January 2022 Meeting

The recent spike in Covid cases in NC forced us back to an online meeting on January 13, but that will not deter our enthusiasm for a wonderfully creative 2022!  

2021 Member Poll 

The CMMAG Board recently requested members complete a brief poll. The results from the 21 participating members were shared. The general feedback is that we all want less formality, more art every month. Members are also very comfortable with keeping meetings online for the next few months as we see how Covid numbers progress and what the government’s recommendations are.  

Chavis Update

Lisa Yerby, Chair of the Chavis Committee, spoke on how our volunteering for the Chavis after-school program is evolving under Covid. Plans are for us to prepare and donate 30 art project kits per month instead of our traditional in-person volunteering in the after-school program once a month.  Lisa has plans to work with her committee to prepare these each quarter.  

Upcoming Events/Outings 

The poll indicated that members really enjoyed our Zoom-based Playdate/Open Studio. The next session is planned for Saturday, January 15 at 10AM. Anyone interested in joining CMMAG or in members-only tutorials should email CMMAG for details.  

February 2022 ATC Exchange via US Mail 

Covid is again impacting CMMAG's traditional ATC exchange in February, but the poll indicated that the members enjoyed the snail mail exchange in 2021 and would like to do another in 2022.  We are instead planning to do an Artist Trading Card (ATC) exchange via snail mail.  

The Do This In Your Style (#DTIYS) Challenge in 2022 

Our Quarterly Challenge for 2022 will be The Do This In Your Style or #DTIYS Challenge.  
Members have been providing names of their favorite pieces from famous artists.  Each quarter one of the favorites will be chosen at random.  Based on the artwork chosen, members will create a piece in their own style using any media in any size/shape.  The only rule is to be inspired by the chosen famous work.  

The first famous work chosen was The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau. First piece will be due at the April 14, 2022, meeting.  

2022 Online Workshop

Modern Watermedia Online Workshop with Amy Shawley Paquette has been scheduled as the first workshop of 2022 on Saturday, February 19 from 1-4 pm Eastern.  
Explore the possibilities of layering watercolor and acrylic mediums in this online workshop!  We will start the workshop with watercolor basics then students will discover a range of gritty and absorbent products that are great as grounds for stains and washes.  Learn about different types of painting surfaces and how to prepare them for various watermedia applications, enhance the topography of your substrates with acrylic textures, then see the beauty of staining and granulating watercolors!   We will also "draw" with watercolor and cover ways to display watercolors safely without using glass!  In addition to our live workshop time, students will receive a PDF of the project notes and images. Anyone interested in this workshops should email CMMAG for details.  

2022 Workshops/Classes

Plans are being made for workshops with outside artists in 2022.  The first is the confirmed online workshop with Amy Shawley on Feb 19.   (See above.)  The board is working with three NC artists to schedule in-person (hopefullly!) workshops throughout 2022. The details are to follow.

January 2022 Meeting Update

CMMAG members were fortunate enough to meet in person for the December meeting.  

Our meetings are the second Thursday of every month; this month's meeting is on January 13.

Unfortunately, with Covid numbers significantly on the rise, we have chosen to hold the January 2022 meeting via Zoom. If you are interested in attending the meeting or joining the Guild, please email CMMAG for details.   

September 2021 Business Meeting

The meeting was held via Zoom on Thursday, September 9, 2021.

Welcome

Linda Poche opened the Zoom meeting with a welcome.  

Creativity Exercise

Ilona Isaacs led a creativity exercise called Target Practice, which included seven drawing activities to spark creativity and build eye-hand coordination .

Upcoming Events/Outings

• Zoom Open Studio Playtimes

• Playdates or Open Studio times, which are free to all members, are scheduled for the Saturday before the business meetings at 10AM and a Sunday afternoon later in the month.  The upcoming dates include the following:

• Sunday, September 26 at 1PM.

• Saturday, October 9 at 10AM.  

• NC Museum of Art Sketching Outing

• Katherine Stein is organizing a trip to NCMA on Saturday, September 11, from 11:30AM to 2PM.  If the weather cooperates, the group will focus on the sculpture garden.  If it is too hot or raining, the group can visit one of the buildings.  Entrance to the museum is free; however, since Covid you must get a ticket online to enter.  

• Duke Gardens Outing

• Marcia Streithorst has planned a trip to Duke Gardens to be inspired to sketch or paint.  It is free to enter the gardens, but there is a $2 parking fee.  This event was organized for Saturday, October 16 at 1PM.   

Trunk Trade

• Plans are being made to schedule another trunk trade.  Sunday, October 24, 2021 is the tentative date. Updates will be provided when a location and date have been secured. 

Social Media Update

• Kathy King is the September Spotlight Member on the CMMAG website (blog.)  

Creative Challenges

The fourth quarter Picked Prompts are as follows.

• Medium: Charcoal, Graphite

• Texture Mark Making:  Tapes—masking, packing, drywall, washi

• Theme:  Quote, Poem, Song Lyrics

• Color:  White

• Bonus:  Replicate a sketch, drawing or painting by a master or from an art book

Third Quarter Picked Prompts Challenge Reveal 

Members shared the pieces they made using the prompts for 3Q2021.  Shannon and Lisa shared their creations. 

Demo 

Linda reviewed an Inchies Challenge that she participated in and led a demo. Linda suggested the word egg and asked us to write down words we associate with an egg. Then we created an inchie based on one of the words we associated with Egg using watercolors and markers.  Amy Maricle is the artist who lead the Inchies Challenge. 

July 2021 Business Meeting

Members met via Zoom on Thursday, July 8, 2021.

Welcome and Guest Introductions

Linda Poche opened the meeting with a welcome.  Linda thanked members for being open to doing a Zoom meeting to avoid inclement weather due to Hurricane Elsa.

Creativity Exercise

Denice Celley led a drawing exercise of overlapping circles that helps with flexibility and movement of the hand. 

Chavis Update

• Linda Poche toured the new building.   In August, CMMAG will meet in the Art Room at Chavis (505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27601), which is near the lobby and front desk.  We are to continue to use the parking lot we had used for the old building.  The entrance to the new building winds back, past the carousel. 
• After construction of the new building, Chavis has a wishlist of items for the Art Room.  CMMAG voted to spend $150 to donate supplies to the Chavis kids art program.  

Upcoming Events/Outings

• Zoom Open Studio Playtimes
• Playdates or Open Studio times, which are free to all members, will continue through the summer on the Saturday before the business meetings at 10AM and a Sunday afternoon later in the month.  Wednesday sessions were put on hiatus until later in the year.  The upcoming dates include the following:
• Saturday, July 10 at 10 am.  (This session was pushed back a week to avoid the holiday weekend.)
• Sunday, July 25 at 1PM.  
• Duke Gardens Outing
• Marcia Streithorst has planned a trip to Duke Gardens to be inspired to sketch or paint.  It is free to enter the gardens, but there is a $2 parking fee.  This event was organized for Saturday, October 16 at 1PM.  
• NC Museum of Art Sketching Outing
• Katherine Stein is organizing a trip to NCMA on Saturday, September 11, from 10AM to 2PM.  If the weather cooperates, the group will focus on the sculpture garden.  If it is too hot or raining, the group can visit one of the buildings.  Entrance to the museum is free; however, since Covid you must get a ticket online to enter.  
• Katherine will have a sign-up sheet at the August meeting so that she can arrange for tickets.

Social Media Update

Marcia Streithorst is the July Spotlight Member on the CMMAG website (blog.)  

Demo

Amy Roswick demonstrated a few ways to add metallic accents to your mixed media pieces including embossing powder and gilding flakes.  Linda Poche showcased how she uses metallic gel pens.  

June 2021 Business Meeting

CMMAG members met via Zoom on Thursday, June 10, 2021. 

Creativity Exercise

Denice Celley led the drawing exercise where members were asked to draw a grid 4x3.  In each of the twelve boxes, she asked everyone to draw an interpretation of the words she listed (dog, snake, boot, etc.) with only 4 seconds to complete each.  Hilarity ensued.  

Zoom-based Playdates/Open Studio times

Online Zoom Playdates or Open Studio times, which are free to all members, have been scheduled through June 2021.  The scheduled days are the Saturday before the business meetings at 10AM and the Wednesday following the business meetings at 6PM.  The upcoming dates include the following:

• Wednesday following the business meeting:  June 16 at 6PM
• Sunday within the month:  June 27 at 1PM

Field Trips/Sketching Events

Marcia Streithorst will organize an event at Duke Gardens to explore areas to paint, sketch or take photos. Details will be provided in the July meeting.

Katherine Stein will organize an event to visit the NC Museum of Art to sketch and possibly do lunch. Details to follow.  

July 8th In-Person Meeting Update

Our next meeting will be in-person at Chavis (505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27601) on July 8th.  Details for parking and the meeting room, including a map, will be distributed in early July.  

Art Shows (Virtual and In-Person)

CMMAG submitted an application to be selected for a group show in the Sertoma Art Center’s Call for shows in 2022.  Selections will be announced later in the year.  

Members were reminded of the Wilson Arts Center’s Artist Calls, a juried show in September 2021.  Applications are due by July 22, 2021, with a fee of $25 for up to three entries, one photograph for each. If selected, pieces will need to be hand delivered in August for the September show.

Chavis Carousel Angel

CMMAG will purchase and donate 100 tickets for carousel rides at Chavis.  These will be available at the front desk for use by anyone in the community who does not have the funds. 

Social Media Update

Lisa Yerby is the June CMMAG Spolight Member.  Some of her art and information were featured on the blog and shared on social media.  

Picked Prompts Challenge

Prompts for the Third Quarter 2021 Picked Prompts Challenge were chosen.   The results are to be shared at the September meeting.  The prompts are as follows.

Medium:  Paint (Acrylic/Oils)

Texture/Mark Making: Solid: wood, metal, glass

Theme: Shapes: Circle, Square, Diamond

Color: Blue

Bonus Technique: Continuous Line Drawing

Announcements

• Idalina Teixeira got a new job.  
• Alicia Brinkman sold a couple of her paintings in the 6x6 Daily Painting Exhibition at the The Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex.  The show ends today.    
• Marcia Streithorst had a journal juried in a Triangle Book Artists show.  Details will be officially announced later.
• Marcia will have a booth at Cary Lazy Days in August.
• Maureen Seltzer recently did a show at an outside festival in Wake Forest.  The show went well, and attendance was great.  
• Deirdre Abbotts shared the news that her son and his fiance are having a baby, her first grandchild.  
• Laurel Rupe reminded members that Art of the Carolinas is having its 20th anniversary this year, when it is held in November.  
• Lynda Myers’ sister-in-law in Maine wants to make mixed media journals as she sits with her terminally ill husband in hospice care.  She is asking for a piece or two or a found object to share with her.  She will make arrangements to get any donations.  

Demo 

Instead of a demo, members shared their Picked Prompt results for 2Q2021.    The prompts for these pieces included the following. 

Medium:  Alcohol Inks          Texture/Mark Making: Gesso, molding paste, texture paste
Theme:  Miniature                 Color:  Red
Bonus Technique:  Use an AOC freebie (e.g., glass bead gel, Marabu crayon, Golden paint sample)

     

     

      

     

May 2021 Business Meeting

CMMAG members met via Zoom on Thursday, May 13.  

Creativity Exercise

Denice Celley led a drawing exercise.  She started by drawing a box, then adding some interesting shapes within it.  She then proceeded to draw lines that mirrored the shapes she had created.  The overlapping of these lines created interesting effects, and the members noted that the process was very meditative. 

Members-Only Tutorials

Jeanne Maher will host a tutorial on Saturday, May 22, at 1PM called Easy ATCs.  Jeanne will be sharing her 7-layer process for making 9 or 16 ATCs at once on one big paper.   Anyone interested in joining CMMAG or in members-only tutorials should email CMMAG for details.  

Chavis Update

The grand re-opening for Chavis is slated for Saturday, June 12, at 10:30AM and is open to the public. CMMAG will hold its first in-person meeting at Chavis (505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27601) on July 8th.  The details for parking, meeting room, and the like will be distributed closer to the date.  

Upcoming Events/Outings

Zoom Open Studio Playtimes

Online Zoom Playdates or Open Studio times, which are free to all members, have been scheduled through June 2021.  The scheduled days are the Saturday before the business meetings at 10AM and the Wednesday following the business meetings at 6PM.  The upcoming dates include the following:

• Wednesday, May 19 at 6 pm.
• Saturday, June 5 at 10 am. 

Anyone interested in joining CMMAG or in members-only tutorials should email CMMAG for details. 

Field Trips/Sketching Events

CMMAG will be revising meet-ups in parks or museums to sketch or view art together.  Plans are being discussed.  

Creative Challenges 

The prompts for the Second Quarter 2021 Picked Prompts Challenge that will be shared at the June 11 meeting are as follows.

Announcements

• Denice Celley was the first to be featured in the monthly Member Spotlight on the CMMAG website.  She shared details of her inspiration, her plans for the future, and several photos of her works.  
• Alicia Brinkman is in the 6x6 Daily Painting Exhibition at the The Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex that opens next week.  
• Denice Celley is currently working toward a 12-week certification to be a Certified Picture Framer (CPF) by the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA.) 

April 2021 Business Meeting

CMMAG members met via Zoom on Thursday, April 8. One guest attended the meeting.

Creativity Exercise

Linda Poche led the members in a creativity exercise where everyone drew in their sketchbooks using five different dry media (markers, pencils, ballpoint pens, colored pencils, graphite, etc.) Linda provided a hand painted mug for the members to draw, and each member was to use each of the five items for one minute each. Some examples are shown below.

   

   

Members-Only Tutorials

April 2021

Shannon Binkowski will host a tutorial on Saturday, April 17, at 1PM called Playing with Stencils: A DIY Guide. Shannon plans to demonstrate different techniques to use with stencils that do not include a gel plate.

May 2021 Jeanne Maher will host a tutorial on Saturday, May 22, at 1PM called Easy ATCs. Jeanne will be sharing her 7-layer process for making 9 or 16 ATCs at once on one big paper.

Anyone interested in joining CMMAG or in members-only tutorials should email CMMAG for details

Zoom Open Studio Playtimes

Playdates or Open Studio times, which are free to all members, have been scheduled through June 2021.  The scheduled days are the Saturday before the business meetings at 10AM and the Wednesday following the business meetings at 6PM. An additional Sunday may be added in. The upcoming dates include the following:

• Wednesday, April 14 at 6 pm. 

• Sunday, April 25 at 1 pm.

• Saturday, May 8 at 10 am. 

Members-Only Trunk Trade 

The March 21st Trunk Trade was well attended. All unclaimed supplies were donated to the Method Community Center and to the Boys & Girls Club. Thanks again to Maggie Kehoe who graciously offered her office parking lot for the event.

The next Trunk Trade is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 15 with location and times to be determined. Board is seeking a location in North Raleigh to be more accommodating to members in Durham and Chapel Hill for this event. Interested in joining in the fun? Email CMMAG for details.  

Art Shows (Virtual and In-Person) 

Sertoma Arts Center is currently accepting submissions for its 2022 Gallery Program. After much discussion, it was decided that CMMAG will apply to participate in a 2-month show at Sertoma in 2022.

Art Critique Group  

Marcia Streithorst is interested in starting an art critique group among the members. This would allow you to have critical but kind input on your pieces during your process. Any member interested in participating should email Marcia.

Creative Challenges 

The prompts for the Second Quarter 2021 Picked Prompts Challenge that will be shared at the June 11 meeting are as follows.

Announcements

• Lisa Yerby and Kathy King were selected to be in the juried Small Treasures 2021 show by Cary Gallery of Artists.

• Kathy King’s Whirly Bead Sculpture was announced as the Third Place Winner.

• One of Maureen Seltzer’s torn collage pieces, Curiosity, was selected to be in the Time for Spring Show at the 311 Gallery in Raleigh in May.

• Maureen has a show in Wake Forest on April 24 from 10-5. This event is outside, and tents will be spaced for social distancing.

• Katherine Stein and Lisa Yerby are hosting an artists expo in their neighborhood in Worthington. Neighbors will be setting up in their driveways to sell their art or crafts or promote their small business on April 17th from 9 am to 2 pm.

March 2021 Business Meeting

CMMAG members met via Zoom on Thursday, March 11. Two new members joined CMMAG in March. These members introduced themselves and discussed what art they enjoy doing.

Creativity Exercise

Maggie Kehoe led the group in a doodling exercise. She shared variations on the doodle and how to adapt to the space being filled. Maggie talked about how she has been tangling during the pandemic.

Zoom Open Studio Playtimes

Playdates or Open Studio times, which are free to all members, have been scheduled through June 2021.  The scheduled days are the Saturday before the business meetings at 10AM and the Wednesday following the business meetings at 6PM. An additional Sunday may be added in. The upcoming dates include the following:

• Wednesday March 17 at 6 pm. 

• Sunday March 28th at 1 pm.

• Saturday, April 3rd at 10 am. 

Members-Only Tutorials

February 2021

Katherine Stein hosted a Tutorial on February 27 on working with gel plates.  The event was well attended and received. 

March 2021 On Saturday, March 20, 2021, from 12:00-2:00 PM, CMMAG members can participate in an interactive, online (Zoom) tutorial session to make Galaxy paintings using acrylic inks. These look great on their own or covered in resin for more depth and shine.  You can also use them in your art journal or for collage, to make cards, or as a background for a painting. 

This is a fun, flowy not fussy process similar to paint pouring, so it will be a bit messy.  It’s a great way to use up some of those acrylic inks we have in our stash but never seem to use. Interested in joining CMMAG or in this Tutorial, email CMMAG for details.  

Members-Only Trunk Trade

CMMAG's first Trunk Trade of 2021 has been scheduled for Sunday, March 21, at 1PM in Cary.   Rain date is Saturday, March 27, at 1PM.  

Members are encouraged to pile any art supplies they no longer use or need into the car trunk, meet up in the parking lot, open the trunk, and let other Guild members take what they would like to have.  Masks will be required.  Social distancing protocol will be in effect.  Bring a lawn chair if you want to sit around to socialize in the grassy area nearby.  Interested in joining in the fun? Email CMMAG for details.  

Creative Challenges 

The prompts for the Second Quarter 2021 Picked Prompts Challenge are as follows.

Announcements

• Marcia Streithorst is the featured artist in March at the Cary Gallery of Artists.   Marcia works in encaustic.  

• Maureen Seltzer has one of her torn collage pieces in a show in Wilmington.  The proceeds support sea turtle rescue.

Demo 

In lieu of a demo, members shared their pieces for the first quarter Picked Prompts Challenge. As reminder, First Quarter 2021 Prompts were Colored pencils/Markers; Doodles/Dots/Zentangle; Seasons/Holiday; Green; Use junk mail.  

Here are some of the results:

February 2021 Business Meeting

CMMAG continues to meet every month despite the pandemic; members are meeting virtually on Zoom.  The monthly business meeting is held on the second Thursday of the month.  The details for the February 11, 2021, meeting are included below.

Creativity Exercise

Lisa Yerby led the members in a creativity exercise based on Torrance Test of Creativity.  Lisa had everyone draw each of four shapes in the corners of the pages, and then add to these drawings to create something unique.  The members then shared their drawings.  A couple of screenshots were captured--see below.

Members-Only Tutorials

Marcia Streithorst discussed the January Tutorial in January, “paper from around the house,” where members made journals. See more details here.

Katherine Stein will host a Tutorial on February 27, 2021, from 1 to 3PM to play with gel plates.  She will demonstrate using different media (acrylics, watercolor, alcohol inks) with different papers.  The Guild has five gel plates (and will provide a brayer also) to loan to any member who wishes to attend the tutorial but does not have a gel plate.  Contact a board member for details.  

Creative Challenges 

Amy Roswick reminded the membership of the ongoing Valentine Challenge.  Many members have sent Valentines already, but there is still time to send greetings.  Members are encouraged to share their Valentines on social media for others to see.

Amy reminded the members of the quarterly art challenge for 2021: the Picked Prompts Challenge.   The first set of prompts drawn are as follows.

• Medium:  Colored pencils, Markers

• Texture/Mark Making: Doodles/Dots/Zentangle

• Theme: Seasons, Holiday

• Color: Green

• Bonus Technique: Use junk mail

The results are to be shared at the March 11 meeting.  

Zoom Members-Only Playdates

Playdates or Open Studio times, which are free to all members, have been scheduled through June 2021.  The scheduled days are the Saturday before the business meetings at 10AM and the Wednesday following the business meetings at 6PM.   

Announcements

Marcia Streithorst is the featured artist in March at the Cary Gallery of Artists.  

There is a small treasure show https://www.onlinejuriedshows.com/Default.aspx?OJSID=48263 

Book Deconstruction Demo 

Linda Poche demonstrated her techniques for pulling pages from old books and deconstructing.