Incoming President’s Message / September Meeting Program

Incoming President’s Message - Diana Carwithen

I strive to be a lifelong learner. My meditation guru encourages us to do a vision board each year. I enjoy anything ‘techy’ and so, of course, hopped on my computer and found some images that spoke to me. My guru, Emily Fletcher, then suggests tucking it away and forgetting about it and letting the cosmic waitress deliver your order when and how she sees fit. Yep, it all sounds “hippy dippy” Emily admits, but I must tell you, it was after this vision board was made that we found our place here in Duncan on Quamichan Lake and honestly, we weren’t even looking in Duncan! Kind of gives me the chills! Fast forward to when Ruth asked me to take on the VP role and the cosmic waitress seemed to know what was best for me! I initially thought NO NO NO! I’ve never been on any Board, and I doubted my competence. But then…I remembered my vision board and thought about my words “Dynamic” and “computer savvy seniors” and knew it was my chance to believe!

I have learned SO MUCH thanks to my colleagues in the guild and of course google. I have found such a passionate group of calligraphers that are so inspiring to me that I would love to download all your talents to access at my will. We’ve all heard a lot about Covid and staying close to home and secretly I’m grateful for the opportunity to include some far away members to our meetings on zoom. I’m excited to grow and learn together as I take on the President’s role. I thank you for your confidence in allowing me to continue in my lifelong learning journey. I have surrendered to the outcome and timing of my ‘cosmic order’ and trust my waitress knows best. - Diana Carwithen

September Meeting Programme - Caroline Morrison

Our September program was a very interesting demonstration given by Caroline Morrison on painting trees with watercolours.

During her demonstration she gave us a number of informative techniques. When setting up your page for painting, the horizon line should lie somewhere below the middle. Different trees have different shapes and the foliage is often three times the size of the height of the trunk. It will vary depending on the species and age of the tree.

There are two ways to paint in the sky. The first is to wet the paper and apply a cool blue, such as cerulean or phthalo blue, over the surface leaving white spaces for clouds and the tree. Allow the paper to dry before painting the tree.

The second method is to paint the tree first, allow it to dry completely and then brush on diluted blue colours in the sky again leaving white spaces. To draw a tree Caroline suggests taking photographs of various trees and choosing your favourite to paint. Using tracing paper outline the tree and trunk and transfer the shape to your paper placing it above and below the horizon line. Determine where your light source is coming from. Begin by placing diluted light paint on the foliage closest to the light source. Caroline favours Azo yellow or Cadmium Yellow for fall or spring trees. Add a little red to the yellow and continue to dab on the leaves leaving white spaces and working down the foliage. Continue adding darker colours of orange paint adding more dabs on the outside of the foliage to emphasize the leaves. The lowest part of the foliage should be the darkest.

Using a light brown such as Raw Sienna, paint in the trunk and then add a darker brown on the side of the trunk away from the light source. The grass is painted using various colours of green. Once the grass and tree have dried add a shadow on the ground for the tree using dark green or ultramarine blue paint. Finally using a very thin brush and dark brown paint add a few branches to the tree.

Members were very pleased with the pieces they produced. Thank you Caroline for a most enjoyable experience.

- Linda Yaychuk