Citrus Watercolor Society 34th annual Fine Arts Show and Sale was held June 13 and 14 at the Citrus County Art Center Educational Building . Judging was done by Jackii Molsick. CWS artists will have paintings on display in the ACCC Gallery thru July 31, 2026
Ribbons and Cash Awards
Best in Show – Susan Strawbridge “Lilies in the Lake”
First Place – Darla Goldberg “Poppy”
Second Place – Lionel Sanchez “Grain Elevator”
Third Place – Polly Boston “A Secret Place”
Ribbons only
Honorable Mention – Judy Miller “My Buddy Jake”
Honorable Mention – Deb Newman “Big Blue”
President’s Choice Award – Nancy Mills “Lion in the Sun” Her award included a gift box from Winsor Newton
Presidents Choice Nancy Mills Lion in the SunFirst Place Darla Goldberg PoppySecond Place Lionel Sanchez Grain ElevatorThird Place Polly Boston A Secret PlaceHonorable Mention Judy Miller My Buddy JakeHonorable Mention Deb Newman Big BlueBest in Show Susan Strawbridge Lilies in the Lake
Polly Boston and Kim Shields had their paintings selected to be part of the 2025 54th annual Florida Watercolor Society Convention. Both their paintings will be on exhibit at the Orlando Museum of Art until late January 2026. Don’t miss it!
The Spring luncheon at the Art Center truly was a gourmet feast. The self-serve buffet included baked ham and fried chicken and a mouthwatering array of side dishes and desserts provided by our members. The artfully displayed food table provided more than enough sustenance to the 50 members who attended.
Congratulations to Jeanne Conrad who was presented the Lifetime Membership Award by Majorie Bannish. Jeanne was recognized for her invaluable contributions to the organization including serving a past president and her many, many volunteer hours for the Homosassa Art Show and sales.
The highlight of the afternoon was Barbara Kerr presiding over the installation of the elected 2024-2026 Officers of the Board. Congratulations to all: President……………………………………..………..………….Deborah Newman 1st V.P. Programs………………………………….. ………..Signian McGeary 2nd V.P. Membership………………………………………Jan Kuukari Treasurer………………………………………………………….Aileen Croly Recording Secretary…………………………………………Chris McKinney Corresponding Secretary………………………………….Gingi Martin Director/Facilities Coordinator………………………….Theo Van Eldik Director Delegate/Past President…………………….Dori Sullivan Director Ambassador for Members………..…..……Ginger Bryers
As if this was not enough the luncheon was followed by a Demonstration of Mixed Media art techniques by our talented member Loretta Bell. She sent us off with an abundance of ideas for stamping, collaging and embellishing our artworks. Truly more food for our creatives souls.
Congrats to the winners at the Art in the Park show at the Homosassa Wildlife Park. We had a good turnout of artists and Im sure it was a difficult choice to select the favorites.
We had over 20 entries for Founders Day and Show and Tell on September 13, 2024. The nice article in the Chronicle Newspaper on September 6th, written by Dori likely contributed to such a large turnout. It was all beautiful work. Several people brought items in for Show and Tell. There was a lot of engagement by the members and the table set ups encouraged conversation. Barbara Kerr passed out some of Curt Bond’s paintings for review, Lionel Sanchez spoke about his painting and techniques, and Jeaninne Cole discussed her entries from Kim Shield’s workshop, and her own display of card sized paintings. Nearly all artists who participated addressed the group on their inspiration. We were especially entertained by Theo’s presentation. Everyone was comfortable and really appeared to enjoy themselves. The environment is really a major change and huge improvement over our previous meeting location.
Marjorie Bannish, our Painting of the Month Coordinator, tallied the votes and made the awards. Judi Miller – Founders Day Award for Coconuts Yvonne Brunelle – 1st place for Goose and Duckling Jeannine Cole Chesnul – 2nd place for Nightime Landscape Judith Snow – 3rd place for Iris
The raffle of Kim Shields painting from the workshop raised $115. Gingi will send a thank you to Kim. Our lucky winner was Jan Clark, a guest.
Congratulations to all!
Founders Day Award winner Judi Miller1st Place winner Yvonne Brunelle2nd Place winner Jeanneine Cole Chesnul3rd place winner Judith SnowKim Shields seascape raffle winner Jan Clark
We had another successful show at the Homosassa wildlife park. Attendance was good and we had a great response from our participating members. Congratulations to our winning artists.
Aileen and Jeanneine work the deskBest in Show Janet OliverFirst Place Helene Lancaster2nd Place Curt BondThird Place Judith CallisonHonorable Mention Norm FreyerHonorable Mention Heather DohertyPresidents Choice Norm FreyerJoyce Cusick paints and entertains her admirers
Photos of the Award winners at this year’s Fall Art Show, courtesy of Deb Newman and Dori Sullivan. Thank you!
Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023Homosassa Show November 2023
The program for the Citrus Watercolor Society (CWS) meeting on September 10th is entitled, “Show and Tell”. The reason that the CWS continues this program in September of each year, is to allow members of the society, old and new alike, get a chance to present their creations to their fellow artists. The meeting format allows some outstanding watercolor paintings to make their appearance. The works of our member artists are impressive, and they get better each year. It is also an opportunity for members to praise and to provide helpful critique on how to improve the work that one creates. I think that you will find that there is an appreciation for the time and effort that each artist has put into the creative piece of artwork. You will feel good about presenting your work to the CWS members. After a review of all the artwork is presented, the Society will present the CWS Founders cash award of $50 to the winning artist exhibiting at this meeting. So – Bring your latest masterpiece and show it off!
Do you find yourself asking, “Where did all this time go?” The life journey to date has been interesting, not without hiccups and disappointments, but all in all, a good life. This brings me to the loss of a CWS artist who left us this summer. Lou Friedman was a long-term member of the Citrus Watercolor Society, Lou served as the CWS Treasurer for a number of years. He possessed a great sense of humor and was an all-around good guy. He strove to be a better artist and was recognized with his paintings in the CWS “Painting of the Month” competition. Lou was also a member of the Art Center of Citrus County. The second loss, and at an age too young, was Florida artist Kim Minichiello. Kim has demonstrated at the CWS monthly meetings and was an internationally recognized, award-winning artist, whose career in art and design has spanned more than 30 years. Kim was a signature member of American Women Artists and the Georgia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Florida Watercolor Societies. She was also the 2019 President of the Florida Watercolor Society. Even though we as artists find that our place on earth is limited, art on the other hand is immortal. The art of Dali, Picasso, Minichiello, Witt, Jowers, Kansky, Friedman and Krall will live on, perhaps not to the extent of those famous masters, but still there to be enjoyed by others in the future.
Are you tired of COVID-19 and all it has done to limit our activities as artists? Have you lost some of your desires that require you to open up your box of paints, review your selection of brushes, and your choice of paper? Do you still have the need to take that idea you have in mind and express it artistically? No? Have you lost the urge to get started? You are not alone. It is hard to establish the damage this virus has done to creativity in watercolor art. I have to admit that it has taken its toll on my dedication to creative watercolor painting.
A good part of this misery is what this virus has done to encroach on our regular activities. We miss our monthly Citrus Watercolor Society (CWS) meetings. We miss the monthly demonstrations by visiting artists. We miss the opportunity to interact with our artist friends. We miss the professional critiques of new artwork provided by our member artists. We miss the workshops presented by these talented visiting artists. We miss “Paining of the Month” competition. We miss the CWS Spring Show and Sale that has been cancelled. Let us hope that we can get back to normal soon.
So, let us take a look at the Brightside. We still have the CWS web site that is chock full of info regarding our art and member artists. Take some time and explore the contents of our website. In the Member Gallery you will find an online art show with paintings by twenty CWS members. Let us celebrate with Peg Lefebvre on her First Place Award in the Florida Watercolor Society 2021 Online Show, featuring her painting “New Red Sneakers”. And to Nancy Dias, whose painting “Fantasy Garden” was juried into the 2021 Central Florida Watercolor Society Show at the SOBO Gallery in Winter Garden, FL. Another winner was the CWS virtual workshop on Zoom with Kim Minichiello. This workshop was sold out with a waiting list! Coming in April, Susan Strawbridge has scheduled another virtual workshop live on Zoom with Jerome Chesley, FWS President in 2018. Watch for announcements.
