Letter from the President:
I hope you were able to get over to St. Luke’s Church on April 26th to enjoy their “Earth Day” celebration. It is an annual event that we have participated in for over three years. Not only do we display our AWC members' paintings at the church's art exhibit, but this year we pulled together a Plein Air Event (painting bluebell flowers and enjoying the lovely grounds at the church), enjoyed the music entertainment, and, of course, ate the food. If you were unable to go, you might consider this next year, as our AWC members have enjoyed being a part of this lovely annual event.
May 21st is a very special day for our club! It will be the first day you may visit Quiet Waters Park Visitors Center and see our golden paintings; which were painted to celebrate Annapolis Watercolor Club's 50th Anniversary. This “Golden Gala” exhibit will have a special catered reception on Sunday, May 25th from 1:30 to 3:30 where winners will be announced. We hope you will invite your family and friends and we look forward to seeing you there!
You still have time to register for Moh’d Bilbeisi’s workshop on May 6th & 7th. The first day will be spent at St. John Neumann Church's Seelos Hall, and the second day at the Annapolis Naval Academy. Mo has a way of making you see things in a different way and have fun doing it. Using pen, ink and watercolor, you will discover what a simple line can convey, a mood that just a touch of watercolor can evoke, and discover a new way to express yourself. Watercolor painting seems to have no limits!
As we look at this year being almost halfway gone, we need to tend to very important club business.
Although I cannot believe it, my three years as President will expire on December 30th 2025. So, it is imperative that we find a member who would be willing to step into this role. There will be plenty of training and support, as we all take the management of AWC very seriously. We want nothing more than our club to continue to succeed and support our members and the community. The position of Website Manager will also need to be filled, as Liz Grimes has spent over seven years managing this role and is ready for a break. We also still need a Treasurer. I will remain in a support capacity for one year, as Past President Linda Luke did. In October we will have updated job descriptions and written procedures for each chairperson. We are already training one new volunteer for Exhibits Chair, and look forward to training others for Hospitality Chair, and Workshop Chair. In the meantime if you are interested in volunteering your time to support your watercolor club, email both President@Annapoliswatercolorclub.organd cc: VicePresident@Annapoliswatercolorclub.org. |
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Not only do we paint for the sheer happiness it brings ourselves, but to see the happiness it also brings to others.
Soon we will be seeing gold in a whole new way!
Supporting Your artistic creativity,
Juanita Green, President
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May 14 - Zoom Meeting
6:30 pm Art Salon With Andrea Naft 7:00 pm General Meeting with President Juanita Green 7:15 pm Painting Demonstration with a Surprise Guest Artist |
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Help make our next Zoom Art Salon wonderful on May 14 by submitting photos of your artwork.
Email your JPGs to Shannon Kelly, skelly823@gmail.com, and Andrea Naft, (anaft123@gmail.com), no later than Saturday, May 10.
Please include your name, title of work, size, and a description of the work. You can include what your inspiration or purpose for the painting, process, or anything else you would like to share, including questions for improvement or problem solving.
Thank You,
Andrea Naft and Shannon Kelly |
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Painting Demonstration will be by a
SURPRISE GUEST ARTIST
7:15 pm ~ May 14th |
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Thank You David Lawton
Everyone had a great experience when David critiqued our paintings at the Severna Park Library at our Spring Fling AWC meeting April 9th. |
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Join us for an exciting two-day workshop with the judge from our successful Annapolis Maritime Museum Exhibit, Mo Bilbeisi, on May 6th and 7th! Known for his masterful skills in ink drawing and watercolor, Mo brings a dynamic and expressive approach to capturing scenes with bold lines and fluid washes.
What to Expect: In this workshop, participants will explore the beautiful interplay between ink and watercolor, learning how to create striking compositions with confidence and spontaneity. Mo will guide students through: ~ Understanding ink techniques – Discover drawing skills you never knew you had
~ Washes & layering – achieving depth and atmosphere using ink and/or watercolor ️~ Composition & storytelling – bringing energy and life to your subjects
~ Personalized feedback – hands-on guidance to refine your skills |
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Day 1 – Will be indoors in Seelos Hall at St. John Neumann Church, learning new techniques and practicing drawing exercises.
Day 2 – Will be spent outdoors on the grounds of the Naval Academy, putting your new drawing skills to the test.
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Tuesday, May 20 – Plein Air at Willow Oaks Flower
and Herb Farm
May is a peak bloom time at Willow Oaks Flower and Herb
Farm, conveniently located off Rt. 32 on Rt. 170. When you stroll through the quaint
pathways to the pond, you will see statues, flowers, and small buildings that
will catch your eye. The English-style garden is a lovely spot as well. We will
meet at the entrance to the left of the parking lot and pick a list of items to
sketch and paint. Do join us for a plein air painting session and scavenger
hunt. We look forward to seeing you there!
ADDRESS:
8109 Telegraph Rd, Severn, MD 21144
PARKING:
Parking on site
DATE/TIME:
Tuesday, May 20, 10 am - 2 pm, rain or shine.
COST: No cost event.
FACILITIES:
Access to an indoor restroom and sales desk for plants and other items. |
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Sketching/Plein Air Event: Vineyard at Dodon
Review by Jan Morris
The day at the vineyard was bright and sunny, with a breeze that would dry hanging laundry in two seconds. We soaked in the fresh air while painting hills, grasses, flowers, and trees. Workers were tending the grape vines and farm animals grazed. This spot was especially favorable for painting. A return in the summer when the vineyard and surrounding plants are in full bloom is on the list. Thanks to all our attending members and our host Hannah for making this a memorable event.
Members helpful tip highlights
- 1. Use a large brush and spritz the paper with water to prevent it from drying too fast.
- 2. Bring a lightweight, compact chair for comfort, and don’t forget a hat to shield you from both the wind and sun.
- 3. Drawing skills are essential to truly bring the scene to life.
Hope to see you soon! |
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May 21 - July 6, 2025
Reception: Sunday, May 25, 1:30 to 3:30
We are now looking forward to our Golden Gala 50th Anniversary Exhibit at Quiet Waters. This is going to be a phenomenal celebration, with 49 paintings representing 30 AWC artists in the Willow Gallery and 14 paintings representing 10 Guest Artists in the Garden Gallery. All of the paintings will include gold, either gold color paint or gold metallic foil or leaf.
Do plan on attending the festive reception on May 25, 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Bring your guests, wear something golden, enjoy this extravaganza and see who has won awards for their creative paintings.
A reminder to participating artists, receiving will be on Tuesday morning, bright and early, 8:00 am to 9:00 am. If you are unable to bring your paintings in at that time, kindly make arrangements with a friend to bring them for you.
Pick up will be on Sunday, July 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.
When you come to deliver, pick up or attend the reception, be sure to tell the volunteer at the gatehouse that you are coming for the art exhibit and tell your guests to do the same.
Earth Day Festival
April 26 at St. Luke's Church
The weekend of April 25-27 saw the AWC participating in the annual Earth Day Festival at St. Luke’s Church in Annapolis. Our exhibit was part of the festivities that included concerts and performances, lectures, poetry, art and even face painting. It was featured on the front page of the Sunday Capital. The weather was perfect and even the welcome rain held off till we all arrived safely home. Two paintings sold and we had a lot of admirers stop by to see our work and chat. Two plein air painters were out in the woods behind the church, with the deer and the birds, painting in their sketchbooks. Everyone enjoy a lovely summer.
Joan Machinchick Exhibits |
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Meet Our Judge for the "50th Golden Anniversary Exhibit"
at Quiet Waters Park -- Jenny Cawood
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Jenny Cawood is currently Manager at the Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Art Museum at St. John’s College. She is a museum educator, art and film critic, international academic advisor, and art historian. After graduating from St. John’s College in 2017, she moved to Aix-en-Provence, France, ultimately earning two Master’s degrees in Art History and Painting over the course of four years there. She has conducted creative tours in museums across Europe, published her critical analysis for various publications, and exhibited work with other artists in France. As Manager of the Mitchell Art Museum, she is responsible for student enrichment and engagement, educational programs, event management, and daily operations, among other things. Her diverse expertise and passion for the arts make her an invaluable addition to our exhibit, and we look forward to the insight and perspective she will bring as a judge. |
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FEATURED ARTIST
OF THE MONTH
Joanne Scott ~ Founder of AWC
Since AWC is celebrating our 50th Anniversary, I thought it appropriate to feature the local artist who started this organization back in 1975. Joanne Scott was not only instrumental in forming Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts (with Beth Whaley), but she was the moving force behind establishing the Annapolis Watercolor Club.
For those of us who had the pleasure of meeting Joanne, and seeing her many paintings over the years, she was not only talented; but, she inspired and taught novice and professional artists.
We honor her dedication to the arts, and her support of all who want to practice the art of watercolor painting at any level. |
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THIS WAS HER 2021 OBITUARY IN CHESTERTOWN, MARYLAND — Joanne Scott passed away on December 28, 2021, at Heron Point in Chestertown, Maryland, at the age of 93, with family by her side.
Joanne was many things, but first and foremost, she was a painter and a poet. Her passion to capture the intricate auras and nuances of life and then share them was her mission. The water -- whether creek, pond or ocean was one of her favorite subjects, as well as flowers, landscape and buildings. Her compositions left room for the viewer to explore. She guided numerous people over the years to develop their own way of seeing and painting.
She raised four children on a beautiful farm near the Chesapeake Bay with her husband David. So many wooden boats, sailing, gardening, skating, games of badminton and gatherings with seven other families on the farm.
Joanne taught watercolor and exhibited nationally. She was also a published poet with many books. She was president of the Maryland Federation of Artists and co-founded Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in 1981. After David died in a plane crash in 1979, she attended the Maryland Institute for Creative Arts, majoring in printmaking. In 1981 she bought a cottage on Monhegan Island in Maine and became a member of the Women Artists of Monhegan Island. She was president of the Land Trust, Monhegan Associates for four years, leaving them finally as a 501(c)(3).
She married Tom Truitt in 1984 and moved to Skillman NJ, where she worked to create The 1860 House, a Creative Arts Center for Montgomery Township. Moving to Chestertown in 2000, she became a leader in the Quaker Meeting there. After Tom died, she made her final move to Heron Point, where she taught art and helped to create an art studio for the residents.
She is survived by Jennifer Brooks, Decorah, IA; Victoria McConnell, Denton, MD; Alex Scott, Henrico, VA and Catherine Hewitt, Hollis, ME. and 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren!
Below are a few examples of Joanne's paintings.
During the Quiet Waters Exhibit, we will have her paintings presented in a
RUNNING DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME.
Be sure and take the tine to see her remarkable body of work. |
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What Are Our AWC Members Up To? |
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Watercolor Retreat By Linda Luke
Wades Point Inn on Eastern Shore
May 20, 21, 22 ~ $350
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AWC Members Exhibit at Gallery 57 on West Street
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AWC members Barbara Burns, and Connie Robinson with friends Margie and Carol (Kathy Strouss in background) |
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Pearl Gallery Exhibit Also Has AWC Members' Work
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Annapolis Pearl Gallery artists present “April Showers, May Flowers” at Wimsey Cove Framing & Fine Art Printing. The show runs to May 31. Plan to celebrate with light refreshments during the Meet the Artist reception May 18, 1-3pm.
Wimsey Cove Framing & Fine Art Printing
209 Chinquapin Round Rd. Suite 101 Annapolis, MD 21401
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WEBSITE AND MEMBERSHIP
Four months into the year, and we have already reached 204 active members! The number of 27 new members has already nearly balanced out the attrition. Beginning on June 1st, new members can join at half-rate for the remainder of the year, so that’s a great time to encourage friends, students, or anyone you might run into who expresses an interest in joining.
Scam alert: Perhaps you have already seen this one, but it was new to me. I received an email invitation from someone I knew, but not well enough that I would have expected a party invitation from them. I checked the sender’s email address, and it was really their legitimate address. Fortunately, I had recently heard of others receiving strange invitations, so instead of clicking the invitation link, I checked out Punchbowl, the invitation site. They have this warning: “All legitimate Online Invitations and Digital Greeting Cards sent from Punchbowl via email will come from mail@mail.punchbowl.com” (i.e., not from the host’s email). Apparently, this rather convincing scam, which may be from Russian hackers, has been around for a while and they are aware of it. If this happens to you, I would suggest you check with the host directly to see if it’s legitimate before clicking on the invitation link.
Liz Grimes, Website administrator
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SUNSHINE CLUB
Do you find yourself dancing around the MAYpole with glee celebrating a major success, or perhaps searching for something that MAY explain the meaning of life? Whatever state of mind you have at the moment, remember that the Sunshine Club is here to cheer you on with a delightful Jacquie Lawson ecard. If you or someone in our club is in need of a friendly gesture, please send name, email and state of being to: sunshine.AWC.dw@gmail.com and inspiration will be forthcoming asap! Thank you, Dina Weavers |
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Don't forget that you can always find art supplies at the Art Things store in Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St, Room #108, lower level.
Call owner, Sarah Winchester, and ask if she has what you want 410-878-7786. Hours: M-W-F 10-3, Sat 11-2 |
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AWC CALENDAR 2025
(click here to print copy with more details)
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MEETINGS:
May 1
7 pm Board Meeting
May 14 - Zoom Members' Meeting
6:30 pm Art Salon 7:00 pm Members' Meeting 7:15 pm Painting Demo by Surprise Artist
June 5
7 pm Board Meeting
June 11 - In-Person Members' Meeting
1:00 - 4 pm Seelos Hall
Painting Demo by Surprise Artist |
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EXHIBITS:
May 21- July 6 Quiet Waters Park Golden Anniversary Exhibit
EVENTS:
PLEIN AIR SKETCHING AND PAINTING
May 20 - Willow Oaks Farm, 10 am - 2 pm
WORKSHOP:
May 6, 7 Mo Bilbeisi
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Below are the dates and locations for our 2025 Members' Meetings:
May 14 - Zoom meeting 6:30-8:30 pm June 11 - Seelos Hall, 1-4 pm (July and August, no meetings) Sept 10 - Zoom meeting 6:30-8:30 pm Oct 8 - Seelos Hall, 1-4 pm Nov 12 - Zoom meeting, 6:30-8:30 pm Dec 10 - Seelos Hall Holiday Party 1-4 pm |
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OPEN POSITIONS FOR
BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIRS
As noted below, we have the following volunteer positions open.
Please consider serving a two-year term for one of these fun jobs!
PRESIDENT (Dec 2025)
TREASURER
HOSPITALITY CHAIR
WORKSHOP CHAIR
Email President, Juanita Green, for more information about any of these positions.
President@annapoliswatercolorclub.org
Or, email the person in the job at the present time. |
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Copyright © 2025 Annapolis Watercolor Club, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you “opted in” via our website.
www.annapoliswatercolorclub.org Our Mailing address is:
Annapolis Watercolor Club, PO Box 6030, Annapolis, MD 21401-0030 |
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