May's meeting

Well, it finally looks like spring, and with all the rain we've been having, our gardens and lawns should be happy.  But bring on the sunshine and warmth, please!

1.  MAY MEETING
Our May meeting is this Sunday, May 4, from 12:30 - 3:00 pm, at the Darien Municipal Center, 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien. Our special guest is artist, instructor and author Crystal Neubauer.  She will share about Work and Meditation and give a demo on her work style. If you're unfamiliar with Crystal's work, take a look at her website atwww.crystalneubauer.com and blog at otherpeoplesflowers.blogspot.com for a taste of her incredible style and depth.

You don't need supplies for this meeting other than a notebook and pen. Feel free to bring along items for our swap table (and remember to take away anything that you bring that isn't snapped up by another artist). And we can always use treats for the refreshment table.

2.  MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Many of you renewed at our April meeting or have sent your renewals in to our new membership chair Cherie Denton. If you haven't renewed yet, please remember that you must be a member in good standing in order to exhibit in our group exhibits, including the upcoming one at the Aurora City Hall. A renewal form was emailed out last month, but if you need another, please email me and I'll send you one.

3.  NAME TAGS
We encourage each member to wear a name tag at our meetings to help others put your name and face together. June Fuerstenhaefer has devised a storage solution for our name tags which should make them easier to locate: they are in alphabetical order in two zippered jewelry hangers. We'll be working on a way to make it easy for you to return your tag to its spot at the end of the meeting so they're ready to store for the next time.

Mono Type Printing today-Part 2

 A few Brayers for this large group today.

 The ink to use for this process of Reductive mono type.

  Lisa today shows up a few of her piece she's got in a portfolio.

 Lisa has rolled on some inks to a piece of plexiglass and now she's starting to subtract the ink before printing with different too....Like a simple cotton swab/ toothpick or brushes.

 Special use of the brayer as a marking tool besides just using it to roll on the inks.

 Lisa lines up the felts for the little press.

Sample pieces more information at   www.artic.edu/collections


What a great meeting today and we will announce our new board members shortly.

Next Meeting May 4th with Crystal Neubauer 

Mono type Printing today-part 1

 Barb shared here techniques of watercolor Mono type printing. She normally uses Oil paints for this but you can get some great effect.

 Samples of mono types and added mediums, like pastels, markers and crayons.

 Lovely samples.

 I think there was about 35 people at this meeting...we had our annual renewal of membership and new board members.

 There's some great samples of where the mono type printing can go...now for collage artists we can use it for the back ground or to make some collage papers.

 Barb gave us all a piece of Dura-lar it's a poly film (Blick Art Materials has this product)  that creates a great plate,  Watercolors are great for experimenting this process.

 Barb has the papers all nice and moist waiting in a tub of water for us...there is Gum Arabic on the top surface of the dura-lar, this helps the watercolor release on to the papers.

 Next Barb lays the paper on top of the plate and then uses a brayer to roll over gently to apply some even weight.

And there you have it!! 

April's meeting

Happy Spring... I think!  Doesn't feel much like it right now.  Here is lots of interesting info, so please read carefully!

1.  APRIL MEETING AND ELECTION THIS SUNDAY
Our April meeting is this Sunday, April 6, from 12:30-3:00 p.m. at the Darien Municipal Center, 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien.  We will have a short business meeting right at the beginning to ratify our new slate (listed below), so please try to be on time.  If not enough members are present for a quorum at the beginning of the meeting, we will have to wait for more to arrive and conduct the business between our two demos. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may send me your proxy vote via email.

Our demos will both be about printing techniques, and we hope to have a bit of time to experiment with each technique. There will be a $5 studio fee.
Barb Boland will show us a watercolor monotype technique on a vellum "plate" that we can print by hand.  This is an "additive" technique.
Lisa Dzuricsko will show us an akua ink monotype technique on plexiglass or linoleum that can be printed with some pressure. This is a "reductive" technique.
Both print methods allow you to go back in with other colors and media and develop the piece for a finished work of art, or just use the print for a collage paper for other work.

Supplies for Barb's technique: water colors (cheap pans are fine),  brushes and small cup for water and a rag or paper towels. Barb will supply one nice piece of printing paper per person (you may bring more or even copy paper to practice with).  Optional: ink pens, colored pencils or pastels for embellishing.Supplies for Lisa's technique: apron, Q-Tips, gloves


2. SLATE FOR ELECTIONS
Since we do not have multiple candidates for any of our board positions, our business meeting should be a quick ratification of the slate:

Interim President – Jerri Reimann  (Maureen Gasek plans to transition into President throughout the term)

VP-Retreat – Tania Blanco

VP-Blog/NCS Liaison – Laura Lein-Svencner

Treasurer – Dale Lorens

Exhibit – Barb Boland and Nancy Staszak

Education – Maureen “Mo” McDonald

Membership – Cherie Denton

Communication – Vacant 

3. UPCOMING EXHIBIT IN AURORA

Our next exhibit will begin in June at the Aurora City Hall.  Last week, Barb Boland sent out an email about the exhibit, but we understand a number of members didn't receive it for some reason.  If you did NOT receive the email, please contact Barb immediately at barbidoodle@comcast.net and she will resend the information.  If you have received the email and have not indicated your interest, please also do so immediately.  Only those who have expressed interest in participating will continue to receive information about this exhibit. And of course, remember that only members in good standing will be able to register for the exhibit.

4. APRIL IS RENEWAL MONTH

April is the beginning of our fiscal year, so that means that our membership dues are payable.  A renewal form will be sent today in a separate email, and a few printed forms should be available at Sunday's meeting for those who do not have printers.

Hit tab above under blog logo and you can print a copy of the 2014-2015 membership form. 

5. MEMBER NEWS

Congratulations to Mary Yezek who received an Artist's Excellent Award from the Seniors Artists Network member show at the Beverly Art Center on March 23 for one of her ciity scene collages.

June Fuerstenhaefer brought a yummy cake that we enjoyed at the March meeting, and she was generous enough to share the recipe.  Here it is:

June's Westhaven Cake

Mix 1 package (8oz) cut up DATES with 1 cup hot water - pour over dates in glass bowl & let cool.

Cream 1/2 cup BUTTER or margarine and 1 cup SUGAR

Add 2 EGGS and beat well

Sift together:

1 3/4 cup FLOUR, 1 teaspoon COCOA, 1 teaspoon BAKING SODA,1/4 teaspoon SALT

Mix together:  Add flour mixture & presoaked dates to sugar mixture. (Begin & end with flour.)

Pour into a greased & floured 9x13 cake pan or two 8x8 pans.

Over top of this sprinkle: one 8oz  package of CHOCOLATE CHIPS & 1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts.
Bake at 350*for 30-35 minutes