Thank you all for your participation and support of our Annual Paint Around in June. Our wonderful artists worked together in a quick competition with every painting definitely a winner. We really appreciate your time and talents – all of you – for making this event such a success. (You can see photos on the CWS website) Thank you again, Curt Bond, Deb Newman, Ellen Hines, Darla Goldberg, Polly Boston, Lionel Sanchez and Barbara Kerr. Signian McGeary and her volunteers also did a fine job having the tables ready for the Paint Around, helpers for the artists as well as ticket sales and a matting team ready to add the finishing touches for our raffle. It was an impressive lineup of fine paintings and volunteers! I also want to thank Dick Carlton for putting together the room layout according to our specific needs. Here is the link to the video created by Kim Shields.
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.
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
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!
“The Friendliest Little Watercolor Club”. If there was any doubt, (and there wasn’t) last month’s meeting convinced me. For all of those who attended the “Paint A Round”, you know what I mean. Because even though I call it a “meeting”, I thought it was much more a “get together”. For those who painted, impressive! I am continually amazed at the amount of talent this club has. But I also loved the way everyone else got involved, mingled and socialized with each other. Usually at the meetings we get to socialize, then settle into a nice demo. This meeting I noticed that, from start to finish, the interaction this group displayed showed me why we are known as “The Friendliest Little Watercolor Club”. I admit there were times I worried if the Paint A Round would be a “pumpkin”. But this group proved to me, NOTHING will stop us from being such a great group of artists and friends. So for those who were unable to attend, you missed a good one.
And before we leave last month behind I have to thank Glenda Ackley and all who helped make it so special. She deserves all the credit for the Paint A Round’s success. I would like to remind the participating artists to bring the painting in to the Holiday Luncheon for us to see the “finished paintings”.
Paint-a-Round, November 2010 Photo Collage Courtesy of Ray Jowers
Speaking of next months meeting, December 10th’s meeting brings us the Holiday Luncheon. I will be disappointed if everyone does not attend! Darla Goldberg, Sandy Dunham, and all the other volunteers have put in a lot of work. So the Luncheon promises to be exciting. In addition to being fortunate enough to have Steve Rogers for our demo and a workshop, there is much you do not want to miss. The great food. The hand painted cards we want you to bring in to exchange. The many gifts you may receive. And most of all the friendships we continue to make and share. It is because of you the members that we are known as the “Friendliest Little Watercolor Club”. And especially during this holiday season, I know that friendliness will be on display.
Due to the fullness of this month’s meeting Painting of the Month will be postponed until January.
Citrus Watercolor Club wishes everyone a “Happy Thanksgiving”, and looks forward to seeing you at the December “Holiday Luncheon”.