AWS COMES AGAIN & YOU CAN HELP

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Our Mission is to encourage

the creation and presentationof original visual arts, to

support the cultural life of thecommunity, and to encourage

all artists to fulfill theirpotential.

GALLERY HOURS

TUESDAY 11AM–7PM WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY, 11AM–3PMSATURDAY – SUNDAY, 11AM–5PM

5330-B GIBBONS DRIVE CARMICHAEL,CA 95608 NONPROFIT ORG. 501 (C) 3

(916) 971-3713 TELEPHONEWWW.SACFINEARTS.ORG [email protected]

AFFILIATED GROUPS

NCA (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ARTS,INC.)

WASH (WATERCOLOR ARTISTS OF

SACRAMENTO HORIZONS)

MARY HARGRAVE

AWS COMES AGAIN &YOU CAN HELP

It's been three years since our last American Watercolor Society Show and weare ready for another one. This time we are also calling it "CelebratingWatercolor" month. The show will be here from May 4 - 31, 2021. How can youhelp? There are several ways. Promote it to your friends with postcards andencouragement. Participate in the events that will be scheduled to celebratewatercolor media. Sign up at the Sac Arts website to be a docent or a greeter. Take out an advertisement for yourself or a business in the program. Purchasefull page $300 (3 �⁄� x 10”) , �⁄� page $175 (3/12 x 4 �⁄�") or �⁄� page $125Business card size (��⁄�x��⁄�“). For a list of artists selected to this year's show,go to http://americanwatercolorsociety.org/a_exhibitors.php?year=2021. Wedo not yet know who will be in the traveling show, which is a smaller selectionof about 40 paintings. You can also sign up to produce an original 5 x 7 piece ofart to be displayed in a silent auction in our foyer Gallery.

There were 1100 entries to the show, 143 were chosen and 20 prizes wereawarded for a total of $47,000.

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2020 BOARD MEMBERSAND STAFF

MARY HARGRAVE

CO-PRESIDENT

MIKKI BAKO SORENSEN CO-PRESIDENT

PEGGY COLOMBOVICE PRESIDENT

ELISE REILLY

TREASURER

JERRY JAGGER SECRETARY

PAUL DESSAU

DIRECTOR

DANA MEINDERSDIRECTOR

JANET REGAN

DIRECTOR

PHYLLIS BRADY DIRECTOR

NANCY WEDICK

WASH VOTING LIAISON

JOAN HALL NCA VOTING LIAISON

ANGELIA GORDON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DITA LEWIS PANTERBOOKKEEPER

PRESIDENTS REPORT MARY HARGRAVE

And on it goes! We are all coping the best we can and Mikki's summary of ourrecent survey tells us that some folks are flourishing while others are feelingisolated and uncreative. Hopefully, when we get out of this pandemic, we can gettogether and inspire one another again. Meanwhile, we are doing our best toprovide good workshops online and planning for future events like maybe evenSecond Saturday again! So hug your pandemic pet (mine is a tuxedo cat) andremember that Animal House is coming up later this year. Art will happen here!

One really big thing coming up is the AWS show. We have a fantastic committeeworking on this - no gala this year as it's just too much, but the art that will becoming to us from New York will be inspirational. Marie Dixon, Tana Ellen, Nancy EWedick, Ralph Wilson, Peggy Colombo, and Phyllis Brady are the brain trust for thisshow and we are all hard at work making it a great experience for our community. We are thrilled to be the first venue in the country for this traveling show.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Art and Poetry event as it was a greatway to spend a Friday night. Again, our poet partners were wrangled by BobStanley and their poetic responses to our artists were creative, meaningful andhelped to see the paintings more fully. We expect to do this again (live) next yearwith jazz accompaniment. Something to really look forward to.

Please remember to renew your membership in continuing support of your SacArts.

Hello Artists,

As you may know, The American Watercolor Society Traveling Show will be in our galleries on Tuesday, May 4.In conjunction, Sac Arts will have a 5 x 7 art show in the foyer gallery. The show will be a silent auctionfundraiser. The paintings will remain up for bid during the American Watercolor Society Show which endsSaturday, May 30. This important fundraiser will aid Sac Arts in the hosting of this international event.

Sac Arts is inviting our gifted artists to donate their talent by painting one of fifty 5 x 7 canvas panels provided.

If you are interested in supporting this unique event and seeing your painting sell to the highest bidder, thenplease make an appointment to sign-out your canvas panel by contacting Angelia Gordon, 916.971.1750 [email protected].

Your support will brighten our future as we look forward to a great year at Sac Arts. Thank you!

Peggy Colombo,Vice President, Fundraising Committee Chair

5 X 7 AUCTION PEGGY COLOMBO

IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE: SKIP LEE

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MIKKI BAKO SORENSEN

Skip’s earliest art memory is being 3 or 4 years old and his mother telling him to “go draw some pictures” as a way ofgetting him out of her hair. Not the most auspicious start, one would think, but if you are Skip, it made an impact.

In kindergarten, when drawing houses, everyone’s house had the typical pointy roof, a door in the middle with twowindows above, a chimney and the bright yellow sun. Skip remembers looking at his house and wondering whatwould happen if he drew in the side of the house, which he did. His teacher asked how he’d learned perspective buthe had no idea what she was talking about. She explained about perspective and vanishing points, using the exampleof railroad tracks. Skip recalls thinking that it was all really cool.

As a kid, he was able to climb all over the LelandStanford steam train, as all the kids did back then, andhe drew lots of pictures of steam locomotives becausehe knew what they looked like inside and out. At age 14,on a trip to San Francisco, he did this painting of thebusy street. [see photo].

Starting in Junior High, Skip worked painting signs forthe local Safeway store. When his Dad bought a smallprinting press that he set up in the garage, Skip learnedeverything about setting type and created his owncompany, Garycraft Printing. He printed business cardsfor any student running for office and the students worethe cards pinned to their shirts and sweaters. Skipproudly states that any kid who didn’t wear a GarycraftPrinting card didn’t get elected!

Skip went to school at American River College, got his AAand a scholarship to College of Arts and Crafts inOakland, which he attended for a year and a half. Through his education he encountered three men whohad a profound impact on his life and his art career. Thefirst was his chemistry teacher, Dr. Elliot Atkinson. Skip had taken chemistry for the second time, trying to improve his grade. After the final exam, he ran into Dr. Atkinson,who asked Skip to have a cup of coffee with him. As they talked, Dr. Atkinson asked Skip what he wanted to do withhis life. Skip replied he thought he’d like to be a doctor so he could help people. Dr. Atkinson said, “No you don’t, oryou would have studied harder for your exam. It was all I could do, not to flunk you! You should think about studyingart. You have nothing to lose and I have heard there is a really good new art instructor, David Simpson, starting toteach here next year.”

Skip listened to Dr. Atkinson and studied under David Simpson, the second major influence in his life and art career.Simpson was a Bay Area artist who studied under the likes of Elmer Bischoff and David Park. He was an abstractpainter who considered himself a reductionist, rather than a minimalist. Studying with Simpson, Skip was introducedto abstract painting, a love that has carried throughout his years as an artist.

Glen Moriwaki was a Master Painter who also taught at American River College. After seeing Skip draw, Moriwakiasked Skip why he was in the class. Skip said he wanted Moriwaki to critique his work, and also, to learn whatever hecould Moriwaki. Skip brought 5 paintings to the next class and after spending some time with them, Moriwaki offeredSkip a job as his teaching assistant for both a drawing and an oil painting class.

While Skip loved studying art, he was married and realized he had to get a job. With his background in art and inprinting, he was able to get a great job in sales with Blake Moffit and Towne Paper Company in Oakland. When thecompany was sold to Kimberly Clark Skip left. He decided to try selling insurance. It was not the best job for him andhe left after three years. What he took from this job was the ability to talk to people. His boss told him, “The doorhandle isn’t hot, so you can open the door and talk to anybody.”

Eventually, Skip went to work in sales for another paper company. He did well and was moved to Reno, where he wasa great success. Then he was moved to Denver, where things were much harder and he just couldn’t make enoughmoney. So he took an extra job in a shopping center, where he sat in a window and drew portraits for $20. After about200 portraits, Skip had learned to quickly capture a likeness.

Throughout his working life, Skip continued to draw and paint and he used the life lessons from his work in his artcareer to great benefit. His success in selling his art stems in large part from the things he learned over the years as asalesman: the art of the personal relationship. When Skip realized that a potential buyer owned a salon where hiswife, Judi, had her hair done, Skip created the relationship that resulted in the salon’s owner purchasing 8 pieces andselling another 8 pieces to friends and customers. Skip befriended the owner of a restaurant who allowed Skip to hangpaintings that were rotated every couple of months. Through that contact, Skip met a businessman who bought apainting, then came back to purchase more paintings for his store. A vendor for this store saw the paintings andbought several for his business.

While there were some instances where a business closed suddenly and Skip lost a painting or two, there was also theyoung business that Skip convinced needed to have his paintings on their bare new walls. After a year Skip said theyneeded to buy the paintings, rent the paintings or let him take the paintings back. They bought the paintings because

they had become part of the company’s image. They bought more for a second facility, then morefor a third facility, even purchasing paintings forfacilities built in Virginia and Texas.

All of these opportunities happened because Skipknew how to spot an opportunity, knew how totalk to anybody and knew how to make everyonehis friend.

One business customer, Lois Gaddis, was also anartist and a buyer at McClellan Air Force Base. Shetold Skip about a place she’d heard of inCarmichael called the Sacramento Fine Art Center. They decided to join the League of CarmichaelArtists, which was a club within Sac Arts at thetime - which was the early 80’s. After the

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(IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE: SKIP LEE CONT.)

Show Review, Magnum Opus, Review by Raina Carson, Member NCA

If your New Year's Resolution had anything to do with decreasingsocial media, congratulations. (See the documentary, The SocialDilemma.) If you feel like everyone expresses themselves withsome sort of performative advice or lecture on social media, youmight really enjoy an interesting alternative. Art! Try sculpture,painting, contemporary or classic.

The Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Carmichael has aninteresting show on display through February 21st. I took our 12-year-old son to see it. He was ‘extremely hesitant’ about going.Afterward, he wrote the review that follows. The show is aboutcommunicating something grand with art. It was very interestingto see remarks from the show judge, Sacramento artist SteveMemering, on every piece of art in the show. It helped us seewhat an artist sees in each piece, while we form our own opinion.Something else to enjoy is the no photos rule (without artistpermission). This freed us up to just enjoy seeing the show inreal-time. Take your family, and witness communicating throughart.

Magnum Opus: Review by Gunnar Carson, Age 12

The Magnum Opus Art Show has very different and wonderfulpaintings. In fact, there are not just paintings, there aresculptures, pictures, and designs with things you would neverthink of. I recommend this show. I saw time-consuming and hugepaintings with obviously a lot of effort. Hopefully, you will like it! Isure did. Rate your favorites. My two favorites were Ice Carnivaland Tech, Tech, Tech, Tech, Boom

(Article featured in the Orangevale View, February)

June 1 - 27, 2021

ENTRY DEADLINE:ENTRY DEADLINE:ENTRY DEADLINE:APRIL 20, 2021APRIL 20, 2021APRIL 20, 2021

League folded, Skip and Lois joined NCA, where Skip remains active even today.

NCA and Sac Arts mean a lot to Skip. When NCA was struggling financially, he and Judi invited artists to their house inDillon for a painting weekend for $100 and used the money to help NCA. When Sac Arts was having financialproblems, Skip came up with the idea to sell bricks as a fundraiser. There were no actual bricks, but people got theirnames on a wall and enough money was raised to keep Sac Arts going.

When asked why he has stayed so active and involved in NCA and Sac Arts, Skip quickly replied, “It’s the people. I’vemet so many people who have become my friends.”

CHANGING

PERSPECTIVE

The Art of Music and Dance

June 29 - August 1, 2021

ENTRY DEADLINE: MAY 21, 2021ENTRY DEADLINE: MAY 21, 2021ENTRY DEADLINE: MAY 21, 2021

ENTRY DEADLINE:ENTRY DEADLINE:ENTRY DEADLINE: JUNE 18, 2021JUNE 18, 2021JUNE 18, 2021 Page 5

(IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE: SKIP LEE CONT.)

Congratulations to Kate Blue, who made itinto the Crocker Kingsly exhibit. Here is alittle about Kate..I’m a retired state employee (programmer)who went back to my degree in Fine Artswhen I retired after 26 years. I spent oh somany of my lunch hours walking aroundSacramento doing street photography withmy iphone, during those years of workingand got quite good at composition. All ofthose years of pictures are a big inspirationfor my paintings now. I was very surprisedto get into the Crocker Kingsley on my firsttry. I had expected to spend quite a whiletrying over and over. I suspect I lucked outon the judge this time. I submitted my bigproject for the year, and for my secondentry, my personal favorite, but it was thethird one that I just threw in because theygive you a freebie for your third submissionthat got accepted. I almost didn’t use it.The name of the work is “Fashion at theFarmer’s Market”. It was from a shot ofsome ladies looking sharp in their skirtsand office shoes walking around theDowntown farmer’s market. I couldn’tresist painting that flip of the wrist.

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We had 77 responses to our survey questions about the impact of thequarantine on members and their art, with 52 participants agreeingto answer further questions if called. We thought you might like toknow what we gleaned from these responses:

A number of respondents have been creating art for 50 - 60 years ormore! A handful were newbies, creating for less than a few years. Most have been creating art for 10 - 40 years. The art thatrespondents engaged in ran the gamut: painting, sculpting,photography and 1 respondent answered with dance.

Words and phrases used by respondents to describe the impact of artand art activities: meditative; improves focus; escape from reality,helps to avoid negativity, helps to deal with daily life; brings peace,joy, contentment; provides social connection; is a connection tobeauty and nature; gives a sense of accomplishment; involvesproblem-solving; provides positive feedback; provides income; allowscreative expression.

A few respondents said the pandemic had little impact on them ortheir art. About a dozen said the pandemic had a mixed impact - forexample: painting less but gardening more, painting less but drawingmore; painting fine art less, but painting rocks that were distributedthroughout the neighborhood to bring cheer.

THE RESULTS ARE IN

KATE BLUE

If you are a member, do not hesitate to tell us about your accomplishments. We would love to share it in ournewsletter or social media. - Angelia Gordon

Zoom & (maybe) In Person

AnnualMeetingA P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 2 1 | 2 - 4 P M

MIKKI BAKO SORENSEN

APRIL 11, 2021 9AM- 3PMSECOND HAND ART SUPPLIES SALE

We postponed last years event, but the time has finally come.The perfect time and place to buy all manner of arts and craftssupplies, mixed media, books, magazines, tools, brushes,frames, art/photo equipment, easels, yarn, molds, paints,papers, frames, canvas, ceramics tools, beads, art studiosupplies, and art related items.

NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

Grand Prize Raffle: A one month show in Gallery 3. The showwill take place in February 2022. Other Raffles to be announced.

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOPS

We currently have these fourwatercolor workshops comingup. Take one or all of these twoday workshops. All of theinformation and registration isavailable on our website.

You must login as a member toreceive the member discount. Ifyou have difficulty registering,please call (916) 971-3713.

FALL ASPEN, YOSEMITE VALLEY WITH DAVID LOBENBERGSAT & SUN MAR 27-28 2021, 10:00AM - 2:00PM

SHOWER POWER! WITH DAVID LOBENBERGSAT& SUN APR 24-25 2021, 10:00AM- 2:00PM

SHAPE SHIFTING – THE HIGH SIERRA IN WATERCOLOR FROMSKETCH TO FINAL BRUSHSTROKE WITH DALE LAITINENFRI & SAT MAY 14-15 2021, 10:00AM - 04:30PM

SHAPE SHIFTING – ABSTRACTING THE WESTERN LANDSCAPE INWATER MEDIA WITH DALE LAITINENFRI & SAT MAY 21-22 2021, 10:00AM - 4:30PM

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MEET MORE OF OUR JUDGES FOR 2021

THE ART OF MUSIC AND DANCE

ART WHERE WILD THINGS AREBetty Cooper (Co-Judge)Betty has been a team organizer of the Art Where Wild Things Are event since it’sinception in 2010. As Development Director of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, she’shad the privilege of sitting in on most of the show judging, and has a good handle onthe work that is well-received by AWWTA patrons.

Helen Plenert (Co-Judge)Helen studied art locally at American River JC and CSU Sacramento where she wastaught by local artists Gary Pruner, John Kaneko, and was very influenced and motivated by Wayne Thiebaud, Larry Weldon and Gregory Kondos’ work. Helen retired as the Program and Art Director for Women’s Wisdom ART after 10years of service to the community, during which she created region wide arts eventsto bring the Sacramento arts community together. From 2008-10 the Oak Park Fiestabrought local artists together in a street fair format. The Art Bra Show was the firstof its kind in California in 2007. She successfully replicated the event six times overthe years to bring artists from all over the state/west coast together to raise moneyfor a local Breast Cancer prevention program. In 2017 Helen created the“innerSOUL” art show to raise money for the first Hospice Home for the Homeless inSacramento. The show, based on the concept of Art Bra Show, was highly successfuland has been repeated twice already.

In her personal art work, Helen has become more interested in rock formationsthroughout California. They have a completely different feel, line, texture andmagnificence from trees she has painted for years. “I love a challenge. I don’t thinkof just paint on paper, canvas or clay. Each work becomes a personal dare.” saysHelen. Helen also has taughtwatercolor classes at Sac Arts where she teaches in amentor style helping students become better artists.

Philippe GandiolPhilippe is an award winning Northern California painter, who was born and raisedin France and moved to California in his early 20’s. He has painted with oils for over30 years. He pursued an independent program of study taking classes in France,San Francisco and Sacramento with several renowned West Coast painters.Philippe likes to paint a variety of subjects like landscapes, cityscapes, still life andfigures “en plein air” or in the studio. He works as much as possible from life,believing that only in life can he find the full range of light and color he wants in hispaintings and the spirit and mood of his subject matter. He is actively involved withthe California artist community, art events and fundraisers. He has alsoparticipated in juried art festivals in Easton, Sonoma, Carmel, Napa and Los Gatosto name a few. He teaches privately out of his studio or in the outdoors and alsooffers painting work-shops. As an instructor, Philippe is appreciated as a thorough,supportive and inspiring mentor.

FOR MOREINFORMATION

ABOUT OUR JURORSAND SHOWS, VISIT

OUR WEBSITE.

Follow Us on Social Media!Like us! Comment on our posts! Invite your

friends to like our events!

facebook.com/sacfineartscenter

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twitter.com/sacfinearts

Gold MembersBarbara Marshall

Carol Ross

Joyce Wilson

Marleen Merchant

Paula Cameto

Peggy Colombo

Randy Honerlah

Sally Bostley

Platinum MembersJeanne Reilly

Jo Kopp

Marie Dixon

Mary Hargrave

Mikki Bako Sorensen

Vanessa Bondon

5330-B Gibbons Drive

Carmichael, CA 95608

Nonprofit Org. 501 (c) 3

916 971-3713

[email protected]

www.SacFineArts.org

Get Your News Online!Dear members, would you like to receive your

newsletter by email?

Make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list.

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Business MembersDianna Holt

Brekke Art Classes

Janet Regan

Placerville Arts Association

Tess Jones

WASH Newsletter March/April 2021

WASH Website: https://www.sacramentowatercolor.org Sacramento Arts Center Website: https://www.sacfinearts.org/ WASH Board Members Elected Positions: President Ralph F. Wilson Secretary Diane Pargament Treasurer Edward Bostley Program Chair Tana Smith Show Coordinator Alyslynn Lemke Membership Chair Sally Bostley Liaison with SacArts Nancy Wedick Newsletter Editor Sandie Mele Workshop Chair Cindy Farmer Appointed Positions: Scholarship Kaye Lochridge Scholarship Jan Curry Webmaster Gary Mele Hospitality Barbara Little Hospitality Cyndy Spita Social Media Helen Plenert Video Library Charlotte Richmond Coordinator of Volunteers: Wyleta McDanniel

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE By Ralph F. Wilson, WASH President

What Drives Your Watercolor Passion? by Ralph F. Wilson, WASH President What’s the next step in your watercolor painting? What’s the way forward for you? It’s certainly not the same for everyone.

One of the key ways to move forward is to get in touch with your passions. What is it about watercolor that motivates you? If you know why you like watercolor painting, then you can decide the next step for you.

We’re complex people, so there are probably several layers. Take some time to ponder this. Let me suggest 10 passions that might get you thinking. Don’t expect all of them to fit you, but there may be several. Expect your motivation mix to be unique.

1. Creativity. You love creating something beautiful. Whether it’s a vision you cobble together from photos or an inspiration you paint out of your mind’s eye, you love seeing it come together into something new.

2. Perfection. Admit it, you’re a perfectionist. You’re always on the quest to make it perfect. Every painting a masterpiece – that’s your goal (or maybe your problem). Then again, you may be the opposite. Spontaneity and looseness may be what you aspire to.

3. Color. You love making beauty out of bright, bold colors. You’re a colorist. Every painting must have a punch of color. Or, maybe you’re really a tonalist who works in 50 shades of gray, who


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loves the subtlety of value gradations. That’s okay.

4. Sketching. You love to sketch, to capture on paper what you’re seeing. Painting is secondary to the joy you find in sketching. Or maybe it’s the painting that turns you on, and the sketching not so much.

5. Learning. You love learning new things about painting, so when you find out about a new YouTube channel or workshop, you’re all over it. What can I add to my bag of tricks? The quest energizes you.

6. Teaching. You love to share what you’ve learned. Your satisfaction comes when others begin to “get it,” to find joy in their own artistic voice.

7. Recognition. You hate to admit it, but you want people to like you, to think your work is significant in some way. And maybe there’s a bit of a competitive streak to stand out, to be acknowledged, perhaps even to be the very best.

8. Community. You love being with people with whom you have something in common. You’re a social person. So painting with others and sharing stories about the journey is a high value for you.

9. Relaxation. You paint because it relaxes you. It helps you move into your zone, your sweet spot, your place of peace.

10. Money. You want to earn a living doing what you enjoy. Or you want to sell paintings for the satisfaction of knowing that someone liked your work enough to shell out hundreds of dollars for it.

Don’t judge yourself if you don’t like a motivation you see in yourself. Self-knowledge is always helpful. Maybe you’ve uncovered a passion I didn’t even suggest. Perhaps you can identify two or three passion points that drive you. And passions evolve. Maybe what used to motivate you, doesn’t drive you so much anymore. No matter. God has wired us all differently, and that’s okay.

Understanding your motivation for watercolor is important, because when you discover it, you have a clue how to pursue your true passion(s).

For example, if you realize you love to teach, find an outlet -- perhaps a group of kids at the park or a school. If you love to sketch, start to attend figure drawing sessions and plein air outings. If you love color or spontaneity or photo-realism, find someone you can emulate and learn from and go for it. You get the idea.

Watercolor painting engages our passions and desires. Figure them out, and you’ll be able to discern the way forward for you.

WASH Opportunities at the AWS

Exhibit at SacArts May 4-30

WASH is excited about participating in the American Watercolor Society (AWS) Traveling Exhibition that will be shown at SacArts Center May 4-30, 2021.

Sacramento Fine Arts Center holds a number of events during this exhibit to celebrate watercolor artists.


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There are several ways you can participate. First, be ready to say “yes” when you’re asked to be a docent. Docents get good exposure to the exhibit, which will help you grow as an artist.

Since there are a lot of visitors expected to view the AWS Exhibit, especially on weekends, you could….

Paint a 5” x 7” panel for sale at the exhibit. Panels are available free at the SacArts office. Call when you’re ready to come by and pick one up. Watercolorists can wrap the panel with watercolor paper, or paint the surface with watercolor ground, then paint on it. Finally, you’ll seal your painting for permanence with several spray coats of Golden Archival Varnish with UVLS or Krylon UV Archival Varnish.

1. Submit a painting in Gallery 3 for sale to visitors. The artist gets 70%, SacArts gets 30% and they handle the sale. E-mail a photo of your painting to AlysLynn Lemke ([email protected]) if you’re interested in participating.

2. Do a demo painting on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, 1 to 4 pm, in the Studio during the AWS Exhibit. No need to explain unless questions are asked. We’ll have several WASH members in the Studio each afternoon, so there’s time for some chatting as well as painting. Contact Tana Smith ([email protected]) if you’re interested and she’ll find you a time slot.

NEW MEMBERS Sally Bostley, Membership Chair, is happy to report the renewals have started coming in for next year. Remember that we now join for a full year so no matter when you join, you have a full year of WASH membership. Reminders are sent from SFAC and from WASH so no one will forget. If anyone wants to know their renewal date, they can email Sally and she’ll be happy to send it to you. WASH would like to welcome our three newest members: Melissa Doyel, Sequim, WA Janet Jewell, Rancho Cordova Sherry Thompson, North Highlands

JOIN US! Whether you want to explore painting with watercolors or have used the media for many years, we have workshops, demonstrations and watercolor shows for you! To become a member of WASH, join Sacramento Fine Arts Center (SFAC, also known as Sac Arts) and select WASH as an optional club membership. See https://www.sacfinearts.org. WASH meets on the second Monday of the month except July and August. Meetings will be held online via Zoom till further notice. Watch for an email with the Zoom link.


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Self Portrait with Cat By Denise Owen

MARCH MEETING AND

DEMONSTRATION

Our WASH meeting on March 8th at 1:30 pm will feature Denise Owen. Denise makes art to celebrate the wonder she experiences. Some work is from observation, inspired by what she sees or senses: color, light, form, texture, movement, or expression. Others are more intuitive: arbitrary marks on a surface lead to a response, allowing the work to find its own resolution. Everything plays with abstraction. She uses a variety of media, including

charcoal, pastel, graphite, ink, and paints, usually on paper. She loves the feel of the materials and the immediacy and intimacy of working with her hands. Her most recent work focuses on monoprints. Denise will demonstrate how to do a transfer monoprint and then hand apply watercolor over it. The process is quick loose and spontaneous resulting in prints with precise textural lines that can be a base for layering other media.

Beastie By Denise Owen

Creation Song By Denise Owen


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APRIL MEETING AND DEMONSTRATION

Our WASH general meeting for April 12 at 7:00 pm will feature Stephanie Bower as our demonstrator. Stephanie Bower is based in Seattle, WA. She has a background as an architect and works primarily as an architectural illustrator, but for over 25 years, she has had a parallel career teaching architectural drawing and sketching both in University and more recently, in workshops around the world. As an architectural illustrator, she provides watercolor renderings, pencil sketches and concept design drawings to many offices in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Stephanie loves drawing and is passionate about passing on hand drawing and painting skills. She now teaches workshops offered both locally and internationally, a true dream come true that combines her love of architecture, teaching, and travel. She is a blog correspondent for Urban Sketchers and has taught at symposiums in Brazil, Singapore, Manchester UK, Chicago USA, Taiwan, and Amsterdam.

Message from the Editor Sandie Mele

For information about workshops, shows, meetings, etc., or how to

post announcements on Facebook, the WASH Newsletter or the WASH Website. Send a note to my email:

[email protected]

Arches By Stephanie Bower

Architectural Drawing By Stephanie Bower


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WASH SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE ARTS 2021

The WASH scholarship committee is pleased that our association will continue to offer a $1000 scholarship to a talented student artist. This scholarship is designed to help the winner with college expenses pursuing an art major with an emphasis in watercolor. Helen Plenert has distributed our scholarship announcement and application to all the local high schools and colleges asking that the art teachers encourage their top art students to apply. Helen will send it again next semester. If you know of a talented art student, please bring this scholarship to their attention. The scholarship winner and artwork will be presented to our membership at our June WASH meeting. WASH SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE ARTS 2020

Winner

Shania Zhou

Betty Carr Workshop March 17—19 For information and registration see: SierraWatercolorSociety.com Workshop contact: [email protected]

Paul Jackson “The Illusion of Glass” Workshop May 5-7, 2021 For information and registration see: SierraWatercolorSociety.com Workshop contact: [email protected]


January Painting of the Month Winners

February Painting of the Month Winners

PAINTING OF THE MONTH

Our monthly member contests are getting more popular with members and public alike with the number of people voting going up every

month. Seventeen paintings were submitted in January with 60 votes cast. In February there were 19 paintings with 74 votes. The Painting of the Month Contest is free to all members and one painting may be entered per month. Non-members are allowed a one-time


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entry and encouraged to join. We would like all the contestants to come to the general Zoom meeting and say a few words about their painting after the demo. Congratulations to the winners and to all the members who entered. We should be proud of ourselves and what our members have accomplished. Thanks to those who voted, too, and we hope you enjoy the show. We know that the choice is difficult with so many beautiful paintings, now you get a taste of how a judge might feel.

PAINTING OF THE YEAR 2020

Crystallization By Kandi Thompson We would like to announce the winners of the first ever Painting of the Year Contest! This is the culmination of all the Paintings of the Month contests. This year we had an amazing 195 entries! The judge was Daniel Petersen of Ripon, CA. He is a 30-year teacher at Modesto Junior College and a mentor of Dale Laitinen - he was the one who encouraged Dale to become a professional artist.

You may see his work work here: https://petersenwatercolor.com/index.html. He awarded 60 ribbons to our deserving members and he enjoyed seeing everyone's work. You may see the full list of winners on our website: https://www.sacramentowatercolor.org/painting-of-the-year-2020/. Congratulations to the top winners of the categories and thanks to all the members who entered all year!

Painting of the Year Kandi Thompson, Crystallization

ABSTRACT AND OTHER

1st Jan Miskulin, Floral Fiesta

ANIMALS AND BIRDS 1st Colleen Reynolds, Jonesy Boy

ARCHITECTURE AND MACHINERY

1st Diane Pargament, Farm Scene

LANDSCAPE AND SEASCAPE 1st Diane Pargament, Birch Tree Gold

PEOPLE AND PORTRAITS

1st Colleen Reynolds, Serious Golfing Buddies

FLOWERS AND PLANTS 1st Kandi Thompson, Radiant Rose

STILL LIFE AND INDOOR SCENES

1st Susy Soulies, Rosy Glow


9

It’s Show Time! February 24th is the deadline for registering for our 43rd Annual Membership Show with intake happening on the 26th and 27th. Check our prospectus carefully before bringing in your work to be sure that you comply with all the requirements for framing and display. Our show is not selected, meaning three paintings can be accepted and will be hung if there is space. The show will run from March 9 - 27, 2021 and there will be an online show in tandem with the gallery show, so we hope everyone will be able to enjoy it.

The judge of our show is Robert Regis Dvorak, a popular artist, prolific writer and teacher in the Sacramento area. With twenty four one-man shows, many, many group shows and his work hanging in eleven museums, Dvorak is quite the accomplished artist. We are proud to have him judge our Membership Show and look forward to seeing the results of his judging. See is work on his website:

www.robertregisdvorak.com/

“Sky-High Show and Sale" - during the American Watercolor Society show, May 4 - 30, 2021. Members may enter any painting they would like to sell and we will fit as many in Gallery Three that can comfortably and attractively fit, but skying (placing paintings three-four high) is possible. Paintings will be sold and customers may purchase and take the painting right then. We will need extra work to fill in the spaces as paintings sell so please bring smallish work priced to sell!

43rd Annual Open Show deadline: July 23rd, 2021. The prospectus will be up on our website. At this writing we are in negotiations for the judges, so that announcement will be forthcoming.

Please direct questions to the Show Coordinator, Alyslynn Lemke at [email protected].

NCA Members’ Newsletter, March/April 2021 www.norcalartsinc.org 1

NCA Board Members

President Carol Brewer 1st Vice President – Programs & Workshops Eric McGhie 2nd Vice President – Public Relations & Marketing Andrea Higginbotham Secretary Barbara Marshall Treasurer Joan Hall Liaison Joan Hall Past President Skip Lee Northern California Arts, Inc. Members Show Chair David Peterson Newsletter Editor Sara Baldwin Internet Technology Kate Blue Membership Chair Jerry Jaggers Bold Expressions Show Chair Paul Dessau Hospitality Jo MacConnell Raffle Marie Crockett Courtesy Bobbie Lou Hunt Featured Artist Coordinator Paul Dessau Artist Standing Chair Paul Dessau Historian Marie Dixon Member at Large Diana Holt

NCA Contact Information

Email [email protected] or call NCA at (916) 750-1968 and leave voicemail.

Of Special Note in this Issue

Page 2 2021 artist demo schedule; upcoming meetings Page 3 Recent Featured Artists, SPCA auction, promote your art on NCA’s Facebook page Page 4 Upcoming NCA workshops; other news

NCA Members’ Newsletter March/April 2021 A publication of Northern California Arts, Inc. Artists Supporting Artists Since 1939

Letter from Our President I want to encourage you to attend the monthly General Meetings on Zoom. These sessions offer a chance to watch guest demonstrators create their art and ask questions. Attendees gain valuable information and tips. Members, watch for an email from meeting host Paul Dessau with the web link before each meeting. I also urge everyone to look to our website for the latest NCA information. I am happy to report that 2021 Board positions are filled. We warmly welcome new member Andrea Higginbotham as our 2nd Vice President, new member Kate Blue as Internet Technology board member, and new member Jo MacConnell as our Hospitality Chair. Many thanks to Stephanie Lindsay, outgoing Internet Technology board member, for her 4 years of exemplary work. She is not leaving us; she is just passing the baton. In closing, here is some advice to consider from an artist you may recognize: “When you go out to paint, try to forget what objects you have before you, a tree, a house, a field, or whatever. Merely think, here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow.” – Claude Monet In Art and Friendship, — Carol Brewer, President

2021 NCA Members Show Coming March 30 Online entry ends March 7. If you want assistance entering, call me and we will set up an appointment to photograph and upload your art. The Northern California Arts, Inc., Members Show is March 30-April 18, 2021 at Sac Arts, with a 2nd Saturday Reception (we hope) April 10. Judge is Steve Walters. The entry fee is an affordable $15 each, or three for $40. Enter online at: www.norcalartsinc.org/calls-to-artists. I am proud to be your show chair this year and am very glad you are supporting NCA with your membership. I hope you will enter, so we can show the world how great NCA artists are!

— David Peterson, Show Chair Email: [email protected]; Phone: 916-716-5951


2021 Guest Artist Demos at NCA General Meetings

Artist demonstrations, a part of NCA General Meetings, bring expressive artists and NCA members together for creative growth. Meetings are on Zoom until further notice.

March 10 (Weds.): Chris Max Thompson, ceramics (wheel throwing)

April 14 (Weds.): Summer G. Ventis, trace monotype

May 12 (Weds.): Pam Avery, abstractism

June 9 (Weds.): Anne Bradley, mixed media

July - No meeting August - No meeting

September 8 (Weds.): Steve Memering, all-members critique

October 13 (Weds.): Bold Expressions judge’s critique (LeeAnn Brook)

November 10 (Weds.): Traci Owens, acrylic painting

December 8 (Weds): All-club holiday party, hosted by NCA

NCA event schedule: https://norcalartsinc.org/schedule/

— Eric McGhie, 1st Vice President, Programs and Workshops

[email protected]

See You on Zoom for Upcoming General Meetings General Meetings will be held on Zoom until further notice, due to the pandemic. Featured Artist Voting: Watch for an email from Paul Dessau on how to submit work and/or vote for the month’s Featured Artist before each meeting.

Zoom Tips

Watch for your email invitation from Paul Dessau before each general meeting with a link to the virtual meeting via Zoom.

If you have not used Zoom before, you do not need to download the Zoom application manually. The application automatically loads on your device—either computer or mobile device—the first time you click on the link in an email invitation.

Join the meeting as early as 6:45pm to get Zoom tips.

March 10 - Chris Max Thompson, ceramics (wheel throwing) (Zoom)

Chris Max Thompson, March 10 presenter, at the wheel Chris Max Thompson, well-known local ceramic artist and instructor, will demonstrate wheel throwing at the March 10 meeting. You may know Chris from his work to throw, glaze, and sell hundreds of ceramic bowls to support local charities fighting hunger. See more on the NCA website. Who: Chris Max Thompson

What: Ceramics demonstration, via Zoom. All are welcome! NCA members, look for your email invitation from Paul Dessau with a link to join the Zoom meeting. When: Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; you may join the Zoom meeting as early as 6:45 pm. Where: Virtually, via Zoom

April 14 - Summer G. Ventis, trace monotype (Zoom)

Summer G. Ventis, April 14 presenter

Summer G. Ventis, printmaker and Assistant Professor, Printmaking, at CSU Sacramento, will demonstrate the art of trace monotype at the April 14 meeting. Of her work, Summer states: “My prints act as representations and embodiments of [the] interplay of outer and inner space. I represent relationships and the spaces that contain and create them abstractly, in hopes that viewers will use the space of the landscape as a site for meditation on the

relationships and spaces in their own lives.” See more on the NCA website. Who: Summer G. Ventis What: Trace monotype demonstration, via Zoom. All are welcome! NCA members, look for your email invitation from Paul Dessau with a link to join the Zoom meeting. When: Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; you may join the Zoom meeting as early as 6:45 pm. Where: Virtually, via Zoom


Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways you can volunteer to help. Some examples:

You can be a show co-chair to learn how a show gets started and is run.

You can find artists to demonstrate or lecture at our monthly meetings.

You can do hospitality for our monthly meetings or even share with another member.

Technology people are always needed for data input, the website, facebook and publicity.

Or you can just be a member at large by attending board meetings to see how we work and what we are planning for the future.

For more information on volunteering, contact Joan McMurray. [email protected], 916-966-8910 —Joan McMurray, Past President

Volunteers make possible our Featured Artist of the Month event. For now, submission of entries and voting is by email. Members, watch for your emails before each General Meeting. (Shown: Featured Artist participants from the March, 2018, General Meeting at Sac Arts.)

Featured Artists, January and February 2021 Members may submit a piece of artwork before each General Meeting for the Featured Artist vote. The winning piece is posted on the NCA website until the next General Meeting. Watch for an email in advance of monthly general meetings on how to submit a photo of your artwork by email and how to view and vote for Featured Artist work.

Featured Artist, January, 2021 -- Rhonda Egan

Rippling Along (oil), by Rhonda Egan

NCA’s featured artist for January is Rhonda Egan, who has had a love of drawing since she was a child. She still remembers the day her uncle showed her how to shade and make things look round. Her formal education began in high school and has continued

throughout her adult life. She loves to paint landscapes and paint in plein air. See more of Rhonda’s work at www.rhondaegan.com.

Featured Artist, February, 2021 -- Sue Anne Foster

The Holy Woman (mixed media), by Sue Anne Foster The sculpture at the left has many “found” components, including a salad bowl for the head, lightbulbs for eyes, shoe inserts as feet, and wine rack holders as arms.

February’s featured artist is well-known Sacramento-region sculptor Sue Anne Foster, for whom art has been a steady companion through life. Sue Anne holds an MA in Art from CSUS and has taught teachers, the general public, and others. She is the President of the Valley Sculpture Artists, which welcomes artists who work in 3-D. You may remember her NCA General Meeting demo last year of the art of repoussé, a metalworking process that creates a raised relief image. See more on the NCA website.

Opportunities to Promote Your Art Here are a couple of ways to gain exposure for your art.

SPCA Online Benefit Auction Coming This Fall

Donate your art to the 2021 SPCA Online Benefit Auction, occurring November 17-December 2 through Witherells.com. Auction website: https://www.sspca.org/post/2021-online-benefit-auction. If interested, email [email protected] or message her at facebook.com/ArtFurPawsauction.

Promote Your Art on NCA’s Facebook Page

Promote and sell your work on NCA’s Facebook page. See https://norcalartsinc.org/get-involved/post-on-facebook/.


Message from the Editor

Art appreciation continues, even during the pandemic. Among local arts organizations, the Crocker Art Museum (www.crockerart.org) and Sac Arts (www.sacfinearts.org) offer viewing opportunities, and our monthly Zoom-based demos always inspire and inform. Like the wild turkeys roaming my neighborhood these days, we may have to peck around a bit to find “nutritious seeds,” but they are there!

—Sara Baldwin, Newsletter Editor

Join Us!

NCA membership is open to anyone interested and engaging in the arts. To become an NCA member, join Sac Arts and select NCA membership for an additional $25. See https://norcalartsinc.org/get-involved/membership/ for more information.

Donate to NCA and Support Our Club

Northern California Arts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is funded through shows, fundraisers, and donations from the community. If you appreciate NCA’s mission and want to support our club, you may donate online at https://norcalartsinc.org/get-involved/donate/.

Northern California Arts, Inc., is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1939 by a group of fine artists to promote the appreciation of and the participation in the visual arts and to spearhead art education in our community.

Upcoming 2021 NCA Workshops Offer Fun, Learning Look for upcoming workshops from NCA. See the latest information at https://norcalartsinc.org/workshops/. Questions? Contact Eric McGhie at [email protected].

Business Development for Artists Workshop, February 27 and 28, March 6 and 7 (Online)

Pennylane Shen will instruct this online, four-part business development workshop. Topics include working towards a cohesive practice, from technique and style to medium and concept, creating artists statements, CVs, cover letters and

press releases, selling work on Instagram, website design, and much more. Cost for NCA members is $150; nonmembers, $175.

Sanded Charcoal Technique Workshop, March 27-29 (Sac Arts)

WORKSHOP IS FULL. To be added to the wait list, email [email protected]. Annie Murphy Robinson will lead this workshop March 27, 28, and 29 at Sac Arts. Students will develop a greater use of value and an increased understanding of light sources and their effects by learning charcoal sanding techniques. Cost is $650.

Plein Aire Oil Painting Workshop, April 17 and 18 (mostly outdoors)

Chella Gonsalves will lead this two-day workshop April 17 and 18. This naturally socially distanced workshop will allow participants to celebrate spring out in nature, learning from a renowned plein aire landscape painter. The workshop starts at Marie Dixon’s art studio, then moves outdoors. Cost for NCA

members is $200; nonmembers $240.

Other News Here’s a quick update on other NCA happenings.

New Video Interview and History Story Available - Carol Brewer

View a 15-minute 2014 video interview and a related history story on our president, Carol Brewer. The interview was conducted when Carol was owner and curator of Blue Moon Gallery. View the video at https://norcalartsinc.org/videos. View the related history story at https://norcalartsinc.org/about/nca-history-stories/. You also can find more videos and history stories at these sites. — Marie Dixon, Historian

Bold Expressions 2021 Coming This Fall

Bold Expressions 2021, an NCA juried art exhibit, will be held at Sac Arts September 28 through October 24, 2021. The online entry deadline is August 7. Juror is LeeAnn Brook, Chair is Paul Dessau, and Co-chair is Jo MacConnell. See the prospectus on the NCA website for more information.

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