Tag: Kim Minichiello

CWS Founders’ Award Awaits a Winner

September 2021

Press Release by Norm Freyer

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.

Beyond the Pandemic There is a Brightside

March 2021

Press Release by Norm Freyer

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.

Going Virtual with Bold and Dynamic Watercolor

February 2021

Press Release by Norm Freyer

The Citrus Watercolor Society (CWS) is going virtual! COVID-19 has suppressed most of the society’s planned programs for the past few months. But there is more than one way to skin a cat. Susan Strawbridge, society program chairperson, has scheduled a one-day virtual workshop with Kim Minichiello featuring “Bold and Dynamic Watercolor”. The workshop will be conducted online utilizing Zoom on one’s desktop, lap top or tablet. During this workshop participants will be painting a yellow bromeliad. Kim will cover painting techniques unique to her process: bold color focusing on water to pigment ratio, value structure, color temperature, and color theory. All are important to make images look three-dimensional on a two-dimensional surface.

Kim Minichiello is an internationally recognized, award-winning artist, whose career in art and design has spanned more than 30 years. As a designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, she worked on the concept development and design of shops, restaurants, and attractions, for Disney theme parks worldwide. Kim is 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. She is a member of thirteen professional painting societies, and is a founding member of the Orlando, Florida Chapter of the worldwide Urban Sketchers Organization.

She has exhibited her work in Europe, China, Hong Kong and throughout the United States, winning numerous awards. Most notably the Winsor & Newton Award in the 151st American Watercolor Society Exhibition and the Southwest Art Magazine Award in “Making Their Mark: American Women Artists” at the Booth Western Art Museum. She has been in global publications including The Watercolor Artist Magazine, Plein Air Magazine and American Art Collector. She was chosen as one of fifty-six artists worldwide for “The Fabriano Watercolor 2020/2021 Exhibition” at the Museo della Carta e della Filigranna, in Fabriano, Italy. Her work will also be featured in Splash 22: The Creative Spark.

Kim comments, “Visual storytelling and attention to detail is my impetus in my career as a designer and continues to be the driving force in my work. My background in architecture and design, passion for travel, study of various cultures, and ongoing interest in botany influences my creative process. I’ve worked in a variety of mediums, but the lyrical nature of watercolor captivates me like no other. I’m inspired to push the limits of the medium to create bold and dynamic stories.” Kim is a studio and plein air painter, view her award-winning work on her website at www.kimminichiello.com

This one-day virtual workshop will take place via Zoom on February 13, 2021 from 9 AM until 4 PM, with a break for lunch. For more information contact Susan Strawbridge at 352-212-4378 or at [email protected]