Tag Archives: Watermedia

November 21st Members Meeting and Demonstration by Mick McAndrews

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: 

  • Winsor & Newton Award 2019 Wayne Plein Air
  • Honorable Mention 2019 Parrsboro International Plein Air
  • Accepted 2018 National Watercolor Society Member Exhibition
  • Feature Artist 2018 Door County Plein Air Competition
  • Judge of Awards 2018 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Member Exhibition
  • Third Prize 2018 Bucks County Plein Air Competition
  • Canson Award 2018 Wayne Plein Air Competition
  • Best Use of Light Award 2018 Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition
  • Third Prize 2018 Plein Air Brandywine Valley Competition
  • Demonstration artist and field painter for the 2017 Plein Air Convention & Expo
  • 17th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists
  • PWCS Plein Air Award and People’s Choice Award – 2017 On Location: Artists at Brandywine Plein Air Competition

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!!!

Spring 2019 Members Watermedia Exhibition

NFWS Spring 2019 Exhibition is on view from May 1 through May 25, 2019  at the Carnegie Art Center in North Tonawanda, New York. 69 NFWS Members submitted 126 paintings. Our juror Spring Workshop Artist Pat Dews selected 61 paintings from 45 artists. Congratulations to everyone who was selected, and to all the award winners.

It was a challenging task for Pat. Her thoughtful selections have resulted in a stunning show of work by our talented NFWS community of artists.

March 2019 Members Meeting and Demonstration by Nancy Lane

After a short and informative members meeting, we will welcome Nancy Lane, fine artist since 2007, who works in watercolor and other watermedia. She creates her paintings and illustrations in her studio in the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York, and is a member of the Rochester Art Club and the Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters. 

“I spent 30 years as an illustrator of more than 24 picture books, as well as book covers and magazine stories. Now I focus my time on my own paintings and commissioned work.

I also enjoy teaching art to individuals and groups, in my home as well as at Pat Rini Rohrer Gallery in Canandaigua, NY. I’ve learned how to explain the intuitive process of creating art so that my students can grow as artists.

When not in the studio, I’m an avid reader. I play piano and love hearing live music. I have two grown children that I’m overly proud of.  I enjoy hiking with my husband and our rescued dog in the woods surrounding our log home in  New York’s Finger Lakes region.” 

Everyone is welcome to join us for an entertaining evening of friendship, learning and inspiration.  See you in March!

 

 

May 2019 Members Meeting and Demonstration by Pat Dews

Twice a year, in May and October NFWS partners with the Burchfield Penney Art Center to host a demonstration by the NFWS Workshop Artist. Our Spring Workshop Artist is internationally renowned water media artist, Pat Dews.

Pat Dews, a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City is a signature member and Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, National Collage Society and the New Jersey Water Color Society.

Dews creates experimental works in watermedia on paper and canvas.  She paints the abstract essence of nature.  The shapes and textures of flowers, rocks, water, crumbled walls, rusty objects are translated into richly layered paint surfaces. Collage is often integrated.  Dews skillfully juggles organic and geometric forms, transparent and opaque paint – all held together by a basic abstract underlying shape.  It is this intricate dance, rendered in strong color and value which produces her award-winning paintings.

 

Come to the BPAC early, check our the exhibitions, and the gallery shop. All are welcome!

 

 

Spring 2019 Members Watermedia Exhibition, May 1 – May 25, 2019 at the Carnegie Art Center, 240 Goundry St., N. Tonawanda, NY 14120.

This Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society’s Spring 2019 Members’ Watermedia  Exhibition was juried by Pat Dews, our NFWS Spring 2019 Workshop Artist.  The Awards Reception was held on Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 2 to 4 pm at the Carnegie Art Center, 240 Goundry St., North Tonawanda, NY 14120.

To learn more about this Exhibition, click here.

Spring 2019 Workshop with Pat Dews

OUR SPRING WORKSHOP WILL FEATURE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED WATERMEDIA PAINTER AND TEACHER PAT DEWS.

This Spring’s Watercolor Workshop, “ABSTRACTING NATURE”, will be held at Marienthal Country Inn, 5107 Langford Road in Eden, NY, May 13 – 17, 2019, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm.  

The workshop is full! Registration is complete.

About the 5 day Workshop “ABSTRACTING NATURE”:

For Pat design is everything as she creates experimental works in watermedia on paper and
canvas. The design elements: shape, texture, line, space, value and color translate what she
sees in nature. Being an intuitive painter, she delights in showing students how they also can
transform realistic imagery into well composed abstractions.

Pat will cover design elements and numerous painting techniques to help attendees learn how to create exciting and meaningful abstracts in watermedia.

We will use watercolor, acrylics and inks, as well as collage pieces, gesso, alcohol, etc. to cover such techniques as masking, spraying dripping, transfers, texturing and sgrafitto.

The daily schedule will include design talks, demonstrations, video presentations and critiques. There will be plenty of time to work on your own unique paintings (no clones) and try new techniques. Many of Pat’s students sayhow their work has grown and they will never work the same way again.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Pat Dews, a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City is a signature member and Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, National Collage Society and the New Jersey Water Color Society.

Dews creates experimental works in watermedia on paper and canvas.  She paints the abstract essence of nature.  The shapes and textures of flowers, rocks, water, crumbled walls, rusty objects are translated into richly layered paint surfaces. Collage is often integrated.  Dews skillfully juggles organic and geometric forms, transparent and opaque paint – all held together by a basic abstract underlying shape.  It is this intricate dance, rendered in strong color and value which produces her award-winning paintings.  

Dews’ painting, “Overpass” received Second Place in the 33rdAnnual Artist’s Magazine Abstract/Experimental category. Pat received The  Mary Bryan Memorial Medal at the 150thAmerican Watercolor Society Exhibition, 2017, the Paul B. Remmey, AWS, Memorial Award at the 148thAmerican Watercolor Society International Exhibition, 2015, the Edgar Whitney Memorial Award at the 149thAmerican Watercolor Society Exhibition, 2016 and the China Zou Yinong Silver Award – China/NWS Small Image Exhibition, 2016. Dews’ paintings were represented in the 2015 Small Image Exchange Exhibition and the 2015 Shenzhen International Biennial Exhibition, China.

Pat is the author of [the painter’s workshop] Creative Composition & Design, 2003 (ebook), and Creative Discoveries in Watermedia,1998, published by North Light Books.  Her work has appeared in numerous books and publications. Dews’ videos, Designing Great Starts with Texture and Formand Let’s Get Started Finishingare available through Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff.

Pat is an enthusiastic, popular instructor, teaching workshops internationally. Dews has acted as juror for both the American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society. Pat lives in Hobe Sound, Florida and spends summers in Southold, New York.

E-mail: PatDews@aol.com    Web Site: www.patdews.com

 

Artists Talks, Fall 2017 Members Watermedia Exhibition

Sally Treanor and Mike Killelea will co-host this event featuring six NFWS Member-Artists whose painting(s) are included in this incredible exhibition.

The artists are Roberta Bolt, Sallye Keith, Kathleen Giles, Mary Ellen Hanna, Kateri Ewing and Catherine O’Neill.

Join us and find out about transparent watercolor and water media. It’s fun!