Fall Art Show at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park- Nov 2023

Photos of the Award winners at this year’s Fall Art Show, courtesy of Deb Newman and Dori Sullivan. Thank you!

Members Show & Tell- September 8, 2023

Press Release by Dori Sullivan

Yes! It’s September and on Friday the 8th, Citrus Watercolor Society will host their membership’s annual “Show and Tell” which includes the CWS Founder’s Award. It’s been a long, hot summer and we’re excited about seeing your latest paintings.

You did spend time in air conditioned places painting, didn’t you? Please bring a single piece of your artwork to our meeting by 11:30 AM so they can be displayed and sign-in if you wish to share a bit about your work. We’d love to know about your techniques and inspirations. We’ll meet in the Family Life Center at the First Christian Church at 2018 Colonade, Inverness. Light refreshments will be served as you enjoy seeing the paintings and mingling with the artists.

The competition for Best in Show, Second and Third place are awarded by “viewer’s choice” so please be sure to vote for your favorite. The Founder’s Award is a cash prize and certificates are awarded to the runners up. Please bring your original watercolor or water medium on paper, no prints.

Our membership is growing and we invite our readers to think about joining the “friendliest watercolor society” in Central Florida. Annual dues are $35 payable to CWS and, in addition to seeing free demonstrations throughout the year, you receive a members’ discount for our workshops. We have an exciting line-up of artists who will be providing a variety of techniques during our busy months in 2023 and 2024. Some names may be familiar to you – Sue Primeau, Jerome Chesley, Darla Goldberg, Lionel Sanchez, Libit Jones, Bev Yankwitt and more. All are talented and fun workshop leaders. Our workshops follow our regular monthly meeting on the second Friday of the month, either for one or two days at the Whispering Pines Recreational Building. Workshops are a fun weekend spent with artists like you!

In September, the Florida Watercolor Society will be having their 42nd Annual Convention in nearby Ocala. We’re pleased to announce that three of our members, Kim Shields, Judith Callison and Polly Boston have been accepted into the Convention’s Exhibit. For more information about the FWS Convention, please explore their website: http://FloridaWatercolorSocity.org for details.

Congratulations to Judi Miller who won the Artist of the Month award for August. Her striking watercolor floral painting was determined winner by popular vote at our recent meeting.

Looking ahead, we have some big news. In November, CWS members will present a Show and Sale at the Homosassa Wildlife Park. The show will be judged and 20% of the artist’s sales is donated to the wildlife park. So, tell your friends about our fund raiser for the State Park, home to many Florida birds and animals. It’s always a great time to visit and November 18th and 19th a great place to shop for the Holidays.
Please check out our website https://CitrusWatercolorSociety.org for all the latest updates as well as membership and workshop details.

Thank you readers, we appreciate your continued support.

Dori


Announcement, September 2023

President Dori Sullivan presented the Founders Award to Darla Goldberg for her stunning cactus flower painting.

Paint-A-Round, June 9, 2023

CWS Presents “Paint-A-Round- in June

Something “old” and something new! No, not a wedding … but a repeat of one of my favorite CWS activities … the “Paint -A-Round”! In addition, there’s something “new” – the Installation of new Officers for the Citrus Watercolor Society 2023-2024 Board. Read on … and put the date on your calendars!

Our monthly meeting will be Friday, June 9th at noon in the Family Center at the First Christian Church of Inverness, 2018 Colonade St., Inverness. Guests are always welcome and we know all will enjoy this fun Paint A-Round event. Besides watching our outstanding artists work, you’ll have the opportunity to bid on the finished paintings! Members are free and a $5 donation is requested from guests.
What’s a Paint A-Round? This year seven artists come prepared with a concept, paper and supplies to setup at the appointed hour. They start their painting and after ten minutes, their work is passed on to the next artist who adds his/her special touches … and so it goes until all have added color, textures, perspectives on each painting and the artwork finishes the cycle and returns to the original artist. Those finished paintings are signed by all artists, matted and displayed. Tickets are sold and then drawings are held to determine the winners of each of the seven finished paintings. Proceeds fund CWS activities. The artists have all donated their time and talents.
Thank you to: Curt Bond, Barbara Kerr, Darla Goldberg, Ellen Hines, Lionel Sanchez, Deborah Newman and Polly Boston. Each of these artists has their own particular style and preferences for their work. From birds, to animals, landscapes, flowers and more, imagine how the individual additions to each other’s work are going to add magic to the finished paintings. CWS members and guests watch the action from start to finish, mingling and seeing the fabulous paintings evolve in less than 90 minutes. Don’t miss it!

The 2023-24 Installation of the CWS Board of Directors was held at our May luncheon. It was a beautiful time of good food, an outstanding presentation by Mindy Lighthipe and the installation conducted by Barbara Kerr. New officers include: Aileen Croly (Member Delegate), Marjorie Bannish (Ambassador and Past President) Richard Carlton (Facilities Coordinator) Gingi Martin (Corresponding Secretary), Deborah Newman (Recording Secretary) Jan Kuukari (2nd V.P. Membership), Signian McGeary (1st V. P. Programs) and Dori Sullivan (President) … now that’s a familiar name …! Thank you CWS members and friends for giving me the privilege to serve as our next President. As the members of the board and I were installed, we became a team who has close ties to our watercolor artists/members and all look forward to continuing as the “friendliest watercolor society in Florida” with many opportunities for our members in the coming year.

In addition to the officers, CWS has a long list of wonderful volunteers who make sure that all the needs of the society are met, and many hands make light work of what makes our society so successful. Think about joining us – our annual dues are $35 and due this month. Check out our website at citruswatercolorsociety.org for details.

Until the next time, stay well and continue to reflect the beauty around you in your artwork. Dori Sullivan.

CWS June 2023 Chronicle Article

CWS Artists’ Paint-Around June 10, 2022

Video of the 2022 PAINT AROUND
with Curt Bond, Polly Boston, Darla Goldberg. Barbara Kerr, and Lionel Sanchez

JUNE 1, 2022 Press Release by Dori Sullivan

Citrus Watercolor Society’s monthly meetings will resume on Friday, June 10th at noon at the Family Center in the First Christian Church of Inverness, 2018 Colonade Street in Inverness. Guests are always welcome and I hope you’ll drop by to see what we have in store for CWS members and friends.

Ever hear of a “Paint Around”? Five artists come prepared with a concept, 12 x 16 paper and supplies, to set up at the appointed hour. They start their painting. For the next ten minutes they add color, define shapes and begin painting their individual design. But wait! After 10 minutes, volunteers take their paintings and pass them on to the next artist so he (or she) can add their special touches. Around the room, from one easel to the next, the paintings fly – from one gifted artist to another. Then the magic begins to really show. Details are added, colors are deepened, perspectives become apparent! The artist who has a love for landscapes is suddenly adding their “flare” to a floral arrangement or a still life. After each artist has had a go at every painting, the circle is complete and the initial artwork is returned to the original artist who has the final 10 minute segment to add their final touches.

What’s next? The paintings are signed (by all five artists) and matted. Drawing tickets are sold (this event is a fund raiser for CWS) and one lucky ticket is drawn for each painting. The winners get to take home a unique original watercolor painting.

Our artists this year include: Darla Goldberg, Lionel Sanchez, Curt Bond, Barbara Kerr, and Polly Boston. These amazing artists have tremendous talents and you’ll have a great opportunity to see them create great artwork from beginning to end. I hope you will join us on Friday, June 10th at noon. You’re invited to come a little early (11:30) for light refreshments and to meet your fellow artists and members of CWS.

At the Spring Luncheon and Installation of the 2022-23 Citrus Watercolor Society board, the following members have volunteered to work together to make the “friendliest watercolor society” even better. President: Marjorie Bannish, 1st V. President: Susan Strawbridge, 1st V. President Assistant: Helene Lancaster, 2nd V. President: Jan Kuukari, Treasurer: Aileen Croly, Recording Secretary: Deborah Newman, Corresponding Secretary Gingi Martin; Director, Facilities Coordinator TBD, Assistant Terrance Carter, Director, Ambassador Darla Goldberg and Director, Member Delegate: Ellen Hines. Congratulations all!

For more information about CWS check out our webpage at www.citruswatercolorsociety.org. I hope you will be able to join us June 10th. You’re in for a painting treat! Until the next time, stay well!
Dori Sullivan

Annual May Luncheon

Thirty five members attended the Annual May Luncheon at Citrus Hills Golf and Country Club on May 13, 2022. Many thanks to those members who contributed to a successful luncheon:
Aileen Croly, Susan Strawbridge, Darla Goldberg, Barbara Fife, Sandra Copenhaver, Jackie Cash, Jeanne Conrad, Helene Lancaster, and Terry Carter.

Special thanks to Jackie Cash and Sandra Copenhaver for coordinating luncheon reservations; and Terry Carter for setting up the Demonstration Equipment.

Thank you to Polly Boston for her gracious watercolor demonstration.

Darla Goldberg presented Joyce Cusick with a Certificate of Life Membership for her dedication and invaluable contributions to CWS throughout her long membership.

Show & Tell – September 2019

Annual Members’ Show & Tell and Founders’ Award

Mel Rustom – Founders’ Award Winner

Paint-Around June 14, 2019

Press Release by Norm Freyer

Something new is about to happen at the June 14th meeting of the Citrus Watercolor Society (CWS). Something in the art world that, quite probably, you have never seen before. You are going to have to see this! The activity that will occur is a fun, and fast-paced event. The event is what is called a “Paint Around”.  A Paint-Around is an event where a number of artists each “paint-around” to create paintings. 

Artists participating have limited time to contribute to the paintings, with each member taking timed turns. Those artists who will be painting include Barbara Kerr, Suzanne Mahr, Nancy Fisher, Darla Goldberg and Wanda Boyd. These folks qualified for the Paint-Around by placing first in the CWS “Painting of the Month” contest during the past year.

These five artists ll bring a painting concept already drawn off, with a reference, ready to paint on paper for a finished painting of 12”x16”.  Each artist starts on her own painting and paints for 10 minutes.  At the end of this time, volunteers help move the paintings to the next easel and each artist has 10 minutes to paint on that painting.  This continues until the artists have painted on each painting. The last rotation allows the artist 10 minutes on their own painting and this concludes the paint-around.

Each painting will be signed by all 5 artists and raffled off as a fundraiser for CWS. Tickets will be sold, $1.00 each, or 6 for $5.00. Tickets to be used by dropping tickets in any of the provided containers bearing the artist’s name/numbered painting.  Tickets can be used any time up until drawing for paintings. The CWS President will announce raffle winners. The paintings will be presented to each individual winner at that time. So come, watch this fun activity as the CWS artists take turns putting their unique spin on a painting!