By Karen Stopnicki, President
Dear WAS-H Friends,
Hello 2024 and Happy New Year! I hope you had a gentle and warm end to last year and are looking forward to a new year, with new activities and new adventures. We have so much planned at WAS-H, so keep some space on your calendar open for joining us this year.
Our January Paint-In on the 6 with Les McDonald is almost full, so hurry and register if you are interested. The February 3 Paint-In with Alison Hendry teaching textures is now open for registration.
The January General Meeting on the 7 will feature award winning artist Cheryl Evens. Cheryl is not only an accomplished artist, she also happens to be the Education Director for WAS-H. Following the meeting and demo, we will have the January Gallery Show awards presentation and reception with juror Katherine Rodgers. 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 13. With over $10,000 in awards and acclaimed watercolor artist Vladislav Yeliseyev serving as juror and judge, this is THE year to enter. Read the details prospectus HERE.
In conjunction with the IWE, we will host a workshop taught by Vlad Yeliseyev. The workshop, Mastering Watercolor, is full, but you can get on the waitlist by registering HERE.
We have many classes open for registration and will be adding more in February. See our full class list 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.
Every year, Pantone introduces its Color of the Year. Last year it was a rich magenta. This year, it is light peach. To say I have never heard this much controversy about the Color of the Year is an understatement. I’ll be brave and offer my own opinion. While I have no plans to redecorate my home using this year’s color, I like to think of the color as a slice of a beautiful Texas sunset and find the joy in that.
I want to extend a special thank you to everyone who donated to our Annual Fund. Our organization relies on the generosity of donations to operate, as our membership dues and portion of proceeds from classes and events do not meet our operational needs. It is not lost on me that the support you have offered makes us the wonderful community that we are. Thank you with tremendous gratitude.
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!
Warm Regards,
Karen Houston Stopnicki
Date: Saturday, January 6, 2024
Time: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Instructor: Les McDonald
Topic: Fence Field
Country landscape with a nice wood fence to cross the painting. Simple sky and hills. There will be separation between background hills and light foreground grasses.
Limited masking will be used on the fence, so the green grass won’t contaminate the wooden fence.
January 2024 General Meeting and Demo
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Starting at 2 pm
Gallery Reception will follow.
Cheryl Evans, WAS-H’s Education Director, popular instructor and Signature-level awards winner, will present the demonstration at the January General Meeting.
A producing artist and active art educator, Cheryl is passionate about sharing her knowledge in workshops and demonstrations and she exhibits her works worldwide, where they are in public, corporate, and private collections in the United States, Norway, England, Mexico, and Japan.
Cheryl received her BFA at Stephen F. Austin State University and a Masters of Arts degree from University of Houston Clear Lake. Cheryl spent 32 years teaching in the public school system and was named Art Educator of the Year in 2012 by Texas Art Education Association.
January 2024 Monthly Show: Doors
Entry Deadline: Wednesday, January 3 @ 3 pm.
To view the prospectus, click Here
To submit your entries, click HERE
New Member Orientation
Friday, January 26
1:00 - 2:00 pm
New WAS-H members are encouraged to join us for a brief introduction to the organization and all the benefits that come with membership! This session is free, but requires registration.
Sign up Here
By Karen Stopnicki, WAS-H President
As December begins and we are wrapping up 2023, I feel so grateful for our magnificent WAS-H community. We had a full year of classes, meetings, gallery exhibits, major shows, and a wonderful Art Fair. We had a year of more people visiting our gallery, coming to general meetings, taking classes, and becoming members. Really, it has been a full and happy year at WAS-H. And, the good news is, we have even more to look forward to in 2024.
Our Small Treasures Holiday Show continues through December. The gallery is filled with beautiful art, smaller in scale, and attractively priced. If you want to give the gift of art, this is the best place to shop in Houston. The January Gallery Show is themed “Doors.” The theme is open for your interpretation and certainly doesn’t have to be literal. Check out the prospectus that is already online. Our February Gallery Show theme is Love Is in the Air, which again is open to interpretation to paint anything you love.
The International Watermedia Exhibition (IWE) is right around the corner! Even though the IWE doesn’t begin until March, the deadline to enter is January 13. This is a world class exhibition, so if you're a serious water media artist, you should enter. Our juror and judge will be Vladislav Yeliseyev. The prospectus and entry can be found on the Café website, HERE.
In conjunction with the IWE, we will host a 4-day workshop with Vladislav Yeliseyev. Vlad is well known for his breathtaking landscapes featuring natural light variations. If you want to learn more about the relationship of light and color in landscapes and cityscapes using a loose and bold brush style of painting, this is a must-take workshop. Registration will open on December 4 at 10 am. Our last two major workshops sold out in a week, so be sure to register early to secure your seat.
We have a fantastic slate of classes for early 2024 – January, February and March – now open for registration. Taking a class at WAS-H is a great way to improve your skills, learn new techniques, and meet others who enjoy making art. And members get the benefit of a discount on classes and workshops.
Keep an eye on our website for information about other upcoming events. We have Paint-Ins, Open Studio, Model Lab and Senior Group, all planned for 2024 with good will.
If you have already made a donation to our Annual Fund, thank you, thank you, thank you! If haven’t yet and would like to, you can donate online HERE. WAS-H relies on the generous support of members and friends to continue with all the offerings we have.
My December wishes for you are the following. Stay warm, enjoy your family and friends, have meaning to the holidays you celebrate and blessings for a New Year. I am appreciative to all of you for being a part of WAS-H. I hope to see you soon!
I feel so lucky to live in Houston, an area with a wonderful arts scene – and an abundance of arts activities. And I am proud of WAS-H, and all that we have to offer. We have the largest class schedule we have ever presented, with a wide variety of learning opportunities from in-person to online, morning, afternoon and evening, and single day to multiday classes. A monumental thank you goes to Cheryl Evans and Susan Giannantonio, our Education Directors.
Our General Meeting on Sunday, November 5, begins at 2pm and will feature a fabulous demo by Ellen Orseck, who will show us how she paints underwater figures. Join us -- you will not want to miss this! Our meetings are a great chance to get together with others in the WAS-H community.
We are looking forward to our Holiday Gallery Show! The opening reception is Sunday, November 5, following our General Meeting and Demo. The show will be up through the end of December and will feature smaller paintings priced to sell, making great gifts for friends, family, or yourself! The sales are cash and carry, meaning you can take your purchase even before the show ends!
The last Paint-In for the year with Judi Coffey is tomorrow, (Saturday, November 4), and still has a few spots available. Judi is an award-winning abstract artist who paints primarily in acrylics.
The January Gallery Show theme will be "Doors" and February Gallery Show theme will be "Love Is In the Air", so look for the prospectuses to be available soon. Speaking of shows, the International Watermedia Exhibit is now open for entry, the registration is HERE On Call for Entry.
We have some key volunteer opportunities, so if you are looking for a way to participate at WAS-H please consider volunteering. Most immediately, we need a Paint-In coordinator for next year, a social media coordinator, and a group of gallery attendants. Please contact Nancy Moody, our Volunteer Director, if you are interested in a meaningful way to volunteer. Her email is volunteer@watercolorhouston.org.
As I close, I ask you to look for the letter we will be sending to members asking for your support. As a non-profit organization, we depend on you to donate funds to maintain our facility, put on our current programs, and expand with more. Donations are the primary form of revenue each year, followed by membership dues. The bulk of the revenue from our classes support our teaching artists – helping them continue their art practice and share their knowledge. We are grateful to have so much to offer at WAS-H, and we would be thankful for any support you choose to offer. If you like, you can donate online HERE.
As we enter November, I am sending you my warm wishes from home to home and from heart to heart to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am appreciative to all of you for being a part of WAS-H. I hope to see you soon!
Karen Stopnicki
Montrose-based watercolor art community hosts art fair featuring local artists
(HOUSTON, TX) October 16, 2023 – The much-anticipated Watercolor Art Society – Houston Art Fair makes its triumphant return on October 21, 2023. From 11am to 4pm, immerse yourself in an artful symphony that resonates with the heartbeats of local talent. Local artists, brimming with talent and imagination, are set to display and sell their original artworks, creating a mosaic of inspiration that will captivate both seasoned art aficionados and new enthusiasts alike.
Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
Time: 11am to 4pm
Location: 1601 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77006
Cost: Free, no tickets necessary
Open to all ages
Why Attend?
· Support Local Talent: By purchasing their pieces and attending, you're empowering local artists, encouraging them to continue crafting their stories through watermedia art.
· Connect with the Houston Art Community: Whether you're an artist, a lover of art, or someone curious, this is a golden opportunity to mingle, learn, and get inspired.
For media inquiries and additional details, contact:
Kelly Ann Medrano
washrag@watercolorhouston.org
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About Watercolor Art Society – Houston
Founded in 1975, the Watercolor Art Society – Houston (WAS-H) is a non-profit organization with over 500 members. For almost 50 years, WAS-H has brought the excitement of watermedia to the greater Houston area with outstanding exhibits, world-class instruction and dedicated community outreach. Year-round opportunities are provided to every level of painter, from novice to seasoned expert. Art lovers are invited to enjoy monthly exhibits in the organization's gallery in the Museum District. WAS-H hosts monthly meetings with demonstrations by known artists; classes and workshops year-round; group painting encounters including Open Studio, Model Lab, Paint-Outs and Paint-Ins. www.watercolorhouston.org.
WAS-H Art Fair Press Release.pdf
WINNERS
First Place - "Enjoying the Journey" by Linda Southern Vanek
Judge: I don’t paint abstracts, but I know a good one and this is outstanding. It is very painterly, with the hard to achieve lost and found edges that are more difficult with acrylic paints. I adore the colors together and the tilted line makes it very dynamic.
Second Place - "The Girl from Avignon" by Alison Hendry
Judge: I love the composition. The simplicity of it and beautiful details only on the subject’s hair and dress keep her as the focal point. The palette of beautiful soft colors contributes to this excellent painting.
Third Place - "Fresh cut from the Garden" by Keiko Yasuoka
Judge: This formal still life has a wonderful composition, and the use of contrast of darks and lights gives a very dynamic feeling. I love the yellow and purple together.
Shirley Sterling Award - "Florence Twilight" by Carla Gauthier
Judge: This is a painting that you can look at and enjoy for a long time. It looks like it was done all at once, without fussing. The detail work is at the focal point, as are the harder edges. The use of lost and found edges is masterful. I love the colors used in this simple color palette.
President's Award - "Peruvian Penthouse " by Cheryl Evans
Judge: This showcases a classic watercolor- the beautiful lights against darks and the use of wet-in-wet with dry brush. The simple color palette results in cohesion. The artist planned great shape variation in a nice composition.
Merit Award - "One in Nine" by Fontaine Jacobs
Judge: It is bold to attempt a portrait on Yupo and the artist has done a superb job. The proportions are good, even with the looseness of the strokes. Painting on Yupo provides such beautiful textures that are harder to achieve on watercolor paper.
Honorable Mention - "A Seashell Enthusiast" by Hiep Nguyen
Judge: The composition and design show dynamic movement. The artists did a beautiful job of capturing what they originally saw. I love the shadow reflections and how it blends into the feet, legs, and arm. The bright warm sunset colors and the darks are supported by a subtle scattering of sparkles.
Honorable Mention - "Across the River" by Larry Spitzberg
Judge: This is such a colorful painting with confidently applied strokes. It reminds me of plein air work, done quickly without fiddling with edges or details.
Honorable Mention - "Harvest" by Tommie Wilson
Judge: I love the composition. The shapes flow down the page. There is great contrast of darks and whites, with limited details, shown in the roots and leaves.
MERCHANT AWARDS
"Eigma" by Ruby Allen
Judge: Love the colors! There are lots of colors, but they are just slightly muted, so the overall effect is not garish. The design keeps your mind imagining. A great abstract.
"Summers Bounty" by Barbara Hall
Judge: This has a pleasing composition and color palette. The watercolor technique is great, especially on the cucumbers on the left and simple details, such as asparagus tips. The many little shapes travel in many directions, providing interest.
"Froggy Evening" by Karen Hamilton
Judge: This painting made me chuckle. The artist did a good job on painting the details and the muted tones provide cohesiveness, make it easier to enjoy, and avoids a cartoon look.
"Isabella" by Theresa Fraga
Judge: The skin tones are lovely, and the hair softens and merges a bit into the background. You can see a touch of the background color in the hair- a nice connection. The drawing is very well done
"Oxalis Exuberance" by Susan Giannantonio
Judge: I love the looseness and energy in this painting. The confident large strokes that work down into smaller stokes and details. You can see the build, from the light background to the dark areas that move the viewer through the painting. It’s a wonderful design, with lots of action and several rest areas.
"Zentangle Walk Away" by Judi Coffey
Judge: This is a dramatic composition. The painting looks like it is bursting. Teal combined with copper and grey is so satisfying. The zentangle drawing over the paint adds interest. Well done.
"Can I Keep Him?" by Maureen Lewis
Judge: This painting shows nice drawing ability that is very natural. The color scheme is very nice and works well with the effective use of light. I like that is subject is off center, conveying a story instead of a portrait.
"Accessorized" by Katherine Rodgers
Judge: The composition of the girl facing away makes you think of her story rather than just the girl. There is a beautiful sense of light and amazing detail in the focal areas. The scarf is beautifully done.
"Effervescence" by Ellen Orseck
Judge: I was attracted to this because of the beautiful shapes and the almost abstract simplicity. The simple palette works beautifully, with touches of warmth in this underwater painting.
"Gabriella Coloring Dreams" by Kay Salem
Judge: Beautifully done! This is a very nice drawing, and the colors are gorgeous!
"Vino" by Maria Rodriguez-Alejo
Judge: I love the high contrast in this painting. There are sharp details in the wine bottle, but as you move away, the colors merge and there are lovely lost and found edges. The way the colors skip around is wonderful
"Echo of the David" by Jan Shrader
Judge: This is a strong drawing and painting. Very nice skin tones. The pen only lower section adds interest.
"Flowers, Plume, Pearl and Gold" by Daniela Werneck
Judge: This is beautifully painted. It is a tight composition, but the artist has great control of edges. The little birds, not immediately noticed, was a nice surprise. There are beautiful intricate details everywhere, but my favorite is the light and shadows on her arm.
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cathy Schuster
Judge: I like the great contrast and beautiful composition. The variety of hat shapes, styles, colors make it very interesting. The artist shows lot of confidence in their strokes. Nicely done.
"Galveston Man O' War" by Nan Wright
Judge: I really like the techniques in this painting. There is lots of texture, but it is subtle, suggested just enough. I love all those colors in the dark shape of the man-of-war.
"Dancing Shadows" by Regina West
Welcome to Fall and October at WAS-H! Fall is my favorite season with a slight dip in temps and the ramp up of activities after summer. Why is Fall so wonderful at WAS-H?
First of all, the Annual Members Exhibit (AME) is on display the entire month. We kicked off the AME with a delightful demo from juror/judge artist Ken Call, known internationally for his compelling figurative paintings. The awards reception followed, and everyone adjourned downstairs to enjoy the exhibit and the camaraderie of fellow artists and guests. If you haven't sent it yet, be sure to schedule a time before the end of the exhibit. The gallery is open to the public, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm.
Secondly, the Art Fair is Saturday, October 21, from 11 am - 4 pm. It will be a glorious day, and the parking lot will be full of amazing art, priced to sell. I am planning to be there and hope to see you, too!
Thirdly (is thirdly a thing?), there are so many classes now available at WAS-H, both in-person and online. Check out our updated Education Calendar, (https://watercolorhouston.org/Classes-and-Workshops). Our Education Directors, Cheryl Evans and Susan Giannantonio are working so hard to bring in a variety of classes to benefit our membership and community interested in taking water-media classes.
Looking ahead, our November/December Monthly Show is themed Holiday Small Treasures. The smaller paintings make great gifts for family, friends (or yourself)! The Show will open on Sunday, November 5, following our General Meeting and Demo, with an Awards Presentation and Reception. This will be our last meeting and reception for the calendar year.
Our November Paint-In is open for registration and features abstract acrylic techniques with longtime WAS-H member Judi Coffey.
Do you know how all these wonderful events happen at WAS-H? We have devoted volunteers contributing time, energy, and frankly love to WAS-H in a wide range of roles from leadership to occasional volunteering. Nancy Moody, our Volunteer Director, is leading a recruitment of volunteers for variety of needs. If you are interested in being a part of our WAS-H volunteer team, please reach out to Nancy at volunteer@watercolorhouston.org. And keep an eye out for her requests for assistance as needs arise.
I want to thank Kat Rodgers and her tireless group of volunteers for the beautiful Annual Members Exhibit. It is truly a showstopper! Kudos to Diane Trepagnier and her group of volunteers for hosting a lovely reception. And another big thanks to Donna Van Fleet and Mary Klug who made our workshop with Ken Call a great experience.
I hope to see you at WAS-H soon - we have so much to offer, please stop by!
By Linda Flower and Brian Flaherty, Gallery Co-directors
Gallery Conversations “Experimental” September 2023
Curated by Linda Flowers and Brian Flaherty and judged by Annette Palmer, September's "Experimental" exhibit showcases 86 works by 46 WAS-H artists moving out of their comfort zones and pushing the boundaries of both form and content.
Viewers are invited to embark on a journey through experimental experiences from each artist. From standard forms created in a non-standard way to pushing boundaries in the use of medium, the show arrays the richness and diversity of the creative spirit. For those unable to experience the gallery in person, the show can be viewed online at the WAS-H website here.
Judge Annette Palmer's personal artworks present experimental seascapes in a fusion of paint, textures and elements of collage. At the General Meeting, Annette presented a fascinating demonstration of experimental painting with found objects, ink (Quink) and spray bleach (Clorox Clean-up).
First Place - Ethical Entomology
Eleanor Buchan
Judge: "A very clever, quirky, fun piece. I love how the insects have been individually cut and mounted. Beautiful detail, very delicate, and cruelty free!”
Second Place - Cat's Cradle
Cheryl Evans
Judge: “Two pieces of very different shapes working together as one. Lots of detail and the head being the house. It makes me think of balance in both the composition and the life.”
Third Place - Fantasy Garden
Laura Mossman
Judge: “Small but superb. Effects resembling marbling complimented by the lively brush strokes. The limited palette works very well.”
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Erle Hoppe, "Grand Central Station”
Judge: “Incredible detail, with lovely areas of light."
Erik Sprohge, "Guardians"
Judge: “A very organic work. I love the structure added to the looseness of the pour, a marvelous palette.
Robin Avery, “A Walk through an Artists' Garden”
Judge: “Beautiful perspective, use of color and experimental patterns.”
Reva Power, "Summer of 2023"
Judge: “Wonderful rendering of the barn with experimental techniques. I like the areas which have been blocked then overpainted”
Carol Rensink is our September 2023 Volunteer of the Month!
Carol first fell in love with art at five years old. Her family visited the Prado Museum in Madrid and a security guard beckoned her over. He lifted her up to look through his magnifying glass at the tiny hairs on the chin of a portrait of a young man. She was fascinated. She will always be grateful to that guard for introducing her to the art world. From that point on, Carol noticed art.
Carol’s father was in the Air Force, so her family moved several times while she was young. Her family lived in Portugal, South Carolina, Bermuda and Illinois, among other places. Carol attended Oklahoma University and earned her degree in Philosophy and Art History.
Around 1976 Carol’s husband accepted a job in Houston and relocated his family here. After getting settled in, Carol taught art programs at a local Montessori school and continued to study art. She took courses at Glassel and other local colleges in addition to studying under artists like Jose Perez and Lajos Markos.
Many years ago, Carol heard about a prosector (a person who prepares dissections of the human body for study) who taught at Baylor’s College of Medicine. Carol and her artist friends approached Baylor about having the prosector teach a course just for artists. It really helped enhance her knowledge of anatomy.
In 1997, Carol built the Mother Earth Eco-Sculpture commissioned by Houston Women’s Caucus for Art. She placed 60 truckloads of clay to sculpt a massive 80-foot figure of a woman lying in repose and covered in low-maintenance buffalo grass. To read more about the sculpture, click Mother Earth Eco-Sculpture.
Carol began attending WAS-H’s model lab when they held their sessions at the Art Supply on Main. Once WAS-H moved into our current building, she was asked to take over as Model Lab Coordinator and she’s been here since! Each week, Carol schedules a model, a lab assistant and a monitor to facilitate the model lab sessions each Wednesday afternoon-it’s no small feat!
She is currently working on her own art and drawing more from the imagination and sculptures or 2-D images.
Carol is married to Dave, who is also an artist. He uses rock and wood to create unique sculptures. You can check out his art at Dave Rensink.
Thank you, Carol, for all you do for WAS-H!
I am so excited about Fall activities at WAS-H, and I hope you will be too! On the menu are lots of new classes, the Annual Members Exhibit, the Art Fair, a major workshop with Ken Call, monthly meetings with demo artists, monthly paint-ins, and more. But no pumpkin spice, I am sorry to say, you will need to visit (or avoid depending on how you feel) your local coffee shop for your pumpkin spice needs.
If you are planning to enter the September Gallery Exhibit, the theme is “Experimental” and registration closes on Wednesday, Sept. 6 @ 3pm. The prospectus and a registration link can be found in this newsletter.
On Sunday, September 10 at 2pm, WAS-H will host our first Fall General Meeting, Demo, and Awards Presentation for the September Gallery Show. Following a short meeting of announcements, Annette Palmer with Archway Gallery will present a lively demo. She is also the judge for the September Gallery Show and will have comments on the winning paintings at the reception. Put it on your calendar, and plan to bring a friend!
If you have been thinking of taking a class, whether to learn a new technique, refine your skills or enjoy class time with fellow artists, check out our updated Education Calendar, Classes and Workshops. We have new classes, new instructors, and both in-person and online options in our robust offerings.
Check out these upcoming key events:
I keep reading articles about arts workshops and classes filling up with people who want to connect with others instead of screens. Creating art, seeing art, and connecting with artists and art-lovers can be reinvigorating and a great way to relieve stress. Please make time this Fall to visit WAS-H to see what we have to offer. I hope to see you at WAS-H soon!
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