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  • December 14, 2022 1:06 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    Kim Granhaug, NWS, TWS, WAS-H, will demonstrate how to create an abstract painting with sound principals of design.  She will lead you through her thought process on choosing a composition, use of creative color choices and mark making to build depth and history in the painting.  Then comes the age old question of how do you know when an abstract painting is finished?  Please join us for the Meeting on January 8th at 2pm and explore abstract art from a new perspective.



  • December 14, 2022 12:36 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    By Cissy Geigerman, co-Gallery Director  

    It’s been a long time since we had a holiday gathering.  This year we had a welcome celebration of the season with friends and delicious food.  The gallery is filled with small paintings and cards for immediate sale and looks amazing.   In order to carry out the plan for this party it was a bonus to have plenty of room upstairs and people who demonstrated talent and flexibility.  Joanie Hughes and Mary Zellman worked to finish up class early and arrange the room upstairs.  Diane Trepagnier was our primary volunteer this time providing help with decorations, food, and even tidying up.  We thank all of you for making this a great day.   

     

    In addition to great goodies to eat, we were treated to some entertainment.  We had a participation game with a balloon octopus chasing a candy cane, stories, a painting table, a lesson in making an origami paper balloon, and a showing of a beautiful quilt by Kean Bliss.   

     

     

    As for conversations, it is amazing what can be learned from asking a few questions. I had discussions with Les McDonald about the pros and cons of making prints from paintings.  I mentioned to Mohammed Ali Bhatti that I was trying out poster paint, and he knew about the various uses of it.  We then drifted onto the subject of perceiving colors under different lighting conditions.  These gatherings provide a rich environment to expand your world.  

     

    Next month we will go a little crazy for an experimental show.  We look forward to seeing paintings from a new angle, made with a new material (water based), or different point of view.  Please be ready to share your experience in creating these pieces.  Find the prospectus for this show Here

  • December 14, 2022 12:25 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    SEEKING MAJOR WORKSHOP COORDINATOR

    For the March 2023 Major Workshop with Brenda Swenson, WAS-H is seeking an individual to serve as the Workshop Coordinator.

    The Workshop Coordinator plans and carries out the logistics of the Workshop, which requires time and effort before, during and after the Workshop.  In exchange for serving as Workshop Coordinator, you will be compensated with a complimentary seat in the Workshop, a value of $550.*    

    The Workshop Coordinator's first priority is attending to the needs of the classroom, which requires:

    • communicating directly with the Artist instructor and the 20 students starting 2 months before the Workshop (January 5)

    • assembling pre-workshop materials and instructions and disseminating information to all participants​

    • setting up the classroom at the start and end of each day

    • preparing coffee and organizing snacks

    • organizing daily lunch period

    • facilitating participant introductions at outset of the Workshop

    • familiarizing participants with safety exits, masking requirement, and classroom-comportment protocols

    • assisting the Artist-Instructor as required, e.g., refreshing Artist's water, timekeeping, driving the projection camera to ensure Instructor's work is visible to the class

    • monitoring the classroom, identifying real-time needs and taking corrective actions

    • maintaining order and enforcing students' adherence to safety, masking and comportment protocols

    • gathering student and Instructor feedback

    • preparing a post-Workshop report for the Board of Directors.

     

    Skills, knowledge and experience required:

    • membership in WAS-H 

    • proficiency in planning and organizing

    • proficiency in spoken and written communications

    • proven leadership

    • willingness and ability to enforce rules and regulations

    • completion of WAS-H's Class Monitor training or willingness to learn

    • familiarity with operating classroom A/V equipment or willingness to learn.

    Experience from having attended a Major Workshop is desirable.

    If you are interested in being considered for the Workshop Coordinator position, please contact Donna Van Fleet at vicepresident@watercolorhouston.org

     

    *The IRS regards this form of compensation as taxable, and WAS-H will provide the Workshop Coordinator with a 1099 Form for tax purposes.  

  • December 12, 2022 6:31 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)


    Phillip Weigand was recently was selected as a guest artist for December at Mont Art House. Mont Art House is a local gallery that showcases an amazing selection from really talented artists.  Congratulations Phillip!

    Visit his gallery at Mount Art House Here.


  • December 01, 2022 3:43 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    WAS-H Members Priority Registration opens today, December 1, 2023

    General Registration opens December 8, 2023

    Spring Classes run from January through May 2023

  • December 01, 2022 10:29 AM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    WAS-H Holiday Party on December 4th is a Pot Luck!  Sign up by sending an email to admin@watercolorhouston.org 

    Holiday Party December 4th


    Sunday December 4th

    3 - 5pm


    Pot Luck Holiday Party

    Let us know what you're bringing! 



  • November 30, 2022 9:58 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    WAS-H presents Brenda Swenson

    Juror and Judge International Watermedia Exhibition (IWE)

    Major Workshop Instructor

     The Workshop: Negative Painting with Watercolor
    Discover the exciting results of negative painting with watercolor! Negative painting is the technique of painting around a subject (the negative space) to define it in the composition. Build your confidence in handling glazes, wet into wet, under-paintings and painting into wet passages. Strengthen your understanding of pigments and how they directly relate to the complexed medium of watercolor. During the workshop you’ll learn how to create interesting shapes and depth of color with transparent glazes. Strengthen a painting with overlapping, interlocking shapes and linkage. 

    The Workshop is March 6 - 9, 2023 from 9am - 4pm daily. 

    Registration opens December 5.

    About Brenda Swenson
    Brenda Swenson is the artist author of two books, Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook (Finalist, Award of Excellence) and Steps to Success in Watercolor. She’s a Signature Artist in WW, NWWS, SDWS and CWA. Her artwork has been featured in several volumes of Splash: Best of Watercolor, An Illustrated Journey, Creative Freedom, Complete Guide to Watercolor, Watercolor Artist, Watercolor Magazine, Watercolor Highlights, Plein Air Magazine and numerous other publications.

    An active participant in the arts community, she is 1st Vice-President of the California Art Club and has served on the board of directors for the National Watercolor Society and Watercolor West. She participates as an arts juror and demonstrator and offers workshops both nationally and abroad.

    "Being a painter is more than mastery of techniques. It’s the desire to express how I feel about my world and my response to it. To put simply…to communicate. My tools are that of a painter: brush, paint, paper and ink.  I sketch and paint outdoors constantly. Working en plein air has taught me to be observant to the effects of light and atmosphere. I take this knowledge with me into the studio. Being an artist is an endless journey…always struggling to achieve one's best work. The struggle keeps my work honest and direct."

    Learn more about Brenda in this short video HERE.

    Registration opens December 5, 2022

    Early Bird for members (December 5 - 31): $495

    Members (January 1 - March 1): $550

    Nonmembers: $600

    Workshop is limited to 20 seats.  Click HERE to Register starting December 5, 2022.

  • November 30, 2022 4:11 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    By Karen Stopnicki, WAS-H President

    Dear WAS-H Friends,

    I can’t believe it is December, how did a whole year pass by so quickly!?! My heart is full of gratitude, and I reflect on the many things I am thankful for, most especially the WAS-H community. We had a full year of classes, meetings, gallery exhibits, major shows, and a wonderful Art Fair. 

    Our Small Treasures Holiday Bazaar continues through the month. Please come to our Holiday Party on Sunday, December 4th at 3pm to see it (and shop if you like). It will be a real celebration, and fun with festive food, a selfie station and great company.

    On Thursday, December 1st, our Spring class schedule opens for priority member registration. I peaked at the classes, and it is a fabulous schedule! Speaking of classes, our IWE major workshop with the very popular Brenda Swenson will open for registration on Monday, December 5th with an Early-Bird price. The IWE (International Watermedia exhibit) call for entry is open, you can submit entries until January 13th, and see the prospectus HERE

    So, hold on, because when January roars in, it will be busy! The January Gallery Show theme is Experimental, and just this time open to non-members, too. Here is the prospectus, entry deadline is January 4th. The January General Meeting on the 8th will feature award winning abstract artist Kim Granhaug. I can’t wait to see what she shares with us! And the January Paint-In on the 7th will be with one of our most favorite teachers, Joanie Hughes.

    Keep an eye on our website for information about other upcoming events. The February Gallery Show theme will be Fire and Ice, with the prospectus available soon. And the Paint-In for February will be with Alison Hendry. Our standard events such as Open Studio, Model Lab and Senior Group are continuing at full force. With all our events and classes, the WAS-H building will be busy, busy, busy!

    I just read an article about a restorer in Italy who lovingly dusts Michelangelo’s David several times a year. While fascinating tidbits about tools were shared – synthetic brushes work better and a small vacuum was attached to a Ghostbusters-type backpack – I was most intrigued with her feelings about a job many would view as tedious. She loved being able to contribute to conserving David’s beauty and felt she had the best job in the world. I think it clearly shows the impact art has on lives, providing something deep and meaningful in all of us. 

    If you have already made a donation to our Annual Fund, thank you, thank you! If haven’t yet and would like to, you can donate online HERE.

    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!

    Warm Regards,

    Karen Houston Stopnicki

  • November 30, 2022 3:02 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    WAS-H is beginning a new “Instructor Spotlight” series, which will feature a different class teacher in each installment.   In our current issue, we introduce Laura Spector.

    Laura Spector is a Houston-based artist and art instructor. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. She is best known for her acclaimed Museum Anatomy project which began in 1996, where she collaborated with museum curators in 16 countries searching for hidden, stolen, lost and destroyed paintings to be recontextualized in paint onto the human body. Among Spector’s honors are a Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts, an Individual Grant from Houston Art Alliance, the Sovereign Asian Art Finalist Award, Hong Kong; and an Artist-in-residence at AtelierHaus Hilmsen, Hilmsen, Germany. Spector is currently an Artist-in-Residence recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation. In November 2022, she will exhibit (w)Hole, a collective exhibition based on grief, apology, and healing at The Jung Center in Houston, TX.

    Laura began teaching art to adults in her Thailand studio in 2004. She has taught classes at WAS-H since 2018.

    Her courses have included:

    Introduction to Silverpoint, Introduction to Liquid Charcoal, Liquid Charcoal Silverscreen Stars, The Wet and Dry Charcoal Portrait and The Simplified Floral Still Life.

    Upcoming virtual courses include:

    An Introduction to Florals in Gouache, A Silver Screen Portrait in Wet & Dry Charcoal, The Simplified Floral Still Life in Gouache

    She enjoys teaching silverpoint, graphite, charcoal, acrylic, gouache, oils, and watercolors. When she’s not teaching she is either at her studio painting or at home with her husband and two cats, Ziggy and Shazam.

    Current Exhibitions and Lectures


      


    Listen to interviews with Laura Spector on KPFT Radio on Wednesday, November 30th at 7pm, and Houston Matters on NPR on Thursday, December 1st.  You can listen to her interview with Houston Matters, which has fabulous information about the exhibit starting at the 12 minute mark:  Houston Matters with Craig Cohen


    Upcoming WAS-H Classes:

    Laura has several upcoming classes.  Her class in December is Virtual - An Introduction to Florals in Gouache.  There is an afternoon and an evening offering, December 6th and 13th.

    You can find more information about this and her other classes under our education section of our website.

    You can find out more about Laura at www.LauraSpector.com
  • November 22, 2022 8:58 PM | Nancy Moody (Administrator)

    By Cissy Geigerman , WAS-H Gallery Co-Director

    Our gallery is “a-WASH” with small treasures just in time for holiday shopping. This exhibit is full of small framed paintings and unframed works that are available to purchase and carry away. It is amazing to see so much creative effort in these little wonders. Restrictions for framed paintings are lifted and the effects are handsome indeed. 

    In order to display everything, we decided to hang the unframed, matted paintings on soft gallery panels. The lesson here is, be careful what you wish for! Our members really stepped up and submitted over 90 framed paintings and over 200 unframed items. We were able to hang almost everything with the timely help of our volunteers. Bella Attia is a decorating whiz. She was given a bundle of supplies, a free rein, and the results are great! Mansueto Fabugais is becoming expert in hanging frames at just the right height. Irene Sheytman was just walking through and jumped in to help hang the matted paintings, and re-hang them because they were falling off. We are delighted to have positive feedback from visitors at the reception.

    Our random winner of a $100.00 gift is William Owens. He also has framed paintings on display. Be sure to visit the gallery often during this show because the paintings may be replaced with new works as they are sold.

    The show continues through the end of the year.

    We invite you to join us during our member holiday party on December 4 if you haven't seen the exhibit yet. It will be FUN!





1601 West Alabama Houston TX 77006
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