Tag Archives: monthly meeting

January 18, 2024 Members Meeting and Demonstration by Rick Surowicz, all on Zoom!

Following a brief Members Meeting we will have the pleasure of a demonstration by the popular watercolor artist and teacher Rick Surowicz, from Medina, Ohio.
This will be a Zoom event, held at 4 pm on Thursday, January 18th. A Zoom link will be sent by email to all NFWS Members on the Monday before the Thursday afternoon Meeting.

Artist Biography

Rick Surowicz, a painter currently living in Medina, Ohio, discovered how much he enjoyed the challenges of transparent watercolor in 1992.  His paintings have been juried into exhibitions of the American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Louisiana Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society, and Splash 21.  Watercolor Artist Magazine did an eight-page feature article on his work in their 2021 Summer edition.   His YouTube channel has over 65,000 subscribers with over 4.8 million views.  Rick is a signature member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, and a current Trustee.  He keeps busy with his online instruction.

Artist Statement

To look where others don’t look, to see what others don’t see, to say without saying inspires and challenges me as an artist. I look through underbrush to see the river, I see beyond the flower to behold the foliage, and suggest the tree by painting the woods. I seek to portray that which is not obvious. It’s not my intent to replicate but to interpret through the elements and principles of design. I enjoy the beauty of transparent watercolor and continue to learn and evolve with every painting, with every brushstroke.

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_RHSK_GEIoVTF-QNKDRvgA

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rsurowiczart 

Website:  https://rsurowiczart.com/

 

 

 

 

Members February 16, 2023 Zoom Meeting and Demonstration by Tom Francesconi at 4 pm!

Following a brief Members Meeting we will have the pleasure of a demonstration by Illinois watercolor artist Tom Francesconi. This will be a Zoom event, held at  4 pm  on Thursday, February 16th. A Zoom link will be sent by email to all NFWS Members on the Monday before the Thursday evening Meeting. 

ARTIST’S STATEMENT 

My paintings are a visual statement of my love for life. Yet, it is not only the world around me with which I am put in touch, but also the world inside of me. As an artist, I have chosen to express myself through the language of paint. Stirred emotions are the essential beginnings of that language. It is my hope that my paintings will echo that emotional response and the viewer will share in my spirited statements. 

Tom Francesconi, aws, nws, twsa (master) 

Tom Francesconi studied watercolor at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. His paintings have been exhibited in many national exhibitions, which include the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society and the 2015 Shenzhen, China International Biennial Exhibition. In 2020, Tom’s painting was selected for inclusion in the NWS: 100 Years Exhibition. He has earned signature membership in numerous watercolor societies, including the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, Rocky Mountain National Watermedia and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, of which he has been honored with ‘Master’ status. Tom has served as president of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. Currently, Tom is the executive director of the Illinois Watercolor Society.His work has been published in eight books on American Watercolor. Tom has written articles for Watercolor Artist, Watercolor Magic and Watercolor magazines. 

Tom’s paintings have received many awards in regional and national exhibitions, including the 1st Place Award at the 2011 Watercolor West Exhibition, 3rd Place Awards at the 2019 Houston International Watermedia Exhibition and the 2019 Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition. Tom received an Honorable Mention Award for his painting, “Unleashed”, published in The Best of Watercolor: Winners From the 22nd Annual Splash Competition, June 2021. Tom received the Gordon and Mildred Memorial Award at the 2023 Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors. 

Tom’s paintings are held in the corporate collections of Inland Real Estate Corporation, Oakbrook, IL, CNA Insurance Company, Chicago, IL, Paige Bus Enterprises, Chicago, IL and Morgan Stanley Financial Services Company, Chicago, IL and in many private collections throughout the United States. Along with his weekly classes in Chicago, Tom has conducted watercolor workshops throughout the United States, Canada, France, Italy and Croatia. 

www.tomfrancesconi.com 

 

 

March 17th Members Meeting and Demonstration by Kris Parins!

After a brief Members Meeting, Kris Parins will be our artist demonstrator, joining us from Sarasota, Florida.

Delight in nature was instilled in Kris in her childhood, spent at the edge of a lake in northern Wisconsin. That same small lake now provides the view and inspiration from the windows of her summer studio. She spends winters painting in Sarasota, Florida.

A Signature Member of several watercolor societies including AWS, NWS and TWSA, Kris Parins’ award-winning paintings and articles have been featured in Watercolor Artist, International Artist, and American Artist Watercolor magazines, as well as several editions of Splash, the Best of Watercolor. Her work is regularly included in international competitions including Birds in Art at the Woodson Art Museum.

After earning an art degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison she studied graphic design. As an art director and account executive, she enjoyed the occasional opportunity to create watercolor illustrations for her clients’ product graphics. Since 1999, Kris has devoted her creative energy toward fine art. Watercolor’s transparency and vibrancy, combined with an element of surprise, continue to keep her interested in this challenging medium. Frequent travels provide fresh input and continue to inform her way of interpreting the world around her. 

Kris Parins – Artist Statement:

Through my art I strive to communicate my joy of experience, both of observation and of creation. When I succeed, the person who views one of my paintings will see a small part of the world in a new light.

By exaggerating essentials and eliminating detail in my reference photos and sketches, I call attention to the ideas that interest me, resulting in paintings that are more powerful, abstract, and personal.

I continue to love transparent watercolor because I am energized by the randomness and spontaneity it provides. The swirl of color mixing on the paper creates its own nuanced atmosphere and inspires a conversation with the medium, often suggesting new directions.

 

October Members Meeting and Demonstration by Iain Stewart

After a short and informative members meeting, we will welcome our NFWS Fall Workshop Artist Iain Stewart, an award winning watercolor artist and teacher and a signature member of both the American and National Watercolor Societies.His work has received numerous awards in international competitions. Iain’s paintings have been published in Southern Living,  Cottage Living, Better Homes and Gardens, The Robb Report, Watercolor ArtistMagazine, Splash 15 16 17, and the French publication Pratique des Arts.

in maintains a studio in Opelika, Alabama, and in addition to working as a fine artist and workshop instructor, he is an architectural illustrator with an international clientele. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture Auburn University.

Iain’s teaching process employs a repeatable process involving carefully planned out steps for painting any subject. His method entails making exploratory sketches and value studies to guide the painting process. According to Iain, there is no other tool at your disposal, other than your sketchbook, better suited for exploring ideas with abandon and a carefree attitude.

Check out his website:  stewartwatercolors.com

Everyone, member, not yet member and watercolor lover alike, is welcome to join us. We are a group that shares enthusiasm for watercolor and watermedia, welcomes  friendship old and new,  and  enjoys good snacks!!!

September Members Meeting and Demonstration by Drayton Jones

After a short and informative members meeting, we will welcome Drayton Jones, and award winning, nationally exhibited watercolor artist from Fayetteville, NY.

 Jones is an active member of the Cazenovia Watercolor Society, participates in local shows including St. David’s and The Dark Isle at Lorenzo and teaches various workshops. Recently he became a Signature member of Watercolor West, a nationally recognized Watercolor Society. He has studied under Nicora Gangi, a full time nationally exhibited,  award- winning painter/artist. Gangi says “Drayton Jones’ sensitive style of expression, through the medium of watercolor, poetically captures the drama of natural light on his subject matter, whether it be the soft rolling hills of central New York or the tranquil beauty of our surrounding lakes”. Jones also received acclaim by Syracuse Post writer, Katherine Rushworth, in her article, Sunday June 10th, 2007 declaring “one of the highlights in the show was discovering the work of Drayton Jones. His style is reminiscent of the great American watercolorist John Marin, but Jones is crisper and less abstract in his approach.” Ms. Rushworth called his work “fluid, bold” and “daring””.

Everyone, member, not yet member and watercolor lover alike, is welcome to join us. We are a group that shares enthusiasm for watercolor and watermedia, welcomes  friendship old and new,  and  enjoys good snacks!!!

November Members Meeting and Demonstration by Katie Turner

Our monthly Members Meetings are brief and open to the public. We welcome everyone interested in watercolor, the regional arts community and learning. There is always a demonstration by remarkable watercolor artist, and snacks are provided!

November’s artist demonstrator is Katie Turner! Love her statement –

“When I paint, I am deeply immersed in watching colors mix.  It’s fascinating to play with paint – poking it – leading it – spraying it – coaxing it into walking across the paper.  I almost always see shapes from nature, most always flowers.”                                                     ~ Katie Turner

Originally from Buffalo, Katie is a watercolor artist who loves working on slick surfaces. Exposed to the art world at an early age by her late mother, a watercolorist from Buffalo, Turner continues to develop her individual style with passion and dedication painting evocative, fresh and intuitive pieces.

Although Turner spent many years in the graphic arts field, writing articles, publishing zines and working with various media, she never strays far from watercolor.

Publications: Creative Genius (Book), NLAPW, April 2018; Stone Canoe: A Journal of Arts, Literature and Social Commentary No. 12, March 2018; Celebrating 120 Years of Pen Women Coloring Book, Jan 2018; NLAPW Magazine, Winter 2017 & Spring 2015; In the Company of Women Book, Jacobs Press, June 2016; & several articles in Somerset Gallery Magazines, Scrap & Stamps & more.

Membership: International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA), National League of American Pen Women (Visual Artist), Signature member of Central New York Watercolor Society, Signature member of Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society, and sitting on the Board of the Central New York Art Guild.

www.KTArtStudio.com

November Members Meeting and Demonstration by Paul Allen Taylor

Come learn about what’s happening in the watercolor community in Western New York, enjoy the company of fellow watercolor and watermedia enthusiasts, and watch a demonstration by the colorful impressionist painter from Rochester, NY, Paul Allen Taylor.

Born in Rochester, NY, Paul Allen Taylor is a self-taught watercolorist recognized for his fresh use of color and impressionistic style. As a respected teacher and workshop instructor, Taylor has developed a following where students find him engaging, highly skilled, and entertaining.

I have been working in watercolor for nearly thirty years. In the beginning I painted as a hobby after finishing college classes. With time my skills improved and my range of subjects grew. I soon realized that painting was not just something to do, but something I needed to do.

Today I am an artist fulfilling a personal drive, teaching others what I have learned and  benefitting from the sales of my art.

My recent work has involved pre-drawing in ink with a match stick. Where some artists will draw over a watercolor in pen and ink, the pre-ink method with a match stick creates a drawing with varied line as the basis for the painting. This drawing not only adds necessary detail and shape definition to the work but also makes the painting process easier. This will be the subject of my demonstration for NFWS.

 

Taylor teaches watercolor for the Rush Henrietta Schools Adult Education program and the Artstore at Southtown Plaza in Rochester. His work can be seen at the Artstop in Penfield, NY, the Lower Mill Gallery in Honeoye Falls, NY, Bay House Artisans, Alexandria Bay, NY, and Mares Wares Pottery, Morristown, NY.

Watercolor Demonstration by NFWS Workshop Artist Linda Frayne Kemp at the Burchfield Penney Art Center

Twice a year, in October and May, NFWS partners with the Burchfield Penney Art Center to host a demonstration by the NFWS Workshop Artist. Our Fall Workshop Artist is internationally renowned watercolor and water media artist, Linda Frayne Kemp. Come to the BPAC early, check our the exhibitions, and the gallery shop. All are welcome!

A full time artist, Linda Kemp frequently instructs and lectures at national symposiums and watercolour workshops throughout Canada, The United States and The United Kingdom. She was the recipient of the 2005 Woman of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture and in 2008 received the AJ Casson Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Watercolour, the top award for the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour National Juried Exhibition.

Linda is internationally recognized for her unique contemporary watercolours and innovative use of negative painting. She is the author of two books: Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines – A Positive Approach to Negative Painting and Simplifying Design and Color For Artists – Positive Results Using Negative Painting Techniques (North Light pub.) and four instructional Dvds. Kemp is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, The Ontario Society of Artists and The Society of Canadian Artists and was given honorary membership in the Society for all Artists (UK). This artist is profiled in Canadian Who’s Who, Who’s Who of Canadian Women, The Dictionary of International Biography, The 20th Anniversary Edition of Trivial Pursuit and 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century.

Her award winning paintings are in private, public, and corporate collections around the world, including The Royal Collection, Windsor Castle, and the private collection of HRH The Prince of Wales.

Her paintings and articles have been featured in publications such as Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, Watercolor Magic, International Artist, Watermedia Focus, Palette Magazine and The Watercolour Gazette. Castle, U.K.

September Members Meeting and Demonstration by Eileen Sudzina

Come learn about what’s happening in the watercolor community in Western New York, enjoy the company of fellow watercolor and watermedia enthusiasts, and watch a demonstration by the exciting painter from Pittsburgh, Eileen Sudzina.

Eileen offers: “When painting, I lose myself for a while and am free to create and design a work that’s loose and spontaneous on YUPO. I try to capture just the essence of what’s inside myself, painting quickly with a lot of flowing energy. I like there to be a lot going on close up, but to have the wholeness of the work show that something’s there too.
I design with pattern and my work has been described as a “Sense of Interval”.

I am the Screening Chair and Workshop Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society and former Vice President.”