"Christmas Soiree!"

Last night we celebrated a wonderful Christmas party at Jerie Artz's home.  There was plenty of food and laughter to go around as well as white elephant gifts and a card exchange.  We're already thinking about next year's party!

YUPO Workshop

YUPO Workshop - WVWS member, Becky Brody will be presenting a watercolor workshop on Yupo at the art museum in January.  If you've always wanted to try your hand at Yupo, check out the website.  You might want to give a hint to someone who is looking for the right Christmas present for you!  
http://artlafayette.org/Education/Classes

She will also be offering one-day workshops in beginning watercolors, each one independent of
the others but a person could take all of them and paint different pictures, learn other information.

More John Singer Sargent

At the monthly WVWS meeting, Lorie Amick mentioned a John Singer Sargent exhibit at the Gardner Museum. Here's the link to that: http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collection/exhibitions/past_exhibitions/inscrutable_eye?filter=exhibitions:5553

Click on the images and you'll see much larger versions, which even show his brushstrokes.

2014 Juried Show

The Juried Show is on exhibit from now until December 5th.  You won't want to miss seeing the 48 paintings in person!

Juried Show Reception

Invite your friends to join us at TAF for the opening reception for the juried show this Friday evening at 6:00. Refreshments served. It's Halloween - treat yourself! Costumes are in order!!! The new WVWS 2015 Calendar will also be available for sale - $18 each. Here is a photo of the thumbnail images of the paintings included on the calendar.

Figurative Watercolor Workshop

Jeannie McGuire, November 3-5, at Ann Arbor.

Debra Zamperla is the workshop organizer. I've taken a couple of pastel classes she organized and she does a nice job.

More info: http://artensity.org/#/workshops/
Debra's email: idzamperla@gmail.com
Jeannie's website: http://www.jeanniemcguire.com/

The Odyssey of a Painting!

Arvilla Friar is a former WVWS member.  She is 87 and cannot see to paint anymore. But her paintings live on.  Michigan State University tracked her down through an internet post from a gallery showing five years ago in the St. Louis area.  Here is the story.

Recently my mom, Arvilla Friar, was contacted by Michigan State University about a watercolor painting she did of the original entomology building. It was purchased by Gordon Guyer, the then department chairperson. He became president of MSU from 1992 - 1993. MSU recently completed the remodeling of their conference room in the Department of Entomology. The conference room is being named after Gordon Guyer. As part of the dedication ceremony, Gordon Guyer has graciously loaned the university the beautiful picture of the Entomology Building at Michigan State University that was painted by Arvilla. They contacted mom to get permission to reproduce 10 copies of the painting to give to each speaker at the dedication event and to invite mom to attend the event scheduled on November 2, 2014. She gladly gave them permission to make reproductions, but won't be traveling to the event. I'm so proud of my mom! Here is a photo of the painting she did so many years ago. Arvilla painted several other MSU ivy covered historical buildings that have been
purchased. 
Jerie Artz, WVWS Vice President