THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOUR / LA SOCIETE CANADIENNE DE PEINTURES EN AQUARELLE
CSPWC Open Water Exhibition Now Open! – Rayne Tunley Chairperson
Our 97th Open Water Exhibition Call-for-Entry remains open till September 9th at 12 noon EST.
This is the year we bring focus to the uniqueness, glow and magic of painting Transparent Watercolour. We are receiving entries and if you have not yet sent in your submission we look forward to seeing your work for this prestigious show.
For the definition of Transparent Watercolour for this show and other Call-for-Entry information, you can get the PDF file HERE.
If you are ready to load your painting into the ArtCall program we are using to collect and jury entries, please click HERE.
The info and links for this show can also be found on our website: www.CSPWC.ca
BC Harrison Hot Springs Paint Out Plus – Alice Bottrill Chairperson
Are you in southern BC next week?
The ‘Inspirations’ Art Show portion of our BC Paint Out Plus event is taking place at the Harrison Hot Springs Ranger’s Station Gallery starting with a reception on Sunday 21st at 7:00pm. If you are in the area we’d love to have you drop by to see the artwork in this show. More info is HERE
On Friday 26th, David McEown holds a FREE presentation sharing his adventures and experience of painting grizzly bears in Northern BC, with stories of the Spirit Bear that are sure to astound.
The following Saturday, August 27th, is the Plein Air Contest with the judging and awards give out at the close of the day, after 3pm.
Please contact Alice Bottrill should you be interested in more info on these events at: alicebottrill@shaw.ca, or the CSPWC office at: info@cspwc.ca
Creating our Fall and 2023 Educational Events – Poppy Balser Education Committee Chairperson
Dear CSPWC Membership,
I write you as the chair of the education committee. We have been bringing you online instruction from some of the best and most exciting watercolour instructors in Canada. I’m so proud of the successful program we have built and we have received glowing reviews from our attendees. I know I have learned something new and useful with each event I have seen, and as one of the organizers I have seen most of them!
Our mandate is to highlight and share the experience of our members through this educational program and to promote the value and expertise we bring to the watercolour medium.
I would like to see more members and associates get these same benefits from attending these events. I recently looked at our attendance data and have discovered that less than 30% of our ticket sales are to our membership. While I am happy that we are bringing more of the general public than ever to discover watercolour and interact with the CSPWC, I would like to have more of you, our membership, attend our events.
So, please tell me, what will bring you to sign up for one of our education events? Email me at education@cspwc.ca. Any suggestions for topics including painting, managing business, social media are welcome!
Thank you,
Poppy Balser
PS. Your participation in these events helps to support the society. If you can’t attend, please help others attend by sharing news of our event on your social media channels! More info on our offerings is available HERE.
From the desk of your Administrator – Janet Tovey
We will be implementing a small price increase to the annual Associate’s fee for 2023.
For more than 15 years we’ve kept the cost of our Associate’s fee at $35. Earlier this year the board reviewed this amount and voted to pass the motion to increase the annual fee for Associates to $40. This will take effect for 2023 dues. (Elected Membership Annual fee remains at $125.)
Are you interested in applying to become an Elected Member of CSPWC?
We have revised and updated Fact and Q&A documents now available on our website.
Elected CSPWC Members join a select group of professional water colourists, and gain camaraderie and support from peers. And only Elected Members may use the initials CSPWC after their name on their artwork, resume, biography and such.
To find out more about becoming an elected member of CSPWC please visit our website under Membership/Becoming an Elected Member.
ARTICLE – Exploring our Roots
Elizabeth Gilbert, CSPWC, B Sc AAM, B Ed, OCT, has art and painting in her DNA! And how wonderful that she has artwork from her great grandmother to enjoy and graciously share with us. Below is her story and some of the watercolours created by her ancestor. (Thank you for sharing this wonderful glimpse into your roots Elizabeth! It’s greatly appreciated – CSPWC Admin.)
Elizabeth’s artwork can be viewed on her website: HERE
Anna Caroline (Carrie) Lash Coburn 1868-1944 – by Elizabeth Gilbert
Adventurer, Artist, Singer, Poet, Social Activist and very proper Victorian Lady
Our stories tell of Miss Carrie Lash, our great-grandmother perched with her watercolours on the cowcatcher *of the train as it was stopped on the Prairies. Somewhat depleted herds 1 of bison were still crossing the tracks.
We have a painting of a ramshackle dirt road prairie settlement called Calgary.
Her many watercolour paintings of the Rockies identify her greatest thrill of her cross country journey in 1898. Though there is evidence of superb training in her work, I have no record of who her teachers in Toronto were.
Carrie, born in Dundas, but then living in Toronto earned some acclaim starring in Gilbert*& 2 Sullivan’s Opera “Iolanthe”. She also sang Hiawatha. At age 23, with her earnings of $100, she purchased almost 10 acres of the loveliest land on Lake Muskoka and named it Iolanthe. Carrie fell in love with the rugged Ontario north as a teenager when spending her summers with cousins at the first Muskoka cottage down the lake. In the 1890’s, Muskoka was remote wilderness a full day’s journey by train from Toronto and then a steamer from Gravenhurst.
The ladies swam in wool swimsuits that fell to their knees, but scandalously removed corsets in the hot weather. An avid canoeist, young Carrie had been the first “white woman” to travel down the Moon River by canoe. Undoubtedly, she travelled with her father as well as Indigenous guides and their families.
As a child, I absolutely worshiped this near mythical ancestor whom I’d never met. I poured over her paintings, from wildflower sketches to poem illustrations, the mountains, and the paintings of our early cottage. When I realized that most of these stories came before she was married, I remember asking my mother what “Dear” (as our family called her) did after she was married. “Well, she became a proper Victorian Lady”! of course. I imagine my adventurous persona as well as my artistic inspiration took hold at this time.
Carrie Lash married John Coburn at the ripe age of 31 in 1899. Though her singing became a family affair with her guitar, she continued to paint watercolours throughout her life. She sketched, tinted photographs and illustrated her books of poems. During WW 1 she led her community in initiatives to support social reforms and the war efforts. In her long black dress she traipsed through corn fields, collecting corn husks to create an incredible collection of corn husk people called the Little People of the Cornfield. This collection toured both in Canada and the US, raising funds for the war effort. She was honoured, presented to the Governor General and given a medal.
The dates on the paintings here are estimates. I hope you enjoy them. I hope you too have some unconventional and inspiring artists in your family.
Parrsboro Plein Air Festival – CSPWC Awards Winner
On behalf of CSPWC, Bill (William) Rogers, CSPWC, AWS, TWSA, SCA, ASMA, and the team at the Parrsboro Plein Air Festival present the winner with our award.
The winner was Thomas Bucci from Maine. He’s a great watercolorist and his work got lots of attention from those in attendance at the ceremony. The event went very well and the CSPWC Award garnered lots of attention.
Here is the winning watercolour. “Low Tide at Advocate Harbor”
Workshops to improve your skill set
Coming Up from the CSPWC Education Committee:
A Painterly Approach to Still Life with Margaret Roseman, CSPWC
Learn to paint flowers, glass and fruit with joy and confidence
September 8, 2022, 8-10 pm EST
Member cost $20, Non-Member cost $25
Learn to loosen your painting style and to use colour with daring confidence. Watch Margaret Roseman paint a vibrant still life in watercolour. She will explain how she emphasizes capturing the light and energy of her subject without getting caught up in tiny details. Margaret’s instruction focuses on design, composition and technique of paint application.
Watch as she shares how she directs our eyes with varying edges, placing darks and handling patterns. Paint along with the demonstration recording (available until October 7) and learn to infuse your own paintings with similar light, colour and energy.
Mark your calendars!
Bonnie Steinberg, CSPWC SCA TWS IWS, is thrilled and honored to present her lineup of Fall online classes. A variety of classes and select watercolour workshops will be offered.
If colour, light and design in Watercolour intrigue you, then these classes will help you to discover your passion!
For registration and info please email Bonnie at: watercolours@rogers.com
Please see website at: https://societyofcanadianartists.com/user/bonnie-steinberg/
Margaret Roseman’s – FALL 2022 ONLINE WATERCOLOUR CLASSES – Exclusive lessons provided weekly to guide you on your creative journey.
Thursday mornings 9:30 am to 12 noon (Eastern Time) running through September, October, November
Please visit www.margaretroseman.com for more details or message margaret.roseman@sympatico.ca
Member News
Susan Garrington
Susan Garrington is honoured to share that her painting, ‘Heat Wave’, was awarded Best Watercolour in the Central Ontario Art Association’s juried exhibition, ‘Perceptions’.
She is also holding a solo exhibition called Art in Bloom from Aug 6 – Sept 24 at the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Center in galleries 1&2. Website: HERE
Mary Whale
Mary Whale is proud to share the news of a grant she received for “Between the Lines Merging Images and Stories of Older Adults”
She has been drawing/painting older adults for many years and has often thought it would be wonderful to share the conversation during a sitting. Now she has the means to do that! Look out for the results June 2023.
Some of her work can be viewed at: https://www.albertasocietyofartists.com/mary-whale/
Doreen Renner
Doreen Renner is thrilled beyond words to have a painting selected for the 102 National Watercolor Society International Open Juried Exhibition for the second year in a row.
Her painting “Electric Blue” will be on exhibition at the NWS gallery in San Pedro, California from September 1 until November 6.
Barbara Large
Barbara Large, Elected Member, had her painting, Large Circles and Squares’ accepted in the ‘3rd Annual Women In Watercolor International Juried Competition and was awarded the ‘Ampersand Merchandise Award’.
They had 1615 submissions from 56 countries with only 220 paintings accepted. View the painting by going on their website https://womeninwatercolor.com .
Helal Uddin
Helal Uddin holds his 5th Solo Watercolor Painting exhibition at Gallery Kaya, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The show opened from July 22 to August 2nd and there were 55 paintings in this show. Here is a Facebook video of him with his work: HERE
Michael Zarowsky
Michael Zarowsky cordially invites you to his solo exhibition at The Auburn Gallery in Gravenhurst opening at 1 pm on Saturday August 20th. The gallery is located at 260 Bay Street. The Exhibition continues thru September 10th You can view his work on his website: HERE
Associate’s News
Sandra Woods
In May 2022 Associate Member Sandra Woods was presented with her 1st Prize from the Art Awards of the Canadian Pain Society.
The CPS is an organization of healthcare professionals and researchers studying pain, with which Sandra is a volunteer Patient Partner.
Her watercolour “Menacing Mosquito” won in the Pain Patient category, for the theme “Imagining Pain”.
Thank-you to all our contributors – CSPWC-Admin.