Welcome! This is Brushstrokes, the periodic newsletter of Bloomington Watercolor Society. Enjoy our story.
Embedded Files
You can find us on Facebook via
https://www.facebook.com/bloomingtonwatercolorsociety
To communicate with the BWS, send email to info@bloomingtonwatercolor.org. A number of board members monitor emails sent to this address.
October, 2026
October, 2026
Monday, October 12, 2026
6:00
Pillar Arts Gallery at College Mall
Use the Door on the South Side
Look for the BWS Sign
Look for your email from our president, Jaime Gonzalez. He's sent "prompt" photos and hopefully you will bring any paintings you do from, or are inspired by, those to share.
October Program
After a short business meeting in which you'll meet our latest Signature member, Patty Uffman will provide an opportunity for us to paint as she teaches about "Capturing Fall Colors" . Please bring a palette of Transparent Paints if you have them, along with your usual supplies and a LARGE brush. Looks to be a good lesson!
NEWS and HAPPENINGS
Show and Share
Show and Share, our annual September event, was a great success! It was terrific to have our newest members and visitors bring their artwork, as well as many of our veteran artists. Good work, everyone!
Sandy Davoren, one of our newest members, shares her abstract work done in watercolors and inks.
Sara Steffey McQueen, BWS, shared her floral paintings and as a result, made a sale!
Sara Steffey McQueen, BWS, shared her floral paintings and as a result, made a sale!
Peden Farm Children's Festival
BWS once again participated in the Children's Festival at Peden Farm, helping scores of young artists created thumbprint animals on BWS bookmarks. They loved it and so did we! Thank you to the volunteers who enjoyed the reward of hot lunches (Thursday was homemade stew; Friday was fried chicken and all the picnic trimmings): Charlotte Griffin, Andy Roberts, Babette Ballinger, Patty Uffman, Linda Branstetter, Linda Mann, Sara Steffey McQueen, and Nancy Metz who coordinated and volunteered, too.
From BWS Historian, Linda Branstetter
"A little history. The Indiana Daily Student newspaper wrote an article on BWS that was published September13, 2016. Charlotte Griffin leads members on Show and Share event during the meeting. The article had photos of Charlotte and of the paintings. They also wrote how to get in touch with BWS if interested in getting involved ."
OPPORTUNITIES
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SHOW coming in March, 2027
“MOMENT IN TIME”
“A collection of memories in watercolor”
_____________________________________
ABOUT THE THEME
Memory is more than a moment in the past. It is a place, a person, a feeling, an object, a season, a sound, or a story that stays with us.
Artists may choose to paint a specific memory or explore the broader idea of what memory means to them. Consider the places that feel like home, landscapes connected to experiences, objects that evoke another time or feeling, people who are remembered, or ordinary scenes made extraordinary by the memories attached to them.
Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly and personally. Literal or abstract interpretations are welcome.
You will have recently received an email with the preliminary prospectus. Please keep watching your email for more of the details.
Amber Connor, show chair.
"Garden Walk Revisited"
January - February 2027 at the Bloomington Watercolor Society Gallery
Cancer Support Community
Charlotte and Jeanne are organizing an exhibit revisiting paintings done at - or inspired by - the annual June Garden Walk. If you have participated as an artist in the garden, or just meandered through and became inspired, please think about entering. If you are wondering, "Did I do that?" Well, we have the list of artists from over the years. Just ask.
Small or large, any medium, and paintings do not have to be framed! They can just be matted with a back board. We will provide clear sleeves to protect your work if it's not framed.
A full prospectus is on its way so watch your email!
Please note, this is not a BWS sponsored show, just one organized and encouraged by Charlotte and Jeanne in cooperation with CSCSCI, and we hope you'll dust off the oldies and enter.
BWS Members Offer Watercolor Classes at CLL
Watercolor classes led by BWS members at Ivy Tech’s Center for Lifelong Learning are open for registration.
MarySue Schwabb offers two 6-week classes for beginners and advanced students beginning October 21.
Jeanne Dutton is teaching "Watercolor: the Very Basics II" and also, a Saturday workshop “The Colors of Autumn” on Saturday, October 17. Don’t delay – these classes fill up FAST!
https://www.ivytech.edu/locations/bloomington/partnerships-special-programs/center-for-lifelong-learning/
MarySue Veerkamp Schwab is teaching a workshop at the Brown County Artist Gallery in Nashville, Indiana on November 14 titled "Autumn Leaves Reimagined!" Register at link at the WSI website, description and supplies needed are on this link: https://www.watercolorsocietyofindiana.org/event-6840648
Tim Lewis
"I am hosting Open Studio from noon to 4:00pm on the 3rd Saturday of each month at the Watercolor Society of Indiana’s office at Factory Arts in Indianapolis, IN. If you are a watercolor artist, this is a great time to commune with fellow watercolor artists and trade knowledge and techniques. Bring your current project and join us!"
EXHIBITS and SHOWS
Joanne Shank, BWS, wil also be participating in the Bloomington Open Studios Tour. She'll be at Cheryl Gregg's Studio 10, 7807 Lampkins Ridge Road. This is her painting of an Autumn Titmouse.
MarySue Veerkamp-Schwab, BWS, has a painting juried into the show in Plainfield at the Hendrick's Live! Now on exhibit through October 25, here is her rendition of "The Miner's Shack,"
Bill and MarySue Schwab have an exhibit at the Meadow Wood Gallery, 2455 N Tamarack Trail, Bloomington from October 9 to November 1st, The opening reception is Friday Oct. 9th, from 5:30 - 7:00.
Tim Lewis has a solo show scheduled at the Owen County Art Guild in Spencer, Indiana. Featuring over 25 of his watercolor paintings, the show will open with a public reception at 2:00 pm on November 1st and will run through the end of November. "Visions of Ortegia", watercolor.
Zain Mackey writes, "I spent most of the summer and this fall learning new techniques in both watercolor and acrylic. Really love the ability to work back and forth, applying multiple media in my newest paintings. With all the heat this summer, I spent A LOT of time in the my studio and painted almost every day. So much fun!
"I entered the Persimmon Festival show at the Mitchell library in September with three paintings. I won second place in the abstract/non-object category for my mixed media painting "Artistic DNA".
Andy Roberts says, "I haven't painted a lot this summer until recently, but attended a still life lesson offered by Claude Cookman. I choose some kitchen ware and my wife's Mandarin Oranges. Since I don't normally do still lifes, this was a bit of a challenge."
SUPPORT YOUR BWS SCHOLARSHIP
One last thing. If you wish to make a donation for the FMCCS auction to support the BWS Scholarship, please contact Jeanne at Teachers@BloomingtonWatercolor.org. She'll send you a form to submit with your item.
Some ideas: Coupons for your business. Handmade items. An art class. Handmade greeting cards. Original art or prints.
Donations are due NOVEMBER 4 to the FMCCS office, but please advise Jeanne, Scholarship chair, if you are making a donation. THANK YOU!
Happy Painting and We Hope to See You October 12!
Page updated
Report abuse