Maryland Art League, Inc

Executive Board

OFFICERS:
President	Bruce Blum
Vice President	Mary Ellen Gordon
Treasurer	Diane Prather
Recording Sec.	Sherry Sheedy
Corresponding Sec.	Ann Eid
COMMITTEES:
Newsletter	Harold Walpert Bruce Blum
Programs	Linda Brauer
Hospitality	Eleanor Dean
Present Exhib.	Volunteers Needed
Exhibition Scheduler	Mary Ellen Gordon
Membership	Eleanor Dean
Fund Raising	Mary Lou Darrell Carolyn Anderson
Historian	Volunteer Needed
Scholarship	Sherry Sheedy
Res. Agent	Diane Prather
Publicity	Linda Brauer
Directory	Fran Hands
Internet Web Page	Diane Prather

Newsletter Editor: Harold Walpert

e-mail address: hwalpert@comcast.net

NEXT MEETING: September 15^th

At the Howard County Center For The Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd. in Ellicott City, MD.

Directions: Interstate 70 to Route 29 (away from Columbia) toward route 99. Take a right on 99 (Rodgers Ave) to High Ridge Rd. Take a left to the Center (on the left). Alternately take the Baltimore National Pike to Rodgers Ave (turn away from Ellicott City) to High Ridge Road. Take a right to the Center.

Program: Art Work Critique

We are proposing to critique art works that are brought in by our members. Please bring in one to three completed art work or works in progress. They don’t have to be framed or mated but if they are that will be looked at also as you desire. Please don’t be shy about this, we can all learn something.

Here are a few abbreviated tips on critiquing:

It’s only natural to want people to like our art work, but if we’re to grow as artists, then we need statements that say a little more than simply “It’s nice” or “I love it” or “I don’t think this works”. We need information on what specifically is nice or loved or is not working. Specific, constructive comments will help not only the artist whose work it is, but also other artists listening to the critique. We all have opinions and are entitled to express them.

Think about what’s in the artwork, focus in on why you like what you like or dislike and then put your reasons into everyday words. Is there anything you think could be improved or would have done differently? Is there something you wish you’d thought of doing?

Don’t feel you need to comment on the whole piece; even a few words on a small element will be helpful to the artist.

Don’t be personal; you’re talking about one specific work of art, not the artist. Think about how you’d feel if someone said it to you and, if necessary, rephrase it. But rather say something short than nothing; if an artist has taken the step of putting their work out for critique, it’s very disheartening to be met by silence.

Don’t forget the subject matter and the emotional impact; talk about how the work makes you feel, your immediate response to it, what is it in the work that generates an emotional response? Look at the composition and elements in the work; does it draw your eye in, does it tell a story that keeps you looking; where is the main focus of the work? Would you change anything, and why? Is there any aspect you particularly admire, and why? Does any aspect need further work?

Calendar:

Dr Ratchford Showings	Sep 2, 1^st Delivery (see below)
MAL Meeting	Sep 15, 7:30 PM
Gordon Center Show Screening (At the Gordon Center)	Sep 17, (deliver at 1:00 PM, pick up at 3:00 PM)
Wells Screening	Oct 20, 7:00 PM
MAL Meeting	Oct 20, 7:30 PM
Gordon Center Delivery	Oct 28, 9:30 AM
Dr Ratchford Showings	Nov 13^th, pickup & 2^nd Delivery
Gordon Center Pickup	Dec 16, (time to be announced)

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:

I trust you had a good summer and are ready for another exciting year with the Maryland Art League. We are slightly front-loaded this year, so I urge you to look at the exhibitions and program sections for the details. Here is what we have planned:

September 15. Our program for this meeting is a sort of “show and tell.” Bring one to three pictures to share with the group. We hope that this format will encourage discussion and enhance the friendship and respect among the membership. But, of course, it won’t work if no one brings pictures!

September 17: The first of two early exhibitions. This one involves the delivery of works for a screening by the Gordon Center on Wednesday, September 17. The accepted pictures will be hung on October 28.

October 20: The first screening of the year, this for the Wells building (100 E Pratt Street.) Note that the first two exhibits overlap, so don’t create any conflicts for yourself.

Lots happening; I look forward to seeing you (and your work) on the 15^th.

Proposed Budget for 2008/09

INCOME

Advertising $ 25

Amer. Frame 160

Commission

on art sales 170

Dues 1650

Hanging fees 600

Interest 5

Miscellaneous 30

Note Cards 35

Raffles/White

Elephant 45

Transfer from

savings __250

Total 2970

EXPENSES

Commissions to

galleries 250

Exhibits 400

HCCA room rental 350

Hospitality 20

Installation 35

Insurance, bond 450

Directories 80

Miscellaneous 25

Newsletter 450

Programs 800

Scholarship 0

Website _ _110

Total 2970

Hospitality for September

Ellie Dean with Mary Lou Darrell, Mary Adcock, Donni Dingman, Ann Eid & Rev. Collins assisting.

Meeting Schedules for 2008 - 2009

Membership Meeting Schedules: Sept 15, Oct 20, Nov 17, Feb 9, March 16, Apr 20, May 18, and June 15

Board Meetings: (all members are welcomed to attend) Aug 25, Nov 3, Mar 2, and June 1

Directory changes:

Sherry Sheedy’s e-mail is: jtssra@verizon.net .

EXHIBITION NEWS:

We need some resumes and pictures of art work to use when applying for exhibitions at venues that require them. Attached to this newsletter are a sample, instructions, and the people to receive your materials.

Opportunity to exhibit:

from Diane Prather

I have been in contact with a Dr. Elizabeth Ratchford who emailed MAL with an interest in displaying our art in her new office, located in Green Spring Station in Lutherville. It is near the Falls Road exit off I-695. She has room for about 5 largish pictures (at least 28" on one side) and 2 smaller ones, which she is willing to display on a rotating basis as long as we can supply the material. I will be coordinating the process. Several members have already responded to my email inquiry and we will be having an initial show on Sept 2, 2008. It will stay up for 2 months. I'd like to line up several more shows, depending on how much interest is generated.

Here are the details. The large pictures will hang in the waiting room and hallway to the examining rooms. The smaller pictures will be in or outside the doors of the 2 examining rooms. Artwork will be numbered and the artist’s info and price list will be at the receptionist's desk. There is no insurance, Dr.'s commission, hanging fees, reception or publicity. MAL will take a 10% commission on any works sold. There will be no screening, all works will be accepted as long as we have the correct sizes to make a show. Submit as many pictures as you like. I will group the pictures for each show, making an attempt to establish a 'theme', so if your work is not in one show, it will certainly be in another one. After the first show we will be taking down and hanging the next one y on Nov. 13 and subsequent shows every 2 months until either we run out of material or at the request of Dr. Ratchford. It will be an easy show to hang (nails) but any help will be appreciated. Needless to say, no offensive material, nudes or religious content. We have a contract with Dr. Ratchford.

Please let me know if you have any questions. If you are interested in participating, provide me with the usual details of your artwork (title, medium, size and price). If I haven't seen it, you might want to give me a picture or at least an idea of what it looks like (abstract landscape, impressionistic floral, street scene photograph, etc.). Although it’s limited exposure and a small venue, as Ann Eid always says: it’s better than having it sit in your studio.

Diane Prather

dprather0@yahoo.com

NEXT EXHIBITION:

"Works from the Maryland Art League"

The Gordon Center, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave, Owings Mills, MD 21117

Screening: Take paintings to the Gordon Center on September 17^th at 1:00 PM pick up at 3:00 PM to retrieve them.

Delivery: October 28^th at 9:30 AM

Information on selected paintings: listing of all works with name, title, date, medium, dimensions, sale price, and replacement cost.

Pickup: December 16^th (time to be announced)

Other Information: There will be a 20% commission on works sold.

Directions: Take I-695 to NW Expressway ( I-795) toward Owings Mills/Reisterstown, take exit 4 for Owings Mills Blvd, keep right at the fork and merge onto Owings Mills Blvd, turn right at Gwynnbrook Ave, go 0.6 miles to 3506, Gordon center is at the end of driveway on the right next to the JCC.

NEXT EXHIBITION:

Wells Real Estate, 100 East Pratt St. Baltimore, MD

Screening: October 20^th 7:00 PM prior to the MAL meeting.

Delivery: November 4^th at 10:00 – 10:30 AM.

Pickup: Nov 28^th at 10:00 – 11:00 AM.

MEMBER NEWS:

Elizabeth Riordon was awarded second place in the recent Willcox, Arizona miniature show with an acrylic painting and has a prismacolor pencil on Ampersand board that was accepted in the International Colored Pencil Association Exhibition in Seattle, Washington this past August.

Linda Bauer sold her watercolor titled “Tess” that was displayed at the last Wells Exhibition.

Ann Eid is announcing her upcoming course titled “The Artist Way”, based on the book: “The Artists Way, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” by Julia Cameron. Email her for more information at ACEID100@aol.com.

Diane Prather had her picture juried into the Columbia Artist Gallery for their August Show and it was featured on the home page of their website.

Joyce Lister is now teaching at Myerberg Senior Center in Baltimore.

Bruce Blum and Mary Ellen Gordon are juried into the Senior Artists Alliance exhibit “Creative Expressions” at the Ratner Museum in Bethesda, September 3^rd thru 28^th. Reception: September 7^th, 1:30-3:30 PM.

Harold Walpert received First, Second and Honorable Mention awards at the MD State Fair.

From the Artist Magazine’s Pastel Blog:

Underpaintings in Pastel

There are a few things you should know about pastel underpaintings, according to Richard McKinley and his Pastel Pointers Blog. "Use bright pure pastels, avoiding sticks with white or black added. These 'tinted' and 'shaded' pastels often produce cloudy effects when spread. Think of your pastel choices as if they were tube pigments," he says.

Pruning Your Palette
Downsizing your pastel box can be a daunting but necessary task, especially for travel purposes. Richard McKinley breaks down the chore this week on the Pastel Pointers Blog.

"We need a full spectrum of color representing every hue and grayer degrees of those hues at a variety of value from near white to almost black. By selecting individual pastels across a range of manufacturers, you will be better able to represent the full spectrum of color," he says.