Build Your Own Easel

Do you gaze longingly at those big easels with wheels on the bottom and huge bases, - but kind of cough a bit when you see the prices?Here's a site with free plans to make your own! Benjamin Grosser is the designer and has created a page on his website to provide the free plans and photos of a great looking easel.

http://bengrosser.com/easel/

Deb

Our Facebook Page is up!

You can click here to see it!

It was suggested by Lorne Taillon that a facebook page would be a great online tool for us so we now have one.

Not much there yet, but I'm working on it! If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I"m not that much into Facebook.

Deb

Blogs, Websites and Links

Hi,

I'm taking care of the blog for Sandra and have been setting up a few different things on it.

One of the things you may have noticed is the list of links on the right sidebar. Each member who has a website or webpage listed on the Focus Art website has been listed here. Also, if you have a blog, let me know and I'll post it here also. All sites, pages and blogs will be included for members only. You can send me your info at focusartblog@yahoo.ca

Or, if you want to be deleted, you can let me know that, too.

The blog is interactive so if you have any comments you'd like to appear on it, just use the link below the post.

A question I'm often asked is why have a blog AND a website? A website is like having your own permanent online art gallery. You post finished artwork there like you'd hang the artwork in a gallery, changing it if you like, but it's always there to be seen.

A blog, on the other hand, is not the same thing. It's more like your studio - a place where people can come and watch you work, see unfinished pieces, talk and hear about your thoughts on the painting being worked on.

While a gallery provides a permanent display, a blog's posts keep rolling down.

Blogs are free! Why not create one today? When you do, let me know and I'll post it here!

Deb Leger

Stretching W/C Paper on Wood Stretchers

Another feature of our March meeting was Rose Desnoyers giving us an awesome demonstration of stretching watercolour paper onto wood stretchers and supports. Rose explained that some of her students couldn't afford to frame their watercolours for a student show so she taught them how to stretch their paper onto wood supports and then varnish them, thus eliminating the need for glass and expensive frames.


She showed us how she prepares the wood supports / stretchers to avoid damage to the paper and how she applies the paper.

It was a fun night.

Thanks Rose!!

Oh, and here's a pic of Rose with her "every self-respecting artist should have one" bag of tools. (Which impressed all of us!)

Deb

Lorne Taillon Talks With Focus Art

At our March meeting (held on March 4, 2009), we were fortunate to have Lorne Taillon come and speak with us. Lorne is the Leisure Arts Coordinator for the City. The three topics that were discussed at length were:

1) Arts in the Park. Focus Art artists will be able to set up shop and paint in the park on arranged dates. The goal is to boost family activities in the park during events. Having local artists painting during these events will provide a great opportunity for exposure for the artists involved. It will also provide visitors to the events with the opportunity to watch the artists at work and to see their work that could be on display. More to follow on this topic.

2) Art Fair. The possibility of an Art Fair is getting closer! It was suggested that an Art Fair could coincide with music in the park, providing a really nice background. Lorne was very receptive to the idea of an Art Fair.

3) Art Instructors needed. The city provides summer (and fall, etc.) programs for children and often needs instuctors to teach painting, etc. Lorne will contact Sandra when needed and Sandra will put the call out to Focus Art. Instructors will be paid the City's usual rate. Lorne is also interested in a Call for Papers - workshop or class ideas provided by local artists that may be brought into fruition.

It's really nice to have a City coordinator who wants to work with our group!

Thanks Lorne!

Deb

February Members Meeting

Alan Bain demonstrated his tecnique of applying watercolour and introduced us to a new watercolour paper Curry's 200lb paper a reasonalble priced paper that will hold up to water loading.

Thanks Alan

Members Student Show at Cafe Connections

Our Members Sandra Taylor and Rose Desnoyer had a student show at Cafe Connectionz for the month of February 2009. At least once a year Rose and Sandra combind efforts and put on a show for their students to show off the fruit of their labours!

Golden Workshop

A wonderful time was had by everyone at the Golden Workshop held on January 31st, 2009. 20 participants had a full day of painting and playing with all the wonderfull products (lots of freebies too!)

The best part of it all was the scrumptous lunch that was catered by my good Friend, Fernand, can she cook or can she cook!!!

FYI
Art Course Now Offered at the College

St. Lawrence College in Cornwall has recently decided to add a new course to their Continuing Education Lineup, Painting and Drawing 1 and Painting and Drawing 11. The combination of these two 8 week courses will count as one credit toward a Fine Arts or Arts & Science Diploma.
The course will focus on strengthening drawing skills, understanding the elements of design and cultivate students' overall painting skills.
The course will be on Monday evenings starting March 23 and will be taught by Cornwall Artist Sandra Taylor/Hedges. All paint media and skill levels welcome. More details will follow in the next few weeks.

This years Christmas Party was a hit!!!

Members enjoyed good food, good friends and lots of Great Art.

Members brought thier work to show and some asked for a critic of what they were currently working on. Everyone agreed that the input was helpful to see what was working or not working in thier paintings.

The Members also generously donated bags and boxes full of food for Agape Center's food drive.

The woman from Agape was overwhelmed by our generousity!! She wanted all involved to know that they are gratful.

New Stuff!!

The Newsletter will soon be linked on line to the Blog so be sure to become a "Subscriber" of our Blog in order to be kept up to date on all the news and Happenings in the Art Scene!!
Just click on "Follow this Blog" on the side bar, and decide if you would like to have a photo shown or not (could be your art) and you will be on line with us.

If you are not signed up with Google you may have to do so but this is free and you can also add a profile for other viewers to see when they click on your image. This is an extra chance to get your name out there as an artist as the Blog is growing and viewed by non Focus Art members.

November 5th - November 28th

Open to all area artists, $20.00 members or $30.00 for non members for 2 entries

Drop off on October 31, 2008 between noon and 4pm at the Cornwall Library or November 1, 9am till noon.

Juried in the Library November 1st,from 1pm to 4pm, Focus Art members and all other artists entering the show are welcome to watch the jury process,

Pick up of artwork not accepted after 4pm

Email for more details, Applications for show available at Studio One Cat Squared see Focus Art website for email address and phone contact numbers.

Artist on Show

You will be able to see some of my work (sandra taylor/hedges) at Connectionz Cafe for the next two months. The work is on show in the small Boardroom. Come in and enjoy the art and a great coffee.

Golden Acrylic Paint Demo/workshop

For all you Members that missed the meeting on October 1, 2008 you also missed meeting artist Andrea Warren who showed us all the many products that Golden Paints has to offer including the new and exciting OPEN paint which has a slow drying process. Although it is still quicker drying than Oil paint it now takes up to 12 hours before it is hard enough to not be able to activate and rework (cool)

You also missed out in receiving free samples of many of the products shown at the demo. Too bad!

ARTprener Conference October 30th,2008

You will want to attend this amazing conference if you are in the business of being an Artist. Lots of useful info to help you promote, fund and build your career.

Register for this event on line at our next meeting Wednesday October the 1st, 2008 at the Centre Charles Emile Claude; With Tracy Lynn Chisholm or Sandra Taylor-Hedges; or on line on the website:

www.artpreneur.ca

Pat Fish was featured in an article by the Journal de Cornwall this week you can read the article on line at http://www.lejournaldecornwall.ca/nouvelles.asp?nID=12738

Deb Leger has taken first place (aka Member's Choice) award in the latest Flower of the Month Show at EBSQart, a group in which she is a lifetime member. The Flower of the Month Show in question was Begonias. Deb's photograph, called Fiery Heart was a macro shot. While usually entering paintings in the EBSQart shows, this time she entered a photograph. This is Deb's seventh ribbon at EBSQart and it also included a $50 cash prize. Her EBSQart portfolio may be seen at http://www.blogger.com/ while her website can be seen at http://www.deborahlegerartist.com/ .


What is EBSQart? EBSQart is a large online 'colony' of artists. The home page can be found at http://www.ebsqart.com/ . There are two ways you can join, either as a patron member (which is free) or as an artist member (which costs $7.50 per month, or $78.00 per year). Membership as a patron gives you voting rights at the site in the (at least) three shows held every month. Membership as an artist member gives you your own url pages for an online portfolio, access to the online community of EBSQart, access to the many shows, etc. In EBSQart's own words, "EBSQ Self-Representing Artists is not your typical artists' website. We're passionate about empowering artists, and we hope it shows! To that end, we've combined an online arts community atmosphere with easy-to-use tools that we've developed in-house to give our artists the edge via DIY Marketing. Members can have an online presence within minutes of joining, and have access to resources that come from being part of a community of our size. We think you'll enjoy the difference!"

Whats on at the Cornwall Regional Gallery

MiSun & Derek Hunter invite you to see their show on at the CRAG from Sept 11, till October 10th, 2008. Opening will be Sept 11th at 7pm everyone welcome!

October Meeting -

Wednesday October 1st, 2008 7pm

at the Centre Charles Emile Claude
146 Chevrier Ave inside the Nativity School

Golden Paint Products Workshop

Come and Meet Andrea Warren Golden's Artist at large in the Ottawa area. She will give us an opportunity to see how the newest and some old stand by products can be used to create our images.

So come and get your hands dirty.

Cafe Connectionz - Harvest Show

Check out the art show at Cafe Connectionz for the month of September and meet Christine and Chris they are a great couple that are eager to help promote the Artists of the area.

Thank you Lorna Foreman for organizing this for us!!!