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BWS Highlights Newsletter • December 2024

President’s Palette

Why Do We Go to Art Exhibitions and Museums?

Following the recent awards reception for the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition at the Kentlands Mansion and Art Barn in Gaithersburg, Maryland, I slowly looked at the collection of paintings that the judge, Russell Jewell, had selected from almost 400 paintings from five states. There was a great variety of subjects in this collection. Looking at the many paintings gave me an appreciation for the unique styles, techniques, and materials that were used to create them. I was encouraged and inspired to try some of them myself!

In a recent BWS Zoom, Russell spoke about the process that he uses to view and select paintings for juried exhibitions. It was quite informative and thought provoking. Artists often only have a visual language that they cannot easily put into words. After listening to Russell, I was better able to find the words to understand what these artists were trying to say and how they were trying to say it. I now feel I have better tools to do that myself. I encourage you to go to our BWS YouTube channel to see this Zoom recording.

Having a career as a professional artist for over 30 years, I know how many hours I have spent painting the world the way that I see it and want to share it with others. I got to look into the view of the world of these 100 artists from many different cultures in the different seasons of their lives. This experience made me want to meet each artist and learn more about them.

I often go to museums and art exhibits myself and then return with others to hear what they have to say. I think that I saw the Philadelphia Museum of Art Exhibition several years ago featuring the history of watercolor in America that also showed the watercolor paintings of Sargent and Homer five different times. Recently, I flew to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in Boston, Massachusetts and then to the Tate Britain in London, England to view the exhibition of Sargent’s paintings and the costumes that the subjects wore in the paintings. It was the same exhibition, but it was curated by two different museums. It was almost like seeing two different collections because of the curators’ unique interpretations.

Russell and I agree that we want to be “life-long learners.” Going to exhibitions and museums opens your mind to a variety of creative expressions -- to learn about the lives of other artists, and their processes. It encourages conversation with other viewers and artists. It is always a very pleasant way to spend your time. I encourage you to take some friends and visit the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition!

Happy painting!


President
Baltimore Watercolor Society

    An Enjoyable 2024 Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Reception

    The weather was beautiful on Sunday afternoon, November 10, as about 200 artists, friends, family and spectators converged on the Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion Galleries in Gaithersburg for the opening reception and awards ceremony of the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition (https://bws.wildapricot.org/2024Mid-Atl).

    Jim Sandford, the Exhibition Chair, thanked over a dozen volunteers who have contributed to the success of this year’s exhibition. Linda Luke, the BWS President, welcomed visitors and congratulated the winners of 26 awards, chosen in October by juror Russell Jewell. Janet Freeman, the Mid-Atlantic Awards Chair, assisted by Betty Myers, kept the awards ceremony flowing smoothly. The Hospitality team, led by Lisa Kokes, kept everyone well-fed and in good spirits.

    Also present were gallery managers Beth Carmella and Cindy Majane, who have done a wonderful job assisting BWS with every need, and have helped with the promotion of the exhibition in several media outlets local to Montgomery County.

    A good time was had by all!

    The exhibition remains open through January 5, 2025 at the Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion Galleries in Gaithersburg. Visitors should check the Mid-Atlantic Exhibition website (https://bws.wildapricot.org/2024Mid-Atl) for directions and hours.

    BWS Gold Medal winner Kathy Daywalt receives her award from BWS President Linda Luke.

    Jim Sandford, Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Chair, announces the awards.

    It was a standing-room-only house at the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Awards ceremony.

    Diane Lawrence congratulates Joanna Barnum on her receipt of the Special Award for Creativity in Watercolor in Memory of Skip Lawrence.

    2024 BWS Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition List of Awards

    Congratulations to all award winners! 
    Please visit the Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition webpage for more information.

    BWS Gold Medal in Memory of David Churchill, $1500 
    (courtesy of Susan Churchill and Michael Eddy)
    Kathy Daywalt, Daddy's Naptime

    BWS Silver Medal in Memory of Frederic Schuler Briggs, $1200
    (courtesy of donations from BWS members, friends and students) 
    Susan Stuller, Whiskey Reflections

    BWS Bronze Medal in Memory of Alice Webb, $1000
    (courtesy of Glen Webb)
    Stacy Lund Levy, Dream in Green

    Special Award for Creativity in Watercolor in memory of Skip Lawrence, $1310
    (courtesy of ISEA, and donations from colleagues, friends and students)
    Joanna Barnum, The Poet is a Funnel (Portrait of Grace Cavalieri)

    Baltimore Watercolor Society Founders Award for Swann Harvey Beachum, $850
    (courtesy of Delaware Watercolor Society, Silver Brush, Jerry’s Artarama)
    Stephen Hanks, The Admiral's Favorite Medal

    Baltimore Watercolor Society Founders Award for Christiana Bond, $850
    (courtesy of Philadelphia Watercolor Society, Cheap Joe’s, Talas Paper, Wind River Arts)
    Theresa Kubert, Fire and Ice


    Baltimore Watercolor Society Founders Award for Gabrielle de Veaux Clements, $850
    (courtesy of Virginia Watercolor Society, M.Graham, Airfloat Systems)
    Anne Cordes, Twilight Dreaming

    Baltimore Watercolor Society Founders Award for Lulu Neilson Ford, $850
    (courtesy of New Jersey Watercolor Society, Colson Art Printing, Ampersand) 
    Frank Spino, Crystal and Grapes

    Baltimore Watercolor Society Founders Award for Dora Louise Murdoch, $850
    (courtesy of Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Princeton Brush, Daniel Smith)
    Rachel Collins, Rose Backlit VI


    Baltimore Watercolor Society Founders Award for Louisa Steuart, $850
    (courtesy of Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, Plaza Arts, QoR/Golden)
    J. M. Littleton, See Me In The Light Of The Sun

    BWS Merit Award, $500
    (courtesy of Potomac Valley Watercolorists, Silver Brush, Jerry’s Artarama, BWS member donations)
    Christine Heyse, A Little Light Reading


    BWS Merit Award, $500
    (courtesy of Holbein, Jerry’s Artarama, Rosemary Brush, BWS member donations)
    Angela Lacy, Bike Chaos


    BWS Merit Award, $500
    (courtesy of Silver Brush,Talas Paper, Jerry’s Artarama, BWS member donations)
    Jeannine Swartz, Who's Watching


    BWS Merit Award, $500
    (courtesy of Princeton Brush, Jerry’s Artarama, American Frame, BWS member donations)
    Pam Wenger, Concerto in Piazza


    BWS Merit Award, $500
    (courtesy of Dick Blick, Talas Paper, Wind River Arts, BWS member donations)
    Sandy Yagel, Spent

    Frank Perdue Memorial Award, $600
    Jean K. Gill, Shadoconuts


    Ginny (Virginia) Baier Memorial Award, $360
    (courtesy of Rebecca Rothey)
    Nancy Stark, Step Right Up

    Don Hilderbrandt Memorial Award, $300
    (courtesy of BWS, friends donations)
    Theresa Kurtz, Finger Lakes’ Farmland

    Bill Kreitlow Memorial Award, $300
    (courtesy of BWS and BWS member donations)
    Noreen Brunini, Twilight Magic

    Edward Longley Memorial Award, $300
    (courtesy of Sharon Longley)
    Kristin Herzog, Jazz I


    Denny Bond Memorial Award, $300
    (courtesy of BWS and BWS member donations)
    Jane McElvany-Coonce, Resting Among Kindred Spirits

    BWS Honorable Mention Award, $300
    (courtesy of Silver Brush, Jack Richeson, BWS member donations)
    Robert Coe, View From the Orchard

    BWS Honorable Mention Award, $300
    (courtesy of Jack Richeson, Jerry’s Artarama, Hahnemühle, BWS member donations)
    Michael Kotarba, Noontime Stroll


    BWS Honorable Mention Award, $300
    (courtesy of Jack Richeson, Jerry’s Artarama, Hahnemühle, BWS member donations)
    Anni Matsick, Dreamscape with Rabbit


    BWS Honorable Mention Award, $300
    (courtesy of Jack Richeson, Jerry’s Artarama, Hahnemühle, BWS member donations)
    Laura Pooler, Luminescence


    BWS Honorable Mention Award, $300
    (courtesy of Jack Richeson, Jerry’s Artarama, Hahnemühle, BWS member donations)
    Vicky Zhou, Bath in Sunlight



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    From the Archives: More on BWCC's 1953 Annual Exhibition

    Jim Sandford, Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Chair

    Last month we discussed the 1953 Baltimore National Watercolor Exhibition which was held in February 1953, the 48th Annual Exhibition put on by the Baltimore Water Color Club (BWCC, the predecessor of BWS) since the first in 1892. We noted various similarities and differences with the current 2024 exhibition, and noted that that year’s first prize winner was the painting Starry Night, by Robert Gates of Vienna, Virginia. We lamented the fact that the BMA Archives did not include any images of paintings of that year’s exhibition.

    Happily, there are other sources. The February 5, 1953 edition of the Baltimore Sun provides an image of the winning painting. The resolution isn’t great and there is no color, but it’s enough to get the general idea.

    Last month’s article also prompted a phone call from Janet Arsenault (BWS’s Chair of Signature Jurying), unable to contain her excitement, having noticed that the 1953 show also included an Architectural Subject Prize which was awarded to the painting Sunday Morning by Ogden Pleissner of New York. Having been introduced to Pleissner’s work in Andy Evansen’s class, Janet is an ardent fan of the works and philosophy of this lesser-known artist whose style evokes that of Winslow Homer. Janet loaned me her copy of The Art of Ogden M. Pleissner by Peter Bergh, 1984, and the book is wonderful.

    Pleissner (1905-1983) was born and raised in Brooklyn and lived there most of his life. Still, he was an avid outdoorsman who loved to paint grand landscapes and sporting scenes. But his most important works may be those from World War II in which he was a war correspondent assigned to capture the struggles and sacrifices made by Allied troops before the scenes disappeared from view. His war correspondent role took him to the Aleutian Islands, England, France, Belgium and Germany, not far behind the war’s front lines. The book contains a photo of Pleissner standing with Eleanor Roosevelt at a 1944 exhibition at the National Gallery of Art.

    Pleissner painted in watercolor and oils. His watercolors are so detailed and vivid that I have a difficult time distinguishing which medium was used for many of the works without peeking at the captions.

    The Cliffs, Normandy (1944) Watercolor, 24x35”, by Ogden Pleissner (from the Peter Bergh book).

    The Bergh book contains confirmation of the award received by Pleissner from BWCC in 1953 as well as affirmation that Pleissner was a BWCC member. Although the book contains hundreds of painting images and references, no image of Sunday Morning is included.

    However, the same February 5, 1953 edition of the Baltimore Sun includes the following image of Pleissner’s award-winning work (making Janet a very happy Pleissner fan).

    Pleissner’s prize for the BWCC award was a mere $25 — to that we can add the remembrance and thanks of the Baltimore Watercolor Society, 71 years later.

    “A fine painting is not just the subject, not just the article or the image on the canvas. I think it is the feeling conveyed of form, bulk, space, dimensionality and sensitivity. The mood of the picture, that is most important.”
    - Ogden Pleissner

    Founders of the Baltimore Water Color Club

    The Baltimore Watercolor Society (BWS) was founded in 1885 as the Baltimore Water Color Club (BWCC). It is one of the oldest art groups in America. The history of the club runs parallel with the development of watercolor painting in the last 142 years. A small group of women artists, students at the Maryland Institute, was responsible for its beginnings at the turn of the century as a formal outlet for painting. Watercolor then was almost the exclusive medium for women painters, for only in England did men show any desire to use watercolor as a major painting medium. Watercolor of this period was quiet and genteel, with classes held indoors, consisting of copying works of the old masters.

    The women wanted more than this–they moved out of doors, doing landscapes of the Baltimore area. Their first formal gathering was held at the Arundel Apartment House, Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue. Charter members of the Society were:

    • Swann Harvey Beacham (the first President)
    • Christiana Bond
    • Gabrielle de Veaux Clements
    • Lulu Neilson Ford
    • Dora Louise Murdoch
    • Louisa Stewart
    • B. E. Owens
    • Elizabeth Smith

    2024 Mid-Atlantic Exhibition awards are named after the first six of these women.

    The club began holding annual exhibitions in 1892, the first being held at the Baltimore Charcoal Club (a parallel organization, historically dominated by men), and has held annual exhibitions most years since. The club experienced a short eclipse from 1942 to 1947 because of World War II. Funds of the treasury were used to buy a mobile kitchen for the Red Cross.

    In 1977 the club revised its by-laws to assume its new official name, The Baltimore Watercolor Society.

    Swann Harvey Beacham (1857-1927)
    Swann Beacham was the first President of the Baltimore Water Color Club. Her name appears sparsely in newspaper and art archives compared to other BWCC founders, suggesting that she focussed her time managing the club, seeing it through those critical first years, and perhaps placed less emphasis on the typical activities of Baltimore society. She was an accomplished artist as we can see from a newspaper reproduction of her painting First Flower Mart in Baltimore, 1911. She was known for her beautiful studies of grapes. She was a member of the American Watercolor Society and the Arundel Club.

    Christiana Bond (1843-1944)
    The roster of the 1940 BWCC Exhibition read like a Who’s Who of American Watercolor at that time – Charles Burchfield (OH), Millard Sheets (CA), Saul Raskin (NY), Eliot O’Hara (MA), and two by a young man with great promise, Andrew Wyeth (PA). Christiana Bond, “lively at age 96”, who had paintings in the earliest BWCC Exhibitions and the 1940 one, commented on “how much more vigorous” these paintings were than the “genteel, wishy-washy painting” of the first exhibition. Christiana was involved in early organization of the YWCA in Baltimore, and, with her sister, Elizabeth, she operated the Mount Vernon Girls School for many years. Christiana was an acquaintance of General Robert E. Lee, and wrote a biography of him in her later years. She was the daughter of Thomas Bond Jr, MD, a founder of the University of Maryland Medical School, and Anne Morris, whose family founded the Thistle Mill on the Patapsco River.

    Gabrielle de Veaux Clements (1858-1948)
    A consummate lifelong artist, Gabrielle, de Veaus Clements was born in Philadelphia and studied lithography with Charles Page at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and later earned a Bachelor’s degree at Cornell University. In the early 1880s she studied painting and drawing under Thomas Eaklins at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and etching with Stephen Parrish. She traveled and studied extensively in Europe, including Paris’ Académie Julian. She created murals, painted portraits, and made etchings. Clements taught in Philadelphia and in Baltimore at Bryn Mawr School. Her works have been exhibited in the United States and at the Paris Salon. Clements works are in several public collections. Her life companion was fellow artist Ellen Day Hale.

    Lulu Neilson Ford (1866-1931)
    Louisa Neilson Ford was a creator of portraits and miniatures, no images of her work are currently known. Married to Johns Hopkins University professor of bacteriology Dr. William Webber Ford, Neilson Ford was one of the first women to paint medical scenes. She was a teacher of art at several girls' schools. Late in her life she operated the Country House Studio, a gallery and shop near the location of today’s GBMC. Louisa was also a suffragette, involved in labor causes, and dedicated to animal welfare. She helped the Animal Refuge Association and led a successful movement to bury with honors Goliath, the hero horse from the Great Baltimore Fire.

    Dora Louise Murdoch (1857-1933)
    Dora Murdoch was born in New Haven, and raised in Mississippi. She spent several years in Paris, studying under Bernard Boutet de Monvel, Gustave-Claude-Etienne Courtois, and Lucien Simon, before coming to Baltimore by the early 1880s. She studied at the Maryland Institute and in New York with Kenyon Cox and William Merritt Chase. She later traveled to Bermuda, and was known for her island watercolor paintings. She was a member of the American Watercolor Society. Her work was exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

    Louisa Steuart (1852-1938)
    Louisa Steuart was enrolled in the Maryland Institute by her parents when she was 12 years old. She studied with Abbott Thayer and William Merritt Chase in New York and with Julius Rolshoven and Gustave Courtois in Paris. She was a faculty member of the Maryland Institute from 1892-1905, teaching oil painting. Hans Schuler was one of her students. She was a charter member of the Arundel Club and a founder of the Baltimore YWCA. She migrated toward watercolor painting later in her life, and continued to exhibit her work throughout her lifetime.

    BWS Board Member Holiday Luncheon

    We had a pleasant gathering at the G&M Restaurant for the BWS Board Member Holiday Luncheon on November 8, 2024. Present (clockwise from top left) were Janet Arsenault, Member Jurying; Janice Hendra, Member Database; April Rimpo, Treasurer/Financial Questions; Sharon Green, Volunteer Recruitment/Protocol; Lia Nigro, Social Media/Publicity; Matt Fenton, Vice President; Jim Sandford, Mid-Atlantic Exhibition; Janet Hansen Martinet, Secretary; Janet Freeman, Mid-Atlantic Awards; Linda Luke, President; and Karen Norman, Archivist.


    Upcoming Events

    Note: The above Upcoming Events summary only displays the start date for each event. For full details please click on the event, or visit the Events page.

    MEMBER NEWS

    BWS members may submit a 60-word announcement gratis to be listed under the heading “Member News.” Images will be included as space allows. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month preceding publication date, and may be edited for length or clarity. Please e-mail your submissions to the Newsletter Editor at newsletter@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org.

    Boxed-off featured ads are available for $25 and may include up to 100 words and one image. Contact the Newsletter Editor at newsletter@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org for details.

    Peg Sheridan sold 3 paintings in the 4th Floyd Plein Air Event in September. She also had a large solo show at Westminster Canterbury in Charlottesville in October and sold a large painting. Peg is the Featured Artist at CoArt in Staunton from November 20 through December 29, with an opening reception Friday, December 6, 5-7pm, with refreshments and live music.


    Annie Strack, BWS    , won a Merit Award in Arizona Watercolor Society Juried Member Exhibition. Her paintings, including “Old Friends,” were also juried into Western Federation Watercolor Society 50th Exhibit which also earned her Signature Membership in WFWS and CWS.


    J.M. Littleton     was pleased that her student, Cheryl Frisby, had her painting “Hat-notized” accepted into the BWS Mid-Atlantic Exhibition. Littleton said "she could not be more proud of how Cheryl has developed as an artist." 

    Littleton School of Art: Holiday offers on classes & Giclees, http://www.JMLittletonart.com. 


    Janet Hansen Martinet received an Honorable Mention for her painting, “Cardinal Elvis,” from juror Cathy Abramson at the Potomac Valley Watercolorists Fall Show and Sale.


    Gina T. Judy, BWS, had her painting “Sunny Sully At Attention” accepted into the Kentucky Watercolor Society National Aqueous 2024 exhibition, and also became a Signature Member of NAWA (National Association of Women Artists, Inc.) by the screening of five of her images. She is currently in their “New Signature Member Show” in New York City.

    All images are the property of the artists and protected by copyright. No image can be used without the written permission of the artist.

    Membership

    It is that time again for Signature Artist and Associate members to pay their annual dues and for all members to update their interests and contact information. Please take the opportunity to review your Profile when you pay your dues.

    • One very important piece of information in your profile is your date of birth.
    • We also hope that you will let us know which activities you wish to participate in as a volunteer.

    Both of these contribute to your eligibility for Life Membership.

    While updating your profile, let us know about programs, demos, and events you would like to see BWS provide.

    Dues are $30 for Associates, $40 for Signature Artists, and $25 for Students. Artists with Life status are not required to pay dues. Many Life members make a donation each year. There are several categories/funds to which donations can be designated and instructions for making a Donation can be found here.

    Membership Renewal Email

    You will be sent an email in early December regarding Membership Renewal. If you joined this year in September, October, November, or December you have already paid your dues for 2025.

    To pay your dues online, follow the instructions in the email for logging in to the site, and navigating to your Member Profile, and Renew to Jan 1, 2026. You will also see Edit Profile where you can update your information and program interests.

    Even if you plan to pay by check, follow the instructions in the email for logging in to the site, and navigating to your Member Profile in order to update your information.

    Welcome New Signature Members

    Amy Browning Dill, Springfield, VA
    Ruth Lefko, Christiansburg, VA
    Tim Saternow, Jersey City, NJ

    Welcome New Associate Members

    Jennifer Azar, Bethesda, MD
    Maryanne Evans, Chesterfield, VA
    Rennie Gibson, Harrisburg, PA
    Anne Gresock, Frederick, MD
    Lisa McKnight, Annapolis, MD
    Michalina Pendzich, Pittsburgh, PA
    Suzanne Satterfield, Wrightsville, PA
    Carol Ulmer, Hilton Head Island, SC
    Lori Wilson, Myrtle Beach, SC
    Camille Woodbury, Easton, MD

    Board of Governors and Committee Chairs
    Baltimore Watercolor Society, a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization

    info@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org
    newsletter@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org
    publicity@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org


    President:     Linda Luke

    Secretary: Janet Hansen-Martinet

    Financial Questions: April Rimpo

    Mid-Atlantic Exhibit: Jim Sandford

    Mid-Atlantic Awards: Janet Freeman

    Workshops: Dana Kleinsteuber

    Programs: Yogini Dahiwadkar

    Webmaster: Robert Coe

    Newsletter Editor: Devin K. Lulu

    Archivist: Karen Norman

    Volunteer Recruiter/Protocol: Sharon Green

    Membership Database: Janice Hendra

    Membership Jurying: Janet Arsenault

    Exhibits: David Drown

    Publicity/Social Media: Lia Nigro

    Past President: Sharon Morell

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