NWS Newsletter

The Summer 2010 Newsletter (PDF) is now available for download. Back issues are also available on our Newsletter page.

2010 Demonstration Series and Workshops

Mark your calendar later this year for another series of fabulous watercolor demos by award-winning artists. For the first time this year, NWS will also be sponsoring two 5-day workshops:

John Salminen (Demo) – Sunday, October 31, 2010

Karen Frey (Demo) – Sunday, November 7, 2010

Ron Ranson (Demo) – Sunday, November 14, 2010

John Salminen (Workshop) – October 25–29, 2010

Ron Ranson (Workshop) – November 15–19, 2010

Demonstrations are 10am to 3pm. Individual demonstrations are $25 each (series $60). Download 2-page PDF for location, descriptions and registration information.

2010 All Member Juried Show

The 2010 All Member show was held from May 2–29 at the National Watercolor Society Gallery, San Pedro, CA 90731.

The Sueo Serisawa Award ($1000) was presented to Mary Backer, CA for the painting “Patchwork” (pictured right).

More award-winning paintings...

President’s Message

Here it is time (Already!) for the 2010 National Exhibition. Where did the time go?!

 It seems as we grow as artists, painting becomes somewhat easier because we have learned about how the paint behaves under various conditions and on what surfaces our techniques appeal to us the most. As painting becomes easier, we answer to interruptions and distractions which come between our painting sessions and time seems to move faster and faster.

We, as painters, must pay close attention to the slippage of time. Deadlines come and go, workshops appear and disappear and show entries are met or missed. Frankly, I believe there is more to being a painter than going to workshops and entering shows. The true artist is always in a chase to become better and develop greater understanding – no matter how skilled he or she already is. There is always a better vision waiting to show itself in paint. There are always breakthroughs to be made.

NWS exists NOT to reward the usual and commonplace. Signature membership and generous prize purses incent and encourage uniqueness and quality. Our national exhibition is in place to encourage artists to reach beyond their comfort zones and stretch for the new, the creative and the untried. We want you, as painters, to understand more and, in that understanding, to probe deeper into yourselves for more personal and extraordinary accomplishments. We exist to encourage and stimulate artists to become the best they can be. In short, we sponsor artistic growth.

The point about time slipping away is this: These shows seem to be closer and closer together with less painting time in between. Many of us (including me) let time slip away and thus miss the necessary repetition of practice and trials and errors of painting in order to achieve that all important growth. We can read about it or watch others do it, but there is no substitute for pure repeated effort and making mistakes which help us understand more about ourselves and our art.

Think about it. Maybe you didn’t enter the 2010 exhibition – or, perhaps you did. Right now, this minute, make a promise to set aside time to study and paint.

Set goals and put your best efforts to work to make the new and the fresh. Welcome failures or mistakes – they teach us! Paint to experiment. Paint to try the untried. Paint to see what will happen if [fill in blank]. Paint! Paint! Paint!

Here’s to making your breakthroughs!

M.E. “Mike” Bailey
NWS President