President’s Message – March 2025
Invite a Guest — For Free!
Our March 10th meeting
Featuring a member demo by Dan Mondloch.
Plan now to bring a guest to this meeting!
Bring a new painter. Bring a friend. Bring a young painter to enjoy watching a gifted artist and teacher show what watercolor can do. Let’s fill the room with potential new CMW members. There is no one better to inspire us all, especially new painters. The evening will be a gift you share with your guest(s).
I have asked Dan to present some basics for beginning painters (always good to review), and a trick or two for experienced painters.
Dan will show how to map out the structure of a scene, establishing the light, mid, and dark tones of a landscape. Then comes the first wash! Each subsequent layer of watercolor painting corresponds to one of the value layers, starting with the lightest tones and gradually building depth with midtones and darker shades.
The process ensures a balanced composition while allowing watercolor's natural flow to enhance the painting's overall mood and atmosphere.
Check out the 10-minute video on our CMW website of Dan at Quarry Park talking about the adventures of becoming an artist and plein air painting. https://www.centralmnwatercolorists.org/
Let’s welcome a roomful, Mon., Mar. 10, at the Paramount, Lower Level, Studio C.
Breaking News:
CMW welcomes Shelly Chambers to the Board as our new Social/Media Coordinator. She is tech savvy and says she is excited to step into the position. We thank her for coming forward to undertake this position, which is vital to keeping CMW members informed and connected. Thank you also to Arlette Twedt, for her faithful service in this challenging position. Thank you, Shelly, Arlette and Barb, for giving so generously of your time, talent and treasure. Everyone who helps, in any way, sustains our organization.
Workshop opportunities:
Sign-up sheets will be available for 2 workshops that we hope will appeal to members whose schedules have kept them from attending in the past. More information about these accomplished artists and their workshops will be available soon. (We expect pricing will be in the $100-$400 range.) Sign up now. We will create “wait lists” for these workshops.
1) Daniel Kuchenbecker = May 17, 2025 (Sat.) — Especially suitable for beginning painters.
2) Catherine Hearding = Sept. 25-27, 2025 (Thurs., Fri., Sat.) https://www.chearding.com/Home
Opportunities to show your work:
Sign-up sheets will be available. Show Coordinator, Becca Hlebain-Aaker, will email more information and the Artwork Submission Form link to artists who sign up for the shows at Whitney and CentraCare Plaza.
1) Whitney show dates are June-July. By April 1 you should provide jpeg images and full information about your paintings using this link to the Artwork Submission Form: https://form.jotform.com/250546476322053
2) CentraCare Plaza show is the month of May. 17-22 paintings. Again, you will submit jpeg images and information about your paintings using the Artwork Submission Form: https://form.jotform.com/250546476322053
3) Artists of Minnesota – April 25 -27 in St. Cloud. Kerry Kupferschmidt will have full information about this event. See also the website: https://artistsofminnesota.org
We might not know what our March weather will bring, but we can look forward to being together at the March 10 meeting. Soon our snowbirds will be returning too. Four years ago we had to meet virtually. It’s good to keep that perspective in mind. In the meantime, do something every day to advance your art. Art sustains.
Keep your paints wet and – Keep Painting!
Susan Jensen-Cekalla
Pres., 2025
Central MN Watercolorists