April 2025 News and Notes
Lily Flower by Nancy Honaker
IN PAINTING I want to say something comforting in the way that music is comforting. I want to paint men and women with that element of the eternal that was formerly symbolized by the halo, and that we try to express by the actual radiance of our colours.
— Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)
Hadden, Peggy. The Quotable Artist.
Message from Bren Clixby
President of the Toledo Artists' Club
Spring is finally here! It’s almost time to elect new board members and officers to begin our new fiscal year, which begins in June. In May, we will provide an online voting ballet for our members to take part in this process. Our by-laws outline this election as a necessary step to retain our non-profit 501(c)(3) status. The Toledo Artists’ Club relies on its members to stay in existence. We need strong leaders to guide the organization and make us an important part of the community. A little from each volunteer, brings a lot as a group!.
Getting started in Plein Air Painting
April 12, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Toledo Artist Club
All artists are invited to attend this free program. If you have painted plein air, please come with your equipment. We will have a show and tell about plein air equipment, and share tips about painting on location. Sponsored by the Tuesday Plein Air painters and the Monday Morning Painters. Registration is not necessary.
Dear En Plein Air Artist,
The Grand Rapids Arts Council cordially invites you to paint at three of our events for the public.
One, our Pop-Up Art Gallery, will be held Thursday, May 22nd at the Otsego Park's Thompson Stone Hall ( 20000 W. River Rd., Bowling Green, Ohio 43402) on the beautiful Maumee River near Grand Rapids from 4 to 8pm. Local artists will be displaying their art for the public to see and buy inside the building.
The second event is the Rally by the River Days—three days (July 11,12,and 13) of fun activities for the public, beginning with a Kick-Off party Friday evening, and including a duck drop on the canal on Saturday, and a cardboard boat race on Sunday.
The third event is our long-running Sunset Jazz and Arts Festival which will be held Sunday, August 17th in Grand Rapids on the towpath next to the Maumee River from 2 pm to sunset (about 8). Five jazz ensembles will be playing throughout the afternoon, with beer, wine and food available for purchase by the crowd. Hundreds of people from multiple counties (and states) have come to this event for years.
A Strategy for Drawing People
Jake by Andrea Clarkson. Charcoal with white highlights on toned paper.
With his 3D model, California artist John Asaro reduced the complexity of a human head into simpler planes. In this charcoal drawing, I over-emphasized the planes of the head using the concepts of the “Asaro Head.” I pushed the chiseled features to convey the robust qualities of Jake, our model at the
Hyter Portrait Group.
The Hyter Portrait Group is a great opportunity to work from a live model. The group meets at Common Space One on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost is $5 per session. Check out the group’s Facebook page for more information.
Bowling Green Art Walk
Bowling Green Arts Council is proud to announce Art Walk 2025 May 10, an art show in which locations throughout downtown Bowling Green will host artists’ displays and performances. This year we will be expanding to include more businesses and locations and are pleased to be coordinating with the United Way Chocolate Crawl! Anyone living within 50 miles of Bowling Green is eligible to participate. Artists may display works in any size or medium as space and amenities of the chosen venue allow. Work must be‘ family-friendly ’and acceptable by the venue.
