THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOUR / LA SOCIETE CANADIENNE DE PEINTURES EN AQUARELLE
The 96th Open Water International Exhibition – call for submissions is now closed
Thank you to all the artists who’ve entered our 96th Annual Open Water Exhibition. The jurors now have the momentous challenge of curating the exhibition and choosing the award recipients. Selected artists will be notified by October 8th, award winners will be notified by Oct. 14 and the show will go live on Oct. 15th until Jan. 15’22. Best of luck to all of you.
Membership Committee Reminder – Missy Acker
November 1st is the deadline date for artists interested in applying for Elected Membership in the CSPWC. This call is especially directed at Associates whose time maybe has come. Find more information on our website: Become an Elected Member.
Education Committee Update – Poppy Balser
The CSPWC Education Committee has several events coming this fall. Here is our schedule:
On now, Watercolour Techniques with Brittney Tough, CSPWC
Open now for registration: Capture Light in Your Winter Watercolour- a streamable demo with Gord Jones, CSPWC. Video will be available for streaming from October 4- October 31. More info and registration here: Tickets for Gord Jones Video.
Coming Soon:
October 2021: Portraits and Figures in Watercolour, A Fresh Approach with William Rogers, CSPWC – October 20, 21 & 23, 2021
November 2021: All About Colour with Brittney Tough, CSPWC – time TBA
December 2021: Including Architecture within the Landscape with Chris Gorey, CSPWC – A one hour watercolour demonstration on December 9th evening.
Early 2022: Passionate Portraits with Rex Beanland, CSPWC
The Education Committee welcomes proposals from CSPWC members who wish to help offer watercolour instruction. Do you have an idea for a class or demonstration or do you have questions? Send an email to education@cspwc.ca
Is there a CSPWC member you would really like to access instruction from? Send your suggestion to education@cspwc.ca
Check out our education page often for updates and open registrations here: CSPWC Education
Western Ontario Regional Division Update – Anita Wood
Our August Zoom discussion meeting was full of great enthusiasm. There are some exciting plans in the works for the next two years. Meetings with featured artist are starting again in September and we’re planning a strong fall and winter line up. What’s in the works you ask…?
July – Aug 2022 planning for an ALL-DAY PAINTING DAY:
Linda Trowell, Associate Member has volunteered to help with the All-Day Painting Day. Linda is on the Board of Directors at the Ingersoll Creative Arts Center, west of Woodstock and is asking for permission to use the Art Center facilities during our painting day – this means we could be in the Town of Ingersoll for the day. It certainly is a wonderful place for a painting day – right off the 401 and plenty of parking. I have taught at the Creative Arts Center for several years and it’s an excellent facility.
2022 – 2023 planning for a REGIONAL SHOW
We would like to have a Regional Show and are on the hunt for a gallery. We’ve got some letters of inquiry already out the door. We will be asking the Executive Committee for direction on appropriate funding etc.
We are considering a 3-week show, grand opening with minimal refreshments, possibly juried, but we do want to see prizes awarded. Many things will depend on the Gallery that will accommodate us.
ARTICLE: Finding Your Own Voice – By Doreen Renner
Doreen became an Elected Member of CSPWC in 2003. She is also a member of Ontario Society of Artists (OSA), Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) and National Watercolor Society (NWS) to name a few. Recently I asked her how she found her way into abstract art. She shares her journey here in ‘Finding Your Own Voice’. Thank-you Doreen. (CSPWC-Office)
“This is a statement most artists will hear at some point in their career. It has a mystique that seems to baffle the mind of every beginning artist.
It was a common phrase I would see repeatedly in the jurors’ statements at art show openings. I was intent on finding out and understanding exactly what this meant and how to achieve it.
After many years of painting watercolours, I felt compelled to challenge myself and head in a new direction. I decided to change my medium and style and focus on acrylic abstraction. I wanted to express myself on a more emotional level and attempt to capture the essence of the subject in a manner which evoked a sense of curiosity in the mind of the viewer.
I would sometimes reach a point where I felt a painting had gone astray but I’m not one to abandon a painting without a fight and allow it to defeat me. I have learned more from rescuing paintings that I thought were failures by pushing through this stage and venturing into the realm of “what if I try this”.
I took lots of chances and pushed boundaries to the limit. Initially perceived mistakes and accidents don’t necessarily translate into a failed painting. I realized that an accident could become a visually stimulating focal point or something that impacted the painting in a way that I had never considered before. After a few years of experimenting and exploring all the various properties of acrylic paint, it became evident to me that abstraction had liberated my soul and spirit and I had finally discovered my own voice.
As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Too often, we try to control the medium and refrain from allowing the medium to flow, mingle and follow its own course. It all comes down to conveying an image in a way that is personally unique and is capable of capturing the viewer’s interest long enough to pause and take a second look.
Trust your instinct, go with the flow and allow your artistic spirit to soar. This is when we succeed in finding our own voice.”
Member News
Doreen Renner was excited to have her painting “Life Line” (see below) selected out of 825 entries for the 2021 National Watercolor Society International Open Juried Show in the U.S. She was also eligible to apply for membership and was thrilled to receive confirmation recently of her acceptance to Signature Membership status.
Patsy MacKinnon ‘s watercolour “Lace Melody” (see below) was accepted into the 2nd annual Women In Watercolour International Juried Competition, receiving an Honorable Mention in the Floral/Still-life category.
Susan Garrington is happy to share that her painting, Tender Mercies, is part of the OSA Members’ Exhibition of Selected Works to be held at the Neilson Park Creative Centre, September 8th to 26th.
Micheal Zarowsky’s painting Infinity Rings has been accepted at SCA’s International Open Juried Exhibition running July 26 – Sept 30 and his Open Cedar Stream painting was accepted by OSA MESW Exhibit running Sept 8-26 at Neilson Park Creative Center, Toronto
Shari Blaukopf is in the Watercolor Artist Fall issue! With pandemic-related lockdowns and fewer opportunities to travel, many artists have painted at home more than they normally would this past year. Check out the Fall issue of Watercolor Artist to read Quebec member Shari Blaukopf’s article “Windows of Opportunity”, and learn about how she found painting inspiration close to home.
Wendy Hoffmann is on the road! “At the time of writing my husband and I are on Day 20 of our Cross Canada Road Trip.
from Toronto to Tofino. I am honoured to be a flag carrying director of the CSPWC; the trip has presented an opportunity to appreciate the vast diverse landscapes of our country and to connect with artists along the way. I have the fun of hiking many of the paths that painters in the past have trod to capture the beauty of our country. It has been a fantastic experience!”
Associates News
Tiina Price is honoured to have her 38 x 56 cm watercolour, THE SPIRIT CALLS, on exhibition at the First International Festival IWS Russia, “Watercolour With Love” in St. Petersburg, Russia; until the end of the first week of September, 2021. Also, her painting REACHING FOR THE LIGHT has been accepted into the “SPRING 2021″ International Pyrenees Watercolour Contest & Exhibition in France, then was fortunate to be one of the artists invited to show their work in Vietnam, with their watercolour association partner.
She has just received notification that her watercolour submission, BREATHE, was accepted into the Top 50 in the “FALL 2021” Vietnam International Invitational Watercolour Exhibition and will be shown at their venue in Ho Chi Minh City, October-November 2021.
Sally Martin shares; “It’s wonderful that in-person gallery exhibits are starting again. As such I will be exhibiting a significant number of paintings at The Twist Gallery: Link to Twisted Gallery on Queen St. in Toronto from September 1 to 25. “Liquid Summer 2021” features watercolour and alcohol ink art by eight Toronto artists. I am also exhibiting one piece at Neilson Park Creative Centre’s gallery: Link to Neilson Park from Sept 8 to 26 as part of the Ontario Society of Artists’ Members exhibition of Selected Works.”
Bhairavi Jathar shared this from her recent travels in Canada: “I visited the painter’s paradise of Alberta this summer. I took some time to do quick watercolour sketches. Trust me limited art supplies can teach you so many things and you can come up with some great ideas too. The light and shadow effect at different times was worth capturing on paper. I was painting alongside Bow river and I felt that zen moment. It was not less than meditation. I created this next painting from those sketches when we came back and am hoping to paint more.”
Dianne Dyer was also in Alberta: “This summer I finished a painting based on a photo of a foggy morning in Fish Creek in Calgary, Alberta. I recently attended a wonderful workshop with Ron Hazell. I tried to apply what I learned in the water reflections and misty fog; an exciting challenge for a beginner artist. “
Kishor Sonawane was recently at a plein air event hosted by PAMA. “At Heartlake Conservation Park I tried capturing reflections of trees and calmness of water in this painting. I was so involved in painting quickly that I forgot to take a photo, time flies when you are having fun. Next was Port Credit’s Snug Harbour which was later finished it in my studio.”
Upcoming Workshops
Bonnie Steinberg – Painting the Colour of Light and Shadow
Date: Sunday September 26th – 9:30am to 12:30pm
Location: On-line
I am thrilled and honoured to present my new online Watercolour workshop : Painting the Colour of Light and Shadow Sunday September 26th . Looking forward to seeing you!
For information and registration please email Bonnie at: watercolours@rogers.com See Bonnie’s website at: Bonnie Steinberg
Karin Richter CSPWC, SCA, ASA, MPAC-EP is a veteran leader of painting holidays. As the world is reopening, waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted, plans are underway for a great 2022 travel season and beyond. Here is the 2022 and 2023 lineup so far:
Amalfi Coast/Italy, April 19 to 29, 2022
Newfoundland, May 25 to June 4, 2022
Great Bear Rainforest (onboard historic tugboat MV Swell), June 11 to 18, 2022
Le Vieux Couvent/France, October 5 to 15, 2022
La Foce – Tuscany/Italy, May 6 to 20, 2023
If these destinations pique your interest, let Karin know at karinrichter@shaw.ca and she will send more information!