The meeting started with President Sandi B. welcoming our 2 guests, Betty and Bev, to our meeting. She reminded us the April 12^th meeting is on zoom. The demonstration will be by Alexis Lavine. Remember to check your emails for the link for the demo.

Library books back to Mary Kathyryn.

Leslie R. will do the demo in October. She will do a portrait for Loren K’s pet.

Mary D. reminded members we will have elections for 4 positions in May. Please let Mary know if you want to help or take a board positions.

March 15^th (Sunday) 2-5 pm. – CFWS Annual Show Reception.

March 18^th Board meeting at 10 a.m. Zoom

March 21 (Saturday) Plein Air at Lake Louisa in Clermont. Bring lunch.

March 28 our society is helping Leu Gardens with an art event from 10am – 1pm. Set up at 9 am. After we are done with volunteering, we can enjoy the gardens for free.

1. Brochures will be available

2. Plein Air painters can set up to paint

3. Artists bring paint, paper and brushes for guests to use with lessons.

Our CFWS show – During the show, we’ll have a fish bowl to collect votes for the People’s Choice Award which will be announced at the May meeting. Members and guests are allowed to vote.

Sharon S. announced plans for the upcoming retreat at Camp Linn Haven. This is an annual trek to the art camp in North Carolina.

Joan L. introduced our watercolor demonstration by Teresa Kirk:

Teresa says you should ask “What if? Her answer: “Play!”

Her demonstration and workshop are titled “The Beauty of the Mark.” Teresa also taught the three day workshop and was the Annual Members Show juror.
Teresa usually works on Ampersand Aquabord. This is an acid-free, textured, clay surface that absorbs the watercolor just like 300# paper. It’s cheaper than 300# watercolor paper and the surface can be sealed and not put under plexiglass. She’ll have a stack of boards and choose one that inspires her.
Her process begins without any planning. She does not have any ideas or concepts when she starts:
• She wets her surface first to get the bubbles out of the clay.

She scribbles all over the surface using Sumi ink or watercolor pencils.

• Then she spatters and applies transparent watercolor randomly, wherever she feels. She wants large shapes to appear and has no center of interest.

She uses a limited palette of the primary colors (yellow, cyan, and magenta) plus white and black, and leans towards the warm colors

• Her top layer is done in gouache, an opaque watercolor. She uses the thicker paint to block out negative spaces so her shapes take place, using a flat brush because round brushes hold too much water.

o The shapes should have “nibbly” edges.
o Usually there are 3-4 spots of the same color to balance the painting, especially when using black.
o The shapes must connect and she thinks in terms of a grid.
o The outside/edges of the painting must connect to the inside of the painting.

o She lifted areas with a stencil containing irregular shaped holes to add texture to the area. She said to use only a natural sponge.

Pattern and texture are the same thing. Pattern is for large spaces and texture are in small spaces.

You know when a painting is done, when it is framed or sold! There have been a few times she has gone back in to do some touches on a framed piece.

Place a mat over the edges to help you keep your eyes in the painting.
When you think you are done, back away from the painting. Put it in a spot to look at it for a week.
If you find yourself asking, “What if I did….?”, then do it!

To seal the painting, Teresa uses Minwax spray varnish from the hardware stores. She sprays in one direction, waits 30 minutes, sprays another coat perpendicular to the first coat, waits 30 minutes before doing the final coat.