Sandi B. began our meeting by announcing how our society has a lot of things going on! Another busy and productive season is in store!

New Members: Julie C., Tom M., Karen M., Monica G., and Starr T. is back! Welcome to all!

SOBO show drop off of art is on Nov. 1, 2025 from 3 – 5 PM. NOTE: That will be trick or treat for local families.

SOBO’s reception will be Nov. 6 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. and they provide refreshments.

Sandi B. announced our Holiday Party would be at Kingswood Manor, thank you to Michel O. for setting this up for us! Volunteers will be needed for this event for the mini paintings, checking in the art for the holiday show, refreshments, etc.

Plein Air Announcements: Marcela announced the October 26 event at Dickson-Azalea Park at 100 Rosearden Dr. Meet at the base of the Washington Bridge.

November 12, Wednesday, from 10 -2 PM, at Nehrling Gardens, 2267 Hempel Ave. Gotha. Park across the street.

Susan G. announced a workshop:  Nov. 13 & 14th from 9am – 4p  Donna Morrison will teach “A Brush with Your Wild Side”. Fees: $185 members early bird,  $210 after Oct. 14  and $235 for Non-members. At Hopper Academy in Sanford.

A CFWS March Workshop, will be at SOBO Gallery, with Teresa Kirk. March 2, 3, 4, 2026… more info to come.

2026 Annual Members Juried Show Dates:

Entries due:  Dec. 15 – Jan. 17, 2026

Drop-Off art: Sat. Feb. 28   3 – 5 PM

Opening of show: March 2

Reception and Awards: Sunday, March 15   2 – 5 PM 

Pick-Up Art:  Sunday, March 29    1 – 3 PM

(Volunteers needed for these events)

Fee: $25 for one and $30 for 2.

Florida Watercolor Society 54th Annual exhibition “To Catch a Dream” is on exhibit until Jan. 4th, 2026. A gorgeous show that you must see while it’s here in Orlando.

Joan L. then introduced our award winning demonstration artist, Witha Lacuesta, who studied in Germany, Austria, and the USA. Her father painted and the whole family was artistic. She inherited her Dad’s watercolors. Music and dance series incorporates lines and movement. She was inspired by ballroom dancing. She uses Canson  and Arches watercolor papers. She draws with sweeping motions, on tissue papers, while closing her eyes. TIP: Make your own transfer paper by rubbing graphite, using a tissue, on to the back of the paper. If you don’t have a graphite stick, you can sift out the graphite shavings from your pencil sharpener. Witha feels there are oils in the commercial paper that can affect your work. Do your sketch on some other paper, such as tracing paper, and transfer it to your watercolor paper, erasure impacts the fibers of the watercolor paper. 

I start with sketching movements … then define and manipulate until I am satisfied. I transfer this drawing to my watercolor paper

I choose my colors to emphasize the music or rhythm, sometimes soft – other times bright and bold.  The last part is the line work mostly done in black but at times in other colors. This is done with a fine brush and free hand.

Choice of color is intuitive depending on your mood or other inspiration.

Another way I start my abstracts is with plain clean water and lots of intense primary colors. The brand is not important as long as you understand what the brand is based on because how fast a color is in solution depends on the carrier. So it might be of interest to you to read up how various brands are fabricated. My personal choices are Daniel Smith, Schmincke, QoR, Sennelier (honey based), but occasionally others, too.

Several spray bottles of different patterns, clean alcohol, various salts, all can assist in creating interesting patterns. And do not forget opaque paints. They can be used in very creative ways.

I use mostly large brushes, 2 inch minimum but also foxtails and other configurations as I see fit. For my fine lines I use script and fine 0 brushes.

Witha likes is to “paint” with a big brush loaded with only water and then drop the paint in.
  1. When she begins a sketch, she stands up or uses an easel. The further away you are from the paper, the more loose the drawing. When she paints, she says to paint from the elbow if you want a looser effect.
  2. She usually works on a flat surface to let the paints mix by themselves. She will pick the piece up if she needs to let some areas run together. Spray areas for more mixing.
  3. To make “Black”- Witha will put the dried up tubes of paint into a container, add water, and let them sit.

Different watercolor papers have also different patterns and water absorption properties. All this can help you to create great paintings.

Many saw a black cat in the painting, so Witha showed a print of one.

She likes is to “paint” with a big brush loaded with only water and then drop the paint in. Witha doesn’t like Payne’s Gray because it is a mixture of green, brown, and blue shade, and the color varies from different manufacturers. She prefers indigo.

She drew with water then added Indigo into the water to create figures.
and then added a violet blend. Indigo looks like black.
To make straight lines, she uses tape.
Wave two paintings together to get a new design.

A few more tips to think about: Be happy with whatever happens. The fun is to see what the colors do.

Find your childhood. Don’t overwork it.

See you soon as we begin another busy season!!!