GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY NATIONAL EXHIBITION

My painting "All About the Labels" has been accepted into the GWS National Exhibit.  

For those of you in the area, the show runs March 13 through April 30 at the Bowen Center for the Arts, Dawsonville, GA.

QUICK REVIEW OF 2014

At the end of each year I usually take a look back at what happened in the prior Art Year.

This past year my artwork was accepted into:

• 121^st Woman’s Art Club Juried Exhibit – The Anniversary Clock won the Winsor & Newton Award
• Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibit - Swirls
• Hoosier Salon – Japanese Tea won the Outstanding Watercolor Award and sold that evening!
• 46^th Annual ViewPoint National Juried Exhibit – Swirls and Daisies on Daisies
• The Artist’s Magazine 31^st Annual Art Competition: Still Life/Interior (Finalist) – “Oriental Roses” (Acrylic), “Yin Yang Mums” (Watercolor)
• Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 35^th Annual International Juried Exhibition (received Signature) – Flights of Fancy
• Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Show (received Signature) – Industrial Revolution
• Two of my paintings have been published in the book Artistic Touch 6 – Red Paisley Scarf and Flights of Fancy

In addition, I held two workshops.

My plan for this year is to take time to simply produce more work, so I may not be entering as many shows this year.  It will depend on what I have available, and I’m not going to put myself under that “deadline” pressure.  We shall see!

My best wishes to all of you in your artistic endeavors this year.

GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY 2014 NATIONAL EXHIBITION

"Swirls"

I got a notice that my painting “Swirls” has been accepted into the GWS National Exhibition.

Ally Benbrook, Chris Krupinski and Susan Stuller were a few of the artists' name that I recognized, but I might recognize the work of others when I see it.  I'm not a "name dropper" - really! - but it's always exciting to know that your painting is hanging in the same show with some of the "big name" artists!

So far, each time I have entered a painting into any of the Georgia shows my work has been accepted!  Always different work (obviously) and different judges.  But - - - I know better than to get complacent and brag-y!!!

Because . . .  then there is TWSA – have never gotten into that, didn’t even enter this year – maybe next year I’ll have something I feel is strong enough.

I’ve also never gotten into Louisiana, so gave up on them.

This particular painting was also entered in another show, but didn’t make the cut.

Just goes to show, as I always say, you should not get upset when you don’t get into a show.  (And don't let it "go to your head" when you do!!!!)

If you are in the area, stop in and see the show!

GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY 2014 NATIONAL EXHIBITION

Carrollton Cultural Arts Center

251 Alabama Street

Carrollton, GA  30117

770-838-1083

Opening Reception:  March 7, 2014 from 5 – 7 p.m.

Show hangs March 7 – April 24, 2014

ADIEU TO 2013

Another year has come and gone.  Last December we survived the Mayan apocalypse; this year we survived the ravages of snow, ice and the floods they left behind.  Wonder what’s in store for 2014?

2013 was a pretty good year for me.  My artwork was accepted into:

• Rising Sun 11^th Annual Juried Exhibit
• Woman’s Art Club 120^th Juried Exhibit
• Georgia Watercolor 34^th National Juried Art Show
• 45^th Annual ViewPoint National Juried Exhibit
• Ohio Watercolor Society 36^th Annual Juried Show (Signature status)
• Georgia Watercolor Society Annual Signature Member Show
• Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 34^th Annual International Juried Exhibition
• Georgia Watercolor Society Annual Juried Member’s Show – 3^RD Place Award
• Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Juried Member’s Show - Award
• National Watercolor Society 92^nd Annual Exhibit traveling show

One of the bloggers recently mentioned how many paintings she had produced this year which prompted me to go back and count.  I came up with 8 completed, not counting any I did for classes.  Even though I knew the tally would be low, I’m disappointed in myself.  Perhaps I will do a quick recount, 8 seems terribly low volume! 
(Well, DUH, I just did a quick recount and came up with 13 - didn't check the "bin" paintings!)

Since my term as President of Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society will be over in March, and I don’t plan on taking on any more administrative responsibilities, perhaps this year I’ll be able to get at least** one painting a month completed – that seems like a reasonable thing to accomplish, even as slowly as I paint.  

** Note to self - "Deb, this means you can paint MORE THAN ONE PAINTING A MONTH"!

Here’s hoping that 2014 will be a productive, profitable, happy and healthy year for all of us!

H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R!

GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

I received the 3rd Place Award in the current Georgia Watercolor Society's Annual Juried Members Show!

My painting was "Red Zinger".

GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY 2013 MEMBERS' SHOW

My painting "Red Zinger" has been accepted into the Georgia Watercolor Society 2013 Members' Exhibit.

SHOWS

You may have noticed on my sidebar, two of my recent paintings have been accepted into shows.

Of course, any time that I am juried into a show, especially a national show, I’m thrilled! But I also realize that there are many, many entries in these shows, and varied jurors looking at those entries, so I’m not going to make it into all of the shows I enter.

Case in point, this year as always (or so it seems!) the painting I entered into TWSA was not accepted. This has now become a matter of pride and I’m even more determined to get into that show some day, so I’ll “keep on keepin’ on” and try, try again.

When I have a strong painting that is not accepted into a show, it can sting. But I don’t let it get me down for more than a few minutes! I’ve had several paintings that were not accepted into one show, but then accepted into the next one.

An honest judge will tell you that the judging process is subjective, and that, had they looked at those same paintings on another day they may have juried in a far different show.

So, my words of wisdom to those of you who get upset when you are “rejected” are:
• enjoy and celebrate your successes (preferably with friends and wine!)
• don’t let the rejections get you down but instead –
• review and re-critique your paintings to see where you may need to make improvements, and –
• KEEP ON TRYING!

RANDOM THOUGHTS - ABOUT SHIPPING

I have a really good friend who will ship my paintings via UPS for me. I do the leg work and get the forms together, but I think she does the really hard part of getting it all organized, put together and sent on its way. Since the packages will then come back to her, she also has to find someplace safe to store them until we see each other – and to protect them from her husband and son who seem to want to destroy them for me! The first time my box was returned, the guys thought it was a piece of useless junk and tossed it outside.

JUNK???? I use the Airfloat boxes which are great – but, let’s face it, once something has gone through the UPS facility and on to a UPS truck (no offense to the UPS drivers who I know do the best job they can) and off that truck and delivered – well, some damage will be done. When I received my brand new box – shipped from the Airfloat company to me – there were oil spots and a “ding” in the side. I know they didn’t ship it from their factory that way – but that was just the normal “wear and tear” – and that was only its first trip! By the 2nd or 3rd trip the boxes look like they have seen battle in Afghanistan (and I’m not sure who won!).

. . . AND MORE SHOWS

Ying Yang Mums (Watercolor)

Yikes . . . they keep on coming!

In a previous post I mentioned that my painting "Ying Yang Mums" got into the NWS Annual show.  Since then I've learned that it will be a part of the traveling show which will tour the country for a year following the exhibit.  AND - my friend Chris Beck let me know that they used my image on their postcard!

Yesterday I learned that my painting "Flights of Fancy" is accepted into the Georgia Juried Member's show.

Flights of Fancy (Watercolor)

Something bizarre must be happening to the Universe - maybe the Mayan legend is true - the world really is coming to an end!

Unfortunately, I didn't have any pieces to send to NWS for signature review (all the "good ones" were out in shows).  But who cares, I'm happy and thrilled to be in that show, as well as the others.  And, in the scheme of things, that's not really a bad "problem" to have.

ACCEPT AND REJECT . . .

The good news is that my painting "Farmall" (fluid acrylic) has been accepted into the Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibition!

On the flip side, the bad news is that, once again, I've been rejected from another national show. 

Oh, well.  I consider that my entry fee is my contribution to Art, and it will help fund an award or workshop there, so it's going to a good cause.

Art gets a lot of my cash throughout the year.  Hope "he" appreciates it and spends it wisely!

GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

Now I can sign it . . . .

. . . since I just earned my Signature (status) from Georgia Watercolor Society! Yippee!!

I’m very excited, and honored (especially since the other person just earning his signature in the Society is none other than Laurin McCracken.  I’m in no way comparing my abilities to his, far from it; but, wow, it’s exciting to me to think that I’ve got something in common with him!

GWS has a point system: ½ pt. for a members’ show and 1 point for a National Exhibition. And, all of their shows are juried, so it doesn’t matter whether you are a member, you still might not get into the shows. Well, over the past couple of years I have entered 4 paintings which have been accepted into 2 national and 2 members’ shows! Since there are always different judges, and I never bribed any of them (ha, ha) I have concluded that maybe I can paint.

I’m aware that some artists do not want to participate in pursuing signature status in any of the watercolor societies, believing that it is elitist and/or political. But, it’s only human nature to want to know “where we stand”. Having your painting hanging on the wall next to other artists’ work is one of the best ways to figure that out. As far as I’m concerned, achieving signature status is a validation of an artist’s skills and hard work.

In any event, I’m very happy about this and just wanted to share with you.

This was one of those paintings that I loved from the start. In other words, very rare!

I “painted” it in my head first, and it was beautiful! Then came the hard part – actually painting it!

Once I had decided on this subject – a photo taken a few years ago at the local farm show – I cropped and enlarged the photo. Then I decided to use watercolor, full sheet.

I have found that the paintings that I work out in my head and take my time with usually turn out the best. Gee, planning and execution – who woulda thunk it!

Industrial Revolution, watercolor, 22x30.

BEST OF AMERICAN WATERMEDIA and GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

Well, I didn’t really believe it until my book came, but two of my paintings - Sunlit Pears II (casein) and Roses on Grandma’s Quilt (watercolor) have been published in Best of American Watermedia J-Z! I’m very flattered – to be in a book with Chris Krupinski, Pablo Villicana Lara, Laurin McCracken, and many other fine painters. And by no means am I comparing myself to them – I’ve got quite a way to go for that! As my daughter told me “You better step up your game, Mom!”

But, still, I’ll take compliments wherever I can get them!

My congrats also to Chris Beck who is in the volume A-I.

In addition - my painting Agave (watercolor) has been accepted into the Georgia Watercolor Society Juried Members Exhibition - the juror was Linda Baker.

SOLD!

Just received notification that my painting "Blue Pitcher and Pears on Lace" (see post on April 24, 2010) was sold at the Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibit!  It had also won an award (maybe why someone wanted to purchase it??)
Anyway - I'm very excited (can you tell!!) - but also a little sad.  You know how you have a few special paintings that surpass your expectations - that was one of mine - so I'm glad it sold but still a little sad not to see it again.

. . . AND WIN SOME MORE!!! GEORGIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY NATIONAL EXHIBITION

I received a really nice call the other night – my painting “Blue Pitcher and Pears on Lace” won the Sam Flax Award at the Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibition!
I consider any award in a national show an honor!