November 2024 Announcements

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

CO-PRESIDENTS' UPDATE

WE NEED YOUR VOTE FOR THE 2025 SRAL BOARD MEMBERS

NOVEMBER 14th in the Anza Room at 1:00pm.

We need a quorum! Please plan on attending and voting!

What an exciting time for the Santa Rita Art League!

- Our SRAL membership keeps growing.

- The “Snowbird” members are returning for the winter season.

- November marks the beginning of the Art 101 beginner classes.

- Several Special Interest Groups (SIGs) will resume their meeting sessions

.....for the winter season.

- There are numerous Art League exhibits for you to participate in and enjoy.

- We have an awesome lineup of artist Demos planned for the general .....meetings.

- And the studio’s new 75” Smart TV will be an excellent, easy to use, .....instructional tool.

When we say, “It’s all good”, we mean “IT’S ALL GOOD”!!!

We would like to extend a special “Thanks a Million!” to ALL the members who assisted in the studio facelift project. Our studio looks marvelous!

Below are two of the hard working maintenance folks who spent a substantial amount of time cleaning up the studio -- and themselves.

Under the paint drops, they look a lot like Arlene and Jeani, but we're not sure.

...

Final Note from the Editor

Thank you for allowing me

to be your Editor for the past year.

To be honest, I wanted to show everyone not just how much is going on with our Art League, but that it is so much fun to be a member. Green Valley artists, which include full-timers, those who come for the winter, and I should mention that we also have a number from Canada and other countries -- all contribute a lovely diversity, which definitely enriches our community. Now someone once mentioned that "It takes a village" and that is certainly true when it comes to putting together a newsletter that covers so many activities. So let's give credit to those on our Board, especially our co-Presidents, and the energetic newsletter staff who hunt for news, visiting the art displays for photos and descriptions, the Special Interest Groups, the art classes, and the art workshops. And finally I must give a sincere "Thank You" to two very special members who tirelessly reviewed and made suggestions for every single issue of our E-Blast.

Susan Ettl

Altie Metcalf

SRAL New Member Orientation

If you are new member of Santa Rita Art League, or just want to be brought up to speed on how to benefit from your membership and how you can participate/volunteer, please attend our New Member Orientation on Thursday, November 7th at 2:00 pm at the SRAL Studio. 

Questions? Contact Sally Bryan, New Member Liason, 716 397-8099

BENEFITS:

..........-Monthly live artist demonstrations

..........-Free learning workshops

..........-Over 10 different Special Interest Groups to work with

..........-Participation in membership exhibits throughout GVR Centers

..........-Participation in juried and judged shows

..........-Use of our art studio and wonderful library

..........-Camaraderie and developing great friendships

APPLICATIONS:

..........-You can go onto the SRAL website to:

....................-Fill out an application and pay online

....................-Print out an application and pay by cash or check

..........-Pick up an application in the studio and pay by cash or check

..........-Pick up an application at the General Meeting and pay there

To go to the Membership Application on the SRAL web site

Click Here.

NOTE: PLEASE read the renewal form carefully as it gives you the information you need to renew and how to make your dues payment.

NAME BADGES:

Please pick up your name badge. A new order of badges has just arrived and there are many others that have not been picked up. You will find them in a box labeled Name Badges on the desk in the studio. You can also pick them up at our general meetings each month.



Thank you!  - Liz Wolf

..

GVR is alerting everyone about Closures for the Holiday Season

• Wednesday, Nov 27.....All Centers close at 6 pm

• Thursday, Nov 28.........Club spaces are closed

.........(Thanksgiving Day)

• Friday, Nov 29..............All Centers are OPEN

• Tuesday, Dec 24..........All Centers close at 6 pm

• Wednesday, Dec 25.....Club spaces will be closed

..........(Christmas Day)

• Tuesday, Dec 31..........All Centers close at 6 pm

..........(New Years Eve)

• Wednesday, Jan 1.......All Centers are OPEN

..........(New Years Day)

Mark your Calendar

Special Note to All Members about Coming Art Exhibits

and Demos.

All the upcoming exhibits (to date) have been listed on the bottom of the ART EXHIBITS webpage. To zip over to check out the coming shows, Click Here.

We shall alert you as more shows are added.

**Kristin Harvey**

....Will Be Our November Demo Artist.

....

"Painting Intuitively"

Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Anza Room

Kristin's artwork reflects her love for the Sonoran desert and a strong appreciation of the Mexican culture. She is a colorist drawn to the brilliant hues of Mexican celebrations and folk art. She paints her contemporary semi-abstract paintings inspired by these colors, and by the desert in bloom. A love for color and line is apparent in her broad, loose brushstrokes juxtaposed with crisp white outlines. She paints intuitively with an acrylic mixed media process that includes water-based crayons, chalk pastel, colored pencil and intensely saturated acrylic paints. She admits that she paints from a need to create consistent joy in her life.

"I paint intuitively, so I cannot determine WHAT I'll be painting, but I will demonstrate my complete process of painting a 36x36 canvas with acrylic paints. This will include explaining what is going on in my head as I paint. I will also be referring to topics in a booklet I put together called "Art Express: The New Creative's Survival Guide."  In addition, I'll review color mixing, paint & tools, some principles of art I use to guide my intuitive process, and a few creative exercises I use regularly. I promise this will be a fun demo that will inspire everyone, regardless of your medium of choice."

Saguaro Memories

Sonoran Joy

The Sweet Life

Elephant Head

After a 10 year career in video game design Kristin had the chance to design Sega of America's first website and this opportunity led to a career in user experience and website design. She has always created with traditional mediums as well as digital, and painting is her passion.



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

Have questions? Email Arlene (ArleneS@SantaRitaArt.org)

or Jeani (JeaniG@SantaRitaArt.org)

....

Current Art League Shows

...

...

"The Fall Open Exhibit"

at the

GVR Desert Hills Social Center

This fabulous Show will run until

January 1st.

Jan Harnish

Jan encourages the artists in the Art League to display their most outstanding paintings. It is always a joy to visit the Desert Hills Center and spend a wonderful afternoon (or morning) enjoying an exhibit of exceptional pieces.

Each artist may enter 2 paintings, list them in order of preference for inclusion, (#1 and #2) that's just in case we have more than 24 paintings entered. 

Include title, medium, price, (or NFS); your name and contact information, as you want to appear on your title card. Please send your entry information to Jan. This is a "first in, first hung" process. Those artists who contact Jan first have preference over those who contact her later.

Follow SRAL requirements for what can be displayed, and check that frames and hanging hardware are in good condition. Framed dimensions must be no more than 30 inches either direction. By limiting the size of individual entries, we are able to hang at least 24 paintings in a visually appealing manner.

** To SRAL members with artwork to pickup and/or deliver at Desert Hills:

We are cleared to complete the changeover of our exhibit on:

Wednesday, October 30th, 1-2 pm. 

See you there! Jan Harnish

You can contact Jan at: JanH@SantaRitaArt.org

Art Exhibit

at the

GVR West Center

Hana Leigh has organized a display of 42 paintings by several SRAL artists. The show will run until the end of November.

..Art Shows

...... You May Want to Enter



Fast Approaching Art Competition

at

The Community Performance & Art Center

"Icons of the West II"

Featuring Works by Arizona Artists

Location: Harry & Ann Paxton Gallery and Theater Lobby

October 30 - December 21, 2024

Reception: Friday, November 1st, 5:30 - 7:00pm

Click Here for More Information About This Exhibit

...

LOOKING FOR PAST EVA BRIGGS ENTRIES

for the

."Briggs Retro" Exhibit

If you have a past Eva Briggs entry and would like to be a part of the November 2024 “BRIGGS RETRO” exhibit at Canoa Hills, Arlene would like to hear from you!  There is only room for 14 pieces!  We would like to have as many artists as possible represented with past entries from the show. 

At this time, we only need to have your name on a list to express an interest in having your painting shown.  

To Contact:  Arlene Szypulski,  Click Here

...

2024 Members’ December Exhibit 

Monday, December 2 –

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

"Between Light and Shadow"

At Canoa Hills GVR Social Center

• Non-refundable Entry Fee: $10
• Entry Form Deadline: Postmark no later than Wednesday, November 20, 2024.  
• Art Due for Hanging: Monday, December 2, 2024, from 10:00 – 11:00 am.  
• Reception date: December 5, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. 
• Location: Canoa Hills Center, 3660 S Camino Del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622. 
• Prizes: Six Artists' Choice Awards.

For more Information & Entry Form Click Here

.....10 FREE SESSIONS

...................on ABSTRACT DESIGN

For those interested in an introduction to the general field of abstract art design, Nan Lux and other artists will be offering a series of Fall guided work sessions starting on Monday, November 4th. 

All mediums are included!  Each member simply brings whatever supplies they want to work with.

Want to loosen up your art? 

Another goal is to increase interest in participating in the two upcoming SRAL abstract art exhibits (juried with prize money) this coming January and February. 

All work sessions are from 9 am to noon every Monday, starting on November 4^th, for 10 weeks. To email Nan with questions and interest. Click Here

The 1st

"Ellen Sussman - Eva Briggs

Abstract Art Competition"

Presented by The Santa Rita Art League

Premiering January 2, 2025 at CPAC

The First Annual Ellen Sussman-Eva Briggs Memorial Abstract Art Competition will be held in January 2025. The caveat: Only SQUARES are acceptable! Submissions can be in any medium: Acrylic, Watercolor, Oils, Pastel, Collage, & Mixed Media. All substrates (canvas, wood panel, paper, or cradle board) must measure 12" X 12", 20" X 20", 24" X 24", 30" X 30", 36" X 36",

or 48" by 48". The maximum dimensions of a framed piece shall not exceed more than 2" above the substrate's size.

If you can’t decide on the size? Paint two! For the $40.00 entry fee, two paintings can be entered into the show. That has the possibility of the judge seeing a lot of squares, but the spectacular artwork is bound to delight all the viewers! Prize money awards are BIG for this show, but personal satisfaction and gratification is BIGGER! Jump into the most expressive and mind-expanding journey of abstract painting!  Entry forms with complete details are now available online. Paper copies are currently available in the studio.

For more information on the SRAL website, CLICK HERE

"The 20th Annual Eva Briggs Abstract Art Competition"

Begins January 30, 2025, at CPAC

...

2025 Masters Show! 

Will be held at the West Center,

Sunday, February 16 to Monday, March 31, 2025.

This year the special section will be for Cubist artists. Some eligible artists to reproduce paintings by are Roger de la Fesnaye, Robert Delaunay, Albert Gleizes, Juan Gris, Paul Klee, Fernand Leger, Aristarkh Lentulov, and Lyubov Popova. Note that Picasso is not mentioned, as he has not been deceased since on or before 1955. Due to copyright laws, an artist must be deceased for at least 70 years to be copied legally. Of course, cubism is optional and you may choose any artist or painting that you deem to be a Master. You may enter 2 paintings, so why not try cubism? Entry forms are available on the SRAL website by Clicking Here.

"Senecio"

by Paul Klee, 1922

"Seated Figure"

by Lyubov Popova, 1913

"Tête d'Homme"

by Albert Gleizes, 1913

"Artillery"

by Roger de la Fresnaye, 1911

Due to the rise of AI (artificial intelligence) online, with fake interpretations of famous artists, there will be a line on the entry form to enter the provenance of the painting that you are reproducing. Examples are: title of the book it was listed in, which museum it is hanging in, which personal collection it is from, or when/where it was sold at auction (like Christy's). It is no longer enough to just take a painting from a Google search. Our library has many great books to find a painting that you like. 

It's Time to Start your Paintings for the Masters Show!

Please direct any questions to Cheryl Schaeffer by Clicking Here.

Quotes for you to think about:

"A painting is not a picture of an experience, but is the experience." 

-- Mark Rothko..

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."....-- Andy Warhol

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." --Edgar Degas

"If I were called upon to define briefly the word Art, I should call it the reproduction of what the senses perceive in nature, seen through the veil of the soul." .............................................................-- Paul Cezanne

......

SRAL LOCKERS AND SLOTS FOR RENT 

Lockers and slots for storing art supplies, canvases, 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. 

“If you currently rent a locker/slot, fees will be due soon for 2025 rentals.” Fees can be paid… (as already written).

“If you will no longer wish to rent your locker/slot for 2025, please contact Valerie to let her know, and remove your supplies by the end of the year.”

You can contact Valerie St. Marie by clicking here -->  Just Click Here 

.

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 -- November

2 Jean-Baptiste Chardin 1699 .........15 Georgia O'Keeffe 1887

10 William Hogarth 1697 ..................19 Nicholas Poussin 1594

11 Paul Signac 1863...........................21 Rene Magritte 1898

12 Auguste Rodin 1840 ....................24 Toulouse-Lautrec 1864

14 Claude Monet 1840 ......................28 William Blake 1757

15 Wayne Thiebaud 1920 .................30 Serene Rein 1939

"Barfleur Harbor" by Paul Signac, 1931

"Water Lilies"

by Claude Monet, 1916

"Cakes"

by Wayne Thiebaud, 1963

"At the Moulin Rouge"

by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1892

"Jimson Weed"

by Georgia O'Keeffe, 1936

"The Son of Man"

by Rene Magritte, 1946

"Best Friend"

by Serene Rein, 2018

.....

Art Workshops and

......Art Classes in the Area

Adult Classes at the Community Performance & Art Center (CPAC)

CPAC has expanded their adult education program to include a variety of workshops. Various media, traditional and new techniques, as well as classes for personal growth are all offered.

This workshop will explore composition styles from object accurate surrealism (i.e., Salvador Dali) to non-object style (i.e., Piet Mondrian). The participants should bring examples of famous art styles or artists they admire. Fran will also provide images of artworks for discussion.

An exercise in abstracting aspects from the photos and paper images will be practiced during the morning. Fran will supply tracing paper, and a demonstration of this process which will include how to enlarge the image to the size of the substrate that has been brought to the session.

Join Angelique as she shares her creative discoveries with intermediate level artists in a session called “Discovering You.” By exploring mark making and colorful shape making, she will show ways to use them in a compositional design on a concertina booklet. The takeaway is to find your unique way to enhance your artistic creations using the Design Elements and Principles in all future creative expressions.

This class is for beginner to advanced students who are interested in boldly exploring acrylic painting. Learn techniques, tips, & tricks to add interest and energy to your work. We’ll explore many different acrylic applications to create engaging pieces. 

Students will learn to create rice paper image transfers for underpaintings, the value of working in a series and how to add elements of realism to an abstract underpainting. We will combine acrylic mediums while exploring ways to incorporate elements of form, pattern, texture, & design. This is a high energy, fun, experimental class!

Additional Art Classes and Workshops at CPAC

.Fran Sutherland:....."Four Ways to Start a Painting"

Every Wednesday AM from January 8 to February 12, 2025....

.....

.Betsy Kimbrough:.."Creating an Art Journal Practice"

January 28 - 29, 2025....

.Rich Metcalf:..........."Discovering Your Artistic Style"

Every Monday AM from February 3 - 24, 2025....

For more information about the workshops, CLICK HERE.

Learning Opportunities at the

Tubac School of Fine Art

The Tubac School of Fine Art is offering workshops from a variety of artists.

Please click below for information.

Phone: 520-398-2589

Email: workshops@tubacschooloffineart.org

"Design Your Own Notecards!"

Instructor: Roberta Rogers

November 9, 2024

Additional Workshops at the Tubac School of Fine Arts

.....

......Keiko Tanabe: "Composition and Design for Atmospheric Painting"

January 3 - 5, 2025...........

......Deb Deaton: "Painting Landscapes and Skies" January 25, 2025



Art Exhibit in Tubac continues 'til Nov. 10, 2024

"Tubac Treasures, A Painted History "

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.

We shall start our season again on November 4th from 9am til noon.

************

Reminder: 10 Abstract Design Work Sessions, this Fall

Nan Lux and other award-winning artists will be holding 10 FREE informal drop-in guided work sessions at the SRAL studio every Monday beginning on Nov. 4th. These sessions are for our members who are interested in participating in the upcoming abstract art exhibits in January & February.

For more info see 10 FREE SESSIONS on ABSTRACT DESIGN above.

ASSEMBLAGE

Assemblage Art combines mundane objects in new and surprising ways, requiring the viewer to question their relation to the world of objects around them. Sometimes used as social critique or as an exploration of the fantastical and dream worlds, Assemblage Art gives objects new meanings, makes creative connections between disparate elements, and elevates non-art materials into the realm of art. 

The Assemblage Group meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Fridays of every month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the SRAL Studio.

This is currently an informal group meeting for all who are interested creating three dimensional artworks and is open to all SRAL members. 

See you in the Studio!

COLLAGE/MIXED MEDIA and ACRYLIC

• Our SIG will resume meeting at the SRAL studio from 1 pm to 3 pm on Tuesday, November 5th.
• The Collage, Mixed Media, Acrylic Group "ART EXHIBIT" will be at the West Center beginning on November 10. If you plan to enter this exhibit, please e-mail the SIG Coordinator, Janet Johnson, and send the following information: Title of your piece(s), your name, contact information, and price (if any). You can have more than one piece.
• Also, we need a few volunteers to help with the labels and hanging the work.

You can contact Janet Johnson by, Clicking Here.

All Art League members are invited to participate in this SIG.

Get ready for a terrific year.

FIGURE DRAWING

The Figure Drawing Group will have it’s first session of the 2024-2025 season on Saturday, November 2nd, 9am to Noon. We are going to have one our favorites modeling for us - Jenna Brown. She is a Ballerina. The fee per participant is $5. We will also be collecting tips for her because she is driving quite a distance from Marana. Hope to see you at the Studio.



All members are invited to participate.

OIL/PASTEL

This group meets every Monday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. 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

The first meeting of the Plein Air Group is Thursday, November 7th. We will meet every Thursday from November through April. A schedule for each month will be sent out at the end of each month for the following month to anyone on the email list. There will be a schedule posted on the studio bulletin board for the upcoming month. We travel to destinations all over Southern Arizona. We have meeting points where carpools are formed. Any art medium is acceptable. We paint for about 2 hours and have a light critique after we finish so we can all view our morning's work. We paint buildings, landscapes, or famous sites known to most Southern Arizonans. 

If you would like to join us send an e-mail to Nanci Sheppard.

Click Here

It is so wonderful to be in nature and create with other artists.

So please consider painting with us.

PRINTMAKERS GUILD

Our first meeting of the new season will be on the 23rd of October in Studio Room A, when John McGraw will teach us how to do screen printing with stencils. All are welcome, materials provided.



WATERCOLOR

The Watercolor Group normally meets year-round in the SRAL studio on Fridays from 9am - noon. However since the studio will have construction going on during September and into October, we will wait until we get more information before setting future plans. At this point, the Watercolor Group plans to meet on Fridays once the Studio renovation is complete.

For new SRAL members, 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 Friday mornings, 9 to 12 (AZ time). The ZOOM folks plan to meet again on Sept. 27th and on the first two Fridays (10/4, & 10/11) in October.

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

.

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

The Art of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of our most cherished holidays. But were the Pilgrims the first to settle in New England? -- NO. Other captains from England sailed there before the Pilgrims and similar to entrepreneurial captains they landed on the Massachusetts coast and they often caused problems. There was one British captain who landed there and captured many indigenous men and women and tried to sell them in Spain as slaves. He was unsuccessful. Others also tried similar activities and some of the native people ended up in England. Some learned English and returned on ships as guides for the sailors when they wanted to bargain with the native people on that coast. Unfortunately, these sailors spread diseases to those indigenous people and many natives died, reducing their manpower to defend their tribes. This is one of the reasons why some tribes made friends with the Pilgrims because the Pilgrims had weapons that could be used to help defend those tribes from larger tribes who were enemies.

In elementary school you might have learned about Squanto of the Wampanoag tribe. He was one who learned English and could translate for those trying to communicate with the Native Americans. He also taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn.

But let's get to the connection of art and Thanksgiving. There is a painting in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, titled, "Embarkation of the Pilgrims." It was painted by Robert Weir in 1843. It shows the Pilgrims in Holland signing the contract for their voyage to the New World. These Pilgrims were British but had fled to Holland to avoid repression of their religious beliefs. They started their voyage in Holland on the ship Speedwell, but had to abandon that boat and switch to the Mayflower, as the Speedwell was taking on water and all thought it would never make it across the Atlantic. The Mayflower was their second boat carrying even more British Pilgrims.

The "Embarkation of the Pilgrims" is a fairly large painting and is very impressive to see. So impressive that it is printed on the back of the U.S. Ten Thousand Dollar Bill. The next time you're out shopping, flip one of your $10,000 dollar bills over to see the painting.

There is another historic painting with which you should be familiar. It is "The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe painted in 1914.

Growing up in Massachusetts, almost every classroom in grade school had a small copy of this painting. Jennie Brownscombe and her husband had an art studio in the Catskill Mountains and close to the Hudson River Valley in New York.

Jennie and her husband were part of the art movement known as Colonial Revival. This movement tended to embellish the historical events to portray Europeans in the most possible positive light. I won't point out all the inaccuracies but here are a few. First, the background does not look like the coast near Plymouth, Massachusetts. It does look similar to the Hudson River area. The home in the upper right is not the type of home the Pilgrims built, especially during the first Thanksgiving when more than 50% died and many actually lived on the Mayflower because they didn't yet have living quarters.

Some of the Native Americans are wearing war bonnets but the Wampanoag Indians did not wear feathered war bonnets. The Southeastern Seminoles and Cherokees wore cloth tubans decorated with a few feathers. Feathered warbonnets were worn by the Great Plains Indians, like the Sioux, Crow, Blackfeet, and Cheyenne. Wearing feathered warbonnets was adopted by other tribes in the late 1800s to appeal to tourists, who expected Native Americans to wear this type of headdress. And finally, Jennie painted the trees in the background turning to their fall colors -- but in New England the leaves turn in October. In November, you can expect snow on the ground.

So the lesson for artists painting landscapes is to make sure what you add is appropriate for the location. IOW, don't add a saguaro cactus to the background if you're painting a landscape of Minnesota.

Wishing You A Happy Thanksgiving!