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December 2011 - Newsletter
The Westchase Artists Society’s elves are busy making final preparations for their second annual Holiday Market. Come join us on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Westchase Golf Club to pick up some wonderful, one-of-a kind pieces of artwork or last-minute stocking stuffers. While Santa is making his rounds through Westchase, you can shop for delightful, unique artwork including watercolors, oil and acrylics, photography, pottery, handmade jewelry, stained glass, stone sculptures and handmade cards. Vendors will also be present from Scentsy, Miche Bags, Premier Designs, and Arbonne to name just a few. The WOW’s own Chris Barrett will be there to sign and sell copies of his new children’s book, A Mouse’s First Christmas. Come sample foods from area restaurants including Catch 23, Terra Sur Café, FroYo, the Westchase Golf Club and more. Indulge in a massage or buy a gift certificate for that special someone. A portion of the proceeds from the event and from every vendor’s sales will benefit Autism Speaks. Come enjoy a day of mall-free shopping while helping out this great cause. You can finish your holiday shopping without the stressful crowds and still make it to the evening’s tree lighting festivities in West Park Village. Setting up a Shop on Etsy Having had her own shop on Etsy since 2007, Judy Freeman shared the basic steps for setting up an online store at the October group meeting. She explained how to determine if selling online is right for you and how to register and create a name for your store. In addition, Freeman shared some of the many pointers she has learned through her personal experience using Etsy, including how to make sure your artwork is photographed well. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The evening’s agenda will include a wrap up of the year’s activities as well as a holiday party. Artists will be exchanging small gifts of their artwork. Make sure to check out the group Web site at www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. You can also friend the group on Facebook to stay updated on events. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in learning more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Bring your creativity and a piece of artwork to share. By Teresa Trubilla, Westchase Artists President November 2011 - Newsletter
The Holiday Market will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Westchase Golf Club. This will be a great time to pick up some wonderful, one-of-a kind pieces of artwork and holiday stocking stuffers. A wide assortment of vendors will sell original artwork, prints, hand-made cards, ceramics, jewelry and refreshments. The Westchase Artists Society group calendar will also be available for purchase. Members donated a piece of artwork for this project in order to raise money for group activities and materials. A portion of the proceeds from this event and every vendor’s sales will benefit Autism Speaks. The Westchase Artists’ September meeting was held in the computer room at the Upper Tampa Bay Library so that members could learn and practice some Photoshop fundamentals. The group’s president, Teresa Trubilla, demonstrated how to use various tools in the Photoshop palette and how to create multiple layers in a file in order to work in a non-destructive environment – one that prevents altering your original image until completion. She also explained the difference between Web resolution (72 dpi and RGB) and print resolution (300 dpi and CMYK). Ink jet printers require a high resolution (300 dpi) but use RGB files. Look for additional workshops in the future to discuss this and other art and computer related topics. Members of the Westchase Artists Society will be participating in the 25th Zoofari at Lowry Park Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 6-11 p.m. Their artwork – and the work of other area artists – will be available for purchase as part of the zoo’s annual fundraiser. Artist of the Month Olga Fridella, October’s Artist of the Month, was born in Columbia, South America, but came to America as a young girl and lived in New York and New Jersey until she moved to Westchase 14 years ago. She loves to express herself with colors on canvas. She states, “Each painting is a puzzle and the task of the artist is to find solutions for his own puzzle.” Some examples of Fridella’s work, along with additional information about her background, can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. at SpeedPro Imaging at 4025 Tampa Rd., Suite 1104, in Oldsmar. The evening’s agenda will include a demonstration of large format printing to give artists an idea of various ways to make use of their photographs and artwork. Make sure to check out www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. You can also friend the group on Facebook to stay updated on events. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in learning more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month. The artists usually meet at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Bring your creativity and a piece of artwork to share. By Teresa Trubilla
October 2011 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Learn Web Creation
The first step is to determine the Web site’s purpose. A simple, free blog is suitable to showcase an artist’s work, while a more involved site is needed to provide detailed information and to sell pieces. Artists were instructed on how to purchase a domain name and choose a hosting service. Montenegro then discussed how to use Web templates and several programs to design sites. The Westchase Artists Society will again be sponsoring a Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Westchase Golf Club. Vendors interested in participating in the Holiday Market should contact Jennifer Joyner at jlukasjoyner@ec.rr.com to register. Space will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit Autism Speaks. The Westchase Artists Society will be participating in Westchase’s 20th Anniversary Party on Oct. 29 from 3-7 p.m. The group will have a tent featuring a Halloween-themed art activity for children as well as some of their own artwork available for sale. This will be a perfect time to come and meet some of the area’s talented artists. The Westchase Artists Society’s group calendar will be available for sale at the Westchase Anniversary Party as well as the Holiday Market in December. Artwork was donated for this project to raise money for group activities. Members will also be participating in the 25th Zoofari to be held at Lowry Park Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 6-11 p.m. Their artwork will be available for purchase as part of the zoo’s fundraiser. Artist of the Month
The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. (Please note that this is a change from the usual meeting location.) The evening’s agenda will include a hands-on workshop about selling your art using Etsy. See www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. You can also friend the group on Facebook to stay updated on events. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Bring your creativity and a piece of artwork to share. By Teresa Trubilla, President
September 2011 - Newsletter
Framing and matting are an extension of your artwork and should complement the style of your work. At the Westchase Artists Society’s July group meeting, Joose Hadley, long-time member of the society and owner of the Great Art & Frame in West Park Village, presented a workshop on how to cut mats and glass for picture framing. Hadley began by demonstrating how to measure your artwork and determine the size of the opening needed in the matting. A T-square and Dexter cutting tool were used to make the opening from the back side of the mat in order to create an even, beveled edge. The artwork was then hinged to the backboard at the top using acid-free tape. It is important to use archival materials in order to protect your artwork from fading and discoloration. Hadley explained how to score and break glass to insert into the frame. Non-glare glass can be especially helpful in sunny Florida homes. After assembling the frame, glass, matting and artwork, she showed how to keep everything in place with a point gun. Flexible points enable you to easily remove a piece of artwork and reuse the frame. The hooks to attach the wire for hanging should be mounted one-third of the way down the back of the frame. Members were asked to come to future meetings at 6:45 p.m. to allow time for socializing before the actual meeting starts at 7 p.m. Possible art activities to be provided for kids during the Westchase 20th anniversary party to be held after the Great West Chase on Oct. 29 were also discussed. Members submitted various pieces of artwork to be used in the upcoming group calendar. The group will be participating in the 25th Zoofari at Lowry Park Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 6-11 p.m. Members’ artwork will be available for purchase as part of the zoo’s fundraiser. The Westchase Artists Society will again be sponsoring a Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Westchase Golf Club. Look for more details as the holiday season approaches. Vendors interested in participating should contact Jennifer at jlukasjoyner@ec.rr.com for further information. Space will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Artist of the Month Susan Whitaker, August’s Artist of the Month, creates her art with pencils, watercolors and oils. A Florida resident for 34 years, she enjoys sewing, gardening, reading, music and motorcycling in addition to her artwork. Having dabbled in art since childhood, Whitaker is now focusing on developing her painting style and recently joined the Westchase Artists Society to share and learn with other local artists. Some examples of Whitaker’s work, along with additional information about her background, can be found on the blog portion of the group’s Web site. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. (Please note that this is a change from the usual meeting location.) The evening’s agenda will include a hands-on workshop on Photoshop Elements. See www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Bring your creativity and a piece of artwork to share. By Teresa Trubilla August 2011 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Work in Pastels
While working on a landscape, Olga Fridella, one of the founding members of the Westchase Artists Society, led a demonstration on working soft pastels. Fridella explained how she approaches creating a piece of work and demonstrated how to smudge and blend colors. Members had an opportunity to work along with Fridella on their own interpretation of the nature photograph she supplied for inspiration. In the upcoming months, members will be submitting original pieces of their artwork in various mediums for use in a group calendar. When it is complete, the calendar will be available for at Great Art & Frame in West Park Village purchase and at the Holiday Market, which the artists will host in the fall. The group also discussed plans for a children’s art activity as part of Westchase 20th Anniversary Party following The Great West Chase in October. Look for further information in upcoming issues. Please also see page 98 for photos from the opening reception of the Westchase Artists Society’s Summer Showcase, held on Friday, June 3, at Great Art & Frame. Artist of the Month
Hawley credits growing up on a western New York farm for her love of the outdoors and painting en plein aire. Some examples of Hawley’s work, along with additional information about her background, can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. (Please note that this is a change from the usual meeting location.) The evening will include a hands-on workshop on setting up a Web site to feature and sell your artwork. The meeting will also include a small celebration to mark the fifth anniversary of the group’s beginning. Make sure to check out www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Bring your creativity and a piece of artwork to share. By Teresa Trubilla
July 2011 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Explore Online Opportunities
Using Snapfish, Shutterfly and Café Press to showcase artwork was the feature presentation at the May meeting of the Westchase Artists Society These online services can be used to print artwork onto various products such as mugs, T-shirts, totebags and cards. In today’s economy, these products, which sell at a lower price point than large, framed prints, can be a great way for artists to share their work for a minimal investment. Photographer Jennifer Joyner explained how she uses Snapfish and Shutterfly to create and order prints, calendars and even books featuring her photography. She then has these products available to sell at art shows and markets. Dean Mackey, paper airplane artist, described how to set up a personal store on Café Press. After uploading artwork, an artist is able to determine what products to make available for purchase via a virtual storefront. Café Press does all the work of printing, packaging, shipping and collecting payment. The Westchase Artists Society Summer Showcase will remain on display at the Great Art and Frame in West Park Village through Tuesday, July 5. Look for photos from the opening reception in the August WOW. Artist of the Month One of the original founders of the Westchase Artists Society, Vanessa Montenegro was selected to be June Artist of the Month. Having been an artist since she was a young girl, Vanessa can always be found with a pencil and paper or camera in hand. When asked about herself, she commented, “During the day, I am a graphic designer and illustrator. In the afternoon, I am an art instructor. Evenings, when it is quiet, I am an artist.” Some examples of Montenegro’s work, along with additional information about her background, can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, July, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The evening’s agenda will include a presentation on framing and matting your artwork. Make sure to check out www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Bring your creativity and a piece of artwork to share. By Teresa Trubilla
June 2011 - Newsletter
Westchase Artists Open Group Exhibit The Westchase Artists Society is pleased to announce the opening of A Summer Showcase, the group’s latest exhibit. The June exhibit, hosted by the Great Art & Frame in West Park Village, will feature painting, photography, pottery, sculpture and much more! You are also invited to join them for the opening Meet the Artists reception on Friday, June 3, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Great Art & Frame Gallery. (For information call 792-8960.)
Of special interest was Degas: Form, Movement and the Antique. These 47 works by the French master included sculptures, pastels, oils and prints, many of which featured dancers as a subject. This exhibit will remain at the downtown Tampa museum through June 19. After the tour was complete, members relaxed on the museum patio with gelato from the Sono café and listened to a live evening concert at Curtis Hixon Park. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, June 28, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The evening’s agenda will include a presentation on working with pastels. Make sure to check out www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. You do not need to be a professional artist to join. Those interested in finding out more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Bring your creativity and a piece of your artwork to share with others. Come be part of the fun and creativity and find out more about our group shows, workshops and art adventures! By Teresa Trubilla
May 2011 - Newsletter
Artists Learn about Watercolors Members of the Westchase Artists Society were treated to a workshop on painting with watercolors during their March meeting. Harvey Berman, currently serving as the group’s vice president, shared the skills and fine-tuned style he uses everyday when he paints with watercolors. Berman began his presentation by setting up a still life arrangement to paint. Using 140 lb. cold-pressed paper, he demonstrated to two techniques of using watercolors: wet brush on dry paper which gives a hard edge to the paint and wet brush on wet paper which creates a soft, feathery edge but does not permit as much control. He went on to explain glazing and how to layer colors from light to dark. After demonstrating how to use a thirsty brush (wet brush with no color) to move colors around on the paper and lift excess color, Berman then assisted the artists while they each worked on their own watercolor interpretation of the still life.
Upcoming Art Show: The Westchase Artists Society will be holding a group art show during the month of June at the Great Art and Frame Gallery in West Park Village. Please look for more details about the show and opening night reception in next month’s issue of the World of Westchase.
Artist of the Month: Joose Hadley, May Artist of the Month, paints most of her art in watercolor, acrylic or oils. While she prefers doing informal portraits in either charcoal or pastels, she loves oil paints for more formal ones. Hadley feels the finest accolade is when someone is moved by her work. Born in California, she has been doing art professionally since 1985 when she opened her own art business, “Joose Arts” in Sacramento. She and her husband moved to Florida in 1995 and opened a gallery in West Park Village in 2003. She enjoys helping other artists sell their work as well as being an art resource for the Westchase community. Some examples of Hadley’s work, along with additional information about her background, can be found on the blog portion of the group website.
May Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, May 24 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The evening’s agenda will include a presentation on using Snapfish and Café Press to create and sell products featuring your artwork. Make sure to check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for complete details. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. You do not need to be a professional artist to join. Those interested in finding out more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Bring your creativity and a piece of your artwork to share with others. Come be part of the fun and creativity and find out more about our group shows, workshops and art adventures! Teresa Trubilla
April 2011 - Newsletter Artists Share Recycled Art Projects with Westchase Elementary
Joose Hadley worked with students to create a variety of face masks using brown paper bags, yarn, used file folders and black garbage bags. Vanessa Montenegro helped students to paint and create works of art from the miscellaneous items that happened to be in her recycling bin: plastic water bottles, containers and lids from tennis balls, ice tea bottles and plastic containers. Students explored setting up a still-life and taking digital photos with photographer Elizabeth Rylan. Old WOW inserts were transformed into paper airplanes with guidance from Teresa Trubilla and William Cawley. At the artists’ February meeting members participated in a brainstorming session about activities for upcoming meetings, field trips and art show locations. A trip to the new Tampa Museum of Art is planned along with a visit to a local large format printer. Possible locations for the two group shows planned for this year include Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library and Aston Gardens. More information about these and other exciting activities will be discussed at future meetings. Artist of the Month
The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Tampa Museum of Art, where artists will be touring the Degas exhibit. (Please note that this is a change in the usual time and location of the group meeting.) Make sure to check out www.westchaseartists.com for updated information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. You do not need to be a professional artist to join. Those interested in learning more are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Bring your creativity and a piece of your artwork to share with others. By Teresa Trubilla
March 2011 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Select New Board Elections for the Westchase Artists Society Board of Directors took place at the group’s January meeting. Elected to serve for 2011 were Teresa Trubilla, president, Harvey Berman, vice president, Judy Freeman, secretary, and Vanessa Montenegro, treasurer. Four new artists, Susan Whitaker, Sonya DeTroy, Michael Gonzalez and Rena Springer, visited the group meeting for the first time and Jennifer Joyner shared a letter of thanks from St. Jude Children’s Hospital for the donation that the artists made with proceeds from their Holiday Market. The annual meeting concluded with the art activity that featured a “show and tell.” Several artists brought in recent work to share with the other artists. Members also brought in pieces that they were currently working on in order to ask for other artists’ advice. The Westchase Artists Society congratulates Harvey Berman for winning a First Place Blue Ribbon for his watercolor In Flight during the West Pasco Art Guild’s show Fantasy of Flight; Judy Freeman for having three ceramic sculptures juried into the show Invisible Hand at the Old Hyde Park art center and two teapots juried into the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party exhibition being held at the West Palm Beach Armory Center in March; and Teresa Trubilla for receiving an honorable mention in the Annual Florida Juried Photography Exhibit sponsored by the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the United Arts Council of Collier County.
Photographer Teresa Trubilla was selected to be March Artist of the Month. Teresa first began dabbling in photography in high school and college, but it was not until joining the Westchase Artists Society a few years ago that she found an artistic voice for her love of nature. Growing up in Pennsylvania, she spent a lot of time outdoors with her father, an avid sportsman. Through her nature and landscape photography, she strives to share the clarity and simplicity she finds outdoors. Some examples of her work, along with more information about her art and background, can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society, which is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area, will be held on Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. See www.westchaseartists.com for complete information about the evening’s agenda and art activity. Come share in the fun and creativity and find out more about our group shows, workshops and art adventures! By Teresa Trubilla
January 2011 - Newsletter
The First Annual Westchase Holiday Market, sponsored by the Westchase Artists Society, was held Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Westchase Golf Club. This art show and sale was open to the public and guests enjoyed live music and food while they shopped for original artwork and unique holiday gifts. Participating vendors and artists from the Westchase Artists Society helped raise $360 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. During the Westchase Artists Society’s November meeting Judy Freeman led her fellow artists through a pushpin art project. Members began by taping an image (photograph or line art) to a piece of cotton paper and then taping them both to a scrap of cardboard. Using a pushpin to pierce through the original artwork and the paper below, artists traced along the lines of the entire image creating a textured impression of it. Artist of the Month: Elizabeth Rylan Elizabeth Rylan, January’s artist of the month, expresses her creativity via photography, watercolor painting and interior design. With her lens, Rylan captures beautiful and fascinating things and shares them with others. Painting with watercolors gives her the chance to experiment with the flow of colors and interpret a scene on a two-dimensional surface. She loves the challenges of interior design as it gives her an opportunity to create vibrant spaces for others. Some examples of Rylan’s work, along with more information about her art background and goals, can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a group meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. This meeting will be the group’s annual meeting and will include the election of a new board of directors as well as membership renewal. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla
December 2010 - Newsletter
Westchase Artists Show and Tell The October meeting of the Westchase Artists Society featured an art critique where members shared projects that they are currently working on or have recently completed. Fellow members provided positive feedback and suggested ways to improve the works in progress. Members also detailed some of the processes they use in their creative work. Plans for the Holiday Market that was held on November 21 at the Westchase Golf Club were finalized at the October meeting. Members agreed to ask all vendors to donate a portion of the proceeds from the evening to the children’s art program at St. Jude Research Hospital. Any funds that the group receives beyond the actual cost of hosting the event will also be donated to St. Jude. Members also welcomed first time visitor Rebecca Piskura who is looking to focus on her watercolor and acrylic work now that she has retired.
December Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 7:00 PM. This meeting will be the group’s Holiday Party and the location was not been finalized at the time of publication. Make sure to check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for complete information about the evening’s agenda and location. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a group meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! Teresa Trubilla November 2010 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Host First Holiday Market Residents interested in supporting local artists by presenting gifts of their work this holiday season have an opportunity Nov. 21. You are cordially invited to the inaugural Westchase Holiday Market, sponsored by the Westchase Artists Society. This art show and sale is open to the public and will be held on Sunday, Nov. 21, from 4-9 p.m. at the Westchase Golf Club. Come find original artwork or unique gifts for the holidays. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital to benefit their art programs. Artists who are not members of the Westchase Artists Society are also invited to participate in this event on a first-come, first-served basis as space permits. Please contact Jennifer Joyner at jlukasjoyner@ec.rr.com for further information. During the September meeting of the Westchase Artists Society, members decided to participate as a group in Postcard Show 14, being held at The Lab, an interdisciplinary arts organization in San Francisco, California. For the project, members will create original handmade holiday postcards to fill a 5” x 6” x 11” box. The cards will then be sold as part of an art show on Dec. 11 and 12 with 50 percent of the proceeds going to The Lab to support emerging and under-recognized artists. Artist of the Month: Jennifer Joyner
The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. Make sure to check www.westchaseartists.com for information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from Upper Tampa Bay. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla
October 2010 - Newsletter
During their August meeting members of the Westchase Artists Society celebrated the group’s fourth anniversary. The Westchase Artists Society was founded in August 2006 with the goal of helping to grow the art community in the Westchase area by bringing together visual artists to learn more about art, share art activities and exhibit their artwork. Glass and Scrabble tile jewelry was the focus of an art demonstration given by Judy Freeman at the August meeting. Judy explained how small, printed images of one’s artwork can be used to create pendants, rings, earrings or magnets from small glass or Scrabble tiles. Freeman showed the various steps involved in applying images to Scrabble tiles or to the underside of glass tiles.
Judy Freeman, August’s Artist of the Month, first fell in love with clay during college at Florida Atlantic University. Initially Judy worked with clay as a stress reliever from her day job in the corporate world, but over the last seven years, she has been able to focus more time and energy on her ceramics. Her goal as an artist is to make her audience smile and she draws inspiration from nature. Fish and butterflies are two favorite subjects she shapes into whimsical teapots, mugs and bowls. More information about Freeman’s art background and future goals can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. Make sure to check www.westchaseartists.com for information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month. The group generally meets at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard or at the library. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla September 2010 - Newsletter
As part of their August group meeting, members of the Westchase Artists Society took part in a mini-workshop on Adobe Photoshop Elements presented by group member Teresa Trubilla. Photoshop Elements is a software program that enables photography enthusiasts to edit, organize and share images. The introductory workshop covered the basic functions of the various tools available in the program. A follow-up workshop is planned for the coming months to cover more details about editing images and working with layers and filters. New Officers and Business Former Vice President Wayne Barrett was elected to fill the vacancy of president that was left open when Dean Mackey resigned for personal reasons. Bob Richardson was then elected to serve as the new vice president. Judy Freeman volunteered to fill the position of meeting coordinator. Plans are underway for several art shows and sales that members will be participating in this fall. An artists’ reception is in the works for the ongoing group exhibit at the Jewish Community Center. Free Art Demonstrations On two Sunday afternoons in September, the Great Art and Frame art gallery in West Park Village will be offering free art demonstrations for the entire community. On Sept. 12 from 2-3 p.m. Brenda Ambrosino will demonstrate “Assemblages – Dimensional Art.” On Sept. 19 from 2-3 p.m. Michael Crabb will discuss “Drawing – The Artist's Eye.” Artist of the Month: Mara Gessele Mara Gessele, currently serving as secretary of the Westchase Artists Society, was selected as August’s Artist of the Month. Information about Gessele’s art background and future goals can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. Make sure to check out www.westchaseartists.com for information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla
August 2010 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Share Their Work
Ongoing Exhibits Divine Equine III, an art show and sale benefiting Quantum Leap Farm–Horses for Healing Veterans, will be on display at Great Art and Frame in West Park Village through Aug. 20. Westchase Artists Society members participating in this exhibit are Wayne Barrett, Judy Freeman, Olga Fridella, Mara Gessele, Joose Hadley, Jennifer Joyner, Dean Mackey, Pamela Roehm and Teresa Trubilla. The ARC Gallery at MOSI will be hosting unseen, a national juried exhibition exploring the concepts of dreams, visions, and images taken from the environment, one’s personal viewpoint or an imagined idea. Teresa Trubilla’s photograph, Without a Sound, will be on display through the end of August. The work of Harvey Berman, Vanessa Montenegro and Teresa Trubilla will be featured through August at Positively Artful, a new gallery on Tampa Road in Oldsmar, as part of the show Positively Paradise. Everyone is invited to an artists’ reception on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 6-8 p.m. Artist of the Month: Bob Richardson
The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. Make sure to check out www.westchaseartists.com for information about the evening’s agenda. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla
July 2010 - Newsletter M.A.Y. Art Project
The art show Divine Equine III will open at Great Art and Frame in West Park Village on Friday, July 23, from 6-8:30 p.m. Westchase residents are invited. The opening reception is free and will feature refreshments by Cody’s Original Roadhouse. Valet parking will be available. Artist of the Month: Dean Mackey
The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. The meeting’s activity will be a mini-workshop on Photoshop Elements. Teresa Trubilla will lead members and interested guests through the basics of using the tools and editing images. See www.westchaseartists.com for additional information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla
June 2010 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Practice Goal Mapping
Goal mapping -- selecting a goal and illustrating the steps necessary to reach that goal -- was the featured activity at the April meeting of the Westchase Artists Society. Vanessa Montenegro led the group in the evening’s project which began with selecting a goal and ended with creating a work of art to serve as a reminder of that goal. The first step in the goal mapping activity is to select a goal to complete during the upcoming year. (In this particular instance, the members selected goals that pertained to their artwork, but the process can be used to focus on any area of one’s life.) It is important for the goal to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Begin by writing down this goal as a positive statement and asking yourself the following questions:
The goal mapping preparation continues with writing down the twelve sequential steps to achieving your goal. The steps should be organized according to what needs to be accomplished for each month of the coming year. The final part of this project is creating the artwork which will serve as a visual inspiration and reminder of your goal. Begin by dividing a piece of paper into 14 spaces. These spaces can be even and structured or random and free-flowing. Select one space and use it to illustrate “Where I am today.” The second space should depict “Where I will be in one year.” The remaining twelve sections will each feature one of the monthly steps necessary to reach your ultimate goal. Illustrating the steps toward your goal can be done through drawing, painting, writing, or collaging with photos or magazine clippings. When your goal map is complete, place it somewhere that you will see it every day to help remind you of the smaller steps you must take to achieve your goal over the course of the year.
Wayne Barrett, currently serving as vice president of the Westchase Artists Society, was selected as the May Artist of the Month. Barrett is a painter who has been interested in art his entire life, winning his first blue ribbon in kindergarten. His love of comic books and the illustrations of Frank Frazzetta first inspired him to become an artist. When asked about his creative process, Barrett described himself as a dreamer and a fantasizer who always has hundreds of ideas ready to be put down on canvas. In addition to painting, Barrett is also a musician who plays the guitar, piano, and harmonica. More information about Barrett and his background and future goals can be found on the blog portion of the group website. June Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The meeting’s activity will be an art critique. Artists are invited to bring a piece of artwork to share with the group for feedback. Make sure to check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for additional information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! Teresa Trubilla
May 2010 - Newsletter
Westchase Artists Share Their Work The March meeting of the Westchase Artists Society was an evening filled with shared art and critiques. Members brought a work they have completed for group feedback or a piece they were currently working on to request input on overcoming a difficulty or breaking through an artistic block. The art that was shared included pastels, photography, oil painting, photograph restoration, wall sculpture, and even a sneak peak at the upcoming cover for the World of Westchase Resident and Business Directory.
As part of a newly initiated program, Toni Crosby was selected as the April Westchase Artist of the Month. Crosby enjoys both painting and photography and serves as a staff photographer for her local church. She first realized her interest in becoming an artist in 1982 when she met the wildlife and landscape artist Robert Butler. When asked to describe her creative process, she said, “It starts with the three P’s... Prayer, Preparation and Praise. My artistic talent is my gift from God… when I create it’s my praise back to Him.” More information about Crosby and her background and future goals can be found on the blog portion of the group website.
May Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The meeting’s activity will be a “M.A.Y. -- Me Art You” project. Bring your pencils or charcoal and your sketchbook or paper. Artists will take turns for 10-minute intervals to draw each other in various creative poses. Drawing skills are not necessary. Everything from stick figures to intricate renderings are welcome. Make sure to check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for additional information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! Teresa Trubilla Westchase Artists Society
April 2010 - Newsletter
Paper selection has an enormous effect on the final printed results of your images — not only in their color, but in their sharpness, contrast, level of gloss, and amount of detail. With this in mind, Westchase Artists Society member Teresa Trubilla shared a presentation on ink jet printer papers at the February group meeting. She explained how it is important to consider the paper brightness, whiteness, finish (smooth, flat, or textured) and type of surface (gloss or matte) when selecting the paper stock for a specific image. The following types of paper were featured in the presentation which included samples and giveaways provided by the Red River paper company:
Also discussed were the difference between paper brightness and whiteness and between paper weight and thickness. While brightness is used to measure to the ability of the paper to reflect light, whiteness refers to the shade of the paper itself. To the human eye, the blue white shade appears whiter than a balanced white or a warm white. Paper weight is determined by weighing 500 sheets of 17” x 22” and is measured in pounds while thickness reflects the actual dimension of one sheet and is measured in millimeters. While paper weight and thickness do not affect the quality of one’s image, heavy weight paper can give a feeling of importance to your artwork. Society Business The February meeting was the first group meeting to be chaired by the new 2010 Board of Directors — President Dean Mackey, Vice President Wayne Barrett, Secretary Mara Gessele, and Treasurer Jennifer Joyner. General business discussed at the meeting included the current group show in the East Gallery of Ruth Eckerd Hall during March, April, and May 2010. An on-going exhibit of members’ artwork will also begin in mid-March at the Jewish Community Center just off Gunn Highway. In addition, the evening’s agenda included a brainstorming session focusing on ideas for upcoming meeting activities as well as beginning an “Artist of the Month” program to highlight the work of individual artists. April Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The evening’s activity will focus on mapping and setting your goals as an artist. Make sure to check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for additional information about the evening’s agenda and a list of art supplies you will need for the activity. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists as well as art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the creativity! Teresa Trubilla Westchase Artists Society
March 2010 - Newsletter Westchase Artists to Exhibit at Ruth Eckerd Hall The Westchase Artists Society is pleased to announce that 17 of its members will be exhibiting their work in the West Gallery at Ruth Eckerd Hall during March, April and May. This group show will feature a variety of media, including photography, wall sculpture, oil, acrylic and mixed media. Their artwork may be viewed in the Dimmitt Family Atrium Lounge during performances when the theater is open to the public.
The group’s majolica tile project was unveiled at the Upper Tampa Bay Library on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 19. The four panels, composed of 20 individual tiles, became part of the permanent artwork on display in the Children’s Reading Room. The Westchase Artists Society is grateful to Maureen Gauzza and the Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Library for hosting the unveiling ceremony and the reception that followed. New Board Elected Members of the Westchase Artists Society elected a new board of directors at their January meeting, held on Jan. 26 at the Jewish Community Center. Elected to the board for 2010 were Dean Mackey, president; Wayne Barrett, vice president; Mara Gessele, secretary; and Jennifer Joyner, treasurer. The artists thank the Jewish Community Center for providing a venue for the group’s January meeting. The center will also begin hosting an exhibit of the artists’ work beginning in mid-March. March Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. Please check www.westchaseartists.com for additional information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by their monthly meetings, held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla February 2010 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Celebrate the Holidays
A brief break in the festivities provided an opportunity to review some end-of-the-year business. With elections and registration coming up at the January meeting, it was decided to amend the bylaws to create a vice president position to fill out the board. Nominations were taken for all open board positions. Among those who threw their hat into the ring or were nominated by others were Vanessa Montenegro, president; Wayne Barrett, vice president; Mara Gissele, secretary; and Dean Mackey, treasurer. Jeremy Ramos offered to serve on the publicity committee focusing on Web promotions and Judy Freeman volunteered to work on creating a group blog in the coming year. Further nominations will be solicited online to determine the official ballot for the elections at the Jan. 26 meeting. The artists’ group exhibit For the Love of Art II will be featured at the Carrollwood Cultural Center during the month of February. For more information see page 28. There will also be another exciting group show coming up at Ruth Eckerd Hall during March, April and May. In addition the entire group is preparing a group exhibit to be held at the Jewish Community Center on Gunn Highway beginning in March. Artists interested in participating in these shows are asked to check the Web site for information and deadlines. The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The evening’s presentation will focus on various types of paper available for ink jet printers. Please see www.westchaseartists.com for additional information. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Come share in the fun and creativity! By Teresa Trubilla January 2010 - Newsletter Six Hours of Work Brings Six Minutes of Fame
President Judy Freeman shows members of the Westchase Artists Society a photo of the crew she worked with while filming her spot for HGTV’s “That’s Clever!” as well as a picture of her now famous “Will Sing For Treats” bank. “It took six hours of filming to create six minutes of television air time.” That was the statistic that Judy Freeman shared with members of the Westchase Artists Society as she told them about her experiences during the production of her recent appearance on HGTV’s show “That’s Clever!” At the group’s November meeting, Freeman detailed her television adventure as she described how extensive the application process to participate on the show first began in November of 2006 when she was contacted by one of the show’s producers who saw her work on-line. The show episode — which was filmed in January 2007 and finally aired on October 13, 2009 — featured Freeman demonstrating how to make a whimsical ceramic cat bank featuring Jasmine who “Sings for Treats.” In order to prepare for the show, she had to write up over three pages of detailed step-by-step instructions on how to sculpt, assemble, paint, and glaze the bank. From those instructions, the producers sent Freeman a list of the actual steps she would demonstrate on air along with the various materials and semi-completed banks she would need to have on hand for filming. During the course of the taping, Freeman actually completed seven banks. Freeman also shared with her fellow artists how — for her — the hardest part of making the video was not being able to use her own words to explain her work process. Rather, she would have to tell the director what she was going to do next and he would then tell her what her lines would be. The final result proved to be worth all that hard work as it was full of helpful pointers and great humor. Board Meeting The November meeting of the Westchase Artists Society was preceded by a meeting of the Board of Directors. At this meeting, it was decided to have the membership vote on a change to the Bylaws adding the position of Vice President in preparation for the annual elections which are scheduled to take place at the January 2010 meeting. Upcoming Activities
The Majolica tile project created over the summer has been donated to the Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Library and will be displayed as permanent artwork in the children’s room of the library. The work is scheduled to be unveiled on January 19, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library meeting. The group show “For the Love of Art II” will be held at the Carrollwood Cultural Center throughout the month of February. More information about this event will appear in next month’s WOW. There will also be another exciting group show coming up at Ruth Eckerd Hall during March, April and May. In addition, the entire group is preparing a group exhibit to be held at the Jewish Community Center located on Gunn Highway beginning in March. January Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Jewish Community Center on Gunn Highway. (This is a change from the usual meeting location.) The evening’s agenda will include the annual election of a new Board of Directors. Please check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for additional information. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity!
Teresa Trubilla December 2009 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Learn New Ways to Share Their Art
By Teresa Trubilla, November 2009 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Get Framed
Framing was the subject of the evening’s presentation during the September group meeting of the Westchase Artists Society. Joose Hadley, group member and co-owner of Great Art and Frame in West Park Village, brought artwork and framing samples to share with the group as she discussed various easy and inexpensive ways to frame one’s artwork. In addition to adding a visual impact to a piece of art, frames provide structural support and keep canvases from twisting and warping over time. Floating frames can also be used to support canvases that feature gallery wraps. Even “frameless framing” can be an attractive and effective means of displaying completed artwork with glass and clip systems. Framed printed artwork from a home goods store can be a great source of mats and frames when you replace generic art with your original work. Captions for photo: Joose Hadley of Great Art and Frame in West Park Village discusses various inexpensive ways to approach framing during a presentation at the September meeting of “Quiet Conversations”
Captions for photo: Ann Bush (far left), librarian at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library, celebrates a successful opening reception for “Quiet Conversations” with members of the Westchase Artists Society (from left to right): Secretary Teresa Trubilla, Dean Mackey, Olga Fridella, Anne Marie Blankenship, Frida Vazquez, Mara Gessele, Pamela Roehm, President Judy Freeman, Wayne Barrett, Vanessa Montenegro, and Treasurer Sonya Whipple. The evening of Thursday, September 24 saw a great turnout of friends, family, and art lovers from the Westchase area as members of the Westchase Artists Society welcomed guests and neighbors to the opening reception of their group show “Quiet Conversations” held at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. A big thank you to the staff of the Upper Tampa Bay Library and to the Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Library for all their support and help in making the reception and show possible! UPARC Festival of Trees Work is continuing on the group Christmas tree project being created by members of the Westchase Artists Society for this year’s “Festival of Trees.” The 25th anniversary of this popular fundraiser for the Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens Foundation will include over 100 creatively decorated Christmas trees which will be on display and available for sale throughout the Westfield Countryside Mall from Monday, November 23 through Sunday, November 29, 2009. Artists are hard at work developing the theme for their group tree and artistically decorating and personalizing ornaments. Upcoming Group Activities Also discussed at the September group meeting were some exciting upcoming events including a show and holiday bazaar at the Jewish Community Center, a group show “For the Love of Art II” at the Carrollwood Cultural Center in February 2010, and a group show at Ruth Eckerd Hall during March, April and May 2010. The Majolica tile project which the group created over the summer has been donated to the Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Library and has been accepted to be displayed as permanent artwork in the library. Artists are working with the library to determine location and installation of the tiles. Further information will be provided at a later date when the artwork is ready to be unveiled. “Collections” Show Westchase Artists Society member Pamela Roehm will be featured in a solo show during the month of November at Great Art and Frame in West Park Village. The opening reception will be held Friday, November 6 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. November Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. Please check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for further information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! Teresa Trubilla
October 2009 - Newsletter
September 2009 - Newsletter Westchase Artists in Whirlwind of Activities
September kicked off with 14 members of the group participating in the Second Annual Hillsborough County Visual Arts Alliance group show at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. This juried competition featured over 125 paintings, photographs and sculptures from 70 artists from across Tampa Bay. Westchase Artists Society member Joose Hadley’s work Metal ‘n’ Jazz received an Honorable Mention in the show. The exhibit will be on display through the end of October. The end of September also saw the installation of Quiet Conversations, a group art show at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. The show features over 15 artists’ paintings, photography, pottery and paper art. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours through the end of October. The members of the Westchase Artists Society are excited to participate in this year’s Festival of Trees, a popular fundraiser for the Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens Foundation. It will include over 100 creatively decorated Christmas trees on display and available for sale throughout the Westfield Countryside Mall from Nov. 23-29. The artists are hard at work developing the theme for their group tree and decorating and personalizing ornaments. Westchase Artists Society President Judy Freeman will be featured on HGTV’s That’s Clever on Oct.12 at 7:30 a.m. Freeman will be creating a whimsical ceramic cat bank as she demonstrates the entire creative process – from the potter’s wheel through the glazing and firing of the piece. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Interested residents are invited to drop by their next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. See www.westchaseartists.com for further information about the evening’s agenda. By Teresa Trubilla, August 2009 - Newsletter
Westchase Artists Society members proudly display some of the tiles that they created as part of the group’s Majolica project. Pictured from left to right in back: Teresa Trubilla, Anne Marie Blankenship, Joose Hadley, Kathy Crouthamel, Bert Crouthamel, Wayne Barrett, and Dean Mackey. In front: Frida Vazquez, Sonya Whipple, Pamela Roehm, Judy Freeman, Mara Gessele with daughter Anika, Olga Fridella and Vanessa Montenegro. Westchase Artists Reveal Group Majolica Tiles The highlight of the June meeting of the Westchase Artists Society was the unveiling of the fired tiles that the artists painted at their May meeting. The firing process revealed the rich earth-tone colors that the artists had used and showcased each individual artist’s painting style. The tiles are part of a group project using the specialized ceramic glaze technique of Majolica. Now that the firing is complete, the individual tiles will be “stitched” together into a group “quilt” for display at the upcoming group show being held at the Upper Tampa Bay Library from September 20 through October 30, 2009. (Further information about this show will appear in the September issue of the WOW.) The upcoming library show was just one of the many future events which were discussed in detail during the evening’s meeting. Upcoming activities include everything from participation in a juried show with the Hillsborough County Visual Arts Aliance to group shows at Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Northwest Jewish Community Center to the possibility of a group community art project featuring environmental art. Interested artists are invited to find out more about these activities on the group website or at the next group meeting. August Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The meeting presentation will include information about printing your artwork on various types of paper and printers. Please check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for further information about the evening’s agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Those interested in finding out more about the group are invited to drop by a meeting at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Come share in the fun and creativity! Teresa Trubilla
July 2009 - Newsletter
June 2009 - Newsletter
The April 28 meeting of the Westchase Artists Society, held at Stone Chase, featured a review of the upcoming group show, The Great Art Escape, which will appear at the Oldsmar City Hall Art Gallery during May and June. The meeting also featured a presentation on artist Vanessa Montenegro’s 15-minutes-a-day rule. Montenegro implemented the rule in order to make creating art a priority in her hectic life. Over a year ago, she began by designating a specific 15-minute block of time during which every day – no matter what – she would spend time painting. Setting a timer for 15 minutes, she would go to her studio and hang a “Do Not Disturb/Art in Progress” sign on the door and begin to paint. She allowed no distractions or interruptions from TV, phones, e-mail or laundry. When the timer went off, she put down her paint brush and walked away from what ever she was working on, leaving her anxious to come back to it the next day. Gradually, she increased the block of painting time by five minutes per month. Now she is using an hour everyday to create miniature paintings. Montenegro then invited her fellow artists to pick up a pencil and paper and create for the next ten minutes to give her rule a try. Most were amazed at how long those few minutes seemed and how much you could accomplish when you freed yourself from other distractions and just focused on your artwork. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Their next meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 23, at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. Please check out the group Web site at www.westchaseartists.com for further information about the evening’s agenda. By Teresa Trubilla,
May 2009 - Newsletter Westchase Artists Fold Their Way Into A Box
The March meeting of the Westchase Artists Society began with a brief introduction of current members and a warm welcome to first time guests Dale Cavinaugh (painting, stained glass) and Perry Landmeyer (photography). Regular business got underway as Secretary Teresa Trubilla read the minutes from the February meeting and Sonya Whipple presented an updated Treasurer’s Report. Dean Mackey shared a recap of his experiences on March 21 at the Hyde Park Chalk Walk where he represented the Westchase Artists Society as part of the Hillsborough County Visual Arts Alliance. The all-day event gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his paper art airplanes for many visitors while he distributed brochures containing information about the Westchase Artists Society along with membership application forms. He suggested that members keep this event, as well as upcoming ones in nearby neighborhoods, in mind as a great venue to meet and share their work with other art enthusiasts. The meeting moved on to a quick review of details about “The Great Art Escape” – the upcoming group show being held during May and June at the Oldsmar City Hall Art Gallery. (Further details about this exhibit and information about the Artists Reception can be found on page ___.) President Judy Freeman continued with Society business as she introduced the Committee Chairpersons who have volunteered to serve for the coming year. Those members appointed for 2009 include Origami Art Project With business taken care of, the focus of the meeting then shifted to the evening’s art activity – origami boxes. Paper artist Dean Mackey began his presentation by giving everyone present completed samples of the project filled with sweet treats which were rapidly devoured by the “starving artists.” After distributing paper and scissors, Dean led everyone through step-by-step instructions to cut, fold, and build a small box out of nothing but paper. While the artists worked on creating their own boxes, Dean explained how the basic pattern he provided could be adapted to produce boxes of various sizes that could be used to package small artwork. He also shared how he uses this type of box to promote his work and as thank you’s for guests attending his exhibits. The meeting wrapped up with Joose Hadley sharing a painting that she is currently working on. Members provided her with feedback on the work and advice on how she can improve upon the piece. May Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, May 26 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. The presentation for the evening will be an art project led by President Judy Freeman. Members will be creating individual tiles which will then be incorporated into a group “quilt.” (Non-members interested in participating will be asked to pay a $5.00 materials fee.) Please check out the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for further updates on time, location, and agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Anyone interested in finding out more about the group is invited to drop by the next meeting. Meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard, just behind the fire station. Hope to see you there! Teresa Trubilla
April 2009 - Newsletter eBay and Etsy and Café Press… Oh, My! Selling your work on-line was the focus of the February 24 meeting of the Westchase Artists Society as three members of the group gave presentations on how to develop an internet storefront for your artwork. The meeting got underway at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center with the distribution of 2009 registration forms and the collection of annual dues. Those present were reminded about some of the benefits of membership as they completed their forms and were given the opportunity to sign up for a position on the standing committees. Existing members then introduced themselves and first time visitors Bertrand Crouthamel and Jennifer Joyner, both of whom are photographers, were welcomed to the group. The minutes of the January meeting were read by Secretary Teresa Trubilla and then approved by the group. Sonya Whipple presented the Treasurer’s report for the general fund as well as the expenses from the February group show at the Carrollwod Cultural Center. The Bylaws — as amended at the January meeting — were unanimously accepted by those in attendance. A brief review of “For the Love of Art” held at the Carrollwood Cultural Center was presented by President Judy Freeman as she thanked all those who participated for the hard work on what proved to be a beautiful show and wonderful Meet the Artists reception. Congratulations were also given to Vanessa Montenegro on the sale of one of her pieces during the show. A brief reminder was given about the upcoming group show being held during May and June in the art gallery at the Oldsmar City Hall. Interested artists were given an opportunity to sign up to participate in the show and volunteer for committee assignments. Selling Your Work On-Line The evening’s presentations then got underway as Dean Mackey discussed the basic step-by-step instructions on how to set up a shop at Café Press. (www.cafepress.com) He explained how one of the advantages of this particular site was the ability it gave sellers to create newsletters in order to stay in touch with potential customers. He also brought some of the actual products that are available for sale featuring his artwork. Judy Freeman then gave a PowerPoint presentation of the on-line site Esty — Your place to buy & sell all things handmade.™ (www.etsy.com) She covered the basics of how to set-up a site and offered to hold a mini-workshop for anyone interested in an actual hands-on demonstration. She also shared some of her selling tips such as posting in the forums at least twice a day as well as enhancing your branding by photographing all your work in the same manner and keeping your images simple and bright. She also emphasized the importance of buying the work of other artists in order to help develop your on-line reputation. Selling on eBay (www.ebay.com) was covered by Vanessa Montenegro who explained how using this venue to sell smaller pieces was a way to earn extra money, gain exposure, and lead potential customers to your main website. The eBay website provides detailed videos of the process for selling items on their site and Vanessa recommended researching competitors and hot products when deciding if your work is a good fit for this site. She stressed the importance of choosing good keywords when placing your work for sale and building and maintaining your reputation. April Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 PM at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library. (PLEASE NOTE: This is a change from the usual meeting place at the Swim & Tennis Center.) The presentation for the evening will be on “The 15-minute Rule” — a mini workshop that will transform your art. Please refer to the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for further updates on time, location, and agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Anyone interested in finding out more about the group is invited to drop by the next meeting. Meetings are normally held at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center. Hope to see you there! Teresa Trubilla,
March 2009 - Newsletter New Year Brings New Officers The first meeting in 2009 of the Westchase Artists Society took place on the evening of January 27 at the Upper Tampa Bay Library and began with the introduction of both new and familiar faces. Things quickly got down to business as the Bylaws were amended to change the timing of the election of the Board of Directors to the January meeting with the new officers officially assuming office on February 1 of each year. Jeremy Ramos, out-going president, read the duties and responsibilities of each officer from the Bylaws. Nominated for positions for the 2009 Board of Directors were Judy Freeman — President, Teresa Trubilla — Secretary, and Sonya Whipple — Treasurer. Mark Karydis made a motion to accept the proposed Board of Directors. Jeremy Ramos seconded the motion and the Board was unanimously approved by the members in attendance. Annual membership dues will be collected and committee assignments will be made at the February group meeting. “For the Love of Art” A brief discussion was held about the upcoming show being held during February at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. Postcards promoting the exhibit and opening reception were distributed to participants. Concerns about the cost of registering for this particular show were expressed by several members. Secretary Teresa Trubilla explained that the cost for participating in this show had to include the costs of promotional materials as well as the refreshments for the reception and a report from the Treasurer after the show would detail exactly what the various costs were. Evening of the Arts Angela Trusch again spoke to the group asking for volunteers to help with the Westchase Elementary “Evening of the Arts” to be held on April 24 from 5:30 until 8:30 PM. She stated she would follow up with an e-mail sent via the Google group to make all members aware of this great opportunity to foster a passion for art in young hearts. Art Activity The highlight of the January meeting was an introduction to origami — the art of folded paper — presented by Sonya Whipple. She led the group in creating small purses using this mathematical, yet calming, art.
Samples of the origami created by members of the Westchase Artists Society during their January meeting.
Sonya Whipple provides some hands-on instructions to members creating a mini-purse with origami. March Meeting The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society will be held on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00 PM at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center. The presentation for the evening will be on “The 15-minute Rule” — a mini workshop that will transform your art. Please refer to the group website at www.westchaseartists.com for further updates on time, location, and agenda. The Westchase Artists Society is open to all types of visual artists and art lovers from the Upper Tampa Bay area. Anyone interested in finding out more about the group is invited to drop by the next meeting. Meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center. Hope to see you there! Teresa Trubilla
February 2009 - Newsletter January 2009 - Newsletter
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The Westchase Artists Society are busy preparing for their annual Holiday Market
At the August meeting of the Westchase Artists Society, Vanessa Montenegro taught artists how to set up Web sites for their artwork.
Amy Lennard Gmelin, September’s Artist of the Month, grew up in New York and New Jersey but now resides in New Port Richie. While she has worked in various art forms over the years – from paint and clay to photography – Gmelin found her niche when working with concrete. She uses ordinary concrete and sand, transforming it into works of art by using various molds or by chiseling and carving. Some examples of Gmelin’s work, along with additional information about her background, can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site.
Westchase Artists Learn About Framing
In June Westchase artists practiced their hands at working with soft pastels.
Susan Hawley, a new member of the Westchase Artists Society, was selected to be the Artist of the Month. Hawley first began working in watercolors about four years ago while recovering from a near-fatal car accident. While out for a drive to see the autumn colors, she stopped into a small art store and learned about a watercolor class that was starting the following week. Looking for something new to do with her life, she picked up a brush and has never looked back.
As part of their April group meeting, members of the Westchase Artists Society were treated to a personal tour of the new Tampa Museum of Art. Secretary Judy Freeman, who volunteers as a museum docent, showed the group around and provided insight into the various exhibits.
Several members of the Westchase Artists Society worked with students from Westchase Elementary School on Friday, March 4, as part of their Evening of the Arts program. The theme for the event was Going Green – Creating Recycled Art.
The artists selected Rena Springer as the March Artist of the Month. Rena enjoys painting with acrylics and her favorite subject matters include landscapes, figures and flowers. Springer has been drawing since grammar school and won a scholarship to the Art Institute. After her children finished college, she spent eight years studying at the Winnetka Art League in Illinois. While she only lives in the Tampa Bay area about four months of the year, she joined the Westchase Artists Society as a way to stay involved with her art. Some examples of Spinger’s work, along with additional information, can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site.
Artist of the Month: Teresa Trubilla
Holiday Market a Success for Westchase Artists
Jennifer Joyner, the October Artist of the Month, is a photographer who first picked up a camera in the seventh grade. She studied under Baldwin Lee at the University of Tennessee, where she also majored in English. Joyner’s three main artistic loves have always been photography, writing and acting. Through her photography she strives to capture the truth of a subject or share an interesting view of an ordinary subject. Joyner credits her two boys, Cason and Hayden, with keeping her grounded and reminding her to not take herself too seriously. Some examples of her work, along with more information about her art background and future goals, can be found on the blog portion of www.westchaseartists.com.
Westchase Artists Celebrate Four Years
Artist of the Month: Judy Freeman
Westchase Artists Explore Photoshop Elements
As part of the preparation for several upcoming shows, members of the Westchase Artists Society shared some of their current work during a critique session at their June meeting. New member Harvey Berman brought several of his watercolors to share.
Bob Richardson was selected to be the July Westchase Artist of the Month. Both a photographer and a painter, Richardson was born and raised in the Midwest but has been a Westchase resident since 2009, when he moved here to be closer to family. He started drawing at a young age and found that art was a great way to express his creative mind and release stress. In his spare time, he plays the guitar and collects neckties and baseball cards.
M.A.Y. – Me Art You – was the project at the May meeting of the Westchase Artists Society. Members took turns posing and sketching each other for five-minute intervals. Visiting the group for the first time were mother and daughter Jill and Claire Chesney, who shared their artwork and also participated in the group activity.
Dean Mackey, currently president of the Westchase Artists Society, was selected as the June Artist of the Month. Mackey expresses his artistic talents in the medium of paper airplanes. He first began making paper airplanes professionally in 2000 at a kid’s Space Day event in Massachusetts. Seeing a lot of creativity by other paper airplane enthusiasts on the web, Mackey added his own special creativity and organized the Online Paper Airplane Museum (www.theonlinepaperairplanemuseum.com), which features instructions for hundreds of styles of airplanes. In his spare time, Mackey enjoys to garden, read, travel, study tae kwon do and ride roller coasters. More information about Mackey can be found on the blog portion of the group Web site.
Artist of the Month: Wayne Barrett 
Artist of the Month: Toni Crosby 
Westchase Artists Focus on Paper 
Tile Unveiling
“Christmas Morning in the Artist’s Studio,” the tree decorated with ornaments created by members of the Westchase Artists Society, was on display and available for purchase as part of this year’s “Festival of Trees” held at the Countryside Mall. This was the 25th Anniversary of this popular fundraiser for the Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens.
Westchase Artists Learn New Ways to Share Their Art Laseresque’s Bob Argus, the guest speaker at the Oct. 27 meeting of the Westchase Artists Society, explained to the artists present how his company uses a carbon dioxide laser to etch or cut into materials such as leather, wood, plastic or stone. Sharing a large display of sample products, Argus went on to explain how a sublimation process is able to add color into material. Because of Laseresque’s unique application process, the images are permanent and do not fade over time, creating a whole new array of ways for artists to display their work on various products.Members of the Westchase Artists Society have been busy completing work on the group Christmas tree project being donated to this year’s Festival of Trees, on display and available for sale Nov. 23-29 throughout the Westfield Countryside Mall. The theme of the Westchase Artists’ group tree is “Christmas Morning in the Artist’s Studio” and features handmade ornaments created by the group’s members.Visiting the group for the first time were Jason Baker, a graphic designer from Oldsmar, and Toni Crosby, a painter from Town and Country.Some exciting upcoming events discussed at the October meeting included the group show For the Love of Art II to be held at the Carrollwood Cultural Center in February and another group show being held at Ruth Eckerd Hall during March, April and May.Several artists will be selling their work at a holiday bazaar at the Jewish Community Center located on Gunn Highway on Friday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. In addition the entire group is preparing a group exhibit to be held at the JCC beginning in March.The next meeting of the Westchase Artists Society is Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. Please check out www.westchaseartists.com for further information about the group and the evening’s agenda.
The end of summer proved to be a very exciting time for members of the Westchase Artists Society.
Westchase Artists Society Celebrates in December