Homosassa Show – Citrus Watercolor Society

Simple Stencils, Dramatic Effects by Darla Goldberg – October 13, 2023

Back by popular demand … Artist Darla Goldberg will present a demo on the use of stencils to enhance your painting as well as a one-day workshop to make unique stencils and create the promised “Dramatic Effects” in your painting. The demo will be held immediately after the Citrus Watercolor Society meeting at noon on Friday, Oct. 13 at the First Christian Church of Inverness at 2018 Colonade, Inverness. The workshop will be held at Whispering Pines Recreation Building Sat. Oct. 14 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The cost is $95 for members, non-members fee is $115. The demo is free to members and a $5.00 donation is appreciated from guests.

Darla is an award winning artist and I’ve enjoyed her presentations and workshops immensely. She is a fun instructor who works closely with those in her classes. All levels are welcome. Darla’s specialty is photo realistic eyes based on her professional history as an oculist who designed prosthetic eyes. Her artwork has been enhanced with unique techniques and “painterly” ways of creating beautiful backgrounds to make her work (and yours) “pop”. It’s been my observation that textures, enhanced colors and other striking additions to your artwork is the way to go. When you visit local galleries and art centers, look closely at what paintings attract you. Today, an addition of a variety of techniques has become popular and adds to the excitement of modern paintings. With all of CWS workshops, there are many new techniques you can learn to give your painting the spark it may need.

CWS offers its members opportunities to learn not only at our workshops and through our demonstrations, but by interacting with our artist/members during our pre-meeting “social hour” that begins at about 11:15 in the Family Center at First Christian Church. Light refreshments are provided and individuals who wish to bring in their painting for an “Artist of the Month” competition are asked to bring their work by 11:30 for the viewer’s choice vote. We have both beginners and longtime artists within our membership and we provide helpful hints just for the asking. Our library is crammed full of resources, both books and DVDs that are available for your use. We also have those important plastic “sleeves” for matted paintings and cards for sale.

Looking ahead, we will once again host Art in the Wildlife Park Show and Sale at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife Park, Saturday and Sunday, November 18th and 19th ,2023. Admission to the show is free and a percentage of the artist’s sales are donated to the park. Mark your calendars now and come to the show and sale, just in time for holiday gifts.

In September, it was my privilege to present the CWS Founder’s Award to Darla Goldberg for her stunning watercolor painting of a blooming cactus flower. We want to thank the following for participating in the competition and sharing their inspirations and techniques used in their work. They are Gingi Martin, Jeanneine (Cole) Chesnul, Polly Boston, Darla Goldberg, Dori Sullivan, Signian McGeary, Judy Snow, Aileen Croly, Yvonne Brunelle, Judy Miller, Heather Doherty, and Ellen Hines.

Be sure and check out our website at www.citruswatercolorsociety.org for all the latest news about our activities. Annual dues are only $35 and the benefits are many. We’d love to have you become a member of the “friendliest little watercolor club anywhere”! Until next month, stay well and enjoy the inspirations that drive you to painting.

Dori Sullivan

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

Sue Primeau -Nov 11, 2022

Citrus Watercolor Society November Meeting

Having problems adding life to your painting? We may have the answer.
Citrus Watercolor Society is pleased to announce that well known Florida Artist Sue Primeau will be our November presenter for a demonstration on Friday Nov. 11th as well as a one-day workshop on Saturday, Nov. 12th. Both events will be held at the First Christian Church Fellowship Hall at 2018 Colonade, Inverness.

Sue’s watercolor collage workshop is entitled “How to Resuscitate a Painting”. The demo is free to members ($5 donation appreciated from guests) and the workshop is $95 for members, $110 for non-members. There is still time to sign up for the workshop. You can find a form on our website (https://citruswatercolorsociety.org) or register by emailing Susan Strawbridge at [email protected].
Now for some of the good stuff. Sue Primeau’s art is “abstract realism” … wha?? Yes, she can paint a bunch of grapes, add her own touches of texture, blended colors and even collage to create an exciting painting that will catch the eye of any passerby. And yet, there they are … images of “real” grapes fresh with the morning dew. I’ve been privileged to take several classes and workshops with Sue, and every time I’ve learned so much. She rarely abandons the basics of design, value and perspective. I know you’ll enjoy every minute of her demonstration and be surprised by the results at her workshop.

Sue has painted since childhood although it was only as an adult that she was introduced to the magic of watercolor. She is passionate about the world in which we live and the beauty that surrounds our everyday life. It is this readily available subject where she finds her inspiration. Today, working primarily in watercolor, a medium she prefers not to control, she often begins by letting the shapes and colors occur spontaneously with little or no guidance. She is a master of the “wet on wet” technique. Sue then studies the resulting image to determine how she will continue to develop the painting into something unique. We do hope you will join us for this exciting program.

Sue Primeau, guest artist at the November 11th CWS Meeting

Great News! After a long hiatus we’re excited to announce that the CWS’s Art in the Wildlife Park Show and Sale is returning once again to the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Spring Wildlife State Park on Saturday December 3rd from 9:00 to 5:00 PM and Sunday, December 4th from 9:00 to 4:30. There is no admission charge to the show where original artwork by our artists will be on display. It is a juried show and members may enter their watercolor paintings for judging at a nominal fee of $5.00. The park is located at 4150 S. Suncoast Blvd. in Homosassa Springs. We hope you’ll join us to view and purchase our members beautiful and amazing art.
Also, in December, we will celebrate the holidays with a special luncheon at Citrus Hills Golf and Country Club on Friday the 9th and follow it with a two-day workshop with Tom Jones. More details about Tom’s two-day workshop in December’s column. Keep in touch with CWS in this publication as well as on our website. Annual dues are $35 payable to CWS. Details, including member’s art work, are on our website at https://citruswatercolorsociety.org. New watercolorists and guests are always welcome.

At the October meeting of CWS, Jeanienne Cole’s painting “Hidden Ibis” was voted “Painting of the Month” and Julie Jamieson’s “en plein aire” work was runner up. Every month, members are invited to bring in a piece of their work to our meeting where the membership votes for their favorites. Congratulations, ladies!

Cooler temperatures are in the air. I hope you are well and enjoying this special time of the year to get together and paint! Until next time … Dori

Homosassa Spring Art Show

Homosassa Fall Art Show 2019

Homosassa Spring Art Show 2019

Homosassa Fall Art Show 2018

Citrus Watercolor Society announces juried art show winners

The Citrus Watercolor Society announces the winners in the juried portion of the recent Fall Show and Sale held at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa State Wildlife Park. Hernando artist Douglas Murray was awarded the Best of Show honors. His watercolor painting of “Peggy’s Cove” (pictured above) was the best of some very competitive artwork. Murray is an accomplished watercolorist and has won numerous awards for his artwork. Other award winners were First Place, Helene Lancaster of Crystal River, for her painting “PalmsAlot”; Second Place went to Chuck Chesnul of Floral City with his painting “Yankeetown Marina”; and Third Place winner was Norman Freyer of Homosassa and his painting “Crotonesque”. Two artists, Susan Strawbridge of Inverness, and Curt Bond of Dunnellon received Honorable Mention awards. A painting by Yvonne Brunelle of Floral City received the President’s Award.