President’s Message Jean Watson If variety is the spice of life, we have a spicy program for March. Ah March, the month we traditionally enjoy the Blaine’s Trade Fair, but members, you are in for a change up. Blaine’s owner, Rene Haag does a great job addressing the art needs of AKWS members but she also works hard to keep the Fairbanks Watercolor Society happy, too. Rene normally schedules her art supply reps back to back in Anchorage then Fairbanks during the second week of March. This year the Fairbanks folks are booked up with other art activities during that week so the Blaine’s Trade Fair has been rescheduled for our May meeting. We are delighted to be able to host long time AKWS member Christine Fortner as our March speaker. Christine is well known for her watercolor paintings. She also paints using combinations of watermedia and has moved toward creating more works in acrylic. Plein Air painting is her passion. Christine is an award winning watercolor artist and an accomplished art instructor. Her artwork has been published in several books on watercolor painting and featured in American Artist Watercolor Magazine. Christine has been a wa-
tercolor instructor for over 20 years. She teaches at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center as well
take a few minutes during the social hour to check out the collection. Any artists who have completed their 2011 calendar art pieces can bring them to the meeting and I will make sure they get to Peggie Hunnicutt. Finally, we welcome members to bring artwork for the Artist Choice table. It is always fun to see what you have been creating. I n s id e t h i s i s s u e :
as presenting workshops throughout Alaska. Her paintings are in the permanent collections of the Valley Regional Hospital and the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. She does corporate commissions, most recently for Bailey's Furniture Store and KTUU TV. Christine is represented by Frame Workshop and Gallery and the Artique Ltd. in Anchorage. For a look at her work prior to the meeting you can find her at fortnerstudio.com LaRae will have the media library available at our March meeting so
March Speaker Christine Fortner Linda Doll Workshop Info. Events , Opportunities And Resources
The AKWS was formed in 1974 as a non-profit organization to help promote the knowledge and understanding of professional
Prizes, Prizes We had a nice display of art on the Artists' Choice table at the February meeting. Members vote during the social hour for their favorite piece. First prize was awarded to Gail Flotre for her Alaska scene painted on silk, Maryann Frazier's beach scene took second prize and Carol Montoya's whimsical wolf took third. The prizes are inexpensive tokens of appreciation for remembering to bring a recent piece of work to share at our meeting. We will have the table ready for your art at the March meeting so please bring a piece along with you. Karen Crandall won the door prize for the evening.
The Great Fun of Taxation Yesterday, Maro Lorimer of Anna Maria Island, Florida wrote, "As tax time approaches, do you think artists who sell very little work are better off treating their art as a hobby (claiming no expenses and reporting no income) or going through the formalities of reporting income and claiming expenses? Is there a threshold where it makes sense to switch from hobby to profession? Related decisions include whether to claim part of the home as business space, get a business license and get a reseller's license to buy wholesale. For the artist who wants to keep life simple but who occasionally sells originals, giclees and cards, what's the best path?" Thanks, Maro. For this one I had a chat with the artists' tax expert Bob McMurray. Right away he told me in his experience artists who go the reporting and claiming route tend to do better. "Just by keeping records," says Bob, "they get a better grip on a career. They take themselves seriously, learn more stuff, and, just like blonds, they have more
fun." Bob has counseled many emerging and established artists. He urges artists worldwide to talk to their own tax specialists. "Different jurisdictions have different spins and loopholes," he says. "And every individual artist has specific needs and requires specific advice." Apparently, all taxing agencies provide guidelines for artists who are considering reporting. Generally, to report for tax purposes two main questions need to be positively answered: Are you carrying on a business? Are you in pursuit of profit? If your answers are positive, then you should report your activities whether or not they are showing a profit. It's understood it might take a number of years to actually show a profit, but that doesn't mean you are not carrying on a business. It seems most emerging and semi-motivated artists find their expenses exceed their revenues and these losses can be deducted from any other income. It's possible to lower taxes generally by reporting your art losses. "The artist must report all income, both cash and non-cash, and may claim all expenses that can reasonably be related to the income earning process. In most places there are lots of deductions, depreciations and other benefits," said Bob. Bob McMurray has been doing taxes for thirty years. A couple of years ago he decided to retire and get serious about painting. He was always impressed with how much fun his artist-clients were having. These days he gives tax workshops as well. He's the only guy I know with two FCAs after his name: "Federation of Chartered Accountancy," and "Federation of Canadian Artists." Article from “Painter’s Keys� http://painterskeys.com
Linda A. Doll, AWS, NWS, is
a painter, digital photographer, graphic artist, instructor and juror. She has been active on the Boards of the National Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society and Watercolor West. Ms. Doll teaches drawing, painting and photography workshops throughout North America, Europe and the South Pacific. Her figure and still life paintings and drawings are included in many books and have been featured on several magazine covers. Linda is included in Who's Who in American Art and
Date: August 2 – 6, 2010 Time: 9 am – 4 pm Location: First Congregational Church 2610 East Northern Lights Blvd. If the workshop is full when you register, your deposit will be refunded. Wait listed applicants who do not get into the workshop will get their deposit back. Tuition Before 5-15-2010 $475 after 5-15-2010 $500.
2010 AKWS Linda Doll Workshop Registration Form Name:_______________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________ Zip: ________________
State: ____________________
Phone: (___) _______________________
Amount Enclosed: $ ______________
($100 deposit required; Balance due 6-1-10)
Artists News, Events and Resources Darla Myers Art Show Snow City Cafe, 1034 W 4th Avenue, Anchorage. Opening reception Friday, March 5, 5:30-8 pm. Show continues through March."Black Whimsy"Whimsical acrylic paintings of life bold shapes and around us using colors on black.
James L. Evenson, Nikiski, will show watercolors and Ahna Iredale, Homer, will show new ceramic work at the Kenai Visitors & Culture Center during the month of March. THE OPENING RECEPTION WILL BE FIRST THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 5-8 P.M. The dual show will close Saturday, April 4th.
AKWS Scholarship Thanks to the effort and support of many Alaska Watercolor Society Members, there will be a scholarship in the amount of $1000 awarded this year. The application process is open and we are hoping that a lot of students will take advantage of this opportunity. Scholarship applicants must be currently enrolled in a visual arts program at any of the University of Alaska campuses and must have completed at least one year of their program. Concentration on water media is not required. Applications must be received (not just postmarked) on or before Monday, April 5, 2010. Applications can be downloaded from http://www.akws.org. For more information, call Renate Martin at 907-279-0177
Francine Dufour Jones Alaska Surface Design Assoc.
Don Kolstad teaches watercolor and oils at
Show
Blaine’s. Contact Don or Blaine’s for current schedule. donkolstad@gci.net
And Alaska Fiber Festival
Andy Sonneborn teaches art classes and has open studio time in her delightful studio. She even supplies art materials. Contact Andy for more information. paintspotinak@aol.com or 277-3712
Life Drawing at Upstairs Studio. Wednesdays 6-8pm. Bring your drawing support or easel. $15 drop in or 5/$50 punch card. 406 G Street, Suite 212, Anchorage. Updates/cancellations on our Facebook page. "The Upstairs Studio." Contact Darla Myers 245-2113 for more info if needed.
Francine is participating in the Alaska Surface Design Show at the MTS Gallery 3124 Mt. View Dr. through March 12th. Then continues on to the Alaska Fiber Festival March 13th and 14th at the Conoco Phillips Atrium. For more information on the Fiber Festival to to http://alaskafiberfestibal.org
Wondering About Encaustic? Alaska Watercolor Society 2009 2010 Officers and Committee President: Jean Watson 333-5799 H Skeinofgeese@alaska.net 333-4678 Msg
This is a picture of some members of the Alaska Chapter of International Encaustic Artists at our November 2009 show at Doriola's. There were 19 participants!!! AKWS members pictured include: Dot Tideman (back row, 2nd from left) Darla Myers (back row, 3rd from right) Koko Mikel (back row, far right), Sheary Clough Suiter (kneeling). Sheary founded AK IEA in February 2009 and it's now one of the national organization's largest chapters, right behind CA, OR and WA state. More info on IEA at www.international-encaustic-artists.org Sheary Clough Suiter teaches all levels of Encaustic Painting from her studio in Anchorage. One day workshops include all materials for two paintings. Conducive to mixed media, you can even incorporate your drawings and watercolor paintings! Next classes: March 7 or 21, 10a - 3p, $85. Read more about encaustics at Sheary's web site, www.backdoordesigns.com
Jane Hofstetter Workshop The Fairbanks Watercolor Society is sponsoring a watercolor workshop with Jane Hofstetter as artist instructor. The workshop will be May 24-28, 2010 in Fairbanks. Jane is the author of "7 Keys to Great Paintings", and brings a wealth of knowledge in watercolor design and color. Go to http:// fairbankswatercolor.org for the form. For further information please contact Sherry Fisler at 907-479-5246
Co-Vice Presidents: Luz Maskell 522-5463 dicknluz@chugach.net Andy Sonneborn 277-3712 paintspotinak@aol.com Recording Secretary: Marcia Nathanson 346-1092 mln@ak.net Treasurer: Kirk Scott kirk_scott@yahoo.com Membership: Julie Rearick 272-8770 juls52@ak.net Newsletter Editor: Francine Dufour Jones francine@artbyfrancine.com Hospitality Chair: Sue Zajac 694-3013 suezajac@msn.com Exhibitions: Debi Rebischke Debischke@gmail.com Scholarship: Renate Martin 279-1077 Peggie Hunnicutt 349-4168 phnyct@gmail.com Video Library: LaRae Groves 563-6245 g-groves@gci.net KoKo Mikel 344-0374 mikelkoko@gci.net Publicity: Lura White 277-3854 lura.white@att.net E-mail Tree: Marcia Pratt 337-3695 mpratt@alaska.net Webmaster: Mark McDermott 345-6997 markmcde@gci.net At Large: Alice Moore 337-5225 alicemoore@gci.net 2010 Workshop Chris Zafren 346-2333 czafren@alaska.com Nancy Angelini Crawford angelinestudio@hotmail.com
PO BOX 90714 ANCHORAGE, AK 99509-0714
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CALENDAR 03/03
Board Meeting
6:30 pm Elim Café 03/05 First Friday! 03/10 AKWS Meeting Sourdough Mining Company 6-7 Social Hour 7 pm Meeting Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
“Brush Strokes” is published monthly, September – May, and distributed to members of the Alaska Watercolor Society by mail and online. Newsletter deadline is the 15th of the month before monthly publication. Let us know about your openings, First Fridays and events so that we may support you! Contact Brushstrokes Editor- Francine Dufour Jones e-mail: akwatercolornews@gmail.com If you would like to continue to receive your issues of “Brush Strokes” make sure your dues are current. If you are unsure about the status of your membership please contact me as soon as See photos of our Meetings and events AT our online community network:
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