Forwarded from Mary Beeman

Greetings to All,

Mary sent me this link ( carolynlord.com ) to the website of a friend from college, who is an accomplished watercolorist. I was impressed with her rather unique artistic language.

/j

Bruce & Johnson Marina September 10

I drove over to the marina around 9:30 during the lull in the rain as the marina is only a block from where I live to see if anyone had shown up.  And there was Diana.  Diana, who just recently joined us and the MAS group on Wednesdays, drove from Deep River.  Now that's a devoted plein air painter!  

While we thought we could get in some time sketching, the downpour started 20 minutes later.

I asked for permission for next week so we will try the marina again.  

Moving On

Greetings to All,

In 2009, a small band of Painting Buddies decided to continue weekly paint-outs after Joan Downey's Outdoor Watercolor class ended for the season. As the leaves turned and the frosts came, a few of us stayed in touch by email to coordinate our late season outings. In the spring, Veronica, who had been our convener, was in the throes of a family tragedy.  For me, as one of the group of late season painters, it was a simple matter to keep the emails going and stand in for Veronica as convener.  As things turned out, after Veronica returned, she preferred to retire to an advisory role, and I stayed on as convener.  In 2012, we became CT Shoreline Artists - CTSA - and in 2013, with our nominal membership booming to over one hundred, we launched the blog to avoid the email complications.

Now, after five years at the helm, I need to move on. When I declared my need for a vacation back in July, I fully intended to return as convener in October. I felt I just needed a break to get a number of projects wrapped up and  have a little down time. If Sally had not stepped in (and so ably) I would have just picked up and gone on after the summer.  But watching how deftly she has kept things going, and knowing that I still have a full agenda of personal issues ahead, I have asked Sally if she would take over as official convener of CTSA. And she has accepted.

I am not dropping out altogether. I will be available as backup for Sally, and I intend to rejoin the group for this year's late season outings and then again next year. I'll also hope to share photos and thoughts with you on the blog.

For me, change is an important part of life. It's essential to staying fresh and vital. I'm looking forward to this change and to the little snippets of time it will give me to not only keep up with life in general but to help me to focus more on my art. Thanks to all of you who have been supportive to me over the past five years and especially to the original Painting Buddies who hatched the idea and then let me run with it. It's been a wonderful time for me, in large part because it gave me a platform for getting to know so many of you, but also because over that time, we became a group that is both cohesive and inclusive - with always room for the next person to join in and feel welcome. That has always been my goal for CTSA, and I'm pretty sure Sally shares that vision. I know you will appreciate Sally's energy and ideas, as CTSA enters its next phase under her leadership.

I look forward to rejoining you wherever we may be painting in mid-October.

/j

Opening Reception

Greetings to All,

In case you needed another art opening reception to attend, please remember Tuesday, 8 September, 5-7 PM at Scranton Library.  It's all watercolor -- members of Madison's Wednesday Watercolor Studio.  The show will be in place through the month of September.

I know this is a late reminder for the opening, but Sally has posted it before, so if you're not receptioned out, I hope to see you there.

/j

Paint out Brewer Bruce & Johnson Marina, Branford, Thurs-Sept 10

The venue this week is Brewer Bruce & Johnson Marina.  There is such a variety of subjects here to paint: boats dry-docked (some very old) and in the water, Sybil Creek and marshes, buildings, views along the Branford River with surrounding marshlands, houses across the inlets, and other docks in the distance.  

It's forecast to be another warm day but there's shade and hopefully a breeze.  

Hope to see everyone there.  

Sally 

Directions to Brewer Bruce & Johnson Marina
145 South Montowese Street, Branford

Heading south on I-95, take Exit 55. Turn RIGHT on Rte 1 (East Main), and move to left lane. After 0.3 mi., turn LEFT (south) on Windmill Hill Road. After 0.5 mi., turn RIGHT (southwest) on Damascus Road. After 0.9 mi., Damascus merges with Pine Orchard Road. Stay straight, heading west for about another 0.4 mile.  When the road dead ends, turn LEFT (south) on South Montowese Street.

After about 0.7 mile (underneath the RR bridge, past the marshes and river, and straight at the 3-way stop sign), you will see a large Brewer marina sign on your right. Turn right onto this road and it will take you straight into the marina.  Once into the marina area, if you continue straight over all the speed bumps and after the office on the left you will see a gazebo on a small rise with trees.  

That's where we will meet for the wrap-up at noon.  

Stony Creek September 3

First, I need to apologize to Veronica and Julia for leaving them out of the wrap-up and lunch.  The group had collected beneath the gazebo earlier than expected and everyone was ready to head to Stony Creek pizza for lunch before noon.  I was so focused on the photos for the wrap-up that I completely forgot about the two other artists who were painting by the boat launch.  Julia and Veronica, I am so sorry.    

We had 10 artists arrive on this very warm day (Judy, Betsey, Gretchen, Tom, Julia, Veronica, Jane, Pat, a newcomer Diana, and me).  Finally around 10:30, the wind blew more steadily to keep us cool in the shade of the gazebo.

Next week, we have permission to paint at Bruce & Johnson's Marina in Branford.  It's a great spot for a meandering creek through the marshes, for distant homes on the peninsula, for the Branford River inlet, and for boats galore, both in the water and dry-docked. There's a lovely large gazebo area for shade.  Our last paint out there was in April and it was quite cold.  That won't be a problem next week.  Stay tuned for Monday's posting of the directions.

Sally

Watercolor Art Reception Tuesday Sept 8, 5-7 PM

Joan McPherson has led a group of watercolor artists every fall, winter, and spring at the Madison Memorial Town Hall for many years.  (I joined the group for a few seasons myself.)  The room is filled with watercolorists who have incredible skills with this difficult medium.  For the first time (of which I am aware), they have chosen to exhibit their work at the Scranton Library.  I can't wait to see their show.

The opening reception will be held Tuesday, September 8, from 5 - 7 PM in the Community Room (downstairs) at the Scranton Library in Madison.  I hope to see many of you there.

Sally