By Karen Stopnicki, WAS-H president
Dear WAS-H Friends,
I am so excited to serve as the WAS-H President for the 2022 – 2023 year. As a longtime member, I originally joined WAS-H to take a weekend class. Back then, I was working at a busy marketing job, and longed to stretch my creative muscles. WAS-H has been a meaningful place for me to learn, paint and make art friends, and I hope it is the same for you.
Have you renewed your membership yet? If not, please do so today. Membership dues are critical to fund WAS-H operations. You can go to the website https://watercolorhouston.org/Membership-Application to renew. If you would rather pay by phone or in person, contact Laura Mossman, our Artist Liaison. The office is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 3pm, and the number is 713-942-9966.
We have had a lot going on this Spring and look forward to a busy Summer. For all these events, check the website at www.watercolorhouston.org for details.
• Class registration will open June 1st for members and the following week for non-members.
• Open Studio for members on Friday mornings has been going strong and will continue through the summer.
• The Model Lab is back in session on Wednesday afternoons and has added a few evening options as a trial.
• Our free Art for Seniors group will continue through the end of July, break for August, and return in September.
• The Monthly Paint-Ins have been well-attended and fun. The Paint-Ins pause for June & July, returning in August.
• We have a great group of plein air painters taking turns organizing events, so be on the lookout for more outdoor opportunities throughout the year.
A fun Gallery Exhibit is planned for June, the theme is “Food for Thought”, entry deadline is Thursday, June 2nd and the reception will be Sunday, June 5th.
WAS-H recently participated in the Menil Community Day. It was fun to be outdoors enjoying the music, poetry and inviting guest to come to our tables to paint. We are always looking for volunteers to keep our events running. If you want to help, contact Laura at admin@watercolorhouston.org. We have needs that run the gambit from helping with the monthly shows to managing a large project like our International Watermedia Exhibition.
When you are at WAS-H, you will notice it looks so much fresher - a new fence, new landscaping replacing what was damaged from the freeze last year, and new energy efficient LED lighting in the upstairs classroom. Behind the scenes, the building was treated for termites and the sprinkler system updated. Thank you to Darlene Dittoe, our Building Director, who has tirelessly worked to make all this happen.
A big thanks to board members not returning: Patty Armstrong, Paula Fowler, Sally Hoyt, Nancy McMillan, Adele Raber, and Diann Zimmerman. We all appreciate your dedication, hard work and positive energy you contributed to WAS-H.
I wish you a “cool” beginning to the summer and hope you have some fun activities planned, including anything art related. Hope to see you soon at WAS-H!
Warm Regards,
Karen Houston Stopnicki
