Update: 1-10-06

Greetings, watercolorists!

We had a productive meeting of the new board of directors and the Events and Exhibition committees yesterday, graciously hosted by Judy and Ron Laliberte. Many thanks to the devoted folks below who are making all this happen for you. You will receive a real paper-in-hand newsletter with more details of the upcoming events this year, but for the moment I have some very important reminders for you.

Our 2006 Officers are:
Cindy Crawford president
Sean Callahan vice-president
Marlene Kramer treasurer
Sheryl Trainor secretary

Exhibition Committee:
Bob O’Brien
Judy LaLiberte

Program committee:
Tina Bielenburg
Marijke Westberg
Elaine Reed

Important changes to note:

Do not send your dues to Judy Laliberte. All financial transactions are to go to:

Marlene Kramer
392 Harrington Rd.
Putney, VT 05346-8406

Which gives me the opportunity to remind you;

Annual $35.00 DUES are payable NOW. Please don’t wait until you feel like entering a show to pay at the last minute. We need funds to finance our shows and events before they happen-it’s as simple as that. Plus you cannot enter a show if you are not a current member. Thanks!

SLIDES and CDs should be sent to me:

Cindy Crawford
P.O. Box 347
Norwich, Vt. 05055

Be sure to indicate if you are sending an image for a postcard or for our archives.

Now, for our upcoming show. As announced earlier, it will be at the Woodstock Folk Art Prints and Antiquities Gallery, Elm St. Woodstock. I am going to just repeat my earlier message about this but would like to CHANGE the deadline for postcard submissions to JAN.25. We need more time to get them printed, etc.

The theme is “WHIMSEY”

Paintings may be delivered to the gallery Monday through Wednesday, March 6,7, and 8th. Details for the reception and times for delivery to follow.

http://www.woodstockfolkart.com/

Judy Laliberte is again our show co-ordinator. DO NOT call the gallery with questions- call or write Judy or me.

POSTCARD for this show: Send slides or high-quality scans (jpg or tiff- 300 dpi, approx 4x5” on a CD) to me (see address for Cindy Crawford above) BY JANUARY !! 25 !! Please consider doing this- we’ve had pretty poor response for the past few shows. If you know you have a slide on file with us, let me know the name of it, and it will be submitted.

The Gallery has mentioned they prefer images on CD, but will accept slides. I suspect that for many of you it is a mystery how to get your images on a CD. It’s a new world of technology out there waiting to bewilder you! We will be giving out some helpful information about this at the Spring Meeting in early April. Meanwhile, do what you can-send a slide rather than not submit because you don’t know how to make a CD.

Instructions for submitting paintings to juried shows:

As we become more well-known we need to maintain a professional attitude in all our dealings with these excellent galleries or we will not be invited back. This, by the way, does not mean there is no room in our Society for Sunday painters, beginners, and lovers of watercolor who don’t want to enter juried shows. Quite the contrary. But, if you are going to enter, you need to get up to speed on certain issues:

Unless stated otherwise by a gallery owner-

Frames: quality (un-dented) wood with wire hanger, not a little hook or saw-tooth on the back. Frames should be kept relatively simple for group shows.
Mats: White or off-white, clean, high quality.
Information on back of painting:
Your Name, Address, Phone #, Title of Painting and Price of painting.

Glazing: Glass or plexiglass. Plexi is light and scratches easily. Glass is heavy and can break, but survives better for short trips, generally.
Pack your work well to avoid dents and scratches.
Keep your own record of your submissions.
Deliver your work on time and pick it up on time.
Price your work with the Gallery commission in mind- galleries take 30-40% in general around here. If your work sells, they need to make a decent profit on the sale…and so do you! At our last show, for instance, the gallery spent about as much on the reception as they earned in sales. Prices were on the low side for that gallery. Visit a gallery’s web site or visit the gallery to see what prices are like in general there.

Go to the opening, even if you didn’t get it. It’s usually when you pick up paintings that are not in the show anyway. Be gracious to our hosts, and I must repeat, NO COMPLAINTS to galleries about not getting in or for any other reason. If you feel wronged, talk to an officer or the show co-ordinator in private. (Sorry about “shouting” on the internet, but this is something I know gallery owners just hate. They will not want to see you walk in the door and might even ask you to refrain from entering any future shows with them.) Exit soapbox.

Just a few more things before I let you go.

Sheryl Trainor has been a trooper, staying with us as secretary while running three businesses. She would appreciate a replacement, however, so if someone would like to volunteer to be secretary, please let me know. This can be done by appointment.

Sean Callahan has taken on the redesign of our brochure and other technical tasks, as well as being vice president. He was on the Exhibition Committee. More recruits would be appreciated, even though Judy, Sean and Bob have done a super job getting us into some of the finest galleries in Vermont.

Volunteers can always be helpful with tasks like setting up for the Spring meeting, stuffing envelopes, distributing flyers and helping with publicity, to name a few.

Our next show will be at the Pegasus Gallery, owned by our Sheryl Trainor.

Details:
Dates: May 25-June 18, 2006
Reception: Friday June 2, 2006. 5-8 PM
Two entries per artist delivered between 5/11 and 5/14, 10 AM -5 PM.
Commission 40%
Images for postcard due April 1. Works not in the show can be picked up 5/24-5/28/06
Framing: Professional quality wooden frames, neutral mats. Framing will be considered in jurying process!
Theme: In honor of the major Cezanne show hanging in Washington’s National Gallery from 1/29-5/7, it will be “Engaging Cezanne”.

The Vermont Palettes project is going full steam ahead. We could do something as a Society as well as individuals. I am going to order some palettes for the society on the assumption that some of us will want to do this. (See last newsletter.) I will try to get you updated on just how this all might happen. Please let me know of you interest and ideas.

http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/palettes/index.html

Coming attractions-sneak preview:
Watercolor workshop given by Sean Callahan
Master demo given by Bob O’Brien
Spring Meeting-discussions about expanding membership, CD and print how-tos, and more.

News from members?? Send me some!

That’s all folks…for now.

Cindy Crawford
VWS President

VWS NEWS JANUARY 2006

Greetings and a Happy New Year to all of you! Dust off your palettes and get out your brushes for an exciting new year with VWS. We have 4 shows already in place and are currently planning our annual Spring Meeting.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: our V Gallery show in Woodstock ends on Sunday January 8. Please be prepared to pick up your work promptly on Monday, January 9. Gallery hours are 11-5. The gallery is closed Tuesdays. If you cannot make it on Monday, ask a friend to collect your work. Although the Gallery is being generous about late pick-ups, they have very little storage space for left-overs. Please contact Judy Laliberte if you absolutely cannot find a way to retrieve your work on Monday.

We’ve had some great news coverage for this show, including a full-page article in the Vermont Standard, Dec. 22 in the “Focus” section. Many thanks once again, to Judy Laliberte for co-ordinating the show and alerting the press.

Send your slides for our archives to me:

Cindy Crawford
P.O. Box 347
Norwich, Vt. 05055-0347
802-649-1411
cindy@creaturekinships.com

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Our next show is coming right up! It will be at the Woodstock Folk Art Prints & Antiquities in Woodstock, Vt. Opening reception will be on Sunday, March 12.

The theme is “WHIMSEY”

Paintings may be delivered to the gallery Monday through Wednesday, March 6,7, and 8th. Details for the reception and times for delivery to follow.

http://www.woodstockfolkart.com/

Judy Laliberte is again our show co-ordinator. DO NOT call the gallery with questions- call or write Judy or me.

POSTCARD for this show:: Send slides or high-quality scans (jpg or tiff- 300 dpi, approx 4x5” on a CD) to me (see address for Cindy Crawford above) BY JANUARY 27. Please consider doing this- we’ve had pretty poor response for the past few shows. If you know you have a slide on file with us, let me know the name of it, and it will be submitted.

We are also slated for juried shows at the Pegasus gallery in Quechee, Vt. In May, another show at the Reed gallery in Chester, Vt. In the Fall, and at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vt. Nov. 4 through December 5. This show will be juried by SLIDE, so some advance planning will be needed to get your work on slides.

News from the Vermont Arts Council:

If you haven’t joined as an individual, you might want to do so. You’ll get a newsletter with important statewide events, grants, etc.

http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/

Vermont Watercolor Society is a member as an organization.

Quote:

http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/palettes/index.html

Vermont Arts Council is launching a publicity effort, asking artists to submit their work on a free palette. This can be done as individual artists, and also as a group. We might want to consider a group effort to give ourselves more visibility. We will be discussing this at an officers’ meeting slated for early January. Anyone is welcome to send me suggestions for a group showing in the next week or so.
(cindy@creaturekinships.com) 802-649-1411

DUES Reminder: $35.00 due January 31!

More news to come soon- stay tuned!

Cindy Crawford
VWS President

Update: November 17, 2005
Subject:Greetings from your incoming VWS president for 2006 - Cynthia Crawford

I am very happy to be serving VWS (once again-I was Secretary for 4 years...). I hope you will bear with me while I get oriented- Annette has been very patient and helpful with the transition, but I have much to learn.

We had a wonderful Annual Meeting on Nov. 6. For those of you who could not attend, here are the election results:

Treasurer: Marlene Kramer
Secretary: Sheryl Trainor (stayed on)
Vice President: Sean Callahan
President: Cynthia (Cindy) Crawford

I won't go into the details of the meeting at this time except to say we had a lovely presentation, put together by the Program Committee, on "Marketing Your Artwork" .  Thanks to Tina Bielenberg, moderator, Sean Callahan, Liza Myers and Elaine Reed for participating, and thanks to the program committee for bringing this to us.

Of course there was standing ovation for our hard-working out-going President, Annette Compton. Annette is now working for the Woodstock, Vermont, Chamber of Commerce, along with her faithful four-footed companion "Cyrus", who, I hear, is a first-class tour bus greeter!  Annette is also still offering classes in Woodstock and abroad.  Thank you so much, Annette, for bring VWS to such a solid, functioning place.

I do believe, indeed, that we are in good shape, with one more show coming up this year and 4 juried shows set for 2006-this thanks to our robust Exhibition Committee. Volunteer  Co-ordinators for these shows are always needed.. I would like to reassure those of that aren't interested in juried shows, however, that you will not be forgotten. We are hoping to have a workshop this year, and something for everyone at the spring meeting. If at all possible, and there is interest, we could also try to find a place to accommodate an un-juried ,or "open" show. Our membership, however, has grown to the point where we would need to accommodate 80- some (current) members, if everyone entered. Suggestions for a venue would be appreciated.

Which brings me to the subject of...you guessed it..Membership Renewals.  Some of you have already paid your dues for 2006- thank you! Our annual $35.00 membership runs from January-January. If you want to be in the V Gallery Show this December and haven't paid your dues for 2005, you must do so before entering that show. In addition, your 2006 dues will still need to be paid for next year.

2006 dues are due by January 31, 2006. For now, send your checks, made out to Vermont watercolor Society, to our outgoing treasurer:

 Judy Laliberte
P.O. Box 1368
Quechee, Vermont 05059
 
When you pay your dues, it would also be a good time to send in 3 slides of your recent work- we showed some of the slides we have on file at the annual meeting, an there were many comments like " oh my gosh....that's 4 years old..."  In order to have fresh material to present to gallery owners, we need more and newer material. Most galleries are still asking for slides rather than digital images.

Don't forget that we have an excellent online presence at
http://www.vermontwatercolorsociety.com

I have also entered our site on the Vermont Arts Council site:
http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/directory/search_browse.php#
Type in Vermont Watercolor Society. While you're there, check out all the opportunities for artists, including becoming a juried member.  (This they do every other year.)

Information about the V Gallery Show:
(quote from Annette's previous email)

The Exhibition Committee has been busy setting up the next show for 2005. It will take place on Dec. 17th - Jan 8th at the prestigious V Gallery in Woodstock, Vermont with a reception at taking place on Sat Dec 17th.

They are accepting approximately 40 paintings depending on strength of watercolors submitted. Artists may submit up to 3 framed paintings to be judged by gallery. Frames and mats are up to the artist. Colored mats are okay but it is strongly suggested that frames are kept simple. The theme is open. The V gallery will accept 30% of the proceeds for the work sold. Paintings may be presented for judging on Dec. 10, 11, and 12, exact times to be announced as we get closer to show, probably after noon until 5 but show coordinator Judy Laliberte will keep us posted via email. Judging will initially be blind with respect to the identity of artist and jurors shall be free to accept as many as they wish from any artist. The V Gallery is located on Route 12 north, three miles from the center of Woodstock at the fork of Route 12 and the Stage Road (the old location of Thompson's Garage). Please contact Judy Laliberte for questions and do not contact the Gallery directly. laliberte@valley.net

UPDATE: The V gallery has generously offered to accept entries for their show anytime through Dec. 12.
 However, it is important to contact Judy before you make the trip, as it appears the gallery is closed this week.

With that I will close this rather lengthy letter.

Until next time,
Cynthia (Cindy) Crawford

Update - November 7, 2005
FW: Open Studio Application Now Online

In the interest of our discussion yesterday at our Annual Meeting on "Marketing Your Artwork", here is the information from the Vermont Crafts Council on the application for next year's Open Studio Weekend. I have done it two years with mixed results: one year, sold over $1200 worth of work in two days, next year, sold about $60...its a GREAT excuse to get your studio clean and presentable for the public though and they have a good seminar on marketing you can attend.

Annette
EXPresident (Whoopee! and thanks to Cindy and Sean)

----------
From: Vt1crafts@aol.com
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 10:05:05 EST
To: Vt1crafts@aol.com
Subject: Open Studio Application Now Online

I'm writing to let you know that the 2006 Open Studio Weekend Application is available online at our website under Open Studio or take the shortcut to this
link: Open Studio Information for Artisans.

I have mailed hardcopy applications to everyone who has done Open Studio in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and I would prefer that you return those copies of the application because they contain directions that you can check and confirm.

Please pass this link on to others that may not be on our list.

Thanks!

Martha Fitch, Director
Vermont Crafts Council
PO Box 938
Montpelier, VT 05601

pH: (802) 223-3380
Fax: (802) 223-7974
Web Site: http://www.vermontcrafts.com