President's Message
On August 21, our general meeting was held in Kirkland at the Kingsgate Library. The attendence was low possible due to it being the middle of summer and being an extremely nice day.
Besides talking about the coming events, we had a great demo given by Diana Sanford. She was one of six members of NPS that received an award for their painting entered in the "PASTEL JOURNAL 100 WINNERS" published in the April issue. Dianan received the Silver Award for her painting. She talked about getting your mind into an artistic creative mode for painting abstract & non-objective pictures. She showed various ways to start a painting and stay away from having any representational elements appear. Her talk was very stimulating and definitely left you wanting to experiment and try some of her techniques. We thank her for traveling from Wenatchee to share her talents.
We were reminded of our deadline for the International Show. THE deadline is September 7. The show will be held at the American Art Company in Tacoma in November. In conjunction with our show, we are offering a workshop to be given by Clark Mitchell, a wonderful pastelist.
There are still openings in the workshop so please call and sign-up to reserve a spot. The workshop will be held at Donna Trent's studio in Gig Harbor. Our potluck/painting exchange will be November 12 from10:00-12:00pm also at Donna Trent's studio. It will be a brunch potluck and your paintings for exchange need not be wrapped as we will be displaying them so everyone can see what is being given. Since this is our 25th year for the International Show, we will have some special celebration things at this event.
Following the potluck, on November 12, we will be having our International Show Reception at the American Art Co. in Tacoma from 2:00-4:00pm. These events have been planned together so that people that travel may attend both events. NPS has been asked to display paintings at the Eastshore Gallery in Bellevue. The dates will be Feb.28 thru April 8th. There will be space to accomodate about 30 paintings. Please contact myself or Bonnie Griffith if you are interested in showing some of your work. We would like to hear from you as soon as possible so plans can be made.
The board has been discussing a lot of issues and we're trying to make improvements for NPS so that we all enjoy the activities and can meet fellow artists. Since this is a volunteeer group- we need participation from the members to kae things happen. The first meeting of 2012 will be elections. Here are some offices that need volunteers: 2nd Vice President Secretary Trea surer and several committee chairs Please consider being part of NPS and getting involved. It is important for the health of the group and also helps divide the tasks so that it is not all expected from just a few.
The more who participate the more that we can accomplish and the easier it will be. For more details regarding our meeting and board meeting discussions, please referto the website which will have the minutes shown there. Looking forward to seeing you all in November. Jo Ann Sullivan, President
Feb, 2011 Our meeting on February 6 was very successfuland a lot was accomplished. We covered a lot of topics so please take a moment and read our meeting minutes on the website.
Our renewal of members is down and is possibly due to the fact that some of us tend to postpone things and have missed the due date. We encourage you to take care of this and not wait until you find you need to be paid up in order to participate in an activity.
We welcome Jan Wall to the board as our new 2nd Vice President. The position was vacated and we thank her for volunteering. I know she will be a great asset to our board and a great representative for the membership.
Our next event is our Members Show in April. It should be a nice show and we are looking forward to the Kirsten Gallery venue.
Members are signing up now for our Paint Out in July on Whidbey Island at Camp Casey. We do need a head count to know how many to plan for. It is important that you sign up now as there is a minimum number required to make it happen. Our last paint out at Hood River produced great paintings. Those participants have been asked to have a show of those paintings at the Gorge White House. This will take place in August 2011.
Our next meeting will be Saturday, May 7 at Dakota Arts in Mt. Vernon. The General Meeting will begin at 12:30, but why not plan to come early and take advantage of the 10% off sale for NPS members only? Dakota Arts' owner, Craig Lemley, will give a presentation about what's new in the world of pastel painting directly after the meeting. Please plan to attend. We need you all to participate and share your art experiences.
Hope to see you all!
Jo Ann Sullivan, NPS President
Jo Ann Sullivan
NPS PresidentPresident’s Message Spring 2010
I challenge each and every NPS member to enter the Members Show coming up in April 2010 at Blue Horse Gallery in Bellingham, WA. All NPS members are encouraged to enter the 2010 Members Exhibit, go through a jury process, show your work in an upscale gallery, and attend your artist's reception where innovative expression is particularly embraced and acknowledged with huge prize monies. For the past two years, your NPS board has implemented changes across the board and are proud of those changes that have helped our society, (unlike some others), stay vital and thriving in a downward economic market. Our number one mission is to promote our members and we think that the Members Show is the best way to do that. Check out the entry protocol on the website. Penny has worked really hard to make it as painless as possible. You can do it all online with just the click of the mouse. We are soooo lucky to have her on it. The entry deadline for the Members Show is February 26th, 2010, so get started on your piece right away. I am anticipating an even stronger showing this coming year than last year which, by the way, was one of the best pastel shows around. As your Members Show co-chairs, Penny Chadwell and myself join our curator Linda Hughes and our gallerist Wade Marlow to extend a warm invitation to enter the Members Show. We cannot do it without YOU! Changes are in the air. Our next general meeting will be our election meeting and we are still looking toward you for nominations for several positions and yes, you can nominate yourself. We have one nomination for the president position, Laurie Potter.
Click here to go to the NPS "Meet Laurie" page, and
Click here to go to Laurie's website.
Laurie would like your vote and is very excited to get to know everyone better. I hope to see you at our next meeting - sadly for me the last one that I will preside over, February 21, 2010 where the board meeting begins at 10am and the General Meeting and Elections at noon at Kingsgate Library in Kirkland, www.kcls.org. Please RSVP via email to "Penny Chadwell" webmaster@nwps.org so that our wonderful refreshment chairperson, Sue Dawson can make sure that everyone gets some tasty food for showing up to the meeting. Just click on the link and let us know that you are coming. I am particularly proud to announce that Steve Hill will be doing a demo for us at this meeting. He will be using reference photos (boats and water, no doubt) taken in Croatia, and include using the new pan pastels, as he has been experimenting with those while working plein air. He can get underpaintings started at light speed and actually use darks over lights (on white or light tinted papers) and not end-up with the muddy colors that regular sticks give, when working darks over lights.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS FREE DEMONSTRATION BY STEVE HILL, our past president. You can see his work and learn more about his Croatia Art Workshop travels at www.windsweptstudios.com. Trish Harding NPS President
President’s Message Winter 2009
Here comes Old Man Winter! And along with it all of the things that we hearty souls of the Northwest find wonder in: from the chill in the open air to the cozy spot in front of the fireplace. It also often means going back into the studio to work after a sensory explosive spring-to-fall plein air painting period.
For me the differences between plein air and studio painting are immense. Outdoors I feel the most alive while painting. For me it is a complete reaction to my senses and I am comfortable setting up my easel and painting whatever is in front of me. I notice the air that I am breathing, both the natural sounds and manmade sounds, the moving sky, warm or cool air, the constant movement of bodies of water, the relentless changing light and I am always aware that I am never quite alone, but sharing the particular space with many others. There is no other experience for me that feels more authentic. On the other hand, going back into the studio is a whole new ball game! With four walls, a ceiling and a floor to enclose me into my space tending to separate me from other living energy, I am bound physically and sensory to something completely different and very solitary. Studio work gives me an opportunity to react slower to my surroundings, which are more stagnant and less interactive. I go inside myself in a more conceptual and intellectual mode. I play with streams of consciousness and memories- I realize things that I “know” but do not have any reason for “knowing”. There is a sense of more planning, designing, and selection in studio and I have something altogether different to say in my work, which manifests there. I simply find wonder in it all! Strengthen your society and your friendships in art by attending our next general meeting-Potluck/Gift Exchange, November 1st in Edmonds! Plan now for the 2010 Members’ Show, April 23 through May 28, 2010 at Bluehorse Gallery in Bellingham. This show will have a miniature section as well this year. 8 inches or smaller (image size) on any side. Sales for miniatures are strong all over the country in these economically challenged times. Big prize money and more importantly we want you to enter! The International Show in December 2010 promises to be world class again. Be sure to put it on your calendar now. This is a fabulous opportunity for all of our members! And of course, don’t miss this year’s paint out. Even if you are not a plein air painter, you will have great fun, connect with other members, learn a lot and find that there are many artists who will be happy to help you in any way, not to mention how much it will change and advance your studio painting! Our workshops for 2010 are still in the planning stages so stay tuned to your website for more information on those. Life long learning changes our brain and keeps us young! Peace, Trish Harding, President
Board & General Winter Meeting-Potluck/Gift Exchange, Nov 1, 2009 Members Show 2010 April 23-May 28 at Bluehorse Gallery, Bellingham International Show 2010 December, Everett
Paint Out TBA Workshop TBA
Spring 2009The Members' Show was a huge success! Congratulations to all!
Now, on to the International Show in July at the American Art Company in Tacoma opening Thursday July 16, 2009. The American Art Company is truly a high- end gallery and will no doubt be very beautiful and inspiring. Be there or Be Square!
Our next meeting will be at the Anacortes Library on a date yet to be announced in September. Please watch the website for that date.
Also coming in September is our yearly Paint-Out in the fabulous Hood River, Oregon area. You will enjoy lots of great painting and an opportunity to make friends with some of our Oregon NPS members. The NPS will be dividing a $1,500 stipend among attendees to help defray the cost of participating at the Paint-Out.
Our society is bursting with energy and ideas. We are trying to get more members involved in the workings of the organization so if there is any job that you are interested in, please let Gary Gumble, our treasurer, put you on the volunteer list. We need you and look forward to working with you!
New on the website is a “fresh sheet” that gives you quick access to all current events and breaking news. Look for it in the right-hand column of the NPS website home page.
We are now opening up the nominations for next year’s change of administration as my two year term will end with the elections at the Winter 2010 General Meeting. Please send me your nominations for president, 1st vice president, and 2nd vice president.
Happy painting everyone! If you are involved, stay involved - if you are not involved, get involved! This organization exists to promote you and your art!
Peace,
Trish, el presidente
