Southern Watercolor Newsletters

January, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 22:07:27 GMT

User Friendly Organization!

We hope the holidays have blessed everyone! I know my husband and I have been greatly blessed. This past year, my husband went

through chemotherapy and radiation for throat cancer plus a myriad of other ailments. The good news is, he’s recovering well. His

major challenge is the ability to swallow. In fact, our journey became very challenging while SW was getting ready for our 45th exhi-

bition in Bradenton. I had to hand everything over to Kathy Simon-McDonald to lead the team. You all have an excellent board who

have been serving you for many, many years! Please let them know they are appreciated.

We have very exciting news! It is very important that you spend the time reading the prospectus because of all the new changes we

have made.

First, we have switched to CAFÉ (callforentry.org). After ours and your experiences with our previous entry system, we knew we

needed something much more efficient. You can access directly by typing in their web address or clicking on the link through our

website. Most importantly, new, or previous user, please make sure your contact information is current.

Secondly, we have reduced the artwork image size from 140 sq in to 80 sq in (e.g. 8x10) and we have increased the molding width

from 1.5” to 2”. We hope this encourages more artists to enter. We know shipping costs have gone up and this enables smaller

paintings into the exhibition.

Next, we added a wait list of 3 additional artworks. Which means, if someone on the accepted list is no longer able to exhibit, then

the first on the wait list will be contacted. There is no penalty if you are not available.

Lastly, we extended the timeline for when artwork is completed by, from 2 years to 5 years. What prompted the change is when I

was penalized by another organization’s exhibition for posting on Instagram my work that was prior to their 2-year limit. Even

though I gave them evidence of the actual date, they stuck with their decision. It made me think about SW and how we want to

represent ourselves. We believe most of our artists’ works are just as relevant and worthy of exhibition, whether it is 2 years or 5

years. We also do not assume all our members are liars, cheats, or incompetent. Hence the title of this piece, coined by Kathy Si-

mon-McDonald, “User Friendly Organization”. Yes. Over the years, we have had to penalize artists who have violated the rules.

They are the exception and not the rule. Our prospectus is clear, concise, not redundant, and our assumption is 99.9% of our mem-

bers are competent, professional artists whom we greatly respect. So, take the time to review the new changes

and enter the 46th Exhibition.

Also, don’t waste any time signing up for Kathleen Giles’ 3-day workshop, June 7-9 through our website.

We look forward to seeing you all in Panama City, FL.

NEW Members 2022

New Members for 2022

LuAnn Dunkinson, Jacksonville, FL

Gwen Kodad, Bradenton FL

Nancy Davis, Pensacola FL

Dot Cromartie, Charleston SC

Dianne Adams, Kissimmee FL

Susan Tully

Mary Van Kleunen, Winter Springs FL

Brian Zell

Jacqueline Molsick, Yalaha FL

Charlie Frances, Virginia Beach VA

Connie Tucker, Lexington, KY

Voon Wong, Clayton NC

Brad Hastings, Bishopville MD

Peg Lefebvre, The Villages FL

Debbra Nodwell, Estero FL

Mary Lou Andrews, Virginia Beach VA

Suzanne Accetta, Greenville SC

Peter Paris, Lakewood Ranch FL

Christine Walker, Charlotte NC

Judi Howard, Gulf Shores AL

Loretta Hamilton, Naples FL

Regina Perry

Peggy Kirby, Covington, LA

Monica Fernsell West Palm Beach FL

Karen Murray, Valdosta GA

Katharine Brainard, College Park MD

Margaret Zimmer

October, 2021

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 21:50:25 GMT

It’s time to prepare for Southern Watercolor’s 45th Annual Exhibition!!

The deadline to enter is January 15, 2022, and it’s a live event with our paintings hanging at the ArtCenter Manatee, in

Bradenton, FL. We also have a live workshop with our Juror, Ken Call, and a live reception. Since it’s our 45th, we hope to cre-

ate a sensational time!

We know the pandemic can affect some of our events such as the reception and workshop and we’ll adjust as it is need-

ed. In the meantime, we’re forging on with optimism.

While it’s exciting to plan for live events again, we still have serious challenges to face as an organization. I want to take

this opportunity to talk with you about the most serious challenge your board is facing beyond the 45th exhibition.

As many of you have read in previous newsletters, we are in dire need of volunteers to join us on the board. We need

volunteers who are willing and able to be our successors. So far, the response to our need has fallen silent and part of that I

know is because the make-up of our organization reflects the make-up of our board. Over 75% of our membership are not in a

place to volunteer due to age and related health issues, etc. Further, our membership is comprised of people who are a part of

other member organizations within their respective state, who are probably experiencing the same issues as us…”How do we

bring in the next generations?””

To make our members aware of what we do on the board, I have asked our board members to write a short paragraph

about themselves and what they have done and do as a board member. Al of us live in different places and everything we do is

done remotely via emails and zoom. We have found zoom allows us to have that personal connectivity and the ability to ad-

dress and solve issues on the spot.

According to our by-laws, our board of directors should be of 5 to 7 people with the following general positions: Presi-

dent, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership, and Past President with a two-year commitment. These positions are

broken down into duties. We also have state representatives who are non-board positions but play a key role in representing

artists within their respective state.The past-president position requirement is met wonderfully with Tuva Stephens, Don Taylor, and Marilynne Bradley.

Each of them currently carry the following duties: Tuva is our Social Media guru, Don Taylor handles the vendor donations, and

Marilynne is our Historian. Membership is Coco Dauer and Treasurer is Jean Weiner. Al of them have been serving this organiza-

tion for a bazillion years! As for Secretary, we have no need for this position because we operate through emails and zoom

meetings which are recorded. So, in essence I’m also the Secretary.

The Vice-President position has not been filled forever! This person is the back up to the President and is the person

who should be the President’s successor. Technically, they probably should be the exhibition chairperson which would prepare

them for the next step. In our real world, the exhibition chairperson is performed by whomever is available in the location where

the exhibition will occur, and often this duty falls on the current president.

I started as your president in September 2019, and I told my artist story in our November 2019 Newsletter. You can find

our newsletters on our website under the Resources tab.

Like all of you, my journey since then has been impacted by events both beyond and within my control. In October 2018,

my business in downtown Marianna was damaged from Hurrican Michael. It is the last piece of property we own that has not

been fully repaired. We managed to get the walls and roof done by February 2020, but the inside is like it’s been frozen in time.

In the meantime, I’ve been busy painting in my makeshift studio in our home.

I just completed a solo exhibit this past September of my current body of work called, “Crucian Carnival Series” at the

Panama City Center for the Arts. And, in October, it was displayed at The Joe Center for the Arts downtown Port St. Joe, Fl.

My duties have increased again since Linda Pelc’s retirement from the board. She has served us well and for a long time.

The reality of being the person in charge is, you are the stop gap for any aspect of an organization’s ability to continue function-

ing. When someone leaves and no one replaces them then it falls on the president’s shoulders. As your president, I not only co-

ordinate and manage the team and the overall process, I am also responsible for securing the next exhibition venues at least 2

years out.

I picked up managing our website not too long ago after stepping into this position when Ann Kromhout, our longtime

expert retired. Now I also have the Juried Art Services (JAS), and catalog. None of these duties for me are difficult to do, but they

are time consuming and happen all at the same general timeframe. Since we only have an annual exhibition, that busy timeframe

is now. If there is someone who wants to take on either or both the Website and JAS, PLEASE let me know right away.

The one duty that I have not fulfilled is the future year’s exhibition venues. This year’s exhibition and workshop chairper-

son is Kathy Simon-McDonald. She had graciously taken on this roll that otherwise would have also been on my shoulders.

At this moment, our very tentative back up plan for the 46th exhibition in 2023 is for me to be the exhibition chair and

Don Taylor manage the workshop piece and possibly securing the Panama City Center for the Arts in Panama City, FL. We would

prefer not to do that because we represent the southeastern part of the U.S., and we should have exhibition venues in some of

these other states. We are encouraging you to help us identify a venue for the 46th and serve as exhibition chairperson or cho-

chair.

Here is my mindset; I enjoy being a part of the SW organization, and I get to work with a great team of very talented

artists. Plus, I get to be involved with your successes when you are accepted into our annual exhibitions. Although the presi-

dent’s position is a two-year stint, I am willing to continue serving as either president or any other capacity needed. But what I

am NOT willing to do is continue operating on “hopium” without a plan for succession.

If you are like me, you are probably a member of more than one organization and these organizations are just like us,

needing to operate with volunteers. This message is really for that very small group of people who could become on of us on the

board, in hopes they will step forward.

Your input and suggestions on our 45th Celebration and our future is important. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you for your support,

Michele

several names were omitted from the Membership Directory in

our catalog this year

John Bayalis

Jodeen Brown

Tracy Budd

William Campbell

Walt Costilow

Glenda Dunham

R. Patrick Faile

Janet Felts

Lynn R. Ferris

Steve Fleming

Dianne W. Garner

Susan Gibson

Lynne Hardwick

Catherine Hillis

Nashita Jain

Teresa Kirk

Joseph Lahita

John Bayalis

Jodeen Brown

Tracy Budd

William Campbell

Walt Costilow

Glenda Dunham

R. Patrick Faile

Janet Felts

Lynn R. Ferris

Steve Fleming

Dianne W. Garner

Susan Gibson

Lynne Hardwick

Catherine Hillis

Nashita Jain

Teresa Kirk

Joseph Lahita

Marilyn Liedman

NEW Members

Stacy Levy Owings Mills, MD

Theresa Fisher

Sherry Allen Tallahassee, FL

Amy Jenkins Bartlesville, OK

Barbara Buckingham, Tallahassee, FL

Gary Wester St. Simons, Island, GA

Liza Karsai, Palm City, FL

Suzanne Natzke Trinity, FL

Mike Melkins, Munford, TN

Adrienne Retief, Birmingham, AL

Robert Newell, Fort Myers, FL

Rebecca Mentz ,Jacksonville, FL

Alaura Allen, Loxahatchee, FL

Terry Ferguson, Melbourne, FL

Kerry Waltz ,Clearwater, CL

James Sprague, Tulsa, OK

Cloe V. Gibson, West Palm Beach, FL

Nashita Jain, Columbia, MO

Jackie Dorsey, Athens, GA

Cynthia Webb, Mandeville, LA

Sally Lyles, Sanibel, FL

Patricia Lamar, Savannah, GA

Frances Ashley, Austin, TX

Dann Zehr, Smyrna, TN

David Allen, Jackson, MS

May, 2023

Sat, 01 May 2021 22:16:00 GMT

CONGRAULATIONS!

CONGRAULATIONS to 104 artists accepted into the 46th Southern Watercolor Society’s Annual Exhibition!

There was a total of 313 entries. We look forward to seeing all the wonderful works of art when the exhibit

opens on June 9th.

In the meantime, your Board has been busy reviewing our By-Laws and making changes that we hope will

help enhance and increase our membership. We will have it ready and available by our Annual Members

meeting at 10 a.m. CST, June 10th, Panama City Center for the Arts, Panama City, FL.

Once we’re past the opening of this year’s show, we will begin the process of reviewing our prospectus for

next year’s exhibition and what changes we may need to make. Areas to think about are how do we in-

crease our membership and participation and knowing that the cost of creating and shipping artwork has

increased greatly. Also, do we consider expanding what we accept and what does that mean? Think about

these things and be ready to let us know your thoughts when we start this process.

By the time you receive this newsletter, I will be floating around the Virgin Islands with my husband and sev-

eral friends. A much-needed rest and relaxation to celebrate surviving cancer and moving forward.

When you come to the opening reception and workshop, I look forward visiting

with you!

Kim K.

President, Southern Watercolor Society

CONGRAULATIONS!

NEW AWARD

Legacy from the Charles & Alberta Lasham Trust

We are delighted to share that Southern Watercolor Society has been named as a beneficiary for the Charles & Alberta Lasham trust. Alberta Lasham was a member of Southern Watercolor Society from 2011—2014. During our January Board of Directors

meeting, a motion was approved to institute the Charles and Alberta Lasham Memorial Award in the amount of $500.00. This cash award will be given each year, as funds are available, to an artist for their watercolor in our annual exhibition. The award winning painting will be chosen by our annual judge of awards. Record of this awarded painting will be part of our annual exhibition color catalog. Our most sincere thanks to the Lasham family for these generous trust disbursements.

Membership News

In 2023, Don Taylor has had paintings accepted in Signature American Watercolor Exhibition, Western Federation of Water-

color Societies, Missouri Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society, Watercolor Arts Society of Houston, Red River Watercol-

or Society, Watercolor West, Louisiana Watercolor Society, TaWS Tri State Exhibit, and the upcoming Southern Watercolor exhibit.

The painting below was accepted in SAWE.

Congratulatoins! Don!!!

Exhibition Deadlines Approaching

May 15th—Accepted Artist pays Handling Fee thru CAFÉ

May 22—June 2—Shipped works to arrive at Panama City Center for the Arts

c/o Anastasia Dengerud

19 E. 4th St.

Panama City, FL 32401

Paintings must be shipped in a reusable box via UPS or FedEx including PREPAID return

shipping labels. Return label must include a bar code.

Please review the Shipping Checklist on the Prospectus.

June 3rd (10—4:30 p.m.) - Hand-delivered works accepted at PCCA
June 6th—Juror’s Selection of Awards
June 7, 8, 9th—Kathleen Giles Workshop (SOLD OUT)
June 9th—5-7 p.m.—Reception and Awards Ceremony
June 10th (10-11a.m.) —Members Meeting
July 5th and 6th—10-4:30 p.m. Pick-up of hand delivered work
July 6th—Works packed for return shipping

Southern Watercolor Newsletters

January, 2023

User Friendly Organization!

NEW Members 2022

October, 2021

It’s time to prepare for Southern Watercolor’s 45th Annual Exhibition!!

several names were omitted from the Membership Directory in

our catalog this year

NEW Members ﻿

May, 2023

CONGRAULATIONS!

CONGRAULATIONS!

NEW AWARD

Membership News

Exhibition Deadlines Approaching

NEW Members