Dear WAS-H Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed good times with family and friends during the holidays and kept warm with our colder than usual temps for December. I am looking forward to 2023 and all the wonderful activities going on at WAS-H.

 Our January Paint-In on the 7th with Joanie Hughes is full, but if you are interested, please register for the waitlist. Plans change and frequently a last-minute spot will open.

The January General Meeting on the 8th will feature award winning abstract artist Kim Granhaug. Following the meeting and demo, we will have the January Gallery Experimental Show awards presentation and reception with juror Matt Adams. Come and ring in the New Year with your art family at WAS-H!

Right around the corner is the deadline to enter the International Watermedia Exhibition (IWE) on January 13th. With over $10,000 in awards and acclaimed watercolor artist Brenda Swenson serving as juror and judge, this is THE year to enter. Read the prospectus HERE with complete details.

In conjunction with the IWE, we will host a workshop taught by Brenda Swenson. The workshop, Negative Painting with Watercolor, is full, and we are currently accepting waitlist registration, HERE.

Our Spring classes are open for registration, and while several are full, we still have availability in many fun classes. See our complete listing of classes  HERE. Registering for a class is a great way to enjoy the camaraderie of other artists and enhance your artistic skills. Our standard events such as Open Studio, Model Lab and Senior Group are continuing in the New Year at full force.

Keep an eye on our website for information about other upcoming events. The February Gallery Show theme will be Fire and Ice, the prospectus is HERE. And the Paint-In for February will be with Alison Hendry is open for registration HERE.

Did you know there are color trends each year? Pantone, the company that creates and guides color in many consumer goods announced its 2023 Color of the Year — "Viva Magenta," a bright carmine red. I am wondering if the trend will translate to art-making and more artists will incorporate strong, bright reds in their work this year. Maybe the art supply stores will sell out of Alizarin Crimson and Carmine. Who knows, but I plan to use the color as inspiration for some new work, and hope you do, too.

I hope you will join in more activities at WAS-H, and to see you soon. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful arts community at WAS-H!

Warm Regards,

Karen Houston Stopnicki

WAS-H President