Flourishes

A Thank You

I sincerely thank each of you who contributed to my beautiful president's book. I read through the cards and always see something I missed before. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in taking the time to make the cards.
I appreciate the members who got together and painted the paper for the pages (when did you have time)?
And I give special thanks to Leslie and Maggie who constructed the beautiful book encasement.
My warmest wishes to each of you for another great year of learning and sharing.

Kaye Yarbrough

The following is reprinted from the website http://www.painterskeys.com which is managed and written by Robert Genn. He has given us permission to reprint his article and encourages all to visit his site and to subscribe at no cost if you are interested. He writes regularly and always has good advice for artists. We thank him for sharing with us.

We're all familiar with the problems associated with Sunday Painters. Cranking up the old machine once a week may be okay in the vintage car hobby--but it's bad news in the creativity game. The steady worker who applies his craft daily is more likely to make creative gains than an intermittent one. Even when tired, or even because of it, the rolling creator can generally squeeze further. While the "tolerance for duds" is part of the serial game--and a valuable lesson in the non-preciousness of art--the effervescence that flows has to be among the truly great feelings. Curiously, it's best if the artist doesn't have much to say about the process. Spilling the beans interferes with series work. "I do not explain, I explore," said Marshall McLuhan.

Developing an initial idea into an extended series is basic to the art spirit. In the natural progression from the obvious to the esoteric, it's often in the esoteric that the better work is realized. Along the way there are stages that can help a creator get a bigger bang for his/her buck:

●Initial attraction and recognition of potential.
●Commitment to virgin understanding and first rendition.
●Secondary attraction to nuance and sleeper elements.
●Further "aha" recognition that the thing has legs.
●Re-dedication to specific exploration and variation.
●Development of personal touches and sensitivities.
●Progression through excited highs to creative climax.

As the serial process unfolds, the challenges presented by earlier sorties become more and more easily retaken. While a project's history becomes necessary to its future, previously covered ground is glossed over in favor of other concerns and attractions. Facility and speed, while they may not be ends in themselves, are by-products of the process. If uniform sizes and means are maintained, the last often takes less time than the first. And the mind, caught up in the seductive business of exploration, stays hot and snappy like an electric swatter in a cloud of mosquitoes.

Then there was the guy who was inventing and testing soft drinks. He developed One-up, Two-up, Three-up, Four-up, Five-up, and Six-up. None of these were quite perfect, so he quit right there.

September Activities

Early Bird

Secret Pal Art Expo
Thursday, September 7, 2006, 6:30-9 PM

Thursday, September 7 is ART EXPO, our annual members’ exhibit! Your pal will finally be revealed to you, so mark the date in red on your calendars.

Bring (1) the pieces you’ve received during the summer, (2) a handmade Thank You card to show your appreciation of your pal, and (3) your altered Altoids box if you’re entering the contest to win a gift certificate from Herwecks.

Arrive by 6:15 so you can arrange your gifts in a pleasing manner next to your name on the gift you’ll find from the secret pal committee. No peeking inside!

If for any reason you have to miss out on this most-looked-for meeting of the year, be sure to call a friend or one of the secret pal committee who can bring your goodies and thank you card to the meeting for you. It’s terribly disappointing not to see the things you’ve created in the exhibit and not to get to share them with your friends and the rest of the guild. Please don’t do that to your pal. Besides, your gifts must be exhibited before you may take home the gift the committee has made for you. Just wait! It’s way cool this year to honor your efforts.

You still have until September 7 to send handmade things. Enjoy.

Remember this meeting will take place in the Parish Hall.

The Secret Pal Committee:
Beverly Carter, B. J. Nichol, Francene Smith, Camille Storment, Karen Veni, Cheri Wolf

MINI WORKSHOP

A Broadside Painted on Glass
with Maggie Gillikin and Leslie Winakur

Thursday, September 21, 2006, 7-9 PM

Painting and lettering on paper is certainly fun, but it’s time to try a new surface. In this class we will letter and paint on glass, and the results will be beautiful.

Supply List:
An inexpensive picture frame, 5” x7” is perfect, with glass and a plain wooden frame
Brushes, flat (1/8” and 1/4”) and pointed (#0,1,2,3,or 4)
2 or 3 favorite acrylic colors
Paper towels
Water container
Mixing palette ( a small paper plate will do)
Patent gold if you have it
A drawing or picture that can be reversed, if you want something specific; abstract will be fine also

We will bring gold foil, patent gold to be purchased at $1/sheet, and simple designs that are fun and easy.

bulletin board

Welcome Back!!! The June Potluck Dinner and Installation of Officers started our summer off just right. We had a busy summer, with a few classes in June and July, and our Calligraphy Exchange in August was a great start for the new year. We thank Asel’s, Herweck’s, and Sandee’s for bringing such a variety of supplies and goodies, and at a discounted price as well. Thanks also to the members who took part, both as vendors and as purchasers. It takes both to make this a successful event each year.

The new Membership Directory will be available for pick-up at the August Board Meeting and at the September General Meeting. If you can pick up a Directory for a friend who will not be present, the Guild thanks you in advance for saving us some postage. Look for the Directory table at the September meeting, and be sure that we know whose Directories you are accepting. Once the mailing label is gone, we will assume that member has his/her Directory. And don’t forget your mini directory with phone numbers only. Extra Directories are available at $2 per large Directory, and $1 per mini. Thank you so much to Kaye Yarbrough and Jill Adams for proofreading the Directory!

Please Remember: The September meeting will be in the Parish Hall. This room provides more space for our Secret Pal Art Expo. Be sure to arrive by 6:15 PM in order to set up your gifts, and don’t forget that “thank you” for your pal, and the decorated Altoids tin.

Lots will be going on at the meeting in September. Be sure to look for the Mini Workshop sign-up table so that you will be assured a space in the mini workshops for the year. These classes are listed in your new Directory, and they are still the best bargain ever at only $5 per class.

Major Workshop Message: In August, you should have received a flyer advertising the October Ken Harris classes. There is still room in these workshops and they promise to be excellent classes in medieval gilding and painting. Please contact Jill Adams for further information. Please be sure to note the scheduling changes on page 5 of this newsletter.

And don’t forget that we do have Scholarships available if you have not had one in the past 2 years. Contact Kaye Yarbrough if you are interested in a scholarship. All scholarship requests are kept strictly confidential.

Speaking of workshops, we had a fabulous five-day “Fabric-ganza” in June with Lisa Engelbrecht. We learned to paint and write on fabric, used our sewing machines, and made lovely fabric books and wall hangings. We are hoping that all who participated will bring their work for the share table at the October meeting.

Congratulations to all of our new officers and members at large. And thank you to all of those who have volunteered to be committee chairs this year. We wish you all a successful year. Our guild functions so well because we have so many members who are willing to volunteer and do their part to keep us healthy. Please keep this in mind throughout the year if you are asked to assist with any of our activities.

Door Prizes are always in demand. Contact Sylvia Stanley if you would like to donate.

October Major Workshop

Ken Harris received his BFA degree from Brigham Young University and his Master’s from Western Oregon University. While working as a graphic designer for Pasadena City College in Los Angeles, he studied with Donald Jackson and Maury Nemoy. IN 1978 he was one of only sixteen Americans selected to study with the Society of Scribes and Illuminators in London. Ken worked for many years as an artist for American Greetings and now has his own decorative painting company. He has taught many calligraphy workshops across the US and has taught at seven international calligraphy conferences as well. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer these two classes, which have been major hits at the summer conferences for many years. They are for all levels, from beginners to advanced calligraphers. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to study medieval techniques with a master. Ken says his goal is for everyone to leave with a finished piece that is ready for the framer. And remember - the holidays will be just around the corner and these pieces will make awesome cards.

TRADITIONAL GILDING TECHNIQUES
Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8, 2006, at Discovery School

Classic gilding, such as raised and burnished gold, involves techniques that have come down to us from the Middle Ages. In this class, participants will grind the ingredients to create gesso (ground) that supports the gold, lay the liquid gesso on their designs, apply the gold, and then polish it to a mirror brightness. Other techniques will include using gum ammoniac (the 14th century’s answer to crazy glue) and shell gold (24k gold powder in paint form). Once the designs are finished, they will be ready for the next process, which is the application of color.

MEDIEVAL PAINTING TECHNIQUES
Thursday and Friday, October 12-13, 2006, in the Carriage House at Christ Episcopal Church

Participants will learn the painting styles and techniques of the medieval scribe and illuminator, cut quills and prepare vellum (calfskin) for painting. Watercolor and gouache are the traditional painting media and you will learn layering techniques along with classic white vine work. The goal is to work toward a completed piece of artwork..

Sep 2006 Flourishes' Web Page is proudly sponsored by
www.Renshirts.com in Seguin, TX USA

Birthdays September

Birthdays
September