News

Fun Shop: Watercolor Pointillism with Judy Freeland

Details

Category: News

Published: Tue. Apr 9, 2019

April 17, 2019, 9:00 a.m. until 2:00p.m.
Lutheran Church of the Master, 2716 So. 114th Street
Fee is $4.00 for members, $5.00 for non-members.

Bring snacks to share.

Omaha Artist Judy Freeland was interested in drawing and creating art at a young age. Her mother enrolled her in classes at the Des Moines Art Center as soon as she was old enough to take classes. In college, Judy minored in art and taught school for 20 plus years.

Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. Ms. Freeland has found watercolor pointillism enjoyable. If one tries it on a painting that you have set aside because of creative disappointment, you will find it adds interest, vibrancy and improves the depth to your object!

Supplies:

• A pre-painted simple still-life painting such as an apple, flower or a tree.
• Fine point watercolor markers - the cheaper the better.

If you come without a painting, you will need:

• Watercolor paper
• Watercolor paints and brushes.
• Water container

Shirley Schmidt

Fun Shop Co-chair

Nancy Ralson

Fun Shop Co-chair

Neva Cozine

Fun Shop Co-chair

Courtesy Notes

Details

Category: News

Published: Tue. Apr 9, 2019

New Members: Maria Tillotson. Sharen Rotolo
Returning member: Mary Ann Zebolsky

Barbara Mathewson

Courtesy Chair

Art Show News

Details

Category: Art Show News

Published: Tue. Apr 9, 2019

Spring Art Show - "Childhood Memories"

Hot Shops Art Center 1301 Nicholas Street

Theme is "Childhood Memories". Along with your entry, you must also write a short explanation of your "Childhood Memories" art piece on a 3x5 card to hang beside your artwork.

Registration: Tuesday, April 30, 11 am - 1 pm
Reception: Sunday, May 5, 2 -4 pm
Take down: Tuesday, May 28, 11 am -1 pm

Entry fee is $15 for up to 3 pieces, depending on the size of your art pieces
Image Size Guidelines

We will be enforcing size guidelines, in order to give the shows a better look, and to avoid overcrowding. These sizes refer to the outside edges of the frame.

• 3 pieces 11 x 14 or smaller.
• 2 pieces are allowed if both are 30 x 30 or smaller.
• One piece if it's larger than 30 x 30, with maximum size of 40 x 40.

Sizes may be figured by adding two adjacent sides, so smallest no bigger than 25 (11+14), middle size 60 (30 + 30), and largest when two sides are greater than 60 but not larger than 80 total.

Our Fall Art Show will be in October at La Casa. This show will also have a theme. Omaha Artists, Inc. will be publishing a cookbook, with recipes from our members, and with artwork from our artists. So the theme will be something dealing with food – and can depict scenes of crops in the field, the harvest, gardens, fruit trees, farm animals, still lifes of food, people working in the kitchen, someone milking a cow or goat, feeding chickens, etc. A title for the show will be forthcoming. Dates will be determined soon.

The title or theme for the Oct. show is: “From Farm to Kitchen”.

Sharon Clawson

Art Shows Chair

March Board Meeting Notes

Details

Category: Board Meeting Notes

Published: Tue. Apr 9, 2019

March 27, 2019 at the Joslyn Museum, Omaha, NE Meeting called to order by President-Katie Johnson. Minutes read by Judy Freeland-Secretary. Minutes approved after motion by Barbara Egr and motion seconded by Sharon Clawson.

Treasurer’s Report $4,247.88

ANAC: Conference will be held in Albion, NE in June. ANAC Art Selection - Lutheran Church of The Master - Art to be bought April 8,10:00-10:30 am. Two pieces are allowed, no larger than 40 x 40 size. More details in newsletter.

Art Shows: Hot Shops – Theme Childhood Memories, April 30. Registration 11-1. May 5 Reception 2:00-4:00 pm. La Casa-October OAI Art Show in October with food theme for future OAI Cookbook planned. More Information to follow.

Community Art Bridge: Chairman Linda Bernett reported 25 ESL students created collages in March and will paint flowers using watercolors in April.

Fun Shop: Shirley Schmidt reported 14 attended Gourd Painting by Linda Bernett for the March Fun Shop. Judy Freeland will lead a demonstration on watercolor pointillism April 17th, Lutheran Church of the Master, 9-2pm. Details in this newsletter.

Host/Hostess: Patti Kounkel/Carol McCall advised Greek Islands will be our Meeting/luncheon location April 24.

Membership: Susan Stevens reported 159 members.

Newsletter: Linda Guynn asked articles be sent this weekend.

Programs: Barb Egr announced Danielle Easdale, Paper Artist, as our Program Speaker - April 24 at the Greek Island Restaurant – Banquet Room.

Unfinished Business: Jo Anne Nielsen advised By-Law and Constitution Committee met / Final Revisions will be shared in Newsletter for approval.

New Business: An evening Board meeting/meal was discussed/October suggested. Details to follow. Any member interested in being on the board or participating on a committee, contact Katie Johnson or a Committee Chairman.

Motion to Adjourn: Barb Egr / Seconded: Sharon Clawson

Spotlight Member Section featuring Albert Rhea

Details

Category: News

Published: Tue. Apr 9, 2019

This Spotlight Member Section is meant to get to know each other!

Q: Tell us about you?

A: My first interest in art was in grade school at Vinton Elementary in South Omaha. I remember being in poster contests at Vinton. I always took art classes at Central High School. I worked part time at Joslyn Art Museum in High School assisting in children's classes. After graduation in 1966 I went to the University of Omaha and studied electronics. Served in the Army 1970 - 1973. Studied Graphic Design and Sculpture at Bellevue Collage in the 80's Graduated Bellevue University in 1990 with a BS in Business.

Q: How long have you been a member of OAI and what is/are your present position(s)?

A: I have been a member of OAI for six years. I enjoy the people in OAI and the networking. I help on the art show committee and am one of the administrators for our Facebook pages. I am also a member of the Bellevue Artists Association and I manage their Facebook page. I am an administrator for the Nebraska Artists Supporting the Arts Facebook site. Bottom line, I am a member of every artist Facebook page I can find in Nebraska.

Q: How did you get involved in art? Tell us your story...

A: My interests are Sculpture and Photography. I have two mentors, my dad Albert Rhea Sr. and sculptor Les Bruning. My dad, a welder by trade, taught me welding and shop fabrication. Bellevue University professor and sculptor Les Bruning instructed in sculpture design and fabrication techniques. Les said, “Sculpture is a hard sell because it takes up living space. I immediately thought of outside sculpture and have been producing monumental sculptures ever since college. The first fifteen years I produced figurative painted steel works. In the last fifteen years, I have specialized in creating stainless steel sculptures. My web site is wwwalbertrhea.com.

I am carrying on my father’s interest in wild life photography in the macrophotography realm. To me, macrophotography is magical because it takes me into a smaller universe of vibrant colors, exquisite details and extraordinary patterns that can literally take your breath away. This is especially the case when doing macrophotography of wildflowers and butterflies which provide an incredible variety of shapes and colors that could potentially keep me engaged for a lifetime. Macrophotography can be challenging because it involves moving in close and magnifying what is there beyond our normal perception of it.

Q: Tell us something that most people do not know about you?

A: I have two "Art for a Cause" subjects which I do not display too often. This Edgy work had to find a venue. Besides at the Bemis only Omaha Artists and Bellevue Artists Association have seen these works.

Q: What are your other interests - hobbies?

A: I started painting simple India Ink paintings of the natural world on the back of medicine boxes – my medicine metaphor paintings. I use the unfolded boxes as a canvas. Using India Ink colors, I have painted a series of delicate flowers and butterflies and posted them to the inside of the packaging. I also have a Smokers Regret Series. In my art, I am trying to express smokers regret of ever starting smoking. Cigarette packages are emptied, flattened and embellished with acrylic paints in a pop art style.

President's Message for March

Details

Category: News

Published: Sat. Mar 9, 2019

Perspective in thoughts and art are similar – both involve drawing conclusions!

As I sit at my desk watching it snow AGAIN, thoughts turn to our February Luncheon Meeting and I am soaking up the internal sunshine of that day. I realize now why my grandparents looked forward to their garden club; not only did they learn more about their passion and the value of friendships, but they were filling their bucket with joy!

Having attended, you may have been involved in conversations happening around you some...topics included the fascinating story of the theft of the Mona Lisa, a great movie to watch "Woman in Gold", the best place in the Old Market to sip wine and watch people, wild horses in Wyoming and did you know nowadays a facial includes hot wax for your hands and feet along with a massage?

What an interesting and special group of people sharing a meal, a common passion and perhaps a laugh or two. The business meeting was informative and several topics were covered with new ideas for the future of Omaha Artists Inc. Susan Stevens presented an impressive and helpful power point of our OAI Gallery Page. If you did not attend this enjoyable day, you missed out.

I encourage you to consider joining this spectacular group for Fun Shops and Luncheon Meetings, learning more about art, making new friends and filling your buckets with joy! Omaha Artists Inc. where friendships begin and last a lifetime! Now, that's my perspective!

Katie Johnson
Omaha Artists Inc. President

"World Friendship Day is March 1; a world of friends can be a world of peace" – a recent press release.

March Lunch and Joslyn Art Museum Tour

Details

Category: News

Published: Sat. Mar 9, 2019

Wednesday, March 27
10:30 am Board meeting in the Abbott Lecture Hall
11:30 am Lunch at The Café Durham (Reserved seating for Omaha Artists, Inc. members)
12:30 pm General meeting in the Abbott Lecture Hall
1:00 pm Tour of the current exhibition entitled "30 Americans"

Joslyn Art Museum
2200 Dodge Street
Omaha 68102

Museum entry is free. If you are a museum member there is no cost for the tour. If you are not a member there will be a $5.00 charge. Normally the charge is $10.00. However the Joslyn is giving us a special price. The museum wants us to pay all at one time so Pat Lontor will collect the $5.00 from non-members either during lunch or during the general meeting. PLEASE, DO NOT pay at the desk as you come in.

The tour of 30 Americans is the first major exhibition at Joslyn to survey the work of contemporary African Americans artists. Drawn from the Miami-based Rubell Family Collection, this exhibition features paintings, works on paper, sculptures, installations, and videos created over the past three decades. 30 Americans was first staged in 2008 at the Rubell's warehouse in Miami and has traveled to museums throughout the United States!

Thank you, Pat Lontor for planning this yearly and delightful experience for Omaha Artists Inc!

Barbara Egr

Program Chair

Fun Shop: Gourdin' Around with Linda Bernett (rescheduled)

Details

Category: Fun Shops

Published: Sat. Mar 9, 2019

Wednesday, March 20th, 9:00 a.m. until 2:00p.m.
Church of the Master, 2716 So. 114th Street
Members $4.00/ Non-Members$5.00

Bring snacks to share!

Please join us for a fun-filled workshop with instructor and former OAI President Linda Bernett! Linda will share her techniques and expertise in embellishing gourds. We will all work the same project going step-by-step: each gourd will be unique. Linda will have dried, (mostly) cleaned gourds, cut into a pot/bowl and available to purchase; gourds are priced from $3.00 to $6.00 depending on the size and quality of the gourd. If you have your own dried gourds, please feel free to bring it/them. Linda will bring a lot of freebies such as "inspirational gourds," and embellishments and will share supplies. If anyone has any questions as to where to get gourds or alcohol inks (listed below in supply list), you may contact Linda and she will be happy to explain.

Supply List:

• 1 cured (dried) gourd - with the waxy skin scrubbed off
• Black acrylic and a metallic acrylic paint (craft paint is fine)
• 1 Alcohol ink (Andirondack or Pinata brand) Red, Green or Blue: If using Red or Green alcohol ink, bring Gold metallic paint; if using Blue, then bring Silver.
• 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
• Felt pad or foam brush
• 1/2 inch long-handle scruffy brush - don't bring your best
• Water container
• Latex gloves
• Baby wipes or paper towels White glue such as Elmers, E6000, Super Glue or comparable
• Sandpaper
• Pad of newspaper
• Optional: Any embellishments, such as gold leaf, found items, paper, beads, shells, feathers, leather, wire, etc. 

Shirley Schmidt

Fun Shop Co-chair

Nancy Ralson

Fun Shop Co-chair

Neva Cozine

Fun Shop Co-chair

Courtesy Notes

Details

Category: News

Published: Sat. Mar 9, 2019

Handmade cards were sent to the following:

Welcome – Claire Caswell, Joyce Hildenbrandt , Jenny Waltmoth

Sympathy – Tom Reardon's wife and Linda Jones' dog, Prince, the dog model from her Fun Shop Animal portraits.

Get Well – Marlene Dobney battling 4 weeks of a viral infection 

New Arrival – Sok Chan Ng gave birth to a baby girl.

Barbara Mathewson

Courtesy Chair

Art Bridge

Details

Category: News

Published: Sat. Mar 9, 2019

Our lesson in February was hearts. We had 25 ESL students who made lovely pieces. Coming up in March we will be doing collage containers. The date is March 6 due to spring break for OPS during our normal second Wednesday of the month.

Linda Bernett

Art Bridge Chair