This four day workshop was inspiring and lots of fun. Stan Kurth is terrific! Here are a few photos from the four days.
The First Day~! Holy Cow!
The photographer missed the second day but did get some pics of the third day and Stan’s demonstrations.
The last day ended with a full afternoon critique of each participant’s selected painting. It was a grand afternoon. The participants’ work is awesome, each different, each showing a new and unique approach. Terrific!!
Thank you to everyone who submitted! We have 100 submitted paintings from 54 NFWS Members. Our juror Stanley Kurth will be selecting a show of between 40 and 50 paintings. The Exhibition Committee will be sending out notifications between August 31 and September 3, 2023.Good luck to everyone!
Dates: Wednesday October 11 to Saturday October 14, 2023
Location: Taylor Theater Meeting Room at The Kenan Center in Lockport, NY (behind Kenan House – accessible ramp)
433 Locust Street Lockport, NY 14094
Time: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Lunch: 12:15 – 1:00 pm (Bring lunch or order daily through the workshop)
Fee: Members: $350 Non-Members: $390
Stan Kurth Workshop Registration Brochure
Workshop Description:
The aim is to teach all levels of students to paint intuitively, starting without preconceived notions or outcome. There will be no preliminary planning or drawing. Process will dictate direction as students use watercolor and gouache to implement elements and principles of design. Painting will start with random marks, then color is added using a mixture of watercolor and gouache to create a library of design elements. The instructor will offer regular comments and evaluate work in progress regarding relationships between design elements and principles. It is entirely possible finished work may be representational, but the goal is work which is compositionally pleasing and aligned with each artist’s personal aesthetic.
General Plan: The instructor will demonstrate every day of the workshop, usually first thing in the morning. The rest of the day will be spent with students as they work on that day’s assignment (based on the morning demonstration). On the first day of the workshop after introductions, Stan will give an overview on the elements and principles of design, then an explanation of intuitive painting as he sees it. On the last day of the workshop critique time will be allotted in the afternoon based on the number of students in the class.
About the artist:
Artist and workshop instructor, Stan Kurth, has drawn and painted most of his life. An aunt, who was an artist and art instructor, influenced him even before he began school. Stan lives with the conviction of “fear not” and that same attitude permeates not just his life, but his art. His focus and dedication to his work have earned him signature member status in several watercolor societies including the National Watercolor Society, San Diego Watercolor Society and the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies – Master. He currently lives in Arizona.
“My paintings are expressions of my life experience, everything which has touched and moved me along a path to the latest work. If the work fails to speak visually, no amount of esoteric rhetoric here will change it. Painting is a discipline which requires practice, passion, devotion, focus and a steadfast spirit of pursuing something which will never be attained.”
See Stan’s website: https://stankurth.com for more images.
October 4 – November 8, 2023
Project 308 Gallery
308 Oliver Street
North Tonawanda, New York 14120
The Exhibition will be on view from October 2 – November 13, 2022, Kenan Center House Gallery, 433 Locust Street, Lockport, NY. It will also be VIRTUAL, and will be posted on our website!
Glenn Blue’s National Award Winner Tucquan Glen,”Winter’s Glow”
The May Meeting and Demonstration was switched to virtual. We welcomed this inspiring teacher and Artist, Skip Lawrence after a brief Member’s Meeting. Here is a link to our recording of Skip’s demo on our YouTube Channel.
Skip Lawrence’s Zoom Demonstration
William Skip Lawrence: Expressive Artist
“I love everything about painting. I love feeling the paint, seeing a rich color spread under my brush onto a surface and the play between colors coming together. I love watching my idea take form until a painting finally says “it” and I am surprised and delighted every time. I love sharing my art and knowing that someone is moved by it.
I see no hierarchy among realism, abstraction, non-objective painting styles. I see only the relationship of colors, shapes, surface and line that either thrills or bores me. When these elements come together to communicate an artist’s intention to the viewer, to connect with someone, it is nothing short of wonderful.
Join us for an evening of sharing and inspiration!
SUBMISSION PERIOD ENDS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020!
The Fall 2020 Members Watermedia Exhibition will be held at the Carnegie Art Center November 4 – 28, 2020. This site will be ready to receive submissions on July 12, 2020. Go to the Call for Work page for more information.
After a short and informative members meeting, we will welcome our own NFWS Signature Member Carol Molnar, an Elma NY artist whose paintings and other media creations have long fascinated all who know her.
Artist’s Statement: “Watercolor is just one of several ways I find to get the art stuff out. I taught art for thirty one years (1st-12th grade) so I see myself as a “jack of all trades and a master of none”. It wasn’t until several years after retiring and joining NFWS that watercolors were given some extra space next to: sewing, gardening, painted wood creations, batik, stained glass and jewelry design.
I am not by any sense of the word a “disciplined” painter. Weeks or even months will go by before picking up a brush. The paintings are always worked on in my head long before being placed on paper. Then the need to paint takes over and I will disappear into my workroom.
A future painting presents itself at any given time. I am so thankful for camera phones to preserve the memory of that perfect composition. Sometimes … well actually pretty often, I will view a scene and see it as if it was already a finished painting. Objects from nature appear to be the work of assorted artists: a Burchfield tree, a Georgia O’Keeffe sky, a Picasso rock, (I have one in my garden), a composition by Adolph Gottlieb, and then the sun will quietly and perfectly cover a house for a painting by Edward Hopper. I’m sure this happens because of all those years of teaching art history, the principles of design and the elements of art.”
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!!!
After a short and informative members meeting, we will welcome Mick McAndrews, an award winning, nationally exhibited watercolor artist from Downington, PA.
Mick’s award winning paintings strive to capture the mood and atmosphere of a subject, combining the magic of watercolor with reverence for the principles of design to create works of sophisticated simplicity. He is a signature member of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society (Crest Award), the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society (Sylvan Grouse Guild) and the Baltimore Watercolor Society. He is also an Artist Member of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association.
Mick’s Demonstration: During this watercolor demonstration Mick will focus on working with plenty of water and pigment to exploit the wonder and intrinsic beauty of the medium. He offers – ” I will avoid the pitfalls of noodling with fussy details and instead focus on the importance of good design including interesting shapes, value contrast and variety of edges. With this knowledge we will explore and experience the “magic” that makes watercolor so distinctive.”
Artist’s Statement
I am a passionate painter who believes that time spent painting is precious. My goal is to draw and paint every day and I believe that the fastest way to artistic growth is through the activity of painting. I enjoy painting outside to take advantage of surroundings, natural light, and the sights and sounds that influence each painter’s creative nature. Outside in nature’s studio is where I find the greatest challenge and the greatest reward. I am challenged to capture the moment because light and its effect, reflection and cast shadow changes continuously. I am forced to simplify, to reduce the overwhelming complexity of what’s in front of me into only the most important shapes and values. My nature is to be spontaneous so working loose and impressionistically appeals to me. The magic of watercolor is found in the partnership between artist and medium, of finding a balance between the knowledge, technique and skill of the painter while leaving room for the magic that makes watercolor so distinctive.
Recent Artistic Accomplishments:
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!!!
