THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOUR / LA SOCIETE CANADIENNE DE PEINTURES EN AQUARELLE
Holiday Message from Sam Boehner – President CSPWC
Well, another year of our oscillations, routines and lives disrupted is coming to a close; yet we have found ways to connect with each other thanks to technology. Not sure about you, but that gives me hope.
This time of year always brings me hope as well. No matter your faith or none, I trust this season to bring you hope. Despite all that has happened and continues to happen I see signs that hope is alive in the acts of generosity and kindness that so many of our members demonstrate within our community and outside of it.
I’ve said it before; that the most precious gift you may give is your time. I want to thank everyone who has supported the many activities and events the CSPWC has provided to its growing membership. You know who you are.
We are a broad society, and by that, I mean, that spreads us far and wide. For me, this reminds me of the importance of community and invites me to recommit to the essential work of maintaining and growing our community.
Technology has brought me closer to some of you, and I appreciate that so much and it fills me with gratitude. Honestly, the West Coast feels so far away at times. It is my hope I will get closer to more of you in 2022.
As well during this time of year, we must not forget that some of us mourn the passing of those who will not begin the New Year with us, and I offer my deepest sympathies to you, your friends and family for your loss. May the stars of the winter night skies remind you of the brightness that their lives brought to the world.
At this special and sacred time of year, I hope you take a moment to reflect on the many blessings of your life and the privilege to be of service to others.
On behalf of the Board of the CSPWC, I wish you a happy and safe Christmas. Blessings for the peace, joy, and love of the season; and a prosperous and healthy 2022.
Kindly yours in service,
Sam
It’s your last chance to shop the Open Water Exhibition show. It closes Jan 15, 2022
Our Open Water – 96th Annual Exhibition closes January 15, 2022. It’s time to take last looks at the stunning artwork in our Annual Open Water Show and make your purchases. Many of the artworks are for sale as is the Exhibition Catalogue which contains all 60 paintings in full colour (available in print or e-book format)
Our top award in this annual show is The A. J. Casson Award. It is given to an artist whose work is considered the best submission to the annual “Open Water” competition. It is named after Alfred Joseph Casson (1898–1992), painter and a member of Canada’s “Group of Seven. It is officially given “for outstanding achievement in watercolour painting” and is considered Canada’s most significant award in this most challenging medium.
This year the A. J. Casson Award was presented to Richard Tiejun Chao of New South Wales, Australia for his painting ‘Let’s Dance’. We asked him to share a picture of himself and here it is, below, Richard with his award and painting. Congratulations and well done!
“Significant Paintings” – Article by MARC L. GAGNON
(Mark and I had a conversation a few weeks back about art being like music, music being more than just words we speak and art being more than just an image of what we see. But how do we know when we’ve got the rhythm and melody right in our paintings? Marc offers the following ‘lyrics’. Thanks Marc! – CSPWC Admin.)
When asked to give my thoughts regarding what makes a painting “good”, I walked through a foggy morning to clear my mind and reflected upon the subject. I abandoned the term “good” and replaced it with “significant”
Often, while experiencing the work of accomplished painters, musicians, film makers, photographers, writers, architects, surgeons, chefs etc.; I realized I was witness to something powerful, enigmatic, timeless, true, bold, and simple or hideous – significant.
Technical virtuosity alone does not result in significant art. Hours upon hours in front of an easel may not yield any significant art. It isn’t any one thing that makes a painting significant.
Significant paintings make you think, wonder, hopeful or depressed.
Significant paintings leave you speechless.
Significant paintings alter your blood pressure.
Significant paintings could be a single line, monochromatic, tiny or large
Significant paintings do not dictate, they allow you to interpret.
“Art is one step from the visibly known towards the unknown “ Kahlil Gibran.
“A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art” – Cezanne
Welcoming in a New Year
Annual Dues for 2022 – CSPWC Administrator, Janet Tovey
Thank-you to all our Elected Members and Associates who help us continue our work to promote excellence in watercolour. Without your support we could not continue.
Which brings us to this reminder that Annual Dues for 2022 will be due in January.
We’re pleased to say that our fees remain the same for both levels. And would appreciate your prompt payment at the start of the new year, allowing us to plan and prepare our budget for the year. Please see our website on the Shop/Payment page or click here: https://cspwc.ca/payments/.
- Please note: The CSPWC office will be closed for the holidays from Dec 17th -Jan 3rd
Supporting CSPWC with Donations – Peter Marsh
As we all know throughout our lifetimes asking for money is not the most pleasant of chores, but sometimes it is somewhat or definitely necessary, so let’s have a short chat about the CSPWC budget. The CSPWC is a Not-For-Profit Corporation and is not funded by any outside source, so what we raise goes towards satisfying the expenses of an annual budget. We would face major challenges if it was it not for donations and the educational symposia that we run.
So when we include a donation request along with the annual request for your fees, we are really hoping that you will heed the call and send along a donation, for which we will send along a charitable receipt. Every gift deserves a round of applause and a serious and appreciative ‘Thank You’ which we hereby deliver in advance.
The Society always appreciates your generosity and your act of donation is of great assistance to our annual budgetary exercise. Many thanks to you!
National and Regional Updates:
We are excited to announce that we are starting work on a West Coast Symposium for August 2022.
Where you ask? On the shores of Harrison Lake, in the town of Harrison Hot Springs. We’re looking to have plein air activities, workshops outside and at the local art Gallery – Ranger Station Gallery (which is right by the lake).
When? Set aside the dates of August 22-28, 2022, to attend this event.
Helen Shideler, our Elected Member in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, has agreed to step into the role of Publicity Chairperson. She will be working with the Social Media committee and developing this role as we move into 2022. She leaves the role of Atlantic Regional Director.
Are you an Elected Member in the Atlantic region? With Helen’s move to a new role, we are seeking a new Atlantic Regional Director. If you would like more information on this role, please send an email to our office: info@cspwc.ca
Member News:
Doreen Renner had two paintings accepted in the Toronto Watercolour Society Fall Juried Show which took place at the Todmorden Gallery. Her painting titled ‘Everywhere But There’ received an Honourable Mention.
Tiina Price has had the honour of having her watercolour paintings accepted into the 2021 AUTUMN MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL ONLINE JURIED ART COMPETITION. Her painting ‘That Look’, was juried into, and included in, the Top 80 Paintings in the animals category, and her painting ‘Soft Psyche of Slumber’ was juried into the landscape category.
Tiina’s Painting ‘At Anchor, Cinque Terre’, was one of the 300 painting selected from 3725 entrants in the first stage of the INTERNATIONAL WATERCOLOUR MASTERS (IWM) 2022 contest to be held in May in England.
And her painting ‘For Every Thing There is a Season’, was juried into “GIVING LIGHT TO THE WORLD” 1st. North American Online Contest put on by IWS Canada and IWS Mexico.
Workshop News
“Poppy Balser will be providing a watercolour landscape demonstration on Beginner’s Day of WaterColor Live, January 26, 2022. Visit her blog for more information: https://www.poppybalser.com/blog/173260/
Link to event:https://event.watercolorlive.com/tickets
Opportunities
The Fabriano in Acquarello 2022 festival is now in process of selecting the artists to participate in this event, with a deadline of January 15, 22. This is the largest watercolor festival in the world, which annually brings together more than 1,000 leading watercolor artists from all over the world.
All the selection work, as well as all communication and interaction will take place on the International Watercolor Platform https://internationalwatercolormuseum.com
You are invited to register on this platform and present some of your beautiful watercolors there. If you need any help with the registration, please contact Michael Solovyev at: fabrianocanada@gmail.com.
You can read a tutorial on how to use the platform at: https://www.internationalwatercolormuseum.com/kennedy/fabrianoinacquerello/tutorial2022.pdf
