President's Palette

Are your Mondays Blah and Boring?
If so, then you should have come with us...

On April 17th, 40 BWS members and guests took a chartered bus to NYC to see the 156th American Watercolor Society Exhibition. The day there was very dreary but it didn’t curb our enthusiasm and, with time to spare before the Salmagundi Club opened at 1pm, many hit the neighborhood eateries and also the Strand Bookstore or Dick Blick nearby. As we walked back from our lunch, the sun came out, turning a drizzly day into a dazzling one, with beds of gorgeous tulips and cherry trees heavy with branches in full “quin pink/opera” blossom mode, lining the sidewalks. The Salmagundi Club, in an historic brownstone building, is a work of art on its own - a center for American Art since 1871 – housing famous artists, art classes, events, concerts and Exhibitions, mostly free, and the blooms outside were just a foretaste of the color on its walls inside:

BWS had 12 (!!!) paintings by its Members selected to hang in this 2023 AWS Exhibition (see Feb 2023 Highlights issue for the whole list of our artists selected) and 4 of those artists - Joanna Barnum, Ann Smiga Greene, Stacy Lund Levy and Pam Wenger - achieved AWS* Signature Artist status as this was the 3rd time their paintings were selected. To make it even more of a celebration, one of those 4, Joanna Barnum, won an award with her painting, “Breach”. Congratulations to All!

The day didn’t end there, however. After applauding the artists and their paintings we headed uptown to the “Museum Mile”. Again dispersing– some to the MET, others to the Guggenheim, several to the Neue Gallery where they drooled over the Klimts, and others to the Jewish Museum to see the Sassoon Collection.

The bus ride home was noisy at first, as the group shared their experiences, and then silence crept in as they succumbed to exhaustion – but not before they vowed to do it all over again next year. Finally dreams took over that maybe, just maybe, next year their paintings would be hanging on the walls of the Salmagundi.

May their dreams come true...

Sherry Morell
BWS President

IN MEMORIAM

Denny Bond
AWS, NWS, TWSA, PWS, PWCS, BWS- WME
1952 - 2023

It is with deep sadness that the BWS Board announces the loss of an amazing artist and close friend to many of us. We received word from his beloved wife Alice and family that Denny passed away suddenly April 11, 2023 after having a severe stoke several days earlier. “He was an award –winning internationally recognized hyper-realistic watercolorist and illustrator. He was also a signature member and a juror of numerous prestigious watercolor societies, including AWS, NWS, and BWS. Denny was passionate about actively spending time with his family and friends through pickleball playing, landscape gardening, hiking, and trail biking.” Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family.

Just days before the stroke, Denny had been communicating with BWS as to the number of times he had exhibited in the BWS Mid-Atlantic Exhibition in order to secure the new designation as a Watermedia Master Elite (BWS-WME). The results showed that Denny set the record – he had exhibited 19 times in the Mid-Atlantic, with many of his paintings immortalizing treasures from the past, and that he had received many awards, including the Gold Medal in 2015 for his portrait “Twisted”. The favorite painting of many of us, however, will always remain his incredible, and insightful, self-portrait “Unraveled” (shown), for which he won the Bronze Medal in 2013. The Mid-Atlantic Exhibition will seem empty without one of his meticulously planned and executed paintings on the wall, but his presence will always be there.

The BWS Board

Exciting Changes in the Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Awards This Year - Introducing the BWS Mid-Atlantic Awards Program

The Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Awards Fund is established to give encouragement to our members and to award artistic excellence. We appreciate your considering making a donation to this special awards fund. 

With a goal of increasing the value of awards to recipients, the Awards Committee has conducted an extensive review of the BWS rich awards history as well as award programs in other art societies. The 2023 Mid-Atlantic award winners will receive cash or certificates and small amounts of high quality merchandise.  

Awards are a vital way for us to give encouragement to our members and to recognize artistic excellence. We invite you to support this critical function through a donation to BWS. 

These awards can also provide a wonderful way for those interested in the arts to honor the memory of their loved ones. Please consider donating any amount to the Mid-Atlantic Exhibit Memorial Awards fund using this link: https://bwswildapricot.org/Donate.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Janet Arsenault & Janet Freeman at our shared email -  awards@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org.

Schedule of events related to the 2023 Mid Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition

Here is a list of dates related to the 2023 Mid Atlantic Exhibition. Please mark your calendars and look for details in future BWS communications. We look forward to seeing your submitted paintings and welcoming you to the planned events.

• CaFÉ system open for entries - June 2 through Aug 2
• Notification of accepted entrants - Sept 1
• Painting drop-off - Oct 2, 10am-2pm
• Announcement of awards - Oct 3
• Exhibition open - Oct 6, 2023 through Jan 15, 2024 at the Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg
• Opening reception and awards presentation - Nov 12, 2-4pm
  
  

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PAINT THE PATAPSCO
Our BWS Annual Member Meeting/Luncheon

Registration closed April 24. We hope you will be with us this year! Gardens, vistas, and the Patapsco River await! Check-in at the tent on the property of The Historic Elkridge Furnace Inn, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Come no earlier than 9:45am and bring your painting supplies to paint en plein-air. The event will start at 10am and continue until 3:45pm. Our chef prepared, farm to table, box lunch will be served at 12:30 in the tent. Questions: karenschuster@verizon.net

Spring Has Sprung!

Join us as we celebrate Spring with these seasonal paintings by fellow BWS members.

Lessons We Picked Up Along the Way

Hi fellow artists, me again. This column is a place for sharing art related tips. Any time you come across a great product, website or technique that seems useful pass it on to the rest of us. If we have to rely on me alone to come up with ideas this column will not last long. Send your tip to Dana Kleinsteuber at kleinstk@verizon.net. I will post them here so we can all benefit. The tips are for all levels of painter so some things you may already know and some may be a revelation. The idea is that we can all share great ideas. Some examples are below.

1. When entering a show it is expected that you will have a framed painting with a clean mat and that it will have a wired back. There are often limitations on the color of the mat that is allowed. You are usually safe with a white or off-white mat. Sawtooth hangers don't work for hanging in a show. A wired back will have D ring hangers on either side with coated wire between them. The picture shown has three properly attached wire backed paintings. I have put a piece of white paper under the wire of the bottom two so you can see the wire clearly. Let me reiterate that you need a clean mat. Beware of cat and dog hair when you are putting your frame together. Mat board is like a magnet for dog and cat hair.

2. When you are using tape and want to be careful not to rip the paper, it can be helpful to put the tape strip you are using on your clothing first. It takes some of the sticky part off. Thanks to Janet Freeman for her addition to the tips column.

3. Ever wondered what the chisel tip on the end of your brush is for? The chisel tip can be used to scratch highlights on your painting or to separate a sheet of watercolor paper from a block. Thank you Devin Lulu.

4. Ever wonder what color you have in a particular palette? Attach a sheet of watercolor paper to the lid with all the important information. Thanks for the great idea Sharon Green.

5. Several of the upcoming opportunities available to members are for plein air painting. Consider joining us at the Member Luncheon at the Furnace Inn or the Matt Fenton program. The Matt Fenton program includes plein air instruction. A plein air set up doesn't have to be elaborate. You can get away with a folding chair that has a cup holder, a container with water, a cup to hold the water, a half pan set with a round brush, a liner and a flat brush and a small pad of watercolor paper with a small sketch book and a pencil. If you are interested in the Matt Fenton program look at the announcement on the BWS website for the supply list.

6. When you get to the 'paint out' choose a simple subject. A building in one point perspective, a tree or simple limited landscape are all on the simpler side. Do a thumb nail sketch in your sketch book of your painting idea paying attention to the shapes and the values. Remember you can move things and change colors. A thumbnail sketch will give you a plan for your painting.

7. There is one space left for the Alicia Farris Workshop. The evening demonstration has multiple spaces left. She is an excellent portrait painter. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from her.

Looking for Graphic Designers to Help with Design of a New BWS Recognition Pin

Recently the BWS Board of Governors reviewed the achievements of our membership and noticed several have been accepted into the Mid-Atlantic Regional repeatedly. We were impressed with your dedication to BWS, the consistent excellence of your art, and your faithfulness in entering our prestigious exhibition year after year.  

As you know, currently any member whose paintings are selected three times in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition qualifies as a Signature Artist. We have voted and approved two new levels of recognition.

• BWS Watermedia Master is achieved when a BWS Signature Artist is selected at least six times in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition. They are allowed to use the initials BWS-WM after their signature.

• BWS Watermedia Master Elite is achieved when a BWS Signature Artist is selected at least ten times in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition. They are allowed to use the initials BWS-WME after their signature.

The Board agreed a lapel pin will be presented to the recipients as part of the recognition. Lapel pins can be worn not only on your lapel but on a purse or elsewhere. The current vision is to obtain a 0.75" die-struck pin with an imprint stamped in bronze-tone metal that reads "BWS Watermedia Master" or "BWS Watermedia Master Elite" around the edge of the pin with a graphic image in the center of the pin. As you may know the American Watercolor Society uses a Dolphin for their Dolphin Fellowship medals.  The Philadelphia Watercolor Society has a Crest Medal that looks like a wave. We are looking for Graphic Designers among our membership who could provide designs for consideration for the center of the pins. 

The best way to let us know you have Graphic Design experience is to select the Graphic Design option as one of your 'Participation Interests' in your BWS membership profile. Simply edit your profile to let us know. We'll query your records at the end of March, then reach out for your ideas for pin designs.  

Start thinking about simple images that would fit in the center of the pin. We are not looking to use the BWS logo.  Although AWS and PWCS chose water based images, it could be something as simple as a small sprig of flowers. The BWS Board reserves the right to make the final selection for the design.    

Free Webinar Happening Soon:
An Introduction to the Copyright Claims Board

The Copyright Claims Board (CCB) is an alternative forum to federal court to resolve copyright disputes involving damages up to $30,000. The CCB opened its doors in June 2022, and this webinar is designed to provide the foundation for bringing or responding to a claim before the CCB. 

This program is recommended for both attorneys and artists alike.
May 2, 11am - 12pm EDT. Registration is free.

Reserve a spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-introduction-to-the-copyright-claims-board-tickets-616116189107

Other Art Organizations' Call for Entries

Pittsburgh Watercolor Society
Waterworks 2023 Members Exhibition
Sweetwater Center for the Arts and Online
https://www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/Waterworks
Entry Deadline: May 20, 2023

The New Orleans Art Association
24th National Juried Show
The Building Art Gallery
https://showsubmit.com/show/noaa-24th-national-art-show
Entry Deadline: July 31, 2023

MEMBERSHIP

Welcome New Signature Members

Brenda Cretney, Brockport, NY
Kathleen Maling, Havre de Grace, MD
Sara Azzam, Alexandria, VA
Peg Sheridan, Staunton VA
Dana Kleinsteuber, Ellicott City, MD
Mary Alfieri, Havre de Grace, MD
David Outhwaite, Brooklyn, NY
Betsy Kimball Baden, Rockville, MD
Deborah McFarlin, Easton, MD
Yogini Dahiwadkar, Ellicott City, MD

Welcome New Associate Members

Nancy Peper, Lutherville, MD
Katherine Wah, Fulton, MD

In Memoriam

Ruth Sentelle, Frederick, MD
"Still Life with Cup of Fruit" (shown)
Friends may make a donation to BWS in her honor.

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