|
November 2024
Membership Newsletter
| |
|
I really do not care what side of the aisle you stand on, but I do know that our wonderful country was founded on the right of every citizen to be heard. So go out and VOTE!
Speaking of voting, it is time for our big General Meeting which will be on November 19 at 2pm. This is such an important meeting for our organization. It is where you can ask us about any of the Gallery Rules in the NBAL Yearbook and let us know if you would like to see changes made. We will have the 2025 Special Show Schedule ready for you as well as the 2025 Master Event Schedule. We still need to determine when to have our Potluck in April: lunch or dinner?? I only got four votes in the suggestion box… 😕Also, we need a quorum to vote on any changes to the Constitution/Bylaws and vote to approve next year’s Executive Board.
Please come and let your voice be heard!
Up-Date on Two Rivers Plein Air
Thank you to New Braunfels City Council, Chamber of Commerce, and Greater NB Arts Council for their support and funds that helped us put on this wonderful event.
Thank you to the Downtown Association for deciding to join our reception for their Fall Mixer. It was so nice to see so many city representatives and downtown businesses at the reception.
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for their financial and in-kind donation: Johnson Furniture, Cemex, Comaltex Insurance, Moody Bank, The Brauntex, AMMO, Mill Street Art Gallery and Scoop Street. Their sponsorship helped us with the overall costs of putting this event on.
Krause’s Café hosted the Quick Draw and a fantastic Meet & Mingle. The Mess Around at Crosswalk, 2 Tarts, and Water to Wine, provided wonderful food and wine for us. Thank you to Gruene Estates who were so kind to open their event venue to our artists to come and paint on location this year.
Shout out to our sister galleries who helped us to put this event on: Art Cottage and Gallerie at Gruene. From the Art Cottage, Sherry Wooley, who was our Sponsor Wrangler and Kathy Perales, who oversaw the artists gift bags, name tags, and artist check in. From the Gallerie at Gruene, Myra Knapp, who acted as our Artist Contact and Gallery Display coordinator.
Thank you to the rest of the “Two Rivers Plein Air” team:
Deb Smallwood, our secretary and my assistant. Marcie Helmke, who oversaw our Budget & Financial Management. Gretchen Goode, who handled publicity for the event and the promotion of our sponsors. Nanette Scranton, with the NBAL Newsletter and Constant Contact. Vickie Moon Merchant and her team of photographers, creating posts for our social media. Gerlyn Friesenhahn along with the Submission Team, who handled the check-in for the artists. Diane Parker and her Reception Team, who oversaw the welcome brunch, setting up the still life and handled the wonderful reception.
Thank you to our two musicians, Dale Stephenson, who performed for Meet & Mingle at Krause’s, and Joe Meyer, who performed for our TRPA Reception.
| |
|
Something fun to do… find a piece of art from another member and take a selfie with it.
Then post it on Facebook.
Looks like Joe Eby has been posing for
Bill Hughes… 😆🤣
See you guys in the gallery, 😊
Mary Hammond
NBAL President
| |
|
|
Treasurer's Report September 2024
Top ten sellers: Larry Johnson, Stan Unser, Donna Hays, Martha Griffith, Diane Black, Gina Cumberland, Marta Roberts, Debra Cooper, Jeffrey Yentz, Mary K Hammond
Total Sales: Sept 2024 $10717.96
Sept 2023 $10904.41
A detailed financial report of the Art League balances is furnished to the Board monthly and is available to anyone upon request.
| |
|
Open Positions on the NBAL Executive Board
Larry Johnson - Parliamentarian
drljohnson@gmail.com
There is one position on the Executive Board coming open at the end of this year. As Vicki Houston is stepping down as 1st Vice President. We are announcing this position as open for nominations.
We currently do not have any nominations for this very important and influential position and encourage all members to consider serving.
Nominations are due by Nov 15th. All that is required to nominate yourself or someone else is to send an email confirming your interest to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Larry Johnson, at drljohnson@gmail.com. It is perfectly fine and encouraged for you to self-nominate. Nominations of others must be accepted by the nominee before becoming official.
The nominees’ names will be provided to the Executive Board and then confirmed by a vote of the members at the November meeting on Tuesday, November 19th.
The first vice president oversees the Main Gallery, Docent training and staffing, as well as special events and demonstrations.
This position places you at the table for the most impactful conversations taking place about the future of the New Braunfels Art League.
If you would find that circumstance an interesting space to be in, or if you think you could add an important perspective to those conversations, please submit your name in nomination!
| |
|
PROPOSED SLATE of OFFICERS 2025
Larry Johnson – Parliamentarian
drljohnson@gmail.com
A proposed slate of NBAL Executive Board of Officers for the 2025year will be voted on during the November 19 general membership meeting.
| |
|
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
3rd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Ass Treasurer
Parliamentarian
| |
|
Mary Hammond
Nominations are open
Debbie Cooper
Gretchen Goode
Nominations are open
Marcie Helmke
Chase Willett
Dr. Larry Johnson
| |
If you know of an NBAL member who you would like to nominate for this position, nominations can be made from the floor with the approval of the person being nominated. Newly elected executive officers and appointed team leaders will take office on January 1, 2025. | |
|
Current Show is Artoberfest. This show ends Saturday, November 16. There are 62 artists exhibiting 134 works of art. Come see the excellent works of art your fellow artists have created.
Next Show “Come and Gift It”
November 18 thru January 4 , 2025.
Reception Sunday November 24, 2 – 3:30
The 2025 Special Show Schedule is finished and ready to be presented and voted on at the General Membership Meeting in November. Thank you to all who have volunteered to co-chair a show. I truly appreciate your help. This is going to be a fantastic year!!
"Artist of the Year" 2024 is coming in January 2025. Submissions will be taken on Monday Jan. 6. If you were a Best of Show, First Place, Second Place, or a Third Place winner and paid your NBAL dues before 12.31.2023 then you are eligible. If you want to be eligible for next year then please make sure your dues are turned in no later than December 31, 2024.
| |
|
Docent Tip of the Month
ALL tangible items sold at the docent desk are taxable. This includes display art, postcards, and ornaments. NBAL is responsible for submitting sales tax on every purchase even if the docent fails to collect it from the customer.
Please ensure the gallery is shut down at the end of your shift. This includes checking all 6 thermostats, turning off all lights, and ensuring the back door is closed and locked.
It is wise to double-check that the final total on the sales invoice matches the dollar amount you entered on the Clover machine.
Inflation has increased our professional printing costs. This impacts our bottom line. Please do not use our business cards, artist cards, and sales invoices as scratch paper. The docent desk is stocked with scratch paper.
| |
|
November General Meeting Web Update
At the upcoming General Membership Meeting on November 19, our web guy, Larry Johnson, will be sharing details on the incredible reach our website is getting. In the last month, we've had visitors from over 20 countries and 250 different cities! In the last year, more than 16,000 different people have visited our site! Come see where people are tuning in from — and join in the most critical meeting of the year!
| |
|
Annual Christmas Fundraiser for NBAL
ALL NBAL members: The annual Christmas ornament fundraiser is currently underway. Thank you to those that have already donated ornaments. More are always needed. Donations will be accepted through Christmas.
Each ornament should be tagged with a sale price. Special tags will be available. Place the sale price on one side of the tag and your name on the other. All proceeds will be given back to NBAL.
Questions? E-mail Gina Cumberland, Chairperson, at gcumberland@yahoo.com Thank You!
| |
|
|
Give the Gift of Creativity This Holiday Season!
Workshops
Workshop Coordinator, Wally Lafaiete
waldinei@hotmail.com
Looking for a unique holiday gift for a family member or friend? Enroll them in one of our upcoming workshops at the New Braunfels Art League! With spaces filling up quickly each year, these hands-on classes are the perfect way to inspire creativity in the coming months. From beginner to advanced levels, our workshops cater to various artistic interests and skill levels, led by renowned artists and skilled instructors.
Secure a spot today and make it a holiday to remember!
| |
|
Basic Encaustic Workshop
with Award-Winning Artist, Wally Lafiete
| | |
|  |
|
Are you ready to explore the mesmerizing world of encaustic art? Join us for a special hands-on workshop with artist Wally Lafaiete on February 1st, 10 AM - 3 PM, at the New Braunfels Art League!
🖌️ In this 5-hour class, you'll learn the basics of encaustic techniques, layering wax, and adding texture and color. By the end, you'll leave with your own stunning encaustic piece ready to display at home!
✨ All supplies will be provided, so just bring your creativity and curiosity!
📅 Date: February 1st
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
📍 Location: New Braunfels Art League
Spots are limited, so sign up today and discover the magic of encaustic art with Wally:
https://www.thenewbraunfelsartleague.com/feb-1-2025-wally-lafaiete.html
| | |
|
Expressions in Light - The Beauty of Pastel
with Teresa Saia
| |
|
Dates: March 28-30, 2025; 10 am - 5 pm Daily
Cost: NBAL Members - $580 | Non-Members - $620
Details at: https://www.thenewbraunfelsartleague.com/mar-28-30-2025-teresa-saia.html
| |
|
Take your landscapes from “nice” to dynamic with Teresa Saia! Open to all levels, this 3-day pastel workshop will immerse you in the art of creating captivating, mood-filled landscapes. Teresa’s guidance will help you harness light, color, and composition to build landscapes that tell a story.
Each day, Teresa will begin with a demonstration and Q&A, followed by hands-on support as you paint. Gain confidence in color, master focal points, create dramatic skies, and work with reference photos. Uncover the secrets to a powerful landscape and transform your paintings with Teresa’s five key techniques!
| |
|
Simplify and Suggest!
with Award-Winning Artist, Robin Cheers
| |
|
Dates: April 4-6, 2025; 10 am - 5 pm Daily
Cost: NBAL Members - $440 / Non-Members - $480
Details: https://www.thenewbraunfelsartleague.com/apr-4-6-2025-robin-cheers.html
| |
|
In this 3-day workshop, you will learn to quickly capture your first impression by seeing and painting simple shapes and value relationships. Starting with a strong foundation frees you up to explore color harmony, edges, and brushwork to create impressionist style paintings full of color and light. Trust the power of suggestion to simplify and make more expressive, impactful paintings.
Students will use oil (acrylic/other mediums welcome) to paint from photo reference. They will have a choice of many of Robin's own photographs or may bring their own.
| |
|
Acrylic Explorations
with Award-Winning Artist, Vie Dunn-Harr
| |
|
Date: May 2-4, 2025; 10 am - 5 pm Daily
NBAL Members - $455 / Non-Members - $495
Details: https://www.thenewbraunfelsartleague.com/may-2-4-2025-vie-dunn-harr.html
| |
|
Like an expedition, participants will immerse themselves into unfamiliar territory and be challenged creatively. Acrylics offer an exhilarating way to trust the creative process and discover new possibilities artistically
In this workshop, Vie will introduce movement and abstraction as the foundation of any subject matter. She will share how to superimpose and weave realism into the original abstract expressions using design elements in the process. Some may choose to work solely abstractly
| |
|
Fabulous Florals - Collage of Hand-Painted Paper
with Award-Winning Artist, Elizabeth St. Hilaire
| |
|
Date: Feb 6-8, 2026; 10 am - 5 pm Daily
NBAL Members - $665 / Non-Members - $705
Details: https://www.thenewbraunfelsartleague.com/feb-6-8-2026-elizabeth-st-hilaire.html
| |
|
Discover the joy of creating whimsical mixed media flowers, beautifully arranged in charming vessels, set against a background bursting with intricate patterns. In this workshop, you'll explore the versatility of various materials, blending acrylic paint, metallic leaf, stencils, and your own gel-printed collage papers to craft a vibrant and dynamic piece of artwork.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this class welcomes all skill levels, offering the opportunity to experiment with different textures, colors, and techniques. By the end, you'll have a unique, colorful masterpiece that reflects your creativity and personal style.
| |
|
Intuitive Acrylic Painting & Collage
A Three-Day, Hands-On Workshop with Joan Fullerton
| |
|
Date: Mar 27-29, 2026; 10 am - 5 pm Daily
NBAL Members - $665 / Non-Members - $705
Details: https://www.thenewbraunfelsartleague.com/mar-27-29-2026-joan-fullerton.html
| |
|
Want more expressive art? Want more confidence in yourself and about your art? Want to have a transformative experience with like-minded people? This workshop is for you!
Draw, scrape, roll, drag, spray, stamp, lift, write, or drip your way to fascinating non-objective or abstracted representation. This class will take you beyond worn-out or predictable painting methods. We’ll experiment with innovative techniques and a mindset of relaxed awareness designed to cultivate your curiosity and self-confidence.
Joan is especially gifted in helping students gain more freedom in the creative process and discover their own unique artistic voice.
| |
|
If you’re like most, you’re thrilled that presidential campaigning is wrapping up. That said, WE AS THE NBAL BASE need to campaign year-round to promote NBAL sales, classes, workshops, shows, as well as recruit new members.
On social media be a SHARING, LIKING AND TAGGING “machine”. Via social media or in person, tell people all that we offer. If you meet a newcomer to NB, tell them we have Art for their new space and have one-of-a-kind, affordable items for that perfect gift. VOTE NBAL!
| |
|
President - Mary Hamond
1st VP - Vicki Houston
2nd VP - Debbie Cooper
3rd VP - Gretchen Goode
Secretary - Jeanne Balkman
| | |
|
Treasurer - Marcie Helmke
Ass. Treasure - Chase Willett
President Emeritus - Elaine Felder
Parliamentarian - Larry Johnson
| | | | |
