BWS Highlights Newsletter • October 2024

President’s Palette

Sharing our view of the world as artists is fun! I am grateful to have many artist friends of all ages and different backgrounds.

As artists, we all notice similar things. For example, when walking down a street together we instinctively all stop to look at an interesting shadow or the way that the light is hitting something in a store window.

On April 13, the Baltimore Watercolor Society along with the Annapolis Watercolor Club and their friends and family  loaded into a 58-passenger motor coach and traveled to New York to see the 157th Annual American Watercolor Society Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club, followed by a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This was the first time we encouraged children 13 years and older to join us. We planned this trip on a Saturday to make it easier for children and those with jobs to attend.

A daughter flew in from Atlanta to spend the day with her mother, and sisters traveled from other cities to share the day together. One longtime BWS member was able to bring her granddaughter without her having to miss a day of school. I enjoyed seeing many of the guests of the artists view the paintings, hear the “new dialog” and “take it all in.”

I had a nice conversation with Abby, the granddaughter of BWS member, Pat. On the ride home she busily sketched in her journal. She was very excited about what she had seen and experienced in New York. She said she wanted to take watercolor classes, go on more trips and have her paintings in exhibits. But, she said she was disappointed because she had checked the BWS website and saw that she was too young to join. Based on that comment we subsequently changed the age limit and we now have our first 16-year-old Student Member! Abby happily participated in the Manor Mill Gallery exhibit. Pat said many of the artists at the reception welcomed Abby and encouraged her to do more things with the group. Abby said, “The artists were very kind and answered my many questions. I wanted to know why they painted what they did, what materials they used and how they create different effects.”

The Baltimore Watercolor Society creates opportunities to experience our world of art and share it with others. We can invite people of all ages to join us, learn more and encourage them when they do. Does it get any better than this?

Keep painting!

BWS President

An Evening Demonstration - Capturing Light in the Landscape with Russell Jewell

October 10, 2024 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm

The Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring Rd., Columbia MD (The building opens at 6:30)

$30 Members • $35 Non-members

Mid-Atlantic Juror Russell Jewell will present an evening demonstration focusing on painting atmospheric light in the landscape discovered in photos. Whether the landscape be urban or rural, light is the guiding factor. The instructor will demonstrate  painting as if in an ever-changing plein air environment and will discuss how to breathe fresh air into your paintings.

Click here to register or for more information.

2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition opens October 11

Jim Sandford, Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Chair

It’s here! The 2024 Mid-Atlantic Exhibition opens Friday, October 11 at the Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion Gallery in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The opening reception and awards presentation for the exhibition will take place on Sunday, November 10, 2024, 2-4pm. The exhibition features the works of 100 watermedia artists from the Mid-Atlantic region, including many of your fellow Baltimore Watercolor Society artists.

Russell Jewell (AWS, NWS, TWSA, ED.D) is delighted to be juror and selector of awards for the 2024 exhibit. Russell is an internationally recognized plein air painter with signature memberships in the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society and The Transparent Watercolor Society of America. His work has traveled with the American Watercolor Society exhibition. Russell’s accomplishments include a doctorate in Art Education from the University of Georgia and a Fulbright Memorial fund scholarship to Japan. His most recent awards include: 2023 Best of Show at Edisto Island Plein Air, 2023 First Place at Quick Draw Mountain Maryland Plein Air, and 2023 Best Boat Painting at Gloucester Arts Festival. In October 2023 Jewell judged the Georgia Color Plein Air Competition sponsored by Olmsted Plein Air. Russell is represented by Wells Gallery at the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, SC. His art and writing were published in a feature article, “Under the Sicilian Sun” in Plein Air Magazine, October/November 2023. Additional information can be seen at: www.russelljewell.com.

Here are some tips for planning your visit to the exhibition.
The exhibition is in two gallery buildings, the Kentlands Mansion (south) and the Arts Barn (north) separated by the quiet Kent Square Road. The gallery location does not lend itself to a simple set of driving directions, so it is recommended that you let your GPS do the work, using the following address:
320 Kent Square Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

In general, Interstate-270 gets you to the Gaithersburg region from Washington, DC or Frederick, Maryland. Maryland 200 (toll) which continues to I-370 may be used from Columbia, Maryland. For some visiting from Virginia, the US-15 crossing into Maryland may be a better option than the I-495 crossing on the Capital Beltway.

There is plenty of on-street parking on the quiet streets around the gallery. Both gallery buildings as well as the path between the buildings are fully handicapped accessible.

The two facilities have different hours:
• Kentlands Mansion: Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.
• Arts Barn: Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 pm and also for classes, activities and events.

So the overlap hours of Tues-Fri, 1-4pm are the simplest times to visit. If a visitor would like to come at a time both buildings are not officially open, they may email artgalleries@gaithersburgmd.gov for an appointment and one of the gallery managers will be happy to meet them.

Both facilities will be open for the November 10 reception. The awards ceremony will be held in the auditorium on the second floor of the Arts Barn. The gallery is a few blocks away from the Kentlands shopping area (along Kentlands Blvd off the Great Seneca Highway) with many good restaurant options, for those wishing to make a day of it.

The exhibition will remain open through Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Additional information is available on the Mid-Atlantic Exhibition web page. Don’t hesitate to email questions to midatlaticexhibit@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org, or text or phone me at 667-786-2105.

In this Google Maps view facing west along Kent Square Road, the Arts Barn is on the right and the rear of the Kentlands Mansion is on the left.

From the Archives: BWCC Opens its 26th Annual Exhibition in March, 1922

Jim Sandford, Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Chair

As we prepare for the opening of the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition, here is a look back at the opening of the Baltimore Water Color Club’s (BWCC, later to become BWS) 26th annual exhibition at the Peabody Institute Art Gallery, 102 years in the past, as announced in the March 12, 1922 edition of the Baltimore Sun.

There are some interesting contrasts to note with today’s exhibits. The 1922 show featured a whopping 327 watercolors and the work of 200 artists. Some artists were permitted to show groups of paintings, not just a single work. (I get tired just thinking about the work involved setting up such a show.)

As noted near the bottom of the first column, Dora L Murdoch was the winner of that year’s big prize, the Peabody and Baltimore Water Color prize. Dora (1857-1933) was a nationally renowned artist and a founding member of the BWCC in 1885. She remained active in the organization throughout her life. What goes around comes around: One of the prizes to be awarded in the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Exhibition is named in honor of Dora Louise Murdoch.

We hope to see you at this year’s Mid-Atlantic Exhibition.

Receive American Frame Discounts Through Our Artist Alliance Program

American Frame is a second-generation, woman-owned, family-run company, dedicated to serving artists like yourself since 1973. Our mission is to provide excellence in custom framing products, fine art printing and related services while advancing a socially responsible company that gives back to the arts. As such, we are proud to be counted among the list of donors to the BWS Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition. If you need design assistance or have questions about the website, we are here to help. We offer free samples, phone support as well as face-to-face ‘zoom style’ consultations via our Virtual Showroom. Our goal is to serve you in the way that makes you most comfortable.

Apply your American Frame account to the Baltimore Watercolor Society through this link: https://www.baltimorewatercolorsociety.org/Member-Discount-Codes/12652400 (you must be logged in to BWS Wild Apricot to see the link). Click on the link and sign-up or login to the American Frame Alliance Program and you will receive a reusable discount code as well as earn credit for your purchases for BWS. Be sure to check ‘Agree to Terms and Conditions.’ Once your American Frame account is linked to the Alliance Program, all of your orders will benefit BWS, even if you choose another discount to use for that order (e.g., free shipping).

2024 Mid-Atlantic Awards

2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition Juror Russel Jewell will bestow awards to 26 artists’ paintings, thanks to BWS receiving over $17,000 in donations. These generous donations ensure a variety of awards for the show. Numerous vendors, other watercolor societies, members and families provide these generous gifts:

Corporate Sponsors
Twenty-one corporate sponsors provided over $8,000 in certificates, gift cards and merchandise. In addition to award certificates, Dixon Ticonderoga sent Princeton Brushes, St. Cuthbert’s paper and Maimeriblu paint, Hahnemūhle provided paper, Jack Richeson provided brush sets, and Holbein provided a set of 24 watercolors. American Frame offers a discount for BWS members, (see description above  (https://www.baltimorewatercolorsociety.org/Member-Discount-Codes/12652400)

Memorial Awards
BWS appreciates the generosity of two long-term award donors. Sharon Longley who donates annually in memory of her husband, Edward Longly and Susan Churchill, and Michael Eddy, who donate the full amount of the Gold Award in memory of her husband, David Churchill.

In addition to the above, memorial awards were donated to honor Ginny (Virginia) Baier, Denny Bond, Don Hilderbrandt, Skip Lawrence, William (Will) Frederick Kreitlow, Frederic (Fritz) Schuler Briggs, Frank Purdue and Alice Webb (the Alice Webb Bronze Medal).

Other Watercolor Societies (Reciprocal Awards)
The mid-Atlantic region supports watercolor artists by donating to the Mid-Atlantic show. Each state has at least one watercolor society, and all of the societies have prize-giving exhibitions. Baltimore Watercolor Society reciprocates awards with Delaware Watercolor Society, International Society of Experimental Artists, New Jersey Watercolor Society, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Philadelphia Watercolor Society, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, Virginia Watercolor Society, and the Potomac Valley Watercolorists. We recognize each other’s support by funding awards in each other’s primary exhibition.

Calling All Teachers

Did you know you can advertise that you teach on the Baltimore Watercolor Society website? Finally a free place to advertise!
Take a look at our home page to see a sample advertisement, then follow the link to see everyone.

Joining this page is easy: simply edit your profile and answer ‘Yes’ to teaching and add a description of your class with contact info. Don't forget to add an image to your profile if you don't have one. Consider an image of you in the studio, an image of your artwork, or your headshot.

Other Organizations’ “Call for Entries”

Columbia Art Center
Color Columbia Plein Air Paint Out
October 29 - November 2, 2024
Wilde Lake and Lake Kittamaqundi, Columbia, MD
Application deadline: October 15, 2024
https://columbiaassociation.org/community-program/columbia-art-center/pleinair/