in the studio, creative stamina, and, of course, seeking grace.

I highly recommend listening to her recording (it's about 30 mins.), and I hope it will send you all into 2015 with fresh determination for art making.
http://www.janedunnewold.com/seeking-grace

T. C. Steele

A recent linesandcolors blog post focused on T. C. Steele. In several of the included images, you can see Steele's handling of a focus area: he highlights the focus area with more detail (and often, light) then lets the rest of the composition blur out.
http://linesandcolors.com/2013/09/19/theodore-clement-steele/

Watercolor on yupo

An upcoming program for WVWS will focus on yupo. Becky Brody will demonstrate her techniques.

An artist-friend of a friend of mine also enjoys working on yupo. Judy Evenson lives in Northern California. Her blog is http://judyevenson.blogspot.com/ Type yupo in the search box (upper left) and it will pull up the posts with paintings on yupo.

You'll have to go there to see her work. I don't want to violate copyright by posting one of her paintings here. So go see her blog! And then come to the program scheduled for Tuesday, September 17!