ARThouse

The Watercolor Critique Club is going to be a monthly meet-up for people who would like to put forward one or two paintings for a group critique.  These will be paintings done on your own, either partially finished or finished, of any subject matter you please, in watercolor.  We will have 3-4 different time slots that you can sign up for, meeting on Tuesdays afternoons and evenings, and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  The sessions will be $12 each and you sign up online for a series of five, for $60.  Each session will be about two hours, and have up to 10 people in it, and yes, people will be able to switch between sessions if necessary. 

I will conduct the critique sessions the same way I usually do in our classes, but will encourage more of a group critique in order to build critical thinking skills that can be applied to your own artwork.  We will come up with some general criteria to use in critiquing, concerning composition and design, subject matter, style, and application of the paint.  We will have an honest, but gentle, discussion so that people can get useful feedback and encouragement at the same time.  We will also have useful discussions about the art world in general, and practical subjects that can help you improve not only your art, but your participation in the art world.  The club will be a clearinghouse for ideas and information about watercolor, and can be a place to announce shows, pass out literature, and help promote each other, like a networking club.

The dates for critique will be as follows, but are subject to change (with notice!) if obstacles arise on my end:

Class One:  Feb. 26, 27, 28 (Tuesday from 1-3 pm and from 7-9 pm, Wednesday from 1-3 pm, Thursday from 1-3 pm))

Class Two:  March 26, 27, 28 (same hours)

Class Three: April 23, 24, 25 (ditto)

Class Four:  May 21, 22, 23 (ditto)

Class Five:  June 18, 19, 20 (ditto)

If you would like to sign up for Watercolor Critique Club, please go the the link below and select a time slot.  This will take you to the online payment page, where you will pay with a credit card or Pay Pal, and be registered for the course.  You will receive a receipt by email.

Register for Watercolor Critique Club

The reason I am offering this is to help keep you painting!  It is very useful to have a goal and destination for your work, even just an informal meeting like this, where people can exchange ideas about painting and meet with like-minded individuals.  It is good for me to take a break from my regular teaching so that I can focus on developing a direction for my own painting.  This should be fun and I hope you will join us in the Watercolor Critique Club !

Susan Murphy,  ARThouse,  February 7, 2013

I am pleased to announce that my new painting, "Rainy Night Beijing" has been accepted into the 146th International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society in April, 2013!  The exhibit will take place as usual at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, New York (the only remaining brownstone on 5th Avenue).  The dates are April 2 - 21 and open hours are roughly 1:00 - 5:00pm Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays).  The opening reception will be on Tuesday, April 2, from 6-8pm. 

Note added later in April:  Just found out the painting will be included in the 40-piece Travel Show, which goes to five museums/art centers around the country for next year.  On top of that, I found out that the painting has been sold!  Unfortunately the new owner (from Canada) will not receive it until May 2014!   --SM

"Rainy Night Beijing"  20x13"  transparent watercolor

The painting will be exhibited along with about 150 paintings from the United States and abroad selected by the five-person jury.  As a new member since last spring, I now have the privilege of signing "AWS" after my name.  There are about 500 members in the organization.  You can read more about it on the AWS Facebook Page.