June 2024 Announcements

You can access our new website by clicking: https://santaritaart.org/

"Covida" by Karen Keim

"Games" by Cheryl Jackson Schaeffer

"Femme Fetale"

by Sue Bollig

"Wheel of Life"

by Loralee Makela

"Lets Go Fishing"

by Carolyn Berger

This fabulous show continues during June and is too large to show you all the pieces. You will just have to gallop down to the Art Studio to be amazed at the talented artists who are exhibiting their art. This show is NOT to be missed!

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CO-PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

"Happy Summer SRAL Members!"

That “bzzzzzz” sound you hear is coming from your Santa Rita Art League Board of Directors. They are keeping very busy. What are they doing, you ask?

A. Enjoying summer – May in Green Valley is warm, colorful, and just awesome!

B. Planning our separate vacations – Look out world! We are on the move!

C. Working out all those details so the SRAL will have the “BEST EVER” winter season!

Remember that “Special E-Mail” we said you would get? Expect it in the next 2 weeks.

Yes, you are a part of this process! Your response will be greatly appreciated. As always, our hard work and yours, enables the continuance of the Art League. Together, we share the artful experiences and have fun while doing so.

Arlene Szypulski

Jeani Gustafson

David Simons

Will Be Our June

Demo Artist

"Palette Knife Techniques"

June 13th from 1:00 - 3:00pm

Unlike painting with a brush, the palette knife creates strokes with a much looser and more abstract feel. His approach is to stay loose and suggestive rather than copying. He feels the painting should transcend the actual subject. Watch as David seems to miraculously form a mountain, while explaining his thinking process from start to finish!

More information can be found on the Monthly Demo page of SRAL’s website by clicking here. (https://santaritaart.org/monthly-demos/) 

Mix and Mingle

At the Art Studio

Thursday, June 6^th 

from 3-5pm 

Theme: Something HOT 

Refreshments are always welcome!

See you there! 

Helping my partner clean the garage the other day, we came across some old photos taken of SRAL artists having a great time participating in various art adventures.

Over the next few months we shall post a few more of these old photos. See if you can recognize the participants and if you do recognize anyone, let us know who they are!

 Quotes to think about: 

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."

-- Aristotle

"If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery,

it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all."

-- Michelangelo

"As practice makes perfect, I cannot but make progress;

each drawing one makes, each study one paints,

is a step forward."

-- Vincent Van Gogh

We have many creative members. So we would love to publish your own thoughts about art. This is for everyone's enjoyment. We would love to print your inspirational quote. Please send your quote to us for our Eblast. Click Here

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Joyce wishes to share this with everyone because after reading the quote she professed that, "It speaks to me." She hopes all will enjoy it.

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Current Art League Shows

"The Spring Open Exhibit"

at the

GVR Desert Hills Social Center

This show continues until Tuesday, July 9th

Jan Harnish has selected some of the finest paintings that SRAL members have created. Take some time to visit the auditorium at Desert Hills and enjoy yourself. This art show is fabulous. The Desert Hills Center is open every day.

"Splash"

by Lynette Patterson, acrylic

"Lonesome Beach"

by Laurel Sponseller, acrylic

"Into the Fire"

by Paula Richards, mixed media

"Taos Overlook"

by Jean Makela, mono print

Note to the artists in this show:

The members exhibit at Desert Hills will remain as is, until July 9th. We won’t ask for entries for the next show until late June. Be thinking about artwork you might like included in the July to early October exhibit.

Also, we are pleased to hear that several paintings have been sold. Please inform Jan Harnish as soon as you know if another painting has been purchased.

Contact Jan at: JanH@SantaRitaArt.org

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"Display of Figure Drawing Pieces"

at the

Art League Studio

Although the Figure Drawing Special Interest Group will not meet again until the fall, they are exhibiting, at the Art League in Studio A, several of the pieces they created during this past season. This is a very informal display to show everyone what they can accomplish when a model poses for short periods and for longer periods. We show a few of their pieces below. ... Enjoy.

You often hear from non-artists that say drawing is so difficult that it was the defining reason why a person didn't pursue a career in art. Sadly, it just may have been that they didn't have the right advisor or maybe art teacher.

Drawing isn't any more difficult than any other career. You just need to concentrate, keep practicing, and listen to your knowledgeable instructor.

Visit this display and then join the group in the fall. Hope to see you.

Start Painting for the December Show.

You have 5 months to create your winning submission to our big, members' show in December. At a recent monthly meeting our members excitedly voted for the theme.

"Between Light and Shadow."

It's up to you to interpret "Light and Shadow." However, it's actually an old Italian technique, called Chiaroscuro. To give you a few examples of using the Chiaroscuro effect, we shall print a few paintings using it.

This technique refers to clear tonal contrasts which are often used to suggest the volume and shape of the subject(s). Many artists use this effect, especially when tackling a Realism painting. Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio are famous in art history for using this technique. Even so, many artists still use it today. For this show, you do not have to use this effect. We want you to use your own imagination when interpreting "Between Light and Shadow."

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SRAL LOCKERS AND SLOTS FOR RENT 

Lockers and slots for storing art supplies, canvasses, etc. are available for rental in the SRAL studio. Yearly fee for a locker is $20, and $15 for a slot.

There are a limited number of lockers and slots. If all are rented, a waiting list will be kept and filled as available.

Fees can be paid by filling out a rental application (available in the studio or on the website by clicking here) to include with your cash or check payment; both should be left with the studio monitor. 

For more information, please contact Valerie St. Marie: Click Here 

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Art History for Everyone

The art historians on our staff researched some of the notable contributors to the craft that we love the most --> "A R T." 

We hope you remember and celebrate each individual.

Birthdays

June 

6 Diego Velázquez 1599

7 Paul Gauguin 1848

8 Frank Lloyd Wright 1867

10 Gustave Courbet 1819

11 John Constable 1776

13 Christo 1935

16 Jim Dine 1935

17 M.C. Escher 1889

28 Peter Paul Rubens 1577

28 Geoff Slater 1969

"Tahitian Women on the Beach"

by Paul Gauguin

"Drawing Hands" by M.C. Escher

"The Arc de Triomphe"

by Christo



"The Desperate Man"

by Gustave Courbet

self-portrait



"Las Meninas"

by Diego Velázquez



Member's News

"Artists of La Posada"

Featuring Works by Residents of La Posada

Location: Harry & Ann Paxton Gallery and Theater Lobby

May 10 - October 31st

Two former members of the Art League, Randy Cole and Skip Perkins have worked very hard to improve the art program at the retirement village of La Posada. Aware that there are many residents who were active artists and many who wish to perfect their desire to improve their art skills, both Randy and Skip encouraged those artists to prepare for a summer display at the Community Performance & Art Center here in Green Valley. The folks at CPAC were delighted to exhibit the art that these dedicated senior artists worked for several months to produce.

"Flying Away"

by Marcia Wiener, collage & paint

"Interior of Our House in Goult, France" by Barbara Gurwitz, oil

"Monsoon Season" by Molly Hyde, oil

Having the opportunity to preview this show was such a joy to observe what gifted artists can create. And for an extra golden opportunity, the art on display includes oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastel paintings as well as ceramic and mixed media pieces along with one to two photo illustration and fiber art pieces.

"Poppies and Provence"

by Fred Fox, acrylic

"Apollo"

by Connie Davis, ceramic

If you are looking for a collector's piece of art or just want to enjoy an hour or two observing exceptional and outstanding art, plan a visit to the galleries at CPAC. You most definitely will enjoy each of these incredibly high quality art pieces. Don't pass up this excellent opportunity to have a great time enjoying what you love ... observing fine art.

The CPAC galleries are open each weekday and admission is free ... and there's plenty of parking.

The artists exhibiting their paintings include former and current members of SRAL.

Click Here for More Information About This Exhibit

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)

There are 10 Special Interest Groups and all of them are open to the members of the Art League.

• ABSTRACT BRIGGade
• ASSEMBLAGE
• COLLAGE/MIXED MEDIA

and ACRYLIC

• FIGURE DRAWING
• OIL PAINTING & PASTEL

• OPEN STUDIO
• PLEIN AIR
• PORTRAIT
• PRINTMAKERS GUILD
• WATERCOLOR

On the SRAL website there is a complete description for each SIG.

If you wish to learn more about any of the SIGs, Click Here

Below is additional INFO not on the SRAL webpage.

ABSTRACT BRIGGade

There are no special skills required to join in with this friendly group. Attendees always find artist support, often with live demos, workshops, and critiques.

However, we do not meet during the summer months. We shall start our season again in October. Have a good summer.

ASSEMBLAGE

Assemblage Art combines mundane, every-day objects in new and surprising ways, gives objects new meanings, and elevates non-art materials into the realm of Art. We are an informal group for those who are interested in creating three dimensional artworks.

Our Assemblage Group does not meet during the summer months. We shall resume our meetings this coming Fall when we will continue our meetings on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00pm in the Main SRAL Studio. 

You are certainly invited to come and have fun with us in a creative, collaborative environment! All SRAL members are welcome.

COLLAGE/MIXED MEDIA and ACRYLIC

There will be no group meetings on Wednesday for the months of June, July, and August. We will resume on the first Wednesday of the month in September. Have a wonderful summer.

FIGURE DRAWING

FYI: We do not meet during the summer months. The first session of the 2024/2025 season will be held this coming fall. 

Hope to see you then.

OIL/PASTEL

This group meets every Monday from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. We are a friendly, supportive, and informal group that allows our members a scheduled time to paint, share ideas, and techniques. We welcome both beginner and accomplished artists alike!

PLEIN AIR PAINT OUTINGS

We shall resume our activities in November!

Hope to see you for our beginning Plein Air Season in November. 

PRINTMAKERS GUILD

The Printmakers Guild does not meet during June, July, and August. At our next meeting, 9:30 am on September 25 (always the 4th Wednesday of the month), John McGraw will teach us how to do screen printing using stencils.

NOTE: We are looking for prints to put on the SRAL Studio wall in September. if you would like to use the Studio presses during the summer, please contact John McGraw or Karen Keim (see SRAL website). Click Here

WATERCOLOR

The Watercolor Group meets year-round in the SRAL studio on Fridays from 9-noon. We are an informal, social group working on our own watercolor projects, while sharing ideas and support. All levels are welcome from beginners to those who have painted for years. The SRAL library also has many books on watercolors for your reference.

FYI: Some members meet via ZOOM on Fridays, 9 to 12 (AZ time).

Anyone not receiving the Zoom invite email, but want to receive it, can contact Valerie St. Marie. Click Here

Please Come and Join Us.

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Click here for the list of SIG chairpersons and their e-mail addresses.