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Letter from the Vice President:
As we move into November, I find myself reflecting on the quiet strength that creativity offers us during uncertain times. The world feels heavy in many ways right now. Yet, amid the uncertainty, we as artists hold a rare and gentle power: the ability to pause, to observe, and to translate emotion into color and form.
Art reminds us that even when words fail, compassion and understanding can still find expression. Each brushstroke is an act of gratitude and connection, to ourselves, to one another, and to something larger than the moment we’re in. As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m reminded how fortunate we are to share this creative community. A place where encouragement, beauty, and kindness continue to thrive.
As we look toward the holiday season and the close of another year, may our work continue to offer light where there is shadow, and may the simple act of painting remind us to slow down, give thanks, and find joy in the world around us.
Thank you for being members of this wonderful community,
Eileen Hempel, Vice President
Annapolis Watercolor Club |
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Wednesday, November 12
Zoom Members' Meeting
6:30 pm Art Salon with Shannon Kelly
7:00 pm General Meeting with Vice President, Eileen Hempel
7:15 pm Guest Demonstrator, Julie Gilbert Pollard |
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Zoom Art Salon
With Shannon Kelly
6:30 pm
Please email your paintings for the Zoom Art Salon which will start at 6:30 at our Zoom Members Meeting on November 12.
Email your jpgs to Shannon Kelly at skelly823@gmail.com, no later than Saturday, Nov 8.
Not only will Shannon create the PowerPoint slide show, but she will be the art salon host at this meeting.
Be sure to include your name, title of work, dimensions, and description of the work. Include your inspiration or purpose for the painting, process, or anything else you would like to share.
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Our Painting Demonstrator at our Zoom Meeting
Will Be Julie Gilbert Pollard |
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The Annapolis Watercolor Club is pleased to welcome Phoenix artist Julie Gilbert Pollard as our guest demonstrator via Zoom on Wednesday, November 12. For her demonstration, Julie will guide us through painting a winter landscape, capturing the quiet light and subtle color of the season.
Julie paints in both oil and watercolor in a fluid, painterly style that is representational yet deeply personal. She describes her work as an expression of “the mind’s eye”—a blend of observation and imagination inspired by the mystery and beauty of the natural world.
A seasoned artist and instructor, Julie is the author of Discover Oil Painting, Watercolor Unleashed, and Brilliant Color, along with nine instructional videos for ArtistsNetwork.com. Her paintings and articles have appeared in Watercolor Artist, The Art of Watercolour Magazine, Splash, and other major art publications. |
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Teaching since 1985, Julie has led workshops across the U.S. and abroad, including Italy, Portugal, Canada, and North Carolina’s Cheap Joe’s Art Workshops. She holds signature memberships in the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society, Arizona Watercolor Association, San Diego Watercolor Society, and Plein Air Painters of Arizona, and her award-winning work is represented in galleries throughout Arizona.
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Our Halloween Trick or Treat Painting and Games on
October 8 at Seelos Hall Was Fun! (If anyone took photos that day, please send them to me, Connie Robison,
Newsletter Editor, constancejr@comcast.net. I will publish them next month.) |
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Each year during the Annapolis Watercolor Club’s Holiday Party, members come together not only to celebrate the season but also to give back to our community by collecting art supplies for a local charity. This year’s celebration, to be held on December 10th at Seelos Hall, continues that cherished tradition. We are delighted to announce that we will be teaming up with the Annapolis Arts Alliance (AAA) to support their wonderful Art Buddies program.
Through the AAA’s Community Outreach initiative, members of the AAA board and artists from Gallery 57 West fill backpacks with art supplies and spend the day helping local children from the Annapolis area explore their creativity in new and joyful ways. It’s a program that brings art, mentorship, and imagination directly into the hands of young, aspiring artists.
We invite members to join in by donating art supplies for this cause. Requested items include:
• Paints – watercolors and acrylics (craft size)
• Brushes
• Small sketch pads
• Canvases
• Colored pencils
• Markers and pastels
• Printmaking supplies – such as styrofoam trays and brayers
• Canvas bags – to be painted on
Together, let us share the holiday spirit by helping to inspire creativity and confidence in the next generation of artists right here in our community. Eileen Hempel, AWC Vice President |
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Review By Carol Kramer - October 15, Adkins Arboretum
The event was on a perfectly lovely sunny day and the Arboretum was just beautiful. We had plenty of room to spread out and paint what caught our eye. Wendy, Sue, Betsy, Liz and Carol attended. The fall colors were just beginning with a strong yellow/gold peeking through. The staff at the arboretum was attentive and grateful to have our club use the grounds for creative projects. |
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NEXT PLEIN AIR EVENT:
Thursday, November 13
Homestead Gardens Holiday Painting/Sketching
Back by popular demand, this month’s venue is a beautiful, indoor garden all decked out for the winter holiday season. Poinsettias, Orchids, and exotic houseplants along with a large miniature train and its landscape provide a rich backdrop for watercolorists. Find a spot to settle while being mindful to keep the walkways clear. This is a fun event and we hope you can make it!
When: Thursday, November 13, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Indoor event.
Where: Homestead Gardens, 743 W Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD 21035
(410) 798-5000
Parking/Meeting Point: There is plenty of parking in front of the garden center. Meet on the right-hand side of the train display. There are bathrooms inside. Food options are not readily available so BYO Nibbles! Convene by the trains around 12:40 to share your sketch/painting with the group.
Fee: No fee, but sign up online if you plan to come so we can look for you.
Website: https://homesteadgardens.com
Note: There will not be a plein air event scheduled for December |
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EXHIBITS
October 1 - 30, 2025 - Turning Leaves, Turning Pages
The exhibit was a success at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Public Library, with many positive comments. Visitors took AWC rack cards, so we hope to have new members soon! Here are photos of the paintings hung from our many members. |
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We are getting ready for the Ginger Cove Exhibit. Over 20 people will be submitting their paintings for the exhibit. The exhibit will be hung on November 8 and will continue through January 2, 2026. We are pursuing several places for our next exhibit, so stay tuned.
Address: 4000 River Crescent Dr, Annapolis 21401
Kris Angelis, Exhibits Chair
ka28lax@aol.com |
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Featured Artist
Kate FitzGerald I am a local artist and photographer residing in Shady Side, MD for 28 years. Since retiring, I have devoted much time to expressing myself through my artwork. My work reflects both my personality and the Chesapeake Bay region and community in which I reside. Prior to retirement, I was an educator for 35 years in both MCPS and AACPS. I was an Elementary Teacher in grades 2-5 for 8 years and an Elementary Principal for 27 years before I retired! “The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in the wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” - Robert Henri |
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What Are Our AWC Members Up To? |
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Ruth Lindberg Is Exhibiting
With BWS Mid Atlantic Show
I am pleased and excited that my painting “Toretto” has been selected for the Baltimore Watercolor Society 2025 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition. The exhibition is scheduled from October 10, 2025, to January 11, 2026, in Gaithersburg, MD. The opening reception and awards ceremony will be on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
SHOW DATES:
October 10, 2025 through January 11, 2026
Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion Galleries
311 and 320 Kent Square Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Paintings for the show will be displayed in BOTH buildings. In order to see BOTH buildings while open, it is best to attend on Tuesday-Friday from 1-4. This is when both buildings are open at the same time. |
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Reception and Awards Presentation:
Sunday, November 9, 2025, 1:30-3:30pm
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Arts Alliance Exhibit at Quiet Waters Gallery:
Many of our AWC Members Are Represented |
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WEBSITE AND MEMBERSHIP
Our club now numbers over 225 members, and that is excellent news. We have a full calendar of demonstrations, exhibits, workshops, and plein air events. But, if you check our Board Member pages, you will count less than a dozen names, and just about everything that happens is through the work of these individuals. You will notice a number of vacant positions, including Art Salon Chair, Treasurer and Workshop Chair, and soon the positions of President and Secretary will be vacant, too, since their terms are up. I am continuing as website administrator for now, but if anyone is interested in taking my position, I would be happy to talk to you! The job requires some technical skills, but I can share what I have learned and assist for as long as it takes to feel comfortable with it.
The pay is non-existent, but the rewards of taking on a more active role are great! Talk to any AWC board member, and you will hear that we are rewarded by the connections and sense of teamwork from working with other board members, as well as the satisfaction of what we do. If you are interested in volunteering in any way, please contact President Juanita Green or any other board member; their contact information is listed in this newsletter and on the website.
Liz Grimes, AWC Website Administrator
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SUNSHINE CLUB
The Sunshine Club gives thanks this month to all the members of the Annapolis Watercolor Club for their great camaraderie, encouragement and general willingness to share their watercolor secrets! This group has been an inspiration to many! The Sunshine Club would also like to acknowledge the personal achievements of any of our members that have achieved success with their work, or to commiserate with any of our members that might be experiencing a bit of a low. If you are aware of such a situation, please send name, email and occasion to sunshine.AWC.dw@gmail.com, and an appropriate e-card will be sent as needed.
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.
As of October 16, the new owners will be Meg Brennan and Katie Grasso. Let's give them our support.
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:
Nov 6 - 7:00 pm Board Meeting Nov 12 - 6:30 pm Zoom Salon & Meeting
Dec 4 - 7:00 pm Board Meeting Dec 10 - In-Person HOLIDAY PARTY 1-4 pm Seelos Hall, St. John Neumann Church |
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EXHIBITS:
Nov 8, 2025 to Jan 2,
2026 - Ginger Cove
EVENTS:
PLEIN AIR SKETCH & PAINT Nov 13 - Homestead Gardens |
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Below are the dates and locations for our 2025 Members' Meetings:
Nov 12 - Zoom meeting, 6:30-8:30 pm Dec 10 - Seelos Hall Holiday Party 1-4 pm |
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PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING!
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)
ART SALON CHAIR
SECRETARY
TREASURER
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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