Word from the President

Greetings! With wishes of peace and goodwill for the New Year, we also reflect on past events of 2016. Some occasions were no doubt happy and others, perhaps challenging in various degrees.

In the life of WSA we happily celebrated 75 years of watercolor exhibitions. Our 75th National Exhibition in 2016 was outstanding. We have many to thank for this extraordinary year, but most importantly we thank you Inside this issue: for your support by entering the competitions and workshops. To the many volunteers, patrons and donors, the Board of Directors extends our sincere President’s Message 1 gratitude. New Members One big challenge we faced in 2016 was the need to bring the WSA Watercolor Society of 2 Alabama 76th National Website current with today’s technology. If you are experiencing problems Exhibtion navigating the present site, please bear with us as new software is being developed to provide the necessary functionality required of a successful Ming Franz Workshop 3 watercolor society. We will keep you updated as to the progress and

Sponsor Information 4 improvements available to WSA members.

Board of Directors Our focus and hard work has now turned to the WSA 76th Annual WSA Members News 5 National Exhibition in 2017. The Selection Juror is Keiko Tanabe, an award winning artist and signature member of NWS. Ms Tanabe will select 80 - 85 6 WSA Members News paintings for the exhibition to be hosted by Heritage Hall Museum in Talladega, Alabama. The entry deadline is Jan 18. The Awards Judge and Membership Info 7 Workshop instructor is Ming Franz who will select the paintings to receive approximately $8000 in awards. Please see more information on the 76th National and Ms Franz’ Workshop elsewhere in this Newsletter.

Your Board of Directors and other volunteers continue to serve and work We welcome our new hard to make this wonderful organization run smoothly and function in your best interest. Please consider helping us in achieving the goals of WSA to members advance the art of watercolor painting. Let us know if you would like to be Terri Beasley (AL) considered in areas of exhibitions, publicity, finance, awards, receptions, or any Oscar Fairley (DC) activity that would fit your interest and availability. Your questions, Dennis R. Fakes (AL) suggestions and comments are welcome. Teresa Farris-Dacar (AL) Deborah R. Garst (AL) Wishing you a Happy New Year and many hours of Happy Painting! Claire Hall (GA) Keith Jones (AL) Shirley J Tucker Dottye Lind (AL) ([email protected]) Dylan Pierce (GA) 256-773-8353 Anne White (SC) Watercolor Society of Alabama Call for Entries 76th National Exhibition Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall 200 South Street, East Talladega, AL April 7– May 19, 2017 Call for Entries Deadline: Jan. 18, 2017 Prospectus and Workshop Brochure available at www.watercolorsocietyofal.org $8000+ in Awards Selection Juror: Keiko Tanabe, NWS, AWS, NAWA Awards Juror: Ming Franz, NMWS Ming Franz Workshop April 6-8, 2017

Ming Franz “Frolicking in the Forest”

All paintings are copyrighted by the Artist Ming Franz “Gathering” Ming Franz Workshop April 6-8, 2017

Hard copies of the WSA Newsletter and exhibition prospectus are no longer mailed. As part of our improving our membership services we will be sending the newsletter via email. So please be sure to let us know of any changes in your email addressing at [email protected] . The newsletter will also be available to read or download from our WSA website. We are looking forward to some great improvements. We ask for your patience while we transition. We still have a few members that do not have email and we have made the exception for hard copy mailing to their address.

Submissions by WSA members are welcome.

We ask that your submissions are current or for the upcoming year. Have you been juried into an exhibi- tion? Received an award? Holding a workshop? Or have a topic that you would like to share or discuss that may help your fellow WSA members? This is your newsletter. As artists we are visual people, please include one photo with your submissions, if you can. We love photos! As a reminder we are a quarterly newsletter. The next submission deadline is: March 20th

D.A. Allen/Newsletter Editor Keep your brushes wet!! AIRFLOAT SYSTEMS www.airfloatsys.com USE CODE: “WSA” for 20% discount

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CREATIVE CATALYST PROD www.ccpvideos.com Board of Directors

President – Shirley J. Tucker ([email protected]) DALER-ROWNEY USA www.daler-rowney.com President Elect – Lyn Gill ([email protected]) 1stVice President – Jaceena Shepard ([email protected]) FORSTALL ART CENTER 2nd Vice President – Heike Covell ([email protected]) www.forstallart.com 3rd Vice President – Lyn Gill ([email protected]) Corresponding Secretary —Tora Johnson GOLDEN ARTIST COLORS ([email protected]) www.QoRcolors.com Historian - Peggy Milburn Brown

([email protected]) JACK RICHESON & CO., Inc. Membership Director-Heike Covell ([email protected]) www.richesonart.com Newsletter Director/Editor – D.A. Allen

([email protected]) M. GRAHAM & CO. Parliamentarian – Jaceena Shepard ([email protected]) Watercolors developed with natural blackberry honey Publicity/Facebook Director – Lyn Gill ([email protected]) www.mgraham.com Recording Secretary — Melinda M. Mathews ([email protected]) SAVOIR-FAIRE/FABRIANO Treasurer – Charlotte McDavid ([email protected]) www.savoirfaire.com 2017 National Workshop Dir. – Jaceena Shepard

([email protected]) WINSOR & NEWTON www.winsornewton.com 2017 AL Members Showcase Dir. – Lyn Gill ([email protected])

Ann Pember painting, “Ineffable Iris”, was selected by International Artist Magazine #109, June/July issue for their Challenge #93, Florals & Gardens. This won the Third Award; a Feature Article in the July issue of American Art Collector Magazine. She had paintings selected for 12 national juried exhibitions this year.

Don Taylor's painting "Promenade" won the 2nd Place award in the Missouri Watercolor Society 2016 Members Show in St. Louis, MO. His painting "Gators" won an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Members Exhibit. His painting "Heads of Tails II" was selected for the 3rd consecutive year in the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 42nd Annual Exhibit in Eugene, OR and he will be awarded signature membership at the opening in April 2017.

Mike Mazer, WSA, was juried into the American Artists Professional League's 88th Grand National Exhibition in NYC and won the Winsor and Newton Award for his painting "Lobster Boat". He has the distinction of Fellow, Magna Cum Laude with the AAPL. Mike also has a painting traveling for ten years with the United States Coast Guard, in their 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam war. He also has a painting in the American Society of Marine Artists 17th national exhibition travel- ing to six museums across the country through January 2018.

Verena J. Murvin won a purchase award in the Watercolor Society of North Carolina's 71st juried Exhibition Oct. 9 to November 18, 2016 for her painting "Shades of Gold". She also won first place in the Twin Rivers Artist Association in New Bern, NC. Diane Schmidt, WSA, AWS, NWS won first place at Art Center Manatee in Bradenton, FL. She juried the Bartow Art Guild exhibit in Bartow, FL,and the members exhibit at Venice Art Center, Venice, FL. She also won awards at Red River WC, Rockies West, Tri State Watermedia, Texas WC, California Water- color, and was a finalist in Artist's Magazine. She will have a one person exhibit at the Unity Gallery in Sarasota, FL in Jan. 2017.

Tuva Stephens received the Alice Leonard Memorial Award/ Combined Merchandise AWARDS on Firm Foundation at the National Watercolor Society International and NWS Signature Membership. Her painting, Reminiscing, received the Kentucky Aqueous USA Signature Artist / Merchandise Award. She will be one of 30 US artists in the Fabriano Watercolour Exposition in Fabriano, Italy, April 2017.

From the Membership Chair: As you know: The WSA dues year – for the first time this year - runs from

1 October – 30 September annually to coincide with WSA’s fiscal year. The dues year 2017 started on 1 October 2016. WSA does give 3 months grace period for renewal - same as before - except everything was moved forward by 3 months. The grace period for renewal used to end on 31 March annually and now it ends on 31 December annually. I realize changes are sometimes inconvenient, not only for the members but also for ‘yours truly.’ In November and December I have sent out more gentle reminders than in any other previous year before the grace period for renewal ended. The dues year for 2018 should go much more smoothly again. WSA is also going to offer the PayPal option next year for the dues 2018. WSA appreciates your membership. Without members (and volunteers) we would not exist. Happy painting and Happy New Year 2017 Heike Covell Dear WSA Member:

WSA appreciates your membership. I will send an Email confirmation to you upon dues receipt. The membership form is also available in the drop down box under Membership WSA website www.watercolorsocietyofal.org Watercolor Society of Alabama MEMBERSHIP FORM Dues are valid 1 October - 30 September annually. Annual dues are $30.00. Checks should be made payable to Watercolor Society of Alabama (WSA) and mailed to Membership Director: Heike Covell 11012 Willingham Dr. Huntsville, AL 35803-2073

______Renewing Membership ______New Membership Note Change of: ______Address ______Phone ______E-mail

NAME______ADDRESS______CITY______STATE______ZIP______EMAIL ______TELEPHONE (H)______(Cell)______WEBSITE______

Dues become delinquent after January 1st of the year. * Renewing members after January 1st are asked to pay $5.00 late fee.

Active members who are current with their dues have full voting rights. They are eligible to be officers, members of commit- tees, and serve on the board of directors.

Benefits: Invitation to WSA activities including Exhibitions and WSA sponsored Workshops Discounts on WSA exhibition entry fees, Workshop fees, and art supplies Full-color catalogue of paintings from WSA National Exhibitions E-Notification as appropriate for current news, WSA quarterly Newsletters, etc. Earn points toward Signature Member status with privilege of using WSA initials after signature Option to have a personal art gallery page on WSA website