Clovis Art Guild The Oldest and Best art Association in the Valley
august 2012
www.clovisartguild.com Next meeting is Wednesday August 8, 2012 7:00 p.m. Clovis Veteran’s Memorial Building, 804 4th Street, Clovis CA
THIS MONTH’S DEMONSTATOR WILL BE MARK LEE HOWARD Mark Lee Howard, known as “the man behind the pen”, was born on Dec 23, 1951 in Oakland, CA. As the son of a navy officer whose family moved frequently, Howard had the opportunity to observe wildlife in many varied habitats and to develop a life-long love of nature. He first began creating art in 1963 at the age of 13. While living in Olathe, KS, he experimented with pencil, pen and ink. His artistic abilities flourished and in 1969 he won 1st place in the National Scholastic Awards (Graphic Art Edition). This accomplishment fueled Howard’s drive to become an artist.
OFFICERS Presidents Pro
Tem Gail Daley Gene Butler
Vice President Toni Magyar
Secretary Barbara Hamel
Treasurer Alice Sutton
After his graduation from Arlington Heights High School in IL, Howard entered the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA. Desiring further study; he then attended Fresno State University in Fresno, CA. A self-taught artist, Howard continued to paint and found that he was most attracted to artists who “Provoke a passion and beauty of life for others through their images.” He is particularly inspired and influenced by the work of Salvador Dali, Carl Brenders, John SeeryLester, Daniel Smith and Simon Combes. Howard has been an artist for 36 years, during which time he has participated in various exhibitions and has received various awards for his work. Since 1999 Howard has acquired international recognition as a wildlife artist, particularly after he was featured in “Wildlife Art” Magazine (Jan/Feb 1999 issue). Howard’s most important aspect of art is to creatively express his love and concern for wildlife in hopes of drawing attention to the importance of preserving nature’s beauty and balance. As an advocate for preservation of threatened and endangered species, Howard explains, “I’ve dedicated my artistic talents to that field. My photo-realism renderings remind viewers of the natural beauty we are so close to destroying forever.” He continues, “I find myself deeply drawn into each new subject, almost as though I actually become a part of the animal.” Today, Howard lives in Fresno, CA with his pet cats, raccoons, iguana and snakes.
NEXT
EXCHANGE FOR OUR STOREFRONT GALLERY
WILL BE
WEDNESDAY SEPT 5, 2012 @ 5:00 P.M.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Storefront Art Gallery
1
President’s Message
2
Guest Columnist
2
Characteristics of Clay Pick of the Month
3
Web-Site News
3
Officers & Committees
4
Membership Application
4
Clovis Art Guild
President’s Message We have had two really interesting and fun demonstrations in July and August. I realize the heat has kept many of us indoors, but we really do miss all of you at our general meetings. I also hope some you plan to take advantage of the Art Hop Trolley this month. Our Art Hop Trolley’s first stop is At the Art By Hand Water Tower Gallery & Gift Shop 2444 Fresno Street, where you can park and ride! Cost is $1.00 (pay only once!) The short line stops every 15 minutes, stays around downtown and there is music. The extended line goes out to the Tower District with storytelling. Our Veteran’s fall show is coming faster than we realize. This year we want to do something special. If you have photos of yourself or a close family member in uniform, we would like to make a copy of it for the display we plan on putting up during the show. The photos will be shown on one of the standards with the Message “Clovis Art Guild Veterans”. We also plan to ask the community at large if they have photos they would like to share that could be used as reference material for the art honoring our veterans and serving military. Please feel free to share this request with your friends and family. Photos can be e-mailed to ClovisArtGuild@att.net or mailed to our post Office box CLOVIS ART GUILD PO BOX 1594CLOVIS, CA 93613. JUST MARK THEM “REFERENCE MATERIAL”. Gene Butler & Gail Daley
Characteristics Of Clay Facts About Clay That You Need To Know If You Plan To Work With It By Ethel Jamfrey CLAY
SUNSHINE Our hearts go out to Jeanne Naito, our refreshment chairman this month; her husband has had a stroke. He is recovering, but she may need help performing as our refreshment chairman, so please reach out to her if you feel you can be of assistance. So often our Sunshine chairman seems to be dealing with sad things, so we decided to add something positive to the mix: the Art Guild would like to congratulate you on your birthday. No, we don’t need to know how old you are unless you want to share! But we would like to wish you a happy birthday. You can send this information to either Gail or Alice.
Page 2
A long chain of 3 molecules chemically bonded together; A12O3+2SiO2+2H20. A hydrated alumina silicate (“Kaolin”). May be wet and squishy, dry as bone, “leather hard” or anywhere between depending on the addition of “Physical Water”. It can always be softened with water and return to a “plastic state” “Plastic” means easily shaped or changed in form. Clay becomes “Permanent” when it is “Fixed” or heated to temperatures from 900o Fahrenheit or higher. “Bisque” is clay that has been fired once. Firing causes the “Chemical Water” to be released from the bond and the new formula becomes A12O3+2SiO2 (an alumina silicate). Fired clay will not soften or dissolve in water. Clay is Found: In nature in beds of lakes and streams, or in ancient lakes and streams, in layers of other soils. Clay is formed from decomposing granite. “Color” is always what color it is when fired i.e. it may look gray when it’s wet and plastic, but when it’s fired, it will usually look different. Color in clay comes from metallic or mineral impurities that oxidize during firing. They also determine the firing temperatures of different clays. “Grog” is the gritty stuff on ground-up fired clay or sand added to clay mix to give it strength/body and make it less likely to trap air pockets that would explode during firing. Shrinkage occurs at different rates in different types of clay. All clay shrinks as it dries and is fired. Shrinkage varies from 10— 15%.
TYPES OF CLAY
Earthenware is usually red, cream-colored or quite dark. It is high in iron and other impurities, it is “Low Fire” (1740o to 2130o Fahrenheit). It does not hold water unless glazed. Stoneware is fired at a higher temperature (2300o Fahrenheit) and becomes very hard and vitreous and can hold water even without a glaze. Porcelain is the highest fired ware; it becomes translucent when fired to 2300o – 2670o Fahrenheit, it is vitreous and has a “ring” sound when tapped. It is also called China.
SURFACE ENRICHMENT
Surface Enrichment refers to Carving, scraping,
Next Page
August 2012
Page 3
PICK
OF THE
M ONTH
Pick of the Month is the Guild’s way of supporting our members efforts. We need at least 7 paintings to award 3 places, so please participate! We’d like to see what you’ve been working on! Don’t forget to bring your art to the meeting! We would love to see your work. Classwork is acceptable too.
1st Place Barbara Hamel
2nd Place Ma Ly
3rd Place David Dalgety
Characteristics Of Clay (continued) Facts About Clay That You Need To Know If You Plan To Work With It By Ethel Jamfrey
rubbing/compressing, engobe (an application of colored clays to the surface before firing), an application of clay forms. It also refers to Staining with acrylic or water color or oils after bisque firing and glazing. Glaze is a surface treatment of a glass, melted on a clay body. This is usually done with metallic oxides that give color in addition to other chemicals that will give other effects.
Thank you Ethel for providing this month’s informative article on clay. As I told you last month, the newsletter would like to feature an article (or series of articles) concerning art from our members each month. Please feel free to share your knowledge with the group.
WEB-SITE NEWS Our new website is still under construction, but you can go and look at it: www.clovisartguild.com
OFFICERS & COMMITTEES PRESIDENT PRO TEM PRESIDENT PRO TEM VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER PROGRAM CHAIR PUBLICITY MEMBERSHIP PICK OF THE MONTH NEWSLETTER REFRESHMENT BARGAIN TABLE GREETER SUNSHINE CO-CHAIR STUDENT PROGRAM STOREFRONT ART GALLERY WEB SITE MANAGER
GAIL DALEY GENE BUTLER TONI MAGYAR BARBARA HAMEL ALICE SUTTON JULIANNE SMITH GLYNMARY BATEMAN ALICE SUTTON JACKIE MCCOY/MARY ANN FERSTL GAIL DALEY JEANNE NAITO SHIRLEY LINDGREN JOHN ROBERTS HILDA VANDERGRIFF SHARON GARCIA GENE BUTLER GAIL DALEY MA LY
960-2428 275-4304 299-0690 289-0984 787-2386 323-8496 787-2386 787-2451 960-2428 255-2146 255-0826 322-6186 322-6557 294-9626 275-4304 960-2428
If you wish to submit an item for the newsletter, please do so by the 25th of the month. Items should be sent to Gail Daley at: ClovisArtGuild@att.net Or mailed to: 5688 E Sussex Way Fresno, CA 93727 BOARD MEETINGS ARE THE 2ND W EDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH BEFORE THE GENERAL MEETING, AT 5:30 P.M. IN THE VETERAN’S MEMORIAL BUILDING, 804 4TH STREET, CLOVIS CA. MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
Membership application MAIL Name __________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ ___________________________________CA _________________
THIS APPLICA-
TION WITH
$30.00
CLOVIS ART GUILD PO BOX 1594 CLOVIS, CA 93613
Phone ____________ _____________________________ E-Mail _______________________________________@__________________________________________
Clovis Art Guild PO Box 1594 Clovis, CA 93613
To:
TO