THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOUR / LA SOCIETE CANADIENNE DE PEINTURES EN AQUARELLE
Update from the CSPWC office
Thank you to all who RSVP’d to our AGM. It’s important to share with you how 2021 shaped up and we’re thankful for your support of our plans for 2022.
Our June newsletter will be our PDF version, and will include follow-up from our May AGM and reports from several committee chairs. We look forward to sharing with you some of what 2022 holds for you and CSPWC.
Update from Western Ontario Regional Director – Anita Wood
Our ‘Renewal’ Show opens May 7 at Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington ON
The Western Ontario Region is pleased to announce and invite you to our spring Water-Media show called Renewal.
Renewal will be open to the public at Royal Botanical Gardens (address below) from May 7 – June 12, 2022.
Opening Reception is Saturday, May 14 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Welcome Comments and the People’s Choice Award will be announced by our 1st Vice President, Marlene Madole.
The show will feature 41 paintings, by CSPWC Elected Members and Associates. This show will be Online after June 12 for your viewing pleasure.
Renewal has come together due to all your generosity with time and efforts, Thank you!
- Show information:
- Mezzanine, RBG Centre
- Royal Botanical Gardens
- 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington, Ontario L7T 4H4
- Open 10:00am – 8:00pm daily
- (click on the Renewal poster at the side to view the announcement at the RBG)
Hot News! Harrison Hot Springs is the place to be this August – by Wendy Hoffman, Board & Committee Member
Are you ready to get outdoors to paint this summer? Join with us to make this plein air event a big part of your travel plans in beautiful Harrison Hot Springs British Columbia!
Working outdoors can heighten your senses and improve your sense of observation.
Magnificent Harrison Lake and the famous Mt Cheam are a backdrop for sparkling water, boats, forest walks and the therapeutic hot springs. If you’re looking for a place to de-stress and relax, this is a perfect location!
For both beginners and for more experienced painters we are presenting small group indoor workshops and outdoor demos with experienced CSPWC artists Leslie Lambert and Tom Young. Their experience will encourage you to experiment with new methods and techniques which you can apply to improve your own artwork.
Paint with others or work alone. Meet new friends, invite a painting friend, paint as much as you want, and take a look at the CSPWC Exhibition at the Ranger Gallery.
Your BC hosts are Alice Bottrill who lives and paints in Harrison Hot Springs and our President Sam Boehner from Victoria, BC with special help from Marlene Madole our 1st VP. All three are focused on bringing you the best experience.
Come join us! More info will soon be posted on the CSPWC Website.
Education News for May and June
Iceberg Reflections with David McEown
For those who can’t wait to hear David McEown’s presentation at our BC Paint out in August, check out the latest offering from our Education Committee. David presents an on-line demonstration happening on May 12 at 8pm EST.
Tickets are $20 for CSPWC members and associates and $25 for non-members.
Here’s the link to a YouTube trailer on our channel: CSPWC YouTube
To register for this event click HERE.
Stylized Florals with Sterling Edwards
Take a step outside the box with Sterling Edwards workshop on Stylized Florals.
Simply put Sterling’s painting style is to create something that is easily recognizable but has an abstract element. Let this demonstration help you get into the flow of expressive watercolour painting and put some pizzazz in your work.
Sterling’s unique demonstration happening on June 20 at 8pm EST.
Tickets are $20 for CSPWC members and associates and $25 for non-members.
To register for this event click HERE .
Are you a CSPWC elected member with an idea for a demonstration to offer to your fellow CSPWC members and our associates? To learn more about how you can create a teaching opportunity through our Education Committee please reach out to Poppy Balser the Committee Chairperson by email at: education@cspwc.ca
Article – An Assortment of Thoughts on Composition – By Robert Sinclair
Below is an article from Robert Sinclair – BFA, MA, MFA, RCA, CSPWC, and more of his Art Pills, as in our April issue.
“I’ve been doing what’s called my ‘Geolomatry’ series with the subheading ‘Art Pills’ which are becoming quite complex now.”
More of his work can be found at: https://www.sinclairart.com/
What comprises a good composition appears to change from time to time. For example a static central composition versus an asymmetrical composition. When I was going to art school in Winnipeg my teachers all noted that the 20th Century was all about energy and movement. This of course presents in a way we could never have dreamed of. Therefore, it was argued that the preferred composition ideal would be asymmetrical or ‘dynamically’ off centre. Some postulated no other way of painting. This was backed up by our being ‘true to our times’.
It was true that many of the late 19th century artists and early 20th century pioneers were influenced by things Japanese, especially the coloured wood block prints with their off-centre compositions. One could observe this in many of their works. It was interesting for me to contemplate which came first; the wood block prints and their influence or an artistic sensitivity to the events occurring in Europe and globally, and thus a propensity for a more dynamic way of organizing and thus an understanding of what the Japanese culture had achieved visually. Or possibly both ingredients were necessary.
However, it seemed to me, in the 50’s, being wholly North American in outlook (no minotaurs here) that the photographic technology and subsequent snapshot reality had a disproportionate influence on this asymmetrical bias. We were all, audience and artists alike, being exposed to the cut-off bits of reality that snap shots so admirably were.
Things photographic were very much a part of our daily art discussions. Could the camera, could photographs be fine art or not? Could the photographer be an artist or not? This discussion see-sawed back and forth with no resolution at that time. For some even now this discussion is still moot albeit complicated by recent explorations with digital technology.
In terms of my own art career I felt later that I had been mislead somewhat. For when I was exploring a way of painting a more quiet or meditative art, I choose the central format for much of my work’s composition. Doing so helped to create this spirit in the work. However, staying true to my times or possibly just being a good Canadian, my compositions were never exactly central. They were always just slightly off centre.
So they’re not being totally central or not being totally asymmetrical was supreme in each piece. This created a kind of visual tension which I very related to. If visual tension is one of the principles that makes 20th century art, then I remain true to my time.
In my workshops, I try to defuse prior view biases and undue influences or peer pressures be them artistic or backyard friends. This is done by stressing that all our sense of organization comes from the body.
The body is intelligence. There is order and organization in all its functioning from molecular to cellular to organs. As an example of this intelligence we always see our nose on the front of our face each morning when we get up and look in the mirror. The nose is always in the centre of our face. It’s not one day on the elbow and another day on our knee. It’s always on the face.
So, if one lets go of prior views, influences and biases, moves to a space of openness and trust, what one puts down on canvas or paper will and most always be a product of organization and order. To not have this present is to be in a fearful state of anxiety and distrust. Generally one is not present and working from a position of future-ing or past-ing. From a state of no-achieve-ment-ness will emerge an art of honesty and clarity. It can’t get much better than that.
An exchange show with French artists and many CSPWC members opened May 5th – by Rayne Tunley
From Osny, Paris, in May to Halton Hills, Ontario in October.
Canadian Pentavisions and French Couleurs d’Ailleurs
An exhibition by Canadian and French artists is now open at the Chateau Grouchy, Osny, Paris, France with participation from many CSPWC members.
International exhibitions are rare rather than regular, serendipitous rather than long-term-planned, and certainly lively due to their exotic nature. Such is Pentavisions/Couleurs d’Ailleurs, a combination of French and Canadian artistic expression in 2022.
A significant exhibition for our times, this show combines the work of five Canadian, and five French artists, joining in mutual admiration of their unique individual artistic expressions in watercolour. Hosted in the resplendent Château de Grouchy in Osny, Paris, France from May 5 – 25, 2022, the show will travel to Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada’s heritage building, The Helson Gallery, for October through to December 2022.
Canadian Pentavisions: Neville Clarke, Linda Kemp, Peter Marsh, Lin Souliere, Rayne Tunley
French Couleurs d’Ailleurs: Donna Acheson-Juillet, Contremoulin, Serge Di Meo, Corinne Poplimont Franck Rollier
For more info about this venue click HERE.
Canadian Watercolours on Florida’s Forgotten Coast – by Poppy Balser.
Poppy Balser was the lone Canadian invited to this year’s Forgotten Coast en Plein Air. This was the 17th year of the festival which documents the landscape and culture of the last vestige of authentic “Old Florida”.
Forgotten Coast en Plein Air, America’s Great Paint-out, is among the world’s most prestigious plein air events. “With plein air events popping up all over the country, we realize the importance of focusing on quality and relevance. We have developed a three year program, transcending typical event content to focus on the reason why plein air painting is important, as well as how the process and the paintings contribute to a region’s resilience,” states FCenPA Board President, Joe Taylor.
Poppy was one of two watercolour artists at the event. Demonstrations and public engagement are an integral part of the festival. Poppy offered two watercolour demonstrations and participated in Student Art Day, as well as offering a lunch and learn presentation on painting boats. When she painted, she chose to paint the many boats, beaches and palm trees, completing more than 20 paintings during the 10-day event.
The landscape and seashores in the Forgotten Coast area were stunning and Balser is delighted to be invited back for next year.
Upcoming workshops
Ron Hazell is giving a three day in-person workshop titled “Painting with Mystery”, June 23 – 25 at St. Margaret of Scotland Church Hall, 3751 Robie St., Halifax, NS.
The workshop will explore value as a means of instilling mystery into your paintings.
If interested, send Ron an e-mail at ron.hazell@ns.sympatico.ca.
Opportunities and Events:
Parrsboro Plein Air event goes live – June 22-26 in Nova Scotia
For three and a half days straight, our 30 juried artists will be painting the Parrsboro Shore, day and night, trying to capture that special moment that will blow the judge away! Festival-goers, art collectors, friends and family will be welcome and encouraged to find and visit artists at their painting locations with the assistance of our helpful and friendly office staff and volunteers. For more info check out their website: Parrsborocreative
Saugeen Artists Guild in Ontario offers a plein air event.
Artists across Ontario are invited to participate in this first annual Plein Air Festival. Hosted by the Saugeen Artist Guild, with the support of Hanover’s Innovative Peoples Program, this four-day event will run July 20 – 24, 2022, culminating with an art show and sale at the Hanover Community Hall, Civic Centre on Sunday. Over $2000 in prizes will be awarded over 10 categories. Registration is now open for professional, amateur, and student artists.
For more information visit www.saugeenartistsguild.com or email Bev Morgan at: saugeenartist@gmail.com.