Uncategorized – Citrus Watercolor Society

APRIL PAINT AROUND

At our April 10 meetingng, five CWS members challenged each other with a “Paint Around”. Our volunteer artist/members (Polly Boston, Dori Sullivan, Theo van Eldik, Lionel Sanchez and Susan Strawbridge) began with their sketch on a half-sheet of watercolor paper. Each artist painted for 10 minutes. Then that work was passed on to the artist on the right and another 10 minutes are added to each of the paintings, going around in a circle so all five artists add their “magic” to the work presented to them. Each artist has ten minutes to work on each painting. It was a fun time and a gallery of 60 or so members and guests watched the action.

At the end, the painting returned to the original artist for the finishing touches. Each painting was dried, matted and auctioned off with proceeds to the CWS funds for future demos. The final works and the auction winners:

Lionel Sanchez and the winner, Rick Peacock

Press Release

CWS Article for the Citrus Chronicle April Newspaper

Thank you Polly Boston for presenting a wonderful demonstration and one-day workshop in March. The members were challenged and yet all produced some realistic watercolor paintings of the river Sumac plants from our riverbanks.

In April we’ll be hosting another fun-filled event that is free to all! On Friday, April 10, in the Education Building of the Art Center of Citrus County, five CWS members will challenge each other with a “Paint Around”. Our volunteer artist/members will begin with their sketch on a half-sheet of watercolor paper. Artist one will start painting for 10 minutes. Then that work is passed on to the artist on the right and another 10 minutes are added to each of the paintings, going around in a circle so all five artists add their “magic” to the work presented to them. Each artist has ten minutes to work on each painting. At the end, the painting will return to the original artist for the finishing touches. Each painting will be dried, matted and auctioned off with proceeds to the CWS funds for future demos.

Sound confusing? It’s really not, but yes, it can become a bit chaotic and you, the viewer gets to see each artist in action. Come and see! You’ll enjoy light refreshments, seeing the unique paintings come together while looking over the painter’s shoulders. Also you will be contributing money to our other programs thru the year.

Who are the artists this year? Theo van Eldik, Dori Sullivan, Lional Sanchez, Polly Boston and Susan Strawbridge. You’ll be amazed at how their varied styles and techniques come together. And it’s fun.

In the meantime, CWS artists are preparing for their big Show and Sale at the Art Center in June. Also Plein Air painting every Tuesday at various sites around the county hosted by Vicki Pritchard. Lastly, but never least: the installation of CWS Board Members for the 2026-27 society year. We are a busy, talented and friendly group of watercolorists. You too may become a member. Check out of website at https://citruswatercolorsociety.org

For more information contact CWS Program Coordinator Signian McGeary at Signian@icloud.com.

Lionel Sanchez Lends his Expertise

Smart members of our organization made a point to sign up for Lionel Sanchez’s January 10th watercolor workshop. His award winning skills were on display as he instructed them on so many critical aspects of creating a successful painting. From the importance of doing a value sketch to layering washes, from the initial wash to adding descriptive local colors, shadows and finishing up with those final stokes. Informative, fun and by the looks of it good snacks.

November: a Meeting, Demo and a workshop

Our November meeting was well attended with over 40 members and guests on hand to hear about our exciting upcoming events and workshops, and to see Elaine McLaughlin demo her Batik Process. Then on Saturday a lucky few got to attend Elaines workshop and try their hand at this exciting and different art technique. With watercolors, hot wax and irons, blow dryers and copper tools the creative process flowed.

Press Release

Dori Sullivan
10/20/2025

CWS presents Elaine McLaughlin, community volunteer and artist, introducing the “how-to” Batik workshop on Saturday, November 15 from 9 am to 4:00pm in the Educational Building of the Art Center of Citrus County. The fee for CWS members is $65 and non-members $100. All levels of watercolor artists are welcome.

Elaine, a native of Nova Scotia Canada, and her husband Michael Burrock relocated to Citrus Hills about 4 years ago. She has been active in both business and volunteerism in the local area and is currently on the board of PACE Center for Girls. Her artistic talents provide inspiration and fun while she spends time with family, travel and gardening.

She studied using watercolor and batik on rice paper under artist Kathie George. The process uses hot wax as a resist while adding layer after layer of color to the sketch. During our Friday Nov. 14 Business Meeting (1:00pm at the Art Center) Elaine will demonstrate this technique using Tjaps – intricate copper stamping tools native to Indonesia, traditionally used in the creation of Batik fabrics. Her work results in unique art pieces as well as handmade greeting cards.

You may register for this workshop on our website www:citruswatercolorsociety.org or contact Signian McGeary at Signian@icloud.com. Sign up today – you don’t want to miss this workshop! A supply list will be available upon registration.

Looking ahead, CWS will celebrate the Holidays with a Pot-Luck luncheon at the Art Center located at 2644 N. Annapolis Ave., Hernando FL. on Friday Dec. 12 at 12:30. Members are asked to bring a dish to share and $5 to cover service. Please RSVP to Dori Sullivan (sullivandori128@gmail.com).

At the Holiday Luncheon Kim Shields will be our guest artist providing a demonstration prior to his one day workshop on Saturday Dec 13. Kim is always a welcomed artist who is also a signature member of Florida Watercolor Society and has many awards to his name. His one day workshop is “The Use of Contrast to Improve Your Landscape Painting”. More information and registration forms are on our website.

We want to wish our readers a very Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be grateful for including your ongoing support of CWS and our events.

Founders Day Awards

CWS had their annual “Show and Tell” that included the CWS Founder’s Day awards on September 19th. Over 20 paintings by our member artists were displayed and viewer’s choice determined the winners. They are; third place Yolanda Barreto for her flying shore birds, second place Lionel Sanchez for his watercolor painting of an old mansion and first place went to Judi Miller for her watercolor representation of a bamboo forest. Congratulations all! There were really terrific paintings in the show and we look forward to even more next year.

Press Release

September 2025

CWS presents our annual free “Show and Tell” program with the Founder’s Day Awards in September.

Come and join us in the Art Center Education Building, 2644 N. Annapolis in Hernando for this exciting display of watercolor paintings by the artist/members of Citrus Watercolor Society on Friday, September 19^th beginning with “meet & greet” and light refreshments at 12:30 PM. There will be a short business meeting at 1:00 with previews of upcoming workshops and special events. Don’t miss it!!

Citrus Watercolor Society meetings, demonstrations and workshops are usually held the second weekend of the month, except this year. Please note the change of date for September, 2025.

We’ve spent the past year enjoying workshops and opportunities to make our watercolor paintings better than ever. Techniques learned from our guest artists who provided demonstrations and “how to” during their workshops are incorporated in our paintings. Our own plein air days provide on site painting activities in Crystal River, Inverness and now Dunnellon. We want to share our visions with you, our viewers. Weekly challenges and inspirations during our “casual painting” days portray our skills painting birds, fruit, flowers and more. We’ve had a wonderful year and want to share the results of our labors with you. They’re all “labors of love”!

Yes! It’s time for current members and friends to bring their matted or framed artwork to the Art Center at noon, display them, enjoy viewing each other’s work and most importantly, vote for your favorite. There will be monetary awards for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place Founder’s Award by viewer’s choice votes. Talk about “inspirations” … this is it! We look forward to seeing you there.

Looking ahead to October, Linda Wokoun will be coming for a weekend workshop entitled “Finding and Losing Details”. Linda’s wet on wet florals and cityscapes are amazing and she’s an important Florida artist who always shows us exciting techniques during her workshops that may become part of our personal style. Linda’s demo is on Friday Oct. 10^th at 1:00 but come early to enjoy meeting our members and the artist. The two day workshop is Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11^th and 12^th. CWS member’s fee is $225 and non-members is $255. Details and registration forms are available on our website www.citruswatercolorsociety.org.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on September 19^th at the Art Center of Citrus County – a facility for the fine arts, designed by artists. See you soon!

Press Release

August 2025

August 2025 Citrus Chronicle article

Citrus Watercolor Society presents “Love Your Watercolor”, painting with Darla Goldberg. By popular request, the “Eyes Have it” is also included in this 2 day workshop.

Citrus Watercolor Society is hosting a 2 day workshop August 9^th and 10^th at the Art Center of Citrus County, in the Educational Building, 2644 N. Annapolis Ave., in Hernando. Registration is still open on our website at www.citruswatercolorsociety.org . Member’s fee is $125 and non-members are $155 with checks payable to CWS. Want a sneak preview? Please join us Friday, August 8 at 12:30 PM in the Art Center for the monthly CWS business meeting and demo by Darla. Guests are always welcome. A $5 donation is requested from non-members. Light refreshments are served. Come and see!

Darla is a recognized Florida artist who creates amazing animal and bird paintings known for their realistic looking eyes. Her history in the medical profession as an oculist transfers to the most fascinating eyes in her artwork. She is an entertaining instructor who has a wide background of workshops, demonstrations and shows of her own extraordinary paintings. Darla set her goal to become an artist who shares her talent thru teaching. She is a member of the Florida Watercolor Society as well as Citrus Watercolor Society. Join us for two days of creativity, camaraderie, and watercolor wonder!

CWS is actively involved with the Florida Watercolor Society and with that in mind we have changed our September monthly meeting (that includes “Show and Tell” and our Founder’s Award) from Sept. 12 to Friday, September 19^th. CWS members Pauline Boston, Lionel Sanchez and Kim Shields are conducting demonstrations at the 2025 Annual Florida Watercolor Society convention in Orlando Florida. The convention Sept. 10 thru 12 is at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel, downtown Orlando. The 100 selected juried paintings will be on display thru January at the Orlando Art Museum.

At the Sept. 19^th meeting, CWS artists are invited to bring their recent watercolor painting. Members and guests vote for their favorite painting and besides a “Painting of the Month” award, there will also be cash awards for the first, second and third place winners of the Founder’s Awards.

Looking ahead, our monthly meeting schedule will resume in October on the second Friday of the month with a General Business Meeting and demo by October’s guest artist, Linda Wokoun. Linda’s two day workshop following the demo is entitled “Finding and Losing Detail”. Details are on our website at www.citruswatercolorsociety.org. Until next time – to quote Andrew Wyeth “I dream a lot. I do more painting when I’m not painting. It’s in the subconscious.”

Curt Bond Workshop

Our own Curt Bond lead another successful and well-attended workshop. He provided everything the attendees needed to create a beautiful piece of art. The pictures say it all. Don’t they look happy?

Ending the year with a bang

We have started the wind down of another successful year. Our new location at the Art Center of Citrus County is working out well. We had over 40 attendees at the November meeting and a record number of entries into our Painting of the Month competition. Congratulations to our winners. First place: SusanJane Donohoe. Second place: Lionel Sanchez. Thanks to all who entered.

When an unforeseen emergency prevented our scheduled artist from attending Joyce Cusick jumped in to handle the demo at the meeting. Joyce is a life time member of CWS and has had an extensive art and design career. She demonstrated some of the watercolor techniques she uses, especially in her Plein Air work. We are lucky to have her and everyone left a little smarter.

We will end the year in December with our Holiday Luncheon. Tom Jones will once again entertain us with a great, informative Demo. There’s always lots of fun and prizes too. There is still time to sign up. Check out the calendar for details.