Michelle Frey was the host for another beautiful summer day of plein air.

Aug 8, 2025
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Updated: Aug 9, 2025

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Laurie deservedly won the 2025 Spring Challenge, which was a draw from the 7 participants. We were asked to create a mixed media piece to show "The Good Things we leave behind".

The Friday the 13th critique was conducted by Rich Williams once again. There were some amazing paintings submitted for analysis.

Creative Adventures in Fabric Painting with Pipi Tustian: Transforming Cotton into Art

John Hofman described the act of urban sketching as drawing on location with minimum equipment. He gave us a handout that illustrated many different ways to get the illusion of depth.

He went on to show examples of many artists that succeeded in quickly drawing and sometimes enhancing their piece with shading or colouring. They needed to estimate proportions of objects, shapes and angles of perspective.

Our Winter Challenge was to create a Masterpiece by opening a dictionary and, without looking, choose two words to put together a painting. This might have been tricky if you chose an adverb, or

preposition but you were allowed to pick again. You could do a little write up explaining your choice. In the end, there was a tie for people's choice but Janene's painting and creative explanation proved to be the winner.

At our Christmas Party 2025, we were to create an original Christmas card for exchange, bring a gift for hospice and food for potluck. Judith, Anne and Janene led us in the following activities:

Blind drawing Partner into twos at each table . First person does the first portrait; then partners switch. Do the same for the remaining two drawings. Drawing with non-dominant hand Drawing upside down . Trivia quiz and Pictionary Game

Ando, Marilyn, Diane and Rich each demonstrated in a hands on, making Christmas card event.

Our talented President, Patty, gave us a challenge to play on black gesso and have fun for exactly 30 minutes. She demonstrated, then we were all given the same photo and asked to do the same.

Here are the results along with a few extras.

Our own, Rich Williams, conducted another instructive critique of 17 paintings.

Here are some of the results from Terri Bowen's workshop on portraits.

Terri Bowen conducted our October workshop on portraits. We critiqued a variety of artists, while learning from a multitude of creative approaches that record the impressions of a human face.

Our monthly critique of 12 lovely paintings was led by Rich Williams. He gave us a handout to help us make better decisions.

For the Summer Challenge, we had to create one or three paintings with the themes: Sparkling Waters; Lazy Days and Gatherings. Marilyn Strongitharm was this challenge draw winner.

Our Sept. workshop was cutting edge, palette knife painting with our very own Rich Williams.

Rich demonstrated watercolour in a forest of hands-on, loose landscapes. Everyone absorbed the demos, then wielded their own knife in a...

Our last plein air for the season was held at Tom and Marie Hutton's large property overlooking the ocean. There was some art work done, but many just enjoyed the atmosphere while visiting & snacking.

Pam Donnelly and her husband hosted plein air at their very unique, secluded setting near Neck Point Park. They generously offered us the chance to tour the inside of their self built, home of art.