THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOUR / LA SOCIETE CANADIENNE DE PEINTURES EN AQUARELLE
News about our Annual General Meeting on May 6th, 2023
The AGM Location – The Arts and Letters Club
We return to a live, in-person AGM this May 6th, 2023, to be held at The Arts & Letters Club and hope you will join us for this event. We are privileged to be able to hold our event here due to past connections.
Following the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11, 1925, a group of artists met in the library of the Arts and Letters Club, a popular gathering place for practitioners in all the arts in Toronto. At that meeting 12 major Canadian talents, all passionately committed to the importance of watercolour as a medium, founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour.
Our founding artists were: F.H. Brigden, A.J. Casson, Franklin Carmichael, C.W. Jefferys, Fred S. Haines, L.A.C. Panton, R.F. Gagen, Thomas G. Greene, Robert Holmes, Franz Johnston, Andre Lapine, and E.J. Sampson. Their aim was to recognize, encourage and nurture excellence of work in the medium of watercolour.
This private club was built by the St. George’s Society in 1891, making it over 130 years old. The Arts and Letters Club leased it 1920 and purchased it in 1986. It has been designated a building of National Historic Significance by the Government of Canada.
The Great Hall holds rotating exhibitions of paintings, drawings and photography. Its principal function, however, is as a dining room. After our Annual General meeting we will share a set buffet style lunch and socialize around refectory tables. Adjoining the Great Hall is a well-stocked bar and a comfortable lounge. For more information about this club see their website: https://artsandlettersclub.ca/
The AGM Painting Exchange
We have some exciting news for elected members coming to the AGM. We are reinstating the Painting Exchange. We hope you will participate in this wonderful event.
This event was undertaken to generate comradery within the Society, have some fun, to encourage participation at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and to generate some income against the various costs of holding an AGM. For many years it was a favoured event at the AGM. It was modelled after the painting exchange held at Christmas between the members of the CSPWC Board.
This year during the initial AGM planning session the idea of reinstating The Painting Exchange (TPE) was heartily received. It was last offered a few years ago at a previous AGM.
Peter Marsh has graciously accepted to run the event this year.
Guidelines will be shared with our elected members in the coming week.
Elected Member Dues & Associate Dues – have you paid yours for 2023?
Thank you to all our members and associates who have paid their 2023 dues. This is much appreciated as it helps with our budget planning for the year ahead.
For the remaining few yet to pay, it would be greatly appreciated if you would please take care of this in the next few days.
This link will take you to the page on our website where you can use your credit card to pay through our PayPal account. We are still accepting mailed in cheques to our office at: 80 Birmingham St. #B3, Etobicoke, ON, M8V 3W6. https://cspwc.ca/payments/
Coming next from the CSPWC Education Committee
MARCH 8, 7 pm ET: Say It With Feeling: Harnessing the Power of Abstraction with Brent Laycock, CSPWC.
We are excited to offer this rare opportunity to watch Brent as he demonstrates his dynamic approach to abstract watercolour! Register or learn more here:
https://cspwc.ca/education-say-it-with-feeling-harnessing-the-power-of-abstraction/
MAY 4, 7 pm ET: Abstracted Architecture in Watercolour with Sterling Edwards, CSPWC
Sterling’s demonstration last year was such a great success we have brought him back for a new presentation. Watch as Sterling designs his paintings with expressive colours and strong shifts of value to create a sense of movement. Watch him overlap positive and negative shapes to suggest depth, dimension and drama.
Register now or learn more here: https://cspwc.ca/education-abstracted-architecture-in-watercolour/
Coming up on June 1, 2023, 7 pm ET: Painting Horses in Watercolour with William Rogers, CSPWC. Stay tuned for registration announcement.
Do you recognize the people in this photo, can you guess the occasion, or know why they are there?… then we can use you! – By Marlene Madole
At our office Janet Baker recently found this 8 x 10” photo at the back of a binder of slides – from 168 artists, containing four slides each of individual watercolour paintings. What is it?
The Royal Collection Project, Gift I, gifted in 1986, celebrating the CSPWC/SCPA’s Diamond Jubilee of 1925-1985.
CSPWC President Osvald Timmas 1913-2005 on the left points out to MPP Tom Wells, Ministry of Education, and Diana Wessels 1930-2016, CSPWC Administrator. Photo by Sidney Harris of London. The top painting, in the photo, we still need help to identify. The bottom painting is titled “$1.39 a Pound” by Mary Anne Ludlam 1931-2016. RCIN 926192
Could this be the exhibition of the gift of the first 60 paintings? Could this be at the John B. Aird Gallery at Toronto’s Queen’s Park on December 5th, 1985? Or is this the “Hot Water Colour Show’” at Toronto’s Harbourfront? Or the Spring of 1986 hand over exhibition at Ontario House in London, England?
Here’s how to find the CSPWC Paintings in the Royal Collection Trust:
RCIN: is the Royal Collection Inventory Number.
Go to the “Royal Collection Trust” to view the first 75 paintings in this collection, go to https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/page/1 , select “Search the Collection”, then type in the RCIN. A list of the RCIN are listed here under the history of this CSPWC project at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Collection_Project .
ARTICLE – What’s the story? by Rex Beanland
I had a really interesting experience a few weeks ago when I had one of my paintings critiqued by Frank Eber. The critique was sponsored by the Northwest Watercolour Society.
The painting was one I did a few years ago. I always thought it was a good painting but it seemed to be missing something. It never really spoke to me or anyone else. Frank’s comments were that it showed a good mastery of watercolour but he asked “What is the story?” In other words what was I trying to say. When I thought about it, I realized that my motivation was just to copy the photo. I really liked the photo and I wanted to translate it to paint. It is a good copy all right but to paraphrase Frank: “what’s the point?”
At the top on the right is the original photo of the subject from the Slocan Valley, BC.
Below the photo is the painting I did. It’s an accurate copy of the photo with the addition of a couple of cats. One important way to understand the issues with this painting is to look at the signpost. It’s so detailed and right in the front but does it add anything to the painting or does it actually stop you from going further into the painting?
So I re-analyzed the painting in terms of What’s the story? Below are 2 cropped versions of the painting. I believe that they have a stronger impact than the original.
The Aha Moment
As I continued to reflect on the critique, I realized how frequently my purpose was just to copy a photo. See something, like it and copy it with paint.
Below is another example. It’s a painting I completed from my last trip to England. On the left is the photo. I loved the architecture and the people. Next to it is the painting I did.
Now I asked myself the new question: What’s the story? I realized for me it’s the people as they interact in this coffee shop. So lastly is a study that represents my new thinking.
Summing It All Up
I have to thank that critique for showing me what I needed to learn. I am now so much more aware of asking myself, “Why do I want to paint this subject? What do I want to say?” The best part is that I now ask myself these questions before I start the painting.
Incorporating this thinking process into your art is an essential ingredient in becoming a better artist. It’s something that doesn’t always come intuitively. It’s a skill to be practiced.
And most importantly it makes painting so much more fun and more rewarding.
Happy Painting!!
Rex Beanland
https://rexbeanland.com/about-the-artist/
ARTICLE – Creating A Collective of Artists for Shows
How do you get your artwork in front of people? Our associate Eileen Hennemann decided to create her own avenue to promote her work and has made some lasting connections with other local artists in the process. Here’s what she did. (Thank you for your contribution Eileen! – CSPWC Admin)
Creating a Successful Art Exhibit-by Eileen Hennemann
Although I am “of age”, I am not a “retired” person and, health willing, I won’t be any time soon. My husband and I have our own business in brand consulting and graphic design here in Almonte, Ontario, 30 minutes west of Ottawa. Our clients’ projects are interesting, unique and rewarding, and we learn something new from each of them. The challenges are to find the best branding and marketing solutions to build, manage and sustain a client’s business, product or event. I enjoy what’s involved with the creative process and it is not something I want to retire from.
In 2015 we chose to keep a smaller client roster to afford us more time to explore other creative areas we were interested in. And until 2022 we volunteered our services to several diverse organizations, including Almonte in Concert, the St. Vincent Hospital in Ottawa, and a Mississippi Mills mayoral campaign. Over time I acquired a healthy email list of clients, colleagues, friends, patrons and collectors. I started painting again in various mediums with watercolour becoming my favourite. I paint a lot and each day I learn something new about what I am capable of. I also mess up a lot and look forward to figuring out how not to do that. I have found that taking workshops and lessons from very knowledgeable instructors has helped me a great deal.
In 2017 The Ten Collective, a group of ten professional artists, was formed. I founded The Ten Collective for two reasons: in answer to queries as to where one could see my work, and to attach myself to the stars of nine exceptional local artists. I believe in striving to achieve significant work, and whatever show I’d be in had to be significant as well. Events that are not branded according to the quality of product on offer can make people question their value. A group/event must be branded at the level it is at or wants to achieve and be compared to.
Previous events our company have branded had appropriate budgets to cover the visual components necessary to engage the target audience or donors. We created the Ten Collective trademark, branded promotional material, website, signage and banners, and handled all promotion. The group did not have to financially invest in the visual brand development nor its management and marketing.
So, how do we make it work? Each year the ten artists need only to submit their portion of the expenses to cover advertising and printing costs. The amount was originally based on the research I did on what it would take to put on a successful, well attended show. The Ten Collective bookmarks, postcards and posters are distributed to many venues in several towns, and each artist writes four articles for the website blog that starts early January. These are pushed to social media that reach an even wider audience. There are numerous media and online services that announce shows such as ours, and Rogers Cable is always keen to interview us, sometimes more than once. I schedule online invitations via Constant Contact (an online email marketing program), each one with some new information, to interested collectors, visitors and patrons. The Ten artists need only focus on their work for the show and share their social media posts. The show’s promotion is in my wheelhouse.
This is the first year that I’ve chosen to submit only watercolour paintings. I see the skill level and quality of many of the CSPWC members and instructors, and it’s partially because of this that I feel inspired to learn and experiment with watercolour.
We are grateful that the show has been very successful. It has become a spring highlight promoted by Almonte/Mississippi Mills. It is much anticipated every year and increases the tourism of the area significantly with visitors from Montreal, Toronto, Kingston and surrounding areas. Each year we’ve received 1200-1600 over two days. And I am happy to share that each artist sells much of their work over those two days, with some selling out completely. It is exhausting and exhilarating, and we love it! I’ll mention here that I lose my voice for a couple of days after the show as I think I talk to each and every person walking through our door, and I don’t mind a bit. Visitors are so keen to learn about our work and it’s rewarding to answer their questions and know they are so interested.
Our fourth show is April 22-23, 2023. After the show we will raise a glass in cheers, discuss new ideas, and talk about our future together. In the autumn we will decide if there will be a fifth show in 2024 or 2025. So far, our time in The Ten Collective has been beautiful, demanding, fruitful, and very fulfilling. If you are interested, there are videos and photos of the previous shows on the website:
https://www.thetencollective.com/media-and-videos
And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Eileen Hennemann
https://www.eileenhennemann.com/
https://www.thetencollective.com/
Member News
Ghazi Toutounji will be exhibiting with another artist at the Assembly Hall at 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive in south Etobicoke from April 5 to May 11, 2023.
The show name is “Building on the past” and contains several of his watercolour paintings including Under the Arch included here.
Here’s the link for The Assembly Hall, where the exhibition is happening. You’ll find the show listed under Gallery Exhibitions:
Brian Turner SCA CSPWC AFCA has one of his watercolours featured on the cover of the Canadian Federation of Artist’s Spring 2023 publication. The painting was created as a demo piece for his watercolor class. The theme of the class was capturing light.
The piece was awarded first place in the FCA (Federation of Canadian Artists) ‘Works on Paper’ exhibit that ran from January 24 – February 5 at the Federation Gallery in Vancouver. The link to the exhibit is:
https://federationgallery.com/exhibit/2023_works_on_paper_exhibition/3521
The link to the Art Avenue magazine is:
Poppy Balser is extremely pleased to share that one of her plein air winter watercolours has been accepted to the American Watercolor Society’s 156th Annual International Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in NYC. The exhibition runs from April 3-28 with a reception on April 11.
She is delighted to have her work hang with three other CSWPC members also have work included in the show: Jennifer Annesley, Shari Blaukopf and Xiqiang Fei.
Poppy plans to attend the opening and will share the experience in a future newsletter.
Associate News
Tiina Price is most pleased to have her painting, Enticement, juried into the 1st. International IWS-Arte21 Watercolor Festival in Cordoba, Spain as the sole Canadian submission.
The exhibition will be held at the Patio Barroco, Deputation Provincial de Cordoba, from March 6 to 12, 2023, along with plein air painting opportunities and demos by master artists.
Passings
We’ve received news of the passing of Art Ludlam at the age of 99. He became an Honorary Member of CSPWC/SCPA because of his endless volunteer work including newsletter layout and publisher, digitizing many of the Society’s photos and slides. His wife Mary Anne Ludlam, was an elected member and a life member in 2002.
His time with the CSPWC was .an important part of his post-teaching years. His experiences and memories with those he met through the Society — both artists and family members alike — meant a great deal to him.
We send condolences to his family and know that many of our members hold good memories of his support of this Society.
His obituary was in Saturday’s Toronto Star on Feb. 4th. Found with this link: https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/arthur-ludlam-obituary?id=40711704
Thank you to all our contributors for this issue. If you have a submission for the next issue of our news letter, please send it to: Janet Tovey – CSPWC Administrator – info@cspwc.ca