MINUTES AND PROGRAM - JULY 1, 2015
Marilyn Bishop, President, called our meeting to order, and welcomed everyone, including five guests, Sandy Sperber, Linda Garrison (who found us on the Web), Eileen Flannery, Dee Fagedes, and Carol (whose last name I missed).
Sally Wester, Treasurer, gave the Financial Report of the Treasury, which is in good shape. Deb Ward, Membership, said we now have 84 members.
It was announced that, for those who are not able to read the Minutes of our meetings on the Blog, there are a number of printed copies at each meeting on the back table, as well as a short form to fill out and give to Joyce Grothaus, Secretary, if you have an “Announcement” .
Diana Marra will be teaching at the Berea Festival of Learnshops July 11-27 in Berea, KY, and will have work in Art on the Commons, Aug. 9 in Lincoln Park in Kettering, OH.
Carol McAfee, GCWS Exhibit Chair, gave information about our show at the “Barn” from August 5 through August 25, 2015. Important dates:
Pre-Registrations are due July 22 to Joyce Grothaus, who will prepare the Tags (Labels) for all paintings, and the List of Artists and Paintings.
“Hanging” Day will be the same day/same place as our meeting – August 5/ Barn. Bring your paintings and entry fee to the Barn between 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
GALLERY SITTERS NEEDED
On July 11, 12, 13 and 14 we need to
cover the gallery during our show.
Sitters are needed in 2 hour (or more)
increments for those days between
the hours of 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Please contact
Carole McAFfee if you are an exhibitor or
member who would like to help the GCWS.
Nick Scrimenti, teacher at Miami University Hamilton campus, and consultant from Windsor Newton, gave us great information on paints and colors, and new materials, including paint crayons and paint sticks.
At last month’s meeting, Litsa Spanso, who gave the June Presentation, invited our group to come to her Studio, to enjoy the Art Comes Alive (will be there for the month of July). We were able to work it out to go as a group after today’s meeting and program. Litsa’s Studio, Art Design Consultants, is on Culvert Street, by Eggleston, just about .3 mile from our meeting place.
This worked out beautifully as we all traveled in 6-7 cars. Litsa provided sandwiches for us, and 25 members thoroughly enjoyed them, and seeing all of the wonderful work of artists from around the U.S. About a quarter of the 180 winning paintings were from Ohio artists. It was fascinating to see the variety of styles, sizes, ideas, and talent. ADC will be accepting entries for this annual show next February. We certainly appreciate Litsa’s kind invitation and her hospitality for this wonderful event!
Program for July 1, 2015 Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society
The Presenter for the July meeting was Nick Scrimenti who is a Representative for the Windsor Newton Co., a teacher at Miami University, Hamilton Campus, as well as a Muralist for Cincinnati ArtWorks. After his Presentation, Nick was on his way to the Sam Adams Bldg. to work on a mural there. Nick earned his Bachelor’s at Miami University, and has a Masters in Fine Arts from U.C. He works for Windsor Newton in their Fine Art Collective Education Program.
Nick gave us a very detailed and informative education on Paint – the ingredients, the kinds of, the properties, and the colors.
Paint is made up of pigment – which can be made from a mineral base, that is, things that are found in the ground, (generally more opaque) or from “living things” such as beetles, or from synthetic ingredients (generally more translucent) – mixed with a binder such as gum Arabic. Watercolors are made with gum Arabic which allows them to re-wet. (Watercolor paper is also more important to success than the base for other mediums – use a good quality.)
We discussed the quality of Student Grade vs Artist Grade Paints. The differences in the two are: price; less pigment or less pure pigment in student grade (this really makes a difference when you try to mix three colors); colors are not as permanent as Artist grade.
Paints which are named ---- Hue are usually a mixture of ingredients as opposed to pure pigment, and therefore may you get a bit different result than you are expecting. There is also a difference in Rose Madder Genuine, made from roots and gum Arabic – which is not permanent unless the label specifically says it is; and Rose Madder made from a chemical.
Nick emphasized that we should pay close attention to the labels on the paints we buy. For instance, an “open” block on a label says it is transparent; a filled in black block means opaque. Certain letters mean such things as A = best for lasting; B is less lasting.
Other interesting facts: Each Brand has certain colors that they say are their “Primary” colors; there are certain properties for paints to granulate; have texture, and are opaque – generally mineral paints; staining colors are usually synthetic, more transparent. One can download a chart from Windsor Newton that tells all of this kind of information. Also W/N has seven Mediums: a granulation media; a blending media; a texture media, an irridescent media; an oxgall media which aids re-wetting and “lifting” and a masking media (only use old or cheap brush). A tip given – use a bamboo pen to put on masking in small, thin, strokes.
A question about Brushes was answered - Sable brushes are generally considered the “Best”. Be gentle with them; clean them well; don’t use them on canvas.
And, after all this knowledge was given to us – there were additional gifts for each member at the meeting – a bottle of blending medium, a sample of Windsor Newton’s new Watercolor Paint Marker – very interesting – wide tip or narrow tip (can also be wet), and a Paint Stick (rather like a watercolor crayon). Everyone was eager to try out these new products.
Submitted by Joyce Grothaus, Secretary, GCWS, 2015
