To say that time has flown quickly is an understatement! It seems that yesterday was our first meeting in September and now we're about to have our last meeting before we break for summer! It has been fast and furious with a lot going on this year. We have had wonderful demonstrations at our meetings, workshop opportunities, great shows, paint-in's, and the art festival. These things don't just happen. They take place because of the hard work and dedication of our membership.
I would like to sincerely thank all of you for giving your time and energy to making our booth at the Art Festival a success! The planning, beautiful paintings, arrangement of our booth, and demonstrations, contributed to making our booth attractive and inviting! A BIG THANK YOU to all of you!
Sadly, we recently lost two members, LaWanda Murfee and Marsha Wilkes. In addition to being accomplished artists they each contributed time and effort in making WTWS the vibrant organization it is today. At our May meeting everyone will have an opportunity to contribute to a memorial fund in their honor.
I don't know how creativity and the process of art makes you feel but for me personally it is a sweet escape from the stress of life, a distraction from the every day and a way to express myself creatively. Simply put, it makes me feel good and gives me a deep sense of satisfaction. Whether we are beginners, intermediates, or professional artists - WE LOVE ART! Being around all the wonderful artists in WTWS also makes me feel good. The willingness to share and help others has been an ongoing theme in WTWS. I think about the many times I have asked for advice, learned new techniques, learned from shared ideas, needed encouragement, a little pushing, and a lot of hand holding throughout my art journey. I know many of you feel the same way when I say that my time in WTWS has been invaluable.
I want to remind you of our May 19 meeting, 2:30 at the Legacy. See you there!
"Painting is a revelation of the artist's soul. I avoid political and controversial subjects and portray what to me is beautiful. Navajos have a way of putting it:
May you walk in beauty
May you have beauty behind you
May you have beauty beneath you and above you
And may you end in beauty.
It is a state of mind. This is why I paint.
LaWanda Murfee
