Hello everyone!

Have you been taking advantage of World Watercolor Month this month? There has been a lot of online activities supporting this wonderful medium. I hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy some of them while escaping the heat!

Speaking of online opportunities…for those of you who attended the online workshops Laurie Griffith coordinated for us this Summer, Pat Dews and Vlad Yeliseyev, please provide feedback to us on what you got out of the event(s) and any other feedback you’d like to share. If you chose not to attend, please share that also. This will help us determine if this is something the organization should continue to offer. lbgriffi@att.net and bwspresident@outlook.com.

As we round the corner into autumn, our mini workshops pick up again. An email with details and registration information will follow shortly. They are also posted on our website at: https://brevardwatercolorsociety.org/events/category/workshops/

We still have mini-workshop leader openings for 2024 – May 25, August 24, September 21, October 26. Please consider sharing your talents!

And a few more events to look forward to: September 29-30 – 2023 FWS Annual Convention & Trade Show (let me know if you’re attending, we have a display board and society info that needs a ride); October 2-November 29, Florida’s Flora and Fauna show – a BWS favorite. In March, Barbara Brook will join us for a two-day workshop on Batik.

And another Autumn milestone – Elections! September 9 will be our General and Elections Meeting. We currently have two volunteers to vote on: Linda South for Treasurer and Sheila Harnois as Secretary. Donna Ware will stay on as Vice President – Membership, for another year. We still have a DESPERATE NEED for volunteers to fill Board and Chairperson roles. Several programs are at risk if support is not offered. I’ll be sending out an email with our needs. PLEASE, please, please consider offering your time. Many hands make light work. Following the General Meeting, Diane Harmon will be demonstrating painting on black paper.

Lolly Walton made a wonderful suggestion to me that I’d like to promote: Member Mentoring – established members pairing up with new members to help with knowing what all BWS has to offer, helping prepare for shows, sharing experiences, etc. If you’re willing to be a mentor or a new member wanting to make the best of your membership, please email me at BWSPresident@outlook.com. I’ll be happy to play “matchmaker”!

Think back to Splash! Did you notice all the painting submissions from the college students were black and white? It was because they only have black paint! We’d like to expand their palettes. Please go through your stash of paint tubes and find a few to donate! They can be partially used or full tubes, duplicates, etc. Or buy one or two good quality paints. Please bring them to the August workshop or to the General Meeting in September. We’ll get them to the college.

Due to my day job taking a huge chunk of my free time this summer, I’ve not had much opportunity to pursue the feasibility of a single space to display our art, hold meetings, workshops and lessons, but I will keep plugging away at it. I still need to review our finances to know what we can commit to or what we have to do to generate the funds to sustain a space of our own.

Stay cool and keep doing what you do best – creating beauty.

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” – Pablo Picasso

Teri

 

Teri Mahnken

President, Brevard Watercolor Society