Mid America Pastel Society
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NEWSLETTER March 2021 Donna Aldridge PSA M - MAPS , Editor VOLUME 24 ISSUE 3 x x Did you enjoy the curmudgeonly, bemittened Bernie Lisa Stauffer has been a member of MAPS since 2007, Sanders meme that virtually blew up the internet but many of us have not met her because she lives in after the Biden inauguration? Many of them made me Duluth, Minnesota. Lisa will be presenting our March laugh out loud, including Bernie “sittin’ on a corner in program. Her topic will be “Reflections on the Painting Winslow, Arizona.” (Sing it along with the Eagles and of Water.” Lisa describes herself as a Plein Air Painter, me: https://youtu.be/6SVzdUCzP6A ) But the meme and she has had many opportunities to paint her subject that sent me wandering down another mental path was matters in her home state. Bob Ross giving Bernie some “happy little mittens.” Lisa has a Master’s in Design from the University of Minnesota and studied Illustration at Parson’s School of Design in New York. Her work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine and Pastel Journal. She has Signa- President’s Letter tureMarch Status in Pastel Program Society of America from (2012) MN. and was awarded Master Circle by the International Association aof Pastel Societies in 2011. i d merica Two strecent awardsel emphasizeociet her mastery of water painting. “Keller Lake Lillies” won Best Watery Inter- pretation in Plein Air Magazine’s August 2020 Plein Air Salon, and “Lillies On a Silvery Day” won Best Paint in Place at Plein Air Grand Marais in September 2020. And please see Lisa’s story “A Trip to Remember” on page 7. Bob Ross is a fascinating American cultural icon. He Join in the Plein Air Painting on March 20: filmed 403 episodes of his PBS show during its 11 www.midamericapastel.com/events seasons, and it’s still playing on YouTube and other sites, MAPS Meeting on MarchS 23: years afterM his untimely death in 1995. Ross-system P www.midamericapastel.com/page/6058/meetings teachers are active throughout the US, convincing hundreds of people that anyoneA can paint, and (cont. p. 2) x x 2021 Members Only Online Show • Local Colors • N EXT O N -L I N E M EETI N G Showing October 4 thru 31 March 23 on Zoom ~ 7:00 pm Entries open June 1 Check-in and conversation at 6:30 pm Deadine is August 31 Program begins at 7:00 pm Lorenzo Chavez will be our Show Judge. 1 2021 Events Next Meeting x xx Ross paints, brushes, and easels still sell on major art Please share news of shows and awards, plus other lovely supply sites. accomplishments in your art with our fellow MAPS artists at [email protected]! We love to read about what I’ve lost a New York Times article that listed the key you have been doing—and it can inspire others, as well! phenomena in the past 50 years of US history, but I do remember Bob Ross was one of them. And as if to Michele Seeley’s painting "Between a Rock and a Hard emphasize the point, the Smithsonian Museum of Amer- Place", below, was accepted into the 2021 Arizona Pastel ican History recently acquired several Bob Ross paint- Artists Association’s Online Open National Exhibition ings and a selection of memorabilia for their permanent which will open on-line on March 31st. collection. This is particularly ironic because Phil Donahue once tried to goad Ross into admitting that his work would never hang in a museum. “’No,’ said Ross withPresident’s a smile. ‘Well, maybe Letter...cont. it will, but probably not the Member News Smithsonian.’ ‘Why?’ Donahue asked. ‘This is art for anyone who’s ever wanted to put a dream on canvas,’ Ross said. ‘It’s not traditional art. It’s not fine art. And I don’t try to tell anybody it is.’” They may not be fine art, but Ross’s paintings, if you can find one, have been posted on eBay for thousands of dollars, including a triptych for $55,000. I have to admit I’m not fond of Bob Ross’s paintings of snow-capped mountains, hidden lakes, and happy little trees. But it’s pretty hard to criticize someone who liter- Randall Bennett has been accepted into the Southern ally brought to thousands of people the joy of painting. Watercolor Society Annual Juried Exhibition 2021 at the —Vicki Thompson, President Gadsden Arts Center and Museum in Quincy Florida, as xx well as into the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society Online Membership Show, from February 8 thru May 9 with an oil on canvas. Randall has also been accepted Karen Stair is our newest Signature Member. Recog- into the International Guild of Realism Spring Salon nized during our February meeting, Karen shared three Online Exhibition, from March 20 thru May 20, also of her paintings, including the one pictured on page 4. with an oil on canvas. And then in May, Randall and two Karen has been painting for twelve to thirteen years. others will have a three-person exhibit at the Tim She cautioned that it took her at least the first two years Murphy Art Gallery in May 2021. The show will run to find her style. Karen is a member of the Program May 6 thru 29, with works in several media including Committee and is currently working on the upcoming pastel paintings. Opening Reception to be announced. Members Show committee. Congratulations, Karen! Carol Rubsam is Artist of the Month at First Gallery, If you would like to pursue obtaining a Signature member- Olathe, KS at 12755 B12 Murlen Road with a show of her ship, you can find the documents explaining the require- work there through March. Carol has also been accepted ments on our website, www.midamericanpastel.com. into the Art for Animals at Buttonwood Art Gallery, 31st YouSignature can also talk to Jan Membership Wheeler, Vice-President and and Main, KCMO, with Macaque and Baby Bison. It is our Signature and Master Chair. —Karen Johnson a benefit for SPCA. The Opening Reception is May 7. Rita Kirkman won Best of Show at the Austin Pastel “Escape to the Country” (love watching it!) week- Society Juried Member Exhibit, with her latest large day afternoons on Dabl (channel 1261 - KSMO3 on figurative piece “Cousins” which we can see on page 4. Spectrum) shows luscious English views of streams, The show is online at www.artframingservices.com/Art- hills, mountains, very old villages, broad fields, and Art-List.php?eventId=19 - and in person at the Austin other interesting things along with home-hunting! A Fine Art Gallery, Austin TX, February 8 thru March 31. lot of info and inspiration to add to our local sights! To view Rita’s paintings: www.ritakirkman.com/. 2 x the importance of value and movement in your work. It’s been a long and at times, frigid winter. However, the It’s clear to me that working on location has made me a days are getting longer, the sun warmer, and we’re get- far better painter of landscapes than any time spent in ting to the time of year that one wants to pack up their school or studio. Combine that with the fact that you’re pastels and head outdoors to work. No, not to do yard outside enjoying the beautiful gifts of nature, smelling the work but to paint in plein air, a perfect excuse to get out earth and what’s growing in it, hearing the birds and bees, of the yard work. If you didn’t already know, MAPS has feeling the cool breeze and seeing butterflies dance on the a group of like-minded members who love the challenge tops of thistle flowers working at the nectar is much more of painting in the open air like our beloved Impression- rewarding than being cooped up in the studio. Painting in ists once did. plein air works on all of your senses at once and I think this helps one achieve a higher level of focus on the cho- We meet once a month at an announced location to share sen subject that can never be gained from a photo. in this passion and cheer each other on as we attempt to Pleincapture the moodAir and Painting lighting of the settingPlanning while So, if you’ve ever thought about trying a little plein air dealing with the elements. What could be more fun, painting but needed that extra push or a little guidance, right? Oh yeah, there are bugs and scratchy weeds too. this is the perfect opportunity for you. When working However, the rewards of working in plein air far exceed as a group we have unique subjects, safety, shared skills the trouble you might face from any natural elements. and comraderie, the perfect combination. If interested or Plus, that’s where the best stories come from. Yes, I’ve have questions please contact me, had my whole paint box blow over, twice, but I also had Mike Flora at [email protected]. a mother deer and her fawn walk out of the patch of Dates, times and locations will be posted each month on the wildflowers that I was painting and come within 10 the MAPS website, Facebook and Instagram. An email yards of me before heading in another direction. will also go out to members. If you are looking to improve your skills as a painter, I hope this piqued your interest and maybe you’ll give working in plein air is a wonderful exercise that helps some serious thought to joining us as we test our skills you loosen up, define compositions, edit a scene, see in capturing the landscape as Monet and Van Gogh light, shadow and color as it really is and understand >>> once did.