SPRING 2017
NEWSLETTER
The Art Critics by Chuck McPherson
96th International Exhibition
A MESSAGE FROM
KEN GOLDMAN
Dear Members,
Early this year, several of us on the Board of Directors
participated in a two-day strategy retreat in San
Diego. Among many fine ideas, we decided it was
imperative to explore additional ways of utilizing our
Gallery space between the Annual Members-Only
Exhibition and the Annual Open International
Exhibition.
As a first step in this direction, Caroline Van Winkle
assembled a fantastic retrospective exhibition for
Chris Van Winkle, her recently deceased husband
and Past President of NWS 2005-07. On view were
his earliest oils to his latest watercolors, spanning the
years 19522016. The Van Winkle family generously
donated all proceeds to the NWS building fund. Chris
and Caroline Van Winkle were largely responsible for
establishing our present NWS gallery. The Board of
Directors would like to thank the Van Winkle Family
for their contributions, their generosity, and their many
years of loyal service.
Special Events Director Debbie Abshear has
continued to fulfill our resolution by organizing
a special exhibition of Selected Works from the
Permanent Collection plus paintings by several local
NWS artists known for their generous volunteerism
and unending commitment to the NWS. These artists
include David Teter, Loa Sprung, Jan Godachy, Alice
Kayuha, Nancy Swan, Vickie Myers, Lowri Sprung,
Debbie Abshear, Joy Gonzalez, and Steve Abshear.
This exhibition is open during San Pedros First
Thursdays Evenings, April 6 and May 4, 2017, or by
special appointment with Debbie Abshear at 310-
989-9906. Debbie is also in charge of renting out our
gallery space for workshops, lectures and meetings.
We are also very proud of our second Invitational
NWS Members Exhibition at the prestigious
Muckenthaler Cultural Center. The theme, PORTRAITS
AND FIGURES, curated by Matt Leslie and Penny
Hill, opened with high attendance and great acclaim,
including a well-received portrait demonstration and
gallery tour by Sean Barrett. This exhibition will be
up through April 9. Viewing times are Wednesday,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, noon - 4:00 pm, and
Thursdays, noon - 8:30 pm.
Entry period for the Annual Members-Only
Exhibition, juried by Bob Burridge, closed on March
17. I am happy to report our membership saw
phenomenal growth, and our new nwsexhibition.
com entry website worked extremely well, especially
because Penny Hill and Valli McDougle worked so
tirelessly and personally with any member having
questions.
Registration for the Annual Open International
Exhibition begins on April 1. Jurors of selection will
be Mike Bailey, Cathy Hegman, and Kathleen Ballard.
Awards will be juried by Malcolm Warner, Director of
the Laguna Museum of Fine Art. More about both
exhibitions in the next newsletter.
Board member/volunteers stepping down this year
are: Valli McDougle, Parrish Hirasaki, Jeanne Hyland,
Detra Francis, and Joe Cibere. With deep gratitude,
I thank all five of you for your years of dedication and
service. We will miss you and are grateful you will be
continuing as advisors.
Three talented artists have stepped up. We now
welcome Denise Willis-Booher as First VP-Awards,
Carole Newsom as Third VP-Publications, and Judy
Saltzman as Web Director. Each of these positions
requires skill and dedication. We are grateful you have
accepted this responsibility. Our entire board looks
forward to working with you.
2017 Calendar
March 17 Member Exhibition Entry closes
twelve oclock NOON
26 Member Exhibition Exhibitors posted
April 01 International Exhibition Entry Opens
May 06 Member Exhibition walk-ins drop off
19 International Exhibition Entry closes
twelve oclock NOON
21 Demo Bob Burridge
22-24 Workshop Bob Burridge
June 10 Member Exhibition Opening
Reception
11 International Exhibition Exhibitors
Posted
July 09 Walk-ins pick up of Member
Exhibition works
21 Deadline for receipt of artwork at
Bartwood Inc. (Shipped and walk-ins)
September 16 International Exhibition Signature
Review and Awards Jurying
17 Armchair Chat with MikeE Bailey
18 Awarded/Signatured Artists notified
October 20 97th International Exhibition Mixer
21 International Exhibition Opening
Reception & Awards Ceremony
22 Demo/Gallery Walk with
Geoff McCormack
23-25 Geoff McCormack Workshop

Finally, thank you to all of of our donors and Art

Material Sponsors. None of our efforts would be
possible without you. Please visit our Sponsors Page
at nationalwatercolorsociety.wildapricot.org to support
these special businesses.

Sincerely,
All demonstrations, lectures and workshops are held at:
Ken Goldman NWS Gallery
NWS President 915 S. Pacific Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731-3201

NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017

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 Chris Wan Winkle Retrospective

n January, 2016, Chris Van Winkle passed

I away at the age of 86. His family of five

sons worked with NWS to present an
extraordinary retrospective of his lifes
work at the National Watercolor Society Gallery, San
Pedro, CA, during January 2017. Included were
early oils, first watercolors of southern California
and landscapes from his many workshops around
the world. Well known as a plein air painter, Chris
surprised visitors to the exhibition with the innovative
abstract and non-objective paintings that he
produced in his studio.
As a watercolor painting instructor at Citrus College,
Glendora, CA, for thirty years, Chris spread his
love for watercolor to many painters. Current NWS CHRIS VAN WINKLE 1929-2016
members who had worked with Chris were invited A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION
to show a painting at the Exhibition and share
their memories. Taking part were: Debbie Abshear,
Francesca Brayton, Nancy Caldwell, Julie Crouch, available for donations to the NWS Building Fund
Nancy Dorn, JoAnn Formia, Mary Gilman, Mary and the Chris Van Winkle Scholarship Fund at Citrus
Higuchi, Ike Ikeda, Michi Ikeda, Flora Johnson, College. A sum of $11,000. was raised and divided
Shirley Manning, Lynn Mikami, Setsuko Okuba, between the two non-profit groups.
Mary Ann Osko, Brian Reed, Betty Risner, Nancy
Shiershke, Jody Wiggins, Carol Ann Wolf, Mark NWS Exhibition Director Penny Hill invited the Van
Wood, and Jan Wright. Winkle family to have the retrospective exhibition for
Chris at the NWS Gallery. NWS Director of Special
John Taggart, an artist who often painted with
Projects Debbie Abshear directed all arrangements
Chris, developed a DVD of Chris painting in plein
for the exhibition, and Steven Abshear and Matt
air and photos over the years. This was shared at
the exhibition. Abshear hung the paintings. NWS President Ken
Goldman and the Van Winkle family welcomed
As president of NWS from 2005 through 2007, Chris
visitors to the NWS Gallery.
initiated a fundraising campaign for improvements of
the NWS building. His sons carried on that tradition. Many thanks to all who attended the retrospective
They donated some of their fathers paintings to be exhibition. v

NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017

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 Our Exhibitions Virtual Team Needs You
WRITTEN BY PENNY HILL
ur NWS Centennial is fast
O approaching, a sure sign of the
resiliency of our society and its
mission. We are a multigenerational society
with only one goal: ART of the highest form.
While our goal has not changed, the skills
we look for from our volunteers has. The
movement of different generations in and out
of the society dictates the need for changes
as new practices and technology becomes
available. So what are these skills for the
modern society and how do they come
into play?
Many of us may never meet face-to-face, but
we can be engaged from where we are and
apply the skills needed to make the changes
required to stay current. With virtual teams,
we can explore and expand the possibilities
for our membership. With virtual teams, the
work and ideas of projects can be maximized.
Because of the advances in technology, we
can now network on a global scale as
never before.
As Director of Exhibitions, I am working to
build this virtual team. Many of the tasks that
need to be done do not require geographical
presence to carry them out.
We need a team for each of the following:
Member Exhibition: this is a small,
 professionalism online as a reflection of this
one-juror show, with about 400-600
entrants for Members only; $5,000 in
prize money; looking for a team of 4-5
people.
Annual International Exhibition: this
is an open exhibition, much larger on a
global scale with 800 to 1500 entrants;
NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017
4
big prize money of $40,000+;
Signature review; looking for a team of
8-10 people.
These are the task areas:
E
 ntry Process: Monitor and provide
assistance to entrants, either online or
by phone.
Jurying Process: Communicate with
jurors; oversee online jurying; assist
with on-site jury day and Signature
review process.
Proofreading for publications,
catalog; write and proof wall didactics
for exhibitions.
Artists work in a very isolated environment and
very often our process is the reward. Then
more satisfaction comes from participating
in the exhibitions, and with that comes
the inspiring exchange of information and
education when we talk to other artists.
Please join in by letting us know how this
virtual teamwork might suit you. Contact me
with any questions or ideas and experiences
you have to offer.
I am looking for team members who
demonstrate responsiveness, kindness and
membership organization. I would like you on
my team! v
Penny Hill
Director of Exhibitions
Tel: (+1) 760-908-3389
Email: NWSAnnualExhib@gmail.com
www.NationalWatercolorSociety.org
 New Exhibition Entry website for NWS
WRITTEN BY GARRY HAMILTON; EDITED BY VALLI MCDOUGLE

hy? Why, an age-old and we got a second website

W question journalists are

taught to ask. Who,
What, When and Where
are other W questions that
journalists ask.
As for the Who, we are the
National Watercolor Society, a USA watercolor
society open to all. What do we do? In addition
to workshops, symposiums and painting
competitions, we host international exhibitions
that draw entries from around the globe. And we
continuously strive to improve. Of necessity, our
standards of judging, and entry image quality, and
navigational ease of digital entry are very high.
So it is not surprising that in this case the new
Why and What refer to the NWS deciding to
design its own exhibition entry web page. Here is
a brief recap that answers not only why and what,
but also when and who.
Back in the olden days,
sometime after the
introduction of indoor
plumbing and sliced bread,
the NWS judged painting
entries by slides. In 2010,
Linda Doll and a tech
consultant designed a
web site and membership
database on a Wild Apricot
platform, and also tweaked
it to accept exhibition entries. It was, however, an
entry process that required much administrative
work as well as assistance for the many old farts
like myself new to computers. CaFE had been
tried, but it had shortcomings for the jurors and
was costly.
The next president, Ken Goldman, decided a
better way was needed. Ken did some fundraising
and, with a donation from an anonymous donor/
friend, the NWS main membership web site
NationalWatercolorSociety.org got a facelift,
just for exhibition entries
NWSExhibition.com. The
new exhibition entry website
was used for the first time in
the International Exhibition
of 2016. It has some definite
advantages. It will save money,
as the cost for using an app
like CaFE is eliminated. It may
even make money, as it can be
sold to other societies.
This new exhibition entry
system allows us to download the images as well
as all the data about the images, and the personal
information of the artists so that we can merge it
into our WA database.
It is much easier for jurors to navigate in
selecting Yes, Maybe and No submissions.
It is easier for artists to navigate when
entering an exhibition.
Like any new program, it will continue to be
tweaked and improved.
And there you have it, the W5 of the two NWS
websites one with a facelift and the second
brand new. Not only do you belong to a society
with two web sites, you are now even more
knowledgeable than when you started reading
this article. v
Check it out:
NWSExhibition.com

NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017

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 Maria Peeters CA
Joseph Reese CT
Bonnie Rinier CA
Dane Roberts CA
Deborah Roskopf WA
Judith Sanders-Wood ID
Fumiyo Selner VA
Fumiyo Selner VA
NEW NWS ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Michael Sessions ID
October 31, 2016 March 1, 2017 Bobette Shafton-Davison CA
Solange Andrieu-Planque Herault Mike Simpson CO
NorbertBaird AZ Ann Stoudenmire TX
Ron Barsano NM Sujit Sudhi WI
Patsy Blasdell NM Karen Tozer CA
Lorraine Bromley RI Gilmore Van Stone Jr. CO
Tom Brown TX Enza Viceconte IT
Dario Bucheli Galvan TX Lisa Wagner NY
Agus Budiyanto BT Patton Wilson VA
Allan Butt NC Rene Wojcik TX
Dave Carlson TX Joan Yauch IN
Brookes Dewey CA Tao Zhou WA
Leigh Ellis GA
Maria Gardinia Escay Metro Manila
Lau Fung Hong Kong
UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
Pratibha Garewal NY
JURORS AND ALTERNATES
Dennis Garrison AZ
Richard Glassman CA
Michael Grahek CA
James Hartel WI 2017 Mike Bailey
Colleen Helmstetter OR Carol Pickle
Bernard Hoyes CA Cathy Hegman
Judith Johnson MI Alternates Michael Reardon
Helen Jones CA Kathleen Ballard
Galina Krasheninnikova CA Stan Kurth
Barbara Lae OR
Christopher Leeper OH 2018 Carla OConnor
Leslie Lienau CA Linda A. Doll
Craig Lloyd OH Linda Daly Baker
Nick Long TN Alternates Michael Schlicting
Marni Maree VA Charles Rouse
Elwira Maszara CA Doug Lew
Jane McElvany-Coonce VA
Clarice Mcilvain AZ 2019 Jean Grastorf
Margaret Missman CA Elaine Daily Birnbaum
Elizabeth Moore NH Frank Eber.
Pat Moseuk CA Alternates Zl Feng
Nancy Newcomb WI Bruce Bobick
Leslie Parsons Joe Cibere

NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017

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Matthew Bird, NWS, BWS, won First Place
for watercolor in the Artists Magazine All Media
Competition for NOLA Beetle, to be published
in the July-August issue; and the 2nd Place
award for the painting Once Upon A Time in the
Kansas Watercolor Society National Exhibition.
Hidden Kiss is in the International Watercolour
Society Invitational Exhibition in Fabriano, Italy.
Associate member Francesca Brayton, CWA
WW, WCWS, HWS, received the Mijello Award
III at the 48th Watercolor West International
Juried Show for San Carlos Shore Birds.
Oren Cooper was Awarded Signature
Membership in Watercolor West, with the
selection of Protective Eyes into the 48th
Annual Watercolor West International Exhibition.
Ratindra Das, AWS(DF), NWS, received the
Alan Chiara Memorial Award in 150th AWS
annual exhibition. He will be receiving the
TWSA Distinguished Master (DM) status at
the Annual Reception for being in 20 exhibitions
of Transparent Watercolor Society of America.
Ratindra just published his second book
Watercolor with an Eye for Design, available
through the artist, RatindraDas@sbcglobal.net
Jeanne Dobie, NWS, will be the Juror of
Selection for the Pennsylvania Watercolor
Society 2017 Annual Juried Exhibition, Sept.11
October 28, 2017 to be held in historic
Gettysburg, PA., at the Adams County Arts
Council new building and gallery.
Associate Member Judith A. Johnson was the
featured artist in the Art Gallery section of The
Chronicle of the Horse, February edition.
Lynn Ferris, NWS, AWS has a feature article
entitled Light Up the Night in the April 2017
issue The Artists Magazine.
Joyce K. Jensens painting Marble and Jacks
NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017
received The Winsor & Newton Art Materials
Award at the Allied Artists of America, Inc.
103rd Annual Juried Exhibition in New York City.
Robin Purcell AWS, NWS, won the
CaliforniaWatercolor.Com Award (In the Early
California Style) for her painting Curry Point
November in the 8th Annual Signature American
Watermedia Exhibition at the Fallbrook Art
Center.
Associate member DeEtta Silvestro, PWS,
NEWS, PWCS, BWS, NFW, received the
Ampersand Art Supply Award in the
North East Watercolor Society 40th Annual
International Exhibition for her painting
Accessorizing 1; was awarded the Pencil in the
River Studio Reproduction Services Award
at the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society 13th
National Exhibition for her painting Jail
House Rock.
Michael Reardon received the Ogden and
Mary Pleissner Memorial Award in the
150th Annual Exhibition of the American
Watercolor Society.
Associate member April Rimpos painting
Freight Yard included in North Lights Best
of Acrylic book, AcrylicWorks4: Captivating
Color; and had a solo exhibit, titled Common
Threads, at Touchstone Gallery, in Washington
DC, during March.
Frank Spinos Sliced Citrus with Calamondin
II was invited to the International Watercolor
III Thessaloniki, Greece 2016; Citrus Smile
was invited to the FabrianoinAquarello, Italy
2017; Circles & Squares II received the Steve
& Colleen Aicle Award at the 8th Annual
Signature American Water Media Exhibition;
Circles & Squares III received the Exhibition
Award at the Adirondacks National Exhibition
of American Watercolor; Citrus Squared
7

received the Peoples Choice and Florida
Reflections III received a Merit Award at
the Brevard Watercolor Society Splash 2017
Exhibition.
Roland E. Stevens, NWS, TWSA, PWCS,
PWS, NFWS, CNYWS, WPA, RAC,
obtained Signature Member status in the
Transparent Watercolor Society of America,
2016 International Exhibition and won
the American Artist Magazine Award;
received the 3rd Place Award, National
Watercolor Society Award For Excellence
in Watermedia, in the Philadelphia
Watercolor Society International Exhibition;
and the 2nd Place Award, Joseph Whalen
Legacy Award in the Niagara Frontier
Watercolor Society 13th National Exhibition.
Steve Walters, NWS, won Best of Show in
the NCA Bold Expressions 2016 Annual
International All-Media Exhibition for his
watercolor painting Far Above Sabrina.
He also won the Signature Members
Award II in the Watercolor West 48th Annual
International Exhibition for his painting
Campaign Morelia.
NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: JULY 1, 2017
ARE YOUR DUES PAID?
CHECK LABEL ON NEWSLETTER
See if paid until 4/1/2017
If not, please go online to pay:
www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org
or send your check to:
NWS, 915 S. Pacific Avenue,
San Pedro, CA 90731-3201
Membership Dues are $50 for
Signature and Associate
NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017
8
NEWSLETTER GUIDELINES
We are proud that our members receive so many accolades;
however, we are limited in what can be included.
WE PRINT the following for Signature and Associate
members:
Awards (only from National or International exhibits
open to all artists. No members only shows.)
Indicate the award[s] you received.
Recent publications that include your work
Special honors (i.e., Signature membership to
national art groups; serving as Juror; having work
added to permanent collections, etc.)
Inclusion in invitational, solo or two-artist exhibitions
WE DO NOT PRINT:
Your workshops or websites
Your inclusion into exhibits (unless you get an award
and it is in an exhibit open nationally to all artists)
Items over 6 months old
Submitted material will be edited if it does not conform
to the above criteria OR in order to fit space available.
REQUIREMENTS:
Indicate your member status (Signature or Associate)
ACCOLADES: Submit your information PROPERLY
FORMATTED and in the 3rd person. Use the
Accolades section in this newsletter as a guide. Be
specific about titles and dates.
ARTICLES will be reviewed for content and
relevancy. NWS reserves the right to accept or reject
articles and to edit the contents to fit.
IN MEMORIAM: NWS will publish one submitted
photo, space permitting.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Submitted and applicable to NWS
will be posted on our website.
WE REQUIRE A PERSONAL SUMMARY OF YOUR
ACHIEVEMENTS. A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER WILL
NOT BE GLEANED FOR CONTENT.
DEADLINES:
Spring: March 1; Summer: July 1; Winter: November 1.
ONLINE PREFERRED | NWSnewsletter@gmail.com
(Indicate NWS Newsletter in subject line, or it may
be missed.)
MAIL-IN | NWS Newsletter Editor, 915 S. Pacific
Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90731-3201
In Memoriam

Carole Ann Myers, AWS, NWS

Carole Ann Myers, 82, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Saturday,
March 4, 2017, in San Antonio. She was born at home on December 28, 1934, in
Shawnee, OK, to Ardith Dawkins Ash and Daniel Ash. Carole attended Horace Mann
Elementary and graduated from Shawnee High School in 1952. She married her high
school sweetheart, Roy Myers, whom she met in band. They spent the first few years of
their life in El Paso, where Roy served in the U.S.A.F. They moved to Tulsa, where their
son Randy was born; then to Muskogee, where their daughter Lisa was born. The family
moved to St. Louis, MO, and then retired and moved to San Antonio. Carole was an
active member of Cornerstone Church for over 20 years.
Carole was blessed with the gift of creativity and began painting as child. She was an
active member in art guilds throughout her life. Carole studied at The Instituto Allende in
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and taught numerous painting workshops throughout the
U.S., Mexico and France. She was a signature member of both the American Watercolor
Society and the National Watercolor Society and a source of inspiration through her skill
in abstract expressionism.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy William Myers; and 2
nephews, Jeffrey English and Casey Myers.
Survivors include her son, Randall Myers and wife Cassandra, and her daughter, Lisa
Danelle Haynes and husband Gregory. She also leaves 5 grandchildren: Carmen and
spouse Justin Smith, Wesley Myers & spouse Mandy, Victoria, Christina and Elizabeth
Haynes, and a great-granddaughter, Riley Erin Smith; a sister, Helen English and husband
Walter; a brother-in-law, Arthur Myers and wife Janyce and numerous nieces and cousins.

Jim Brower, NWS

Jim Brower, age 101, passed away Thursday, December 22, 2016, at Hickory Ridge Care
Center in Temperance, Michigan. Since 1932, Jim created art work characterized by its
attention to detail, execution, design and, often, humor. The long and distinguished career
of this octogenarian began in Clarksburg, WV, where James Calvin Brower was born to
Leroy Cooper and Margaret Wood (Watkins) Brower.
From 1992 to 1997, Jim was director of art and design for Meeks Heit Publishing
Company. Jims commercial art career was uninterrupted by World War II as fatherhood
kept him out of the service. In 1936, Jim married the lovely Elsie Margaret Day, and
they eventually had five children, James Lawrence, Sandra Joan, Margaret, Linda Ann,
and Beth.
Jim is listed in Whos Who in America and in Whos Who in the World. These listings honor
both his long years in advertising art and his accomplishments as a fine artist. Jims sense
of humor often surfaces in his watercolors. Self Portraits Turn Me Off featuring his own
image reflected in a light switch, was given special jurors mention in an Ohio Watercolor
Society show. The creative switch was constantly on in Jim Browers head.
Jim served as president of the Northwestern Ohio Watercolor Society, 1983-84, and as
president of the Toledo Federation of Art Societies, 1987-88. He served on the board
of directors of the Ohio Watercolor Society from 1986 to 1992. Jim designed the 1983
Return of the Jedi Star Wars glasses for Burger King. He went on to win many national
awards, including the San Diego International, Watercolor Society, and more.
Jim painted more than forty paintings in his 100th year of life. He was featured on the
Smuckers Jelly jar in his 100th year and was honored by Willard Scott on national
television for his community service. Jims family established the Ohio Watercolor Jim
Brower Lifetime Achievement Fund to honor his many contributions to the world of
watercolor painting. NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017
9
NWS MEMBER PROFILE: LOA RUTH SPRUNG membership. The year was 1975, and in 1977 I
served on the board as a secretary. NWS had two
BY DEBBIE ABSHEAR
secretary positions in those years, one who kept
the minutes and one who handled all the letters the
The National Watercolor Society will celebrate its 100 president had to send out. I was secretary number
Year Anniversary in 2020. To start the celebration two. Way back then there were no associate
and to recognize long-time members, we will be members, and no computers.
sharing some of their stories. We hope you enjoy their
memories and insights on being an artist. If you could give your younger self some advice
about being an artist, what would you say?
If you know someone you would like to see profiled,
please contact Debbie Abshear by email at Attend a normal school and become a teacher of art
sabshear@att.net or by telephone at (310) 989-9906. for grades K through 12. I did attend the Chicago
Institute of Art, an excellent school, but there were
Loa Ruth Sprung was born in no lessons on how to teach young people. In the
1922, studied at the Chicago year 1940, I dont think any person dreamed of being
able to live by painting alone. In fact, being a fine
Institute of Art from 1942-1944.
artist was frowned upon; people considered the idea
Married John Sprung in 1948,
impossible, a way to goof off.
and had two children, John
and Lowri.
Loa became a Signature
member of NWS in 1975 and served on its board of
directors in several capacities including president in
2003. Loa received the Arts and Humanities Award
from NWS in 2006. Loas daughter has sponsored
an annual award for over 10 years named the Loa
Ruth Sprung Award, for the best non-objective
painting at the NWS Annual Show.
Loa studied at Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles,
in the 1950s. She taught all media in Long Beach
at Poly High School and also adult education for the
City of Los Angeles. Loa retired in 1987. Oh Say Can You See | 32x48 watercolor by Loa Sprung
Loa recently celebrated her 94th birthday and has
not slowed down. She paints daily and was recently Who was your greatest teacher?
honored to have an exhibition in China with 100 of
Ed Reep of Chouinard Art Institute was my greatest
her paintings. Loa and her daughter Lowri flew to
teacher. The Chicago Institute of Art had excellent
China to attend the opening.
teachers. Maholy Nagy from Germanys Blaue
Loa continues to mentor artists daily in her studio in House taught in Chicago just before the war started
San Pedro, California. The artists who paint and print in Europe. Joyce Triemen, who was my age,
in her studio share that they feel privileged to spend happened to be a student in one of the life classes,
time with someone so dedicated and passionate and life model, Cleo, who many years later, I was
about the arts. Loa has a broad knowledge of surprised to meet again in California.
composition, painting and printing practices and is What is your happiest art moment?
often called upon to critique and offer advice. She is
cherished for her gentle reminders and compassion. Every time I feel I have completed a painting worth
saving.
What motivated you to join NWS?
For a student wanting an art career, what
Fellow artist Lucille Brown Green, who was also my advice can you give them?
art professor and fellow Women Painter of the West
Earn a doctorate in art history and become an art
member, talked me into at least try for the NWS
NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017
10
professor in a college. What piece by another artist is your favorite or
What do you see as the biggest change in the most memorable?
watercolor world? On the lower level of the Prado in Madrid, the black
I think the quality of/in art supplies has improved paintings by Goya are hung; I saw them and was
both in paper and paint. Sadly, I feel artists depend overwhelmed, became weak in the knees. v
too much on photographs. The idea of painting just
like some well-known artist is more prevalent these
days. Then again there are more people painting
today than at any other time in history, alas more
dilettantes.
What is your favorite art tool?
My $100, sable, one-inch, flat watercolor brush.
If you couldnt be an artist, what would you
have done instead?
I would have studied to become an archeologist.

Night on Bald Mountain, 22 x 30 watercolor by Loa Sprung

NWS Board of Directors

PRESIDENT RECORDING SECRETARY

Ken Goldman Stephanie Goldman

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP

AWARDS N.C. Swan
Denise Willing-Booher
DIRECTOR, HISTORIAN
THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT Lowri Sprung
PUBLICATIONS
Carol Newsom DIRECTOR, SPECIAL PROJECTS
Debbie Abshear
FOURTH VICE-PRESIDENT
PUBLICITY DIRECTOR, NEWSLETTER
Beatrice Trautman Matthew Bird
Carmageden, 30 x 22 watercolor, by Loa Sprung

TREASURER DIRECTOR, WEB

Alice Kayuha Judy Saltzman
What is your favorite painting and why?
Any painting created by Dean Mitchell. This gifted DIRECTOR, EXHIBITIONS GALLERY MANAGER
man works with a compassionate heart and a Penny Hill Jan Godachy
sensitive brush.

NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WINTER 2017

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DATED MATERIAL

2017 NWS Annual Member Exhibition

June 10 July 9, 2017
NWS Gallery, 915 S. Pacific Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731-3201

The 96th Annual Catalog

is available for purchase.
Contact us to buy this or
past editions:
www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org/store
Adrift in a Sea of Madness
Elaine Daly-Birnbaum
Loa Ruth Sprung Award, 96th International Exhibition