press release – Citrus Watercolor Society

Tom Jones- Dec 9, 2022

CWS Celebrating the Holidays

Citrus Watercolor Society will be enjoying a special Holiday treat on Friday, Dec. 9th with the member’s annual luncheon at Citrus Hills Golf and Country Club. The festivities include a delicious lunch, Holiday Greeting Card exchange, and many other surprises.

Our special guest will be the popular watercolor artist Tom Jones who will show us some of his latest work and a demo of what’s to come at his two-day workshop, Dec. 10th and 11th. The workshop entitled “Creating Colorful Loose Watercolors” will be held at Whispering Pines recreation facility in Inverness from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM both days. There may still be a space for you in the workshop, and if you’re interested, register at our website www:citruswatercolorsociety.org.

The workshop will include a variety of painting techniques developed by Tom Jones, as well as his hands-on guidance with your individual painting. Students will enjoy instruction with emphasis on developing first wash, values, textures, variety of color, edges and shapes, as well as creating the illusion of light.

This remarkable artist (who is known for his signature Panama hat) paints spectacular watercolors that all tell a story, some with multiple chapters that reflect his love of landscapes or travel experiences. He enjoys creating a series of three to five paintings to complete his story of the subject. He is known for his multi-day plein air painting events for watercolor artists of all levels both here and abroad. We are so fortunate that this talented artist calls Central Florida home.

Tom seeks to make his workshops fun and entertaining as well as to help students leave with fresh ideas for painting in watercolor. He will provide paints by MaimeriBlu and Arches watercolor paper for his students. The workshop fees are $115 for CWS Members and $145 for non-members. A complete supply list and details are available on the CWS website. I hope you will join us.

At the November Citrus Watercolor Society meeting, Polly Boston was awarded first place in the member’s Painting of the Month competition for her portrait of “Margie”. Second place was awarded to Marjorie Bannish for her pelican painting. Congratulations to both of you.

Our CWS membership is growing and there’s always room for more. At last count, we have 85 enthusiastic watercolor artists who welcome beginners and longtime painters to our monthly meetings, shows, demos and workshops. We’re a friendly group looking to share our love of watercolor in a relaxed, fun environment. Annual dues are $35 and our meetings on the second Friday of the month are held in the Family Center in the First Christian Church of Inverness, 2018 Colonade St., Inverness. For more information see our website: www:CitrusWatercolorSociety.org.

Until next time, may your Holidays be filled with good health, friends, family and colorful works of art.

Dori Sullivan

Photos from the December Luncheon; Tom Jones Demonstration

Photos contributed by Dori Sullivan

December 10-11, 2022
Workshop with Tom Jones

at Whispering Pines Park Recreation Center

Workshop photos contributed by Deb Newman

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

Peg LeFebvre -October 14, 2022

Citrus Watercolor Society Invites You…

Press Release by DORI SULLIVAN

Please join us Friday October 9th at the monthly meeting of the Citrus Watercolor Society at 11:30 for refreshments, followed by a brief business meeting at noon after which we’ll have a demonstration by Peg LeFebvre entitled “Introducing Figures Into Your Watercolors”. The meeting and demo will be held in the Family Center of the First Christian Church of Inverness at 2018 Colonade Street, Inverness.

Color, dimensionality and narrative are the strengths of Peg’s watercolor paintings. And at our next meeting, she will demonstrate how to include figures in your watercolors to add excitement and focus. CWS members and guests will find new ways to put figures in our paintings to add to the story we want our paintings to tell. For example, in your painting with a road disappearing into the forest or the cityscape with empty streets, you will learn how to add images that will enhance your artwork. Sound simple? Well, to some, not so much – but at our October meeting artist, Peg LeFebvre will show us her secrets and you’ll be delighted with the results.

Peg Lefebvre is a well-known, award-winning Florida artist who shared her autobiography with us.

“Brilliant colors are what originally attracted me to watercolor painting. Dad introduced me to the medium at the kitchen table when I was 6 years old. That love of vibrant color is a cornerstone of my work to this day.”

“Sculpting convincing images on a two-dimensional surface is another primary pursuit of my work. Much of my bachelors study was in three-dimensional art. Re-immersing myself in 3-D and mentally seeing the subject in the round helps guide my brush to form sculptural images. One challenge is to avoid sacrificing the vibrancy of the color in the quest of modeling a form.”

“Recently, my work is driven toward telling the story that I see/feel/imagine in a particular subject. I strive to communicate what I found to be important about the person or event. It is exhilarating when a viewer comments on the subject’s personality or occupation, involving themselves in the story that I narrate through paint.”

Peg LeFebvre – Founders’ Award for her watercolor “Puddles”
of a rainy day in Luca, Italy

Peg is also a member of CWS and at our recent “Show and Tell” event was awarded the annual Founder’s Day Award for her painting of a rainy day in Luca, Italy. Her painting of “Puddles” began with an earlier vacation when it rained almost daily. Years later, she re-discovered her work and added improvements that brought out the reflections of that day.

We encourage you to come early to our Friday meetings to mingle with fellow artists and enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas. Guests are always welcome at our demos for the small donation of $5.00. We offer workshops throughout the year with CWS members receiving significant discounts on the workshops. Membership ($35 annually) is available to watercolorists and artists of all levels. For more information about CWS and to find an application for membership, visit our website www.citruswatercolorsociety.org

I’m looking forward to seeing you in October. Stay well and enjoy the cooler weather! Dori

DEMO by Peg Lefebvre

Peg mostly did portraits in 2016, but tired of it and turned to more challenging compositions, focusing on design elements to keep eye within the paintings and concentrated on figures. Peg demonstrated how she obtains skin tones, shading and contrast. She shared her composition board and techniques and mentioned several artists of note for the membership to check out: Carol Carter at the Villages; Ken Call, Ann Abgott, and John Salminen. Peg reminded the group that workshops are invaluable and to invest in ourselves if we want to progress.

A few photos from Peg LeFebvre’s wonderful demonstration about addng figures to our paintings. Thank you, Peg! Awesome!

Exploring Textures in Watercolor August 2022

Press Release by DORI SULLIVAN

Mark your calendars today! Friday August 12, 2022, the Citrus Watercolor Society will meet at the Family Center of the First Christian Church of Inverness at 2018 Colonade Street, Inverness with
light refreshments at 11:30AM and the General Meeting at noon. Following the meeting is a demonstration by SusanJane Donohoe who will give us a sneak preview of what’s in store for our
one-day workshop Saturday, August 13, 2022 at the Whispering Pines recreation center. From 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the workshop artists of all abilities will have a productive day that is sure to
add to your art repertoire.

SusanJane sent me a brief outline of her workshop “Exploring Textures in Watercolor” and I can’t word it any better than she does.

“– this is a day of exploring a number of ways to lay down the paint, simulate texture on a 2-D surface and master the water in watercolor. A variety of unusual tools and techniques will be used to achieve textures. My Mission is to help the student to improve their watercolor skills so that they can create their own unique masterpieces, not just copy the works of others. I also hope to instill in them the confidence they need to achieve this goal.

Leaving my workshop with a beautiful painting should not be the students’ expectation. I prefer that they use our time together to make as many mistakes as possible so that I can help them repair, redirect and move forward in confidence.”
SusanJane considers the Twin Cities, MN. and San Francisco, CA. as her hometowns, having spent half her life in each metro area. Today, however, she calls Florida home. Early careers in sales, counseling and as an award-winning Kitchen & Bath Designer demanded that she understand the human psyche in order to satisfy the needs of her clients. SusanJane uses that same ability now to interpret her subjects in watercolor. She finds it mesmerizing to watch the vibrant pigments mingle on the paper as the liquid travels across the shapes that it is bringing to life.

Be sure and check out her website www.susanjaneartist.com where you can see how her paintings include whimsical creations that make one smile, compositions that comment on the issues of today’s world, and others that are simply recording the beauty that surrounds us. Her vibrant use of color adds to the personalities in the characters she paints and the stories being told.

You can sign up for the CWS one-day workshop by contacting Susan Strawbridge at [email protected] or look for a registration form on our website www.citruswatercolorsociety.org under “Workshops” on the menu. The fee for CWS members is $95 and for non-members $110. When you are signed up, you will receive a full supply list and any additional items you will need for the workshop.

When I read thru the supply list, I realized I have most items in my “paint box” but was stymied by some of the extras on her list. Salt? A feather? Saran Wrap? Can’t wait to see how these are going to add impact to my painting skills! It will be interesting to see what SusanJane has in mind – the workshop certainly sounds like fun and I hope you will join us.

Until the next time, stay well and enjoy your adventures in Art. Dori

Click below for a 1-minute VIDEA RECAP!

photos contributed by Dori Sullivan and Barbara Fife

Enjoying a Short Break- July 2022

Hurrah! It’s the middle of Summer in beautiful Central Florida! I see life slowing down a bit, not quite as many cars on the roads, not much of a wait at restaurants and even Citrus Watercolor Society is taking a break. There will not be a meeting of CWS in July! Now don’t you wonder just what our watercolorists are doing during this “vacation”?

I, for one, am trying to get my studio organized. I have no idea when that cyclone swirled thru my art supplies and put them into such a mess. So instead of exploring my favorite plein air sites, I’ll stay in my air-conditioned home and “clean house” so I’m ready for the next workshop sponsored by CWS in August.

If you can’t wait, I’ll tell you this much. Susan Jane Donohoe will be the featured artist and she’ll have a brief demo at our Business Meeting Friday, August 12th with a one-day workshop Saturday, August 13th. You may register for the class now. Simply contact Susan Strawbridge at [email protected] to get on the list. I’ll have more to say about upcoming demo and workshop in my next article. Yes, in August we will be at the First Christian Church and the one-day workshop will be at Whispering Pines Park. Details like the subject matter, the supply list and fees will be included next time.

Another “down time” activity that you might consider is trying out some of the newer techniques and “tricks” you’ve learned over the past few months from our demonstrations and classes. These may add new sparkle to your artwork. Enhancing various textures to backgrounds or even placing more dark values in old paintings can give your artwork a whole new look. The lazy days of summer may be the ideal time to “putter” with old paintings or try a whole new approach to your latest creation. Relax and have fun, no matter what you do!

The CWS Paint Around held in June was a really enjoyable experience. Not only was it fun to watch the artists add their special touch to the paintings, we had time to look over their shoulders and see how they bring their work to life. Barbara Fife has created a brief video that shows the “Paint Around” every step of the way. Check it out at https://citruswatercolorsociety.org

Citrus Watercolor Society meets the second Friday of each month (except July) in the Family Center of First Christian Church of Inverness at 2018 Colonade Street, Inverness FL with light refreshments at 11:30 AM. The meeting and demonstration begins at noon. In addition to our regular demos and workshops by well-known nationally and local watercolor artists, members also enjoy “Painting of the Month” competitions, the use of our library, scheduled plein air outings, and more. Annual dues are $35 payable to CWS. Guests are always welcome! (Please sign in when you arrive. A $5 donation is appreciated).

I’m looking forward to the August programs at CWS. I do plan on taking the workshop and hope I see you there. Have a wonderful July – enjoy family, friends and beautiful Central Florida. Until next time, stay well – Dori

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 10^th 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 10^th 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, 1^st V. President: Susan Strawbridge, 1^st V. President Assistant: Helene Lancaster, 2^nd 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 10^th. You’re in for a painting treat! Until the next time, stay well!
Dori Sullivan

Seeing Color – Everywhere!

February 2022 Press Release by Dori Sullivan

It is so exciting when we get to enjoy one of the spectacular Florida sunsets or see the striking variety of shades of green and bright golds popping up within the wonderful landscapes found in our own back yard. No wonder artists from all over come to our communities to create beautiful paintings. The Citrus Watercolor Society is pleased to invite you to the February monthly meeting of CWS where you can see noted watercolor artist, Kathy Durdin, demonstrate how to expand your color palette and apply what you learn to working from photographs. This demo and meeting of CWS will be held Friday, Feb. 11 at the Family Center of the 1st Christian Church of Inverness, 2018 Colonade Street, Inverness, FL at 12 noon. Guests are always welcome.

The demonstration will be followed by a two day workshop entitled “Loosening Up and Seeing Color Everywhere” on Feb. 12 and 13 at the Whispering Pines Recreation Building from 9:00 to 4:00 PM (including a lunch break). The workshop fee is $110 for CWS members, $140 for non-members – checks are payable to Citrus Watercolor Society. To register for the workshop or more information, email Susan Strawbridge, at [email protected]

Kathy Durdin is a national award winning watercolor and mixed media artist. She has exhibited across Florida, as well as from New York to California. She also teaches classes and workshops inspiring her students to loosen up their work and enhance their skills. Watercolor provides her with a medium that allows her to create work quickly and create paintings with freshness and immediacy as she expresses herself. Her style is loose, to take advantage of the characteristics of the medium. Her work needs to be viewed from a distance – small and large areas of color make up her images.

Workshop attendees will also work on creating focus, simplifying, and using photographs as a starting point to explore color and lost edges. There will be time to work on finding centers of interest and focusing detail in the area of the center of interest. You don’t want to miss this exciting workshop and the opportunity to paint with Kathy Durdin.

On a personal note, I can’t thank Norm Fryer enough for his dedication and talent that has been the backbone of “getting the word out” about CWS. These are big shoes for me to fill. I’m relatively new to watercolor painting and love painting “en plein air” (on location) around the area. For the past couple of years, I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences with Citrus
Watercolor Society and its caring, friendly membership. I do hope you will become a part of this dynamic group of artists. Until next time, stay well and add brilliant color to your life!

Dori Sullivan
[email protected]

Why do all good things have to come to an end?

January 2022 Press Release by Norm Freyer

While writing the Citrus Watercolor Society (CWS) column over the years, I am amazed by the number of people who actually read it. Those folks are not only artists but from the general public. Wherever I go there is always someone who will comment, “Oh, I read your column every month.” I must admit that I find this quite satisfying. But all good things must come to an end, and this column for the upcoming month of January 2022, will be my last.

I never intended to become an artist in my later career, but I did. And I never figured that I would produce a piece of art that someone would want to purchase, but I did. And I never intended to write this column for many years, but I did. And it was all great fun! To all those readers out there – thank you, thank you! And a special thanks to the Chronicle for encouraging me to write the column in the first place. In the future, artist Dori Sullivan of Ocala will write this column. She is an experienced writer and will manage it well.

The visiting demonstrator for the CWS January 14^th meeting will be Frank Zampardi of the Villages, FL. Frank is a retired secondary school art educator, having taught in public schools for thirty-two years. For the past 15 years, Frank has established himself as an accomplished artist, specializing in exact detail through the use of graphite and colored pencil, watercolor and oil. Frank emphasizes intricate compositions and chooses subject matter for its design possibilities. These elements are coupled with the skillful use of light and shadows and enhanced with well-developed shading techniques. Frank’s work has been exhibited in numerous art festivals, the Central New York Adirondack Art Show, where he has been a first-place winner many times and selected for the Master’s Division. He has exhibited at the Central New York Community Arts Council, The Fenimore Gallery, The Smithy Gallery in Cooperstown, NY, Cooperstown Art Association Exhibition, The Gannett Gallery, Munson, Williams, Proctor Institute in Utica, NY, McKenzie Art Gallery in Cazenovia, NY, Rome Community Art Center, 531 Central Fire Arts Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL and the Wildlife Exhibit at the New York State Fair. Since moving to The Villages, Florida, Frank has continued to garner awards at events sponsored by the Visual Arts Association and The Villages Art League. He presently teaches twelve adult art classes through The Villages Lifetime Learning College and is the Chairperson for the Artists Helping Artists Program and directs the Jump Start Artists Program at Sea Breeze Recreation Center in The Villages; a program where self-motivated, like-minded artists can accelerate their artistic skills under Frank’s direction. You can view his work at his website at frank-zampardi.pixels.com

Frank Zampardi will conduct a one-day workshop on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at the Whispering Pines Recreation facility in Inverness, FL. For more information see the CWS web site at https://citruswatercolorsociety.org/workshops.html,
or contact Susan Strawbridge at [email protected]