Watercolor class

I've agreed to teach a watercolor class for beginners through the Grant County Arts Council in Petersburg, W.Va.

Most of the GCAC classes are for a couple of hours each day over the course of 4 to 5 days, but since I work, I asked if I could do the class in more of a workshop setup, over a weekend.

GCAC agreed, and so the class is listed in their 2013 schedule as:
"Beginning Watercolor, Saturday, June 22 from 9 a.m. - 4.p.m. and Sunday, June 23 from 1 - 4 p.m. 15 years old and up"

I admit it's going to be a little rough getting everything in during that time period -- I'd like to have a couple more hours, which would fit the sort of classes I used to teach for the Hardy County Extension retreat at Camp Pinnacle, but I'll make it work. I'll just have to trim out one of the exercises in mixing colors.

I don't know what GCAC is charging for the class, though I'm sure it's very affordable. They have not posted any of the classes on their website, but I know they have been advertising their summer classes in the local paper, "The Weekender."

If you'd like information about the watercolor class, or any other classes GCAC might be offering, contact GCAC at P.O. Box 988, Petersburg, WV 26847, or email them at GCArts@gmail.com.

Art at VMRC

"The Red Shed" - 8"x8"

I'm happy to report that I'm back at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community's annual multimedia exhibition with "The Red Shed." The exhibit opens today at the Park Gables Gallery at the VMRC complex in Harrisonburg, Va.

Art at VMRC is a top-notch show -- it features a panel of respected jurors, a beautiful space that draws truly interested visitors, and extraordinary management and care by the volunteer organizers of the exhibition. And, because of the widespread call for entries that appears in national magazines and  online listing, the quality of the selected work is outstanding, and covers a wide range of mediums and styles.

This is the third time I have entered, and the second time that I have work accepted (I had two pieces in the 2011 show). And I pinch myself when I receive the letter saying that I've made it.

The show dates are May 26 through June 30, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

The awards reception is next Sunday, June 2, from 2 to 4 p.m.

For more about the show, visit the VMRC website at http://www.vmrc.org/v.php?pg=48. This site includes a link to a pdf file where you can see images of the pieces included in the 2012 show.

I can't wait to see what the exhibit will include this year!

ArtScape in Winchester

"Yellow Wings" - 14"x11"

Continuing with updates (I've not done a good job of posting in quite a while), my "Yellow Wings" painting was accepted in the 2013 ArtScape program in Winchester, Va. This is the first year that I have entered a painting for review.

Now in its fifth year, ArtScape is a collaborative effort between the Shenandoah Arts Council (www.shenarts.org) and the Old Town Development Board/City of Winchester (www.oldtownwinchesterva.com). Artists submit images, and jurors choose the winning submissions. Entries include paintings, photographs and images of 3-dimensional pieces.

The winning pieces are then delivered to the arts council, where they are photographed by a professional photographer. In the meantime, local organizations and businesses are invited to view the original artwork, and they select which pieces they would like to sponsor.

All of this comes together with the creation of banners that include the artwork, the artist's name, and the sponsor -- and then these banners are displayed from light posts in the Old Town area of Winchester, mostly  on the pedestrian mall at the heart of the downtown. The idea is to create an outdoor gallery for the public to enjoy.

Later in the summer, the original artwork will be auctioned off at a fundraising event for the arts council, with  proceeds divided between the artist and the arts council.

So, with all that said, here are images of my banner, sponsored by Blue Ridge Hospice (http://www.blueridgehospice.org). Blue Ridge Hospice uses a butterfly as part of their corporate imagery, which is why they were interested in my painting.

I took these photos right after the banners went up along the mall. The workers have since straightened the banners so they don't tilt at the awkward angle you see in the lower image.

The ArtScape program went through a host of difficulties this year with the extensive renovations to the Loudoun Street Mall earlier this year. There were many unknowns when they released the call for entry. As it turns out, the new light posts are shorter than the old light posts, so that required a redesign of the banner sizes and orientation. They are much smaller than they had been in previous years, but I hope that things can be worked on next year to make them larger.

If you are traveling through Winchester, stop downtown and take a stroll along the pedestrian mall. My banner is on the south end of the mall, near the Godfrey Miller Home.

Side Alley

Side Alley - 8"x8"

So another piece of the Wardensville series is done. I really like the colors with this one...perhaps Bill Vrscak is right with his limited split primary palette! I know that I really struggle with mixing greens, so I want to play with this concept more and see if it helps solve some problems that have halted my progress on some paintings.

Now, regarding my news about this series....in addition to the small showing of the paintings at the Wardensville High School alumni dinner in September, I am donating one painting to the Wardensville Scholarship Fund Association. I'm still not sure if they have decided on a silent auction, a live auction, or on chances, but the proceeds from the sale of the donated painting will benefit the scholarship fund.

The subject of this painting will be the old Wardensville School -- I won't reveal more than that yet. Stay tuned to see how it looks!