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Highlights Newsletter Summer 2022

President's Palette

Photograph of BWS president Sherry Morell

It’s summer and the 2022 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition has been hung in the beautiful Gallery at CCBC, Catonsville.  What a splash all the talented artists have created – from subtle portraits and a tranquil garden pond to slashing abstracts and vibrant tennis shoes – plus you could look at them “close up”, nose almost touching the glass, to try and see just “how they did that”! Congratulations to all of the artists - those who won awards, those who were selected for the exhibit, and those who submitted excellent paintings but we couldn’t fit them all in! 

Even if you were not able to attend the exhibit in person, I hope that you logged into the online version to view it or streamed the Awards Reception. This event results from the hard work of so many people, not just the artists. The BWS Board Mid-Atlantic Chairs, Members and Volunteers, our Juror, and the Staff at CCBC have been incredible – they all worked so tirelessly – organizing registrations, a workshop, publicity and receptions, hanging paintings, judging impeccably, soliciting awards, creating websites and online exhibits, even a 3D one as well.  Volunteers even “gallery sat” so visitors could view the show.  In addition, our wonderful Donors and Sponsors have been so generous that we, and all the Award winners, have been overwhelmed. We thank and salute all of you for your part in it.

    There was also a very special thanks given at the Awards Reception to Sharon Green, the Mid-Atlantic Chair, who has retired from the position after 12 years of organizing this enormous Exibit.  The Board renamed the BWS Silver Medal to be the “BWS Sharon A. Green Silver Medal” in her honor, commemorating her legacy in a permanent way.  Thank you Sharon, from the bottoms of our hearts.

    Once again I have asked that our Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal winners share with us the stories, techniques and motivations behind their paintings. They have generously responded by giving us a peek behind the veil of their creative processes.  So I present to you again this year, “In Their Own Words”.  Enjoy.

    Sherry

    In Their Own Words

    Gold Medal: Matthew Bird, “Branzino for Two”


    “My approach to still life is to paint the background first, carefully masking off the rest of the image.  After that, I usually start with the hardest object, in this case the glass bottle of olive oil.  Since I don’t use white paint, it can be difficult or impossible to fix errors, so working out the challenging things first can save time if I need to start over.

    From there I generally work from the back to the front, painting each object to near completion before moving on to the next.  Once finished, the ingredients for a humble meal are elevated, allowing the viewer to pause and enjoy the beauty found in everyday objects.

    As a side note, this watercolor has been archivally varnished (see note below), which allows for a different presentation.  It is somewhat novel for societies to allow watercolors without glass, and I’m grateful BWS was an early adopter of the rule change.

    It’s an honor to receive the Gold Medal, and as a native Marylander, it’s extra sweet!  Many thanks to juror Kathleen Giles and all the volunteers at BWS that make this show possible.”

    Note: See Matthew’s article on varnishing watercolors (including this painting): Watercolor artist (magazine), Spring 2022; Bird, Matthew; Bright Ideas, “Watercolor Without the Glass” pg 72-75.


    Silver Medal: Deborah McFarlin, “Great Blue on Blue”


    “During the pandemic, I took an online watercolor course where I received daily reminders to reconsider my natural inclination towards adding detail to my paintings. My instructor embraced the school of thought that paintings with fewer details leave more to the viewer's imagination and therefore they are more engaging. Though I enjoy paintings that incorporate loose, impressionistic strokes, I also love trompe l'oeil paintings and hyper-realism. I believe, the world of creativity has no limits and there's room for every conceivable artistic style. So, I painted "Great Blue on Blue" as a celebration of what I love, both detail and color. This painting is on a larger scale than my previous works. Although watercolorists typically paint the background or light washes first, in this case, I did the opposite. I painted the subject first then filled the background with one fluid, wet-on-wet gradient wash. The final stage of this painting included reinforcing the highlights and softening edges. The most amazing thing about art is, it allows each of us to undertake our own unique journeys. I have certainly enjoyed this journey and I hope you have, too.”


    Bronze Medal: Kathy Daywalt, “Sophie’s Parlor”



    “I find figures to be continually interesting and beautiful. Color is delicious, and textures and patterns are fascinating!  These are a few of the reasons I continue to be an artist, continue to push to the edge. This is where figures and other objects, indeed, even landscapes, can become just left or right of center, not quite dead on, a little quirky and evocative. Bold color thrills me – subtle color and nuance draw me in to see what is there. I enjoy the give and take that water media provides – watercolor, gouache, watercolor crayons and pencils – sometimes I tell them what to do. But sometimes, they tell me.”


    Upcoming Events

    Note: The above Upcoming Events summary only displays the start date for each event. For full details please click on the event, or visit the Events page.


    Meet Our Mid-Atlantic Sponsors & Donors

    What does it mean to create experimental art? 

    The International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) mission is to promote public interest in experimental art and encourage and support our members’ creative journeys through exhibition, education and communication. It defines the creation of experimental art as the personal path of discovery for each artist. This applies to 2D, 3D, photography, digital or video.

    The artist’s definition of “experimentation” is what matters and it could be something wild and crazy like throwing buckets of paint on a canvas or simply deciding to choose a new format, palette, or new materials. ISEA encourages experimentation but understands that it is unique for each artist and that stepping out of one’s comfort zone (even a little bit) grows us as an artist, plus it’s a whole lot of fun!

    Established 31 years ago by artists Maxine Masterfield and Gracie Hegeman, to connect artists and to encourage, promote, and celebrate their artistic experimentation and exploration, ISEA is now a non-profit 501c-3 organization. Because of their efforts, and of those who followed, it is now also a global one. 

    ISEA hosts 3 exhibitions annually, two “member only” exhibitions and one that is the Annual Open Juried International Exhibition which is combined with the Annual Symposium and is held in prime Canadian and American cultural art centers and museums, usually during September/October. 

    Our week-long, cornerstone Annual Symposiums educate and inspire with workshops, demonstrations and discussions, where participants can immerse themselves in creativity and interact with artists of all backgrounds and experiences. This year’s symposium, Pushing Boundaries [Reboot] 2022, and its allied Annual Open Juried International Exhibition are held in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada from September 1-6, 2022. Join us for this year's exciting event! https://www.symposium.iseaartexhibit.org

    In addition to the exhibitions and educational opportunities offered by the symposium, ISEA continues to seek innovative ways to promote members’ artwork and raise public interest through outstanding social media representation, annual juried exhibition catalog (free to members), a visual site to view all past exhibitions, and our ISEA YouTube channel. 

    ISEA educational opportunities for members include: 3 annual scholarship awards, to be used for virtual training, one-on-one training, workshops, or college courses. ISEA also offers Art Innovation Talks (AIT), quarterly 45-minute live Zoom presentations held to inspire creativity. https://www.iseaartexhibit.org/AIT

    To learn more about the many member benefits of ISEA, please visit:  www.iseaartexhibit.org.  Come join the fun!! https://www.iseaartexhibit.org/Membership

    Member News

    BWS members may submit a 60-word announcement gratis to be listed under the heading "Member News." Images will be included as space allows. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month preceding publication date, and may be edited for length or clarity. Please e-mail your submissions to the Newsletter Editor at devin.lulu@gmail.com.

    Boxed off featured ads are available for $25 and may include up to 100 words and one image. Contact the Newsletter Editor at devin.lulu@gmail.com for details.

    Annie Strack  won a 3rd place award in the 2nd Annual Olde Stone Village Plein Air in Sewell, NJ. Her paintings were also juried into Green Mountain Watercolor 10th National Exhibit, Alaska Watercolor Society 48th National Exhibit, Montana Watercolor Society 40th National Exhibit, and Hawaii Watercolor Society International Exhibit. She earned Signature Status in HWS, which is her 23rd Signature Membership.

    Janet Arsenault, Sherry Morell, Karen Norman and Karen Schuster had a group exhibit of wildlife/nature paintings at the Hollingsworth Gallery in the Patuxent Research Refuge, National Wildlife Visitor Center in Laurel, MD, from July 1st - 30th.

    Peg Sheridan has a painting in the Virginia Watercolor Society Show at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center in Waynesboro.  She will have a solo show at the Arboretum at JMU, in Harrisonburg, VA, from July 1 - August 30. She will also have work in the  Bath County Art Show in Hot Springs, from July 16-24.  She was also juried into the Floyd Plein Air Festival in Floyd, VA.  The show will be August 19 and 20. Peg has several classes and workshops coming up, and more will be added soon.  Also, there is still space in her "Plein Air Painting in Coastal Maine" trip, September 8-14, 2022. See PegSheridan.com for details on all of her classes. 





    J. M. Littleton's painting, "See Me In Life After Facing Death (God Is My Rock)", was juried into the 2022 American Watercolor Society Associates Members Online Exhibition by Joel Popadics. It was also accepted into the Alaska Watercolor Society 48th Annual National Juried Exhibition. Thank you Juror Andy Evansen. Littleton School of Art offers monthly watercolor workshops and weekly classes. Summer classes continue, Fri & Sat. JMLittletonArt.com










    Scott Ponemone received the Zoltan Szabo Founders Award at the TWSA's 46th Annual Juried Exhibition for his painting "Proxy & Adele" (shown).  His painting "Rescue & Haven" was accepted in the 2022 Associate Members Online Exhibition by the American Watercolor Society. He also was granted the renewed use of "W.H.S." initials after discovering a 1990 certificate from the Watercolor Honor Society.


    Welcome New Signature Member

      Janet Hansen Martinet, Manassas, VA


      Welcome New Associates

        Kimmel Kozak, Manchester, MD

        Daniel DuBravec, Waynesboro, PA

        Deborah Guiloff, Columbia, MD

        Phyllis A Yigdall, Columbia, MD

        Karen Bladergroen, Richmond, VA


        Correction to New Member’s State of Residence

          Eric Miller, Hanover, PA


          Opportunities

          Pennsylvania Watercolor Society
          43rd Annual International Juried Exhibit
          Visit www.pawcs.com for information
          Exhibit registrations: www.callforentry.org
          Entry Deadline: July 31, 2022

          Miniature Painters, Sculptors, Gravers Society of Washington, DC
          90th International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature
          Strathmore Mansion in North Bethesda, MD
          https://www.mpsgs.org/MPSGS-Exhib.htm
          Entry Deadline: September 10, 2022


          Board Volunteer Position

          BWS Secretary Position Opening
          Deborah Cohan, our dedicated BWS Secretary, will be retiring from the position after 7 years of faithfully serving on the Board.  As a result, we are seeking someone to take over the duties of the office - which are to Record, Finalize (after a draft is proofed), and then Distribute the Board minutes of each regular monthly or special meeting.  Since this position is a BWS Board of Governors Officer, our Bylaws require that it may only be filled by a BWS Signature Artist.  For more information and/or to apply, please contact Sherry Morell, BWS President, at slmorell12@gmail.com.


          FYI

          The next upcoming BWS Signature Exhibit will be at the Herford Branch of the Baltimore County Library this fall.
          Registration will open in Mid August, 2022.

          Board of Governors and Committee Chairs

          Baltimore Watercolor Society, a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization

          Please note: Multiple names are listed for several positions as both the outgoing current Board Member and the new member in training are included.

          President: Sharon Morell, slmorell12@gmail.com, 443-465-1863

          Vice President:

          Secretary: Deborah Cohan, 301-977-6212

          Treasurer: April Rimpo, bwsocietytreasurer@gmail.com, 443-766-0148

          Assistant Treasurer: Ruth Lampi, rthlampi@gmail.com 240-515-0552

          Mid-Atlantic Co-Chair (outgoing): Sharon Green, bwsmidatl@gmail.com, 410-363-1922

          Mid-Atlantic Co-Chair: Stacy Lund Levy, 410-446-2714

          Mid-Atlantic Co-Chair: Susan Bradley, 301-525-6303

          Workshops: Sabine Yeager, bwsworkshops.sabineyeager@gmail.com, 410-245-0366

          Programs: Dana Kleinsteuber, Kleinstk@verizon.net, 410-917-7935

          Webmaster: Bob Coe, 410-877-3730

          Newsletter Editor: Devin Lulu, devin.lulu@gmail.com, 302-690-8635

          Archivist: Karen Norman, 301-318-2224

          Hospitality Chair: Karen Schuster, 410-531-5768

          Hospitality: Joan Orcutt, 240-381-9309

          Membership/Database: Janice Hendra, bwsmembership@gmail.com, 410-271-4943

          Membership/Jurying: Kathleen Gardiner, 410-991-1183

          Mid-Atlantic Awards: Janet Arsenault, 410-713-0248

          Mid-Atlantic Awards: Janet Freeman, 410-299-3906

          Exhibits Chair: David Drown, 410-971-9769

          Exhibits: Kathy Daywalt, 410-507-1662

          Publicity/Social Media: Jennifer Murtha, 443-834-4160

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