September 2014 Newsletter

September 2014 Joanne Thomson’s Newsletter

Thank-you!  I have had a great year and it could not have happened without the support and encouragement you have offered with words, coin, contracts and loans of mason jars! 

I want to thank you all with an open house on Thanksgiving weekend this year. This will not be a sale.  If I were a musician it would be a free concert.  So consider it a free visual concert - no fee and no obligation to purchase.  It is to be a heartfelt thank-you from myself.  I’ll display the mason jar images that I have created so far, paintings from the Saskatchewan and Hawthorn retreats and the Fort Rodd Hill residency, illustrations done for the Palliative Care Text book, photographs from my England trip and some miscellaneous experiments.  I’ll provide food and beverages.  If you have not been here before email me for a map, if you need a reminder since it has been awhile, email me and I’ll send you a map, if you just want to be included in the map sending, email me and I’ll send you a map too! Friday October 10th from 7 pm on.  Saturday and Sunday, October 11th and 12th, from 2pm to 6 pm.    

I am just back from a magical trip to Saskatchewan (where all the participants gave me a rating of 5+ on a scale of 1-5) arriving just in time for a weekend English Country Dance workshop, so am energized and refreshed.  I’ll post some photographs of the retreat on my website home page and tell you more about it there.  Information about upcoming classes is below.

Classes at my home:  Wednesdays: October 1 – Dec 17th

Thanks for the terrific interest in my classes.  I have decided to offer another class at my home making Wednesday a full teaching day. These classes are for students of all levels, the subject of each class decided at the first class with project days for those subjects passionately wanted by one and not others.  Technique, colour, encouragement, critiques etc. 

Wednesday mornings: 0930 – 1230  (FULL)

Wednesday afternoons:  2 pm – 5 pm (still room)

12 weeks.  $270.00 Class size limit 6 students.   To confirm your space please send me a cheque dated the first day of class or arrange to pay by VISA or MC.  

NEW: Painting watercolour miniatures at the HCP- two Saturday offerings all supplies included- a great gift and way to try out watercolour and see if you like it.  http://hcp.ca/events/watercolor-workshop/  and http://hcp.ca/events/watercolor-workshop-2/  It is $80.00 for one class 10 – 4pm and $150.00 for both). October 4th and November 15th.

UVic Continuing Studies Courses:  UVic location

Beginners watercolour September 26- 28 

And

Contemplative Watercolour December 5- 7

Each $150.00 plus GST and supplies. 12 hours of instruction.

There will also be a couple of half day workshops in Sidney with UVic

November 18th 1230- 4 pm Drawing for Painters

November 25th 1230- 4 pm Contemplative Watercolour.

Details on UVic’s Continuing studies website. http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/arts/courses/

Classes at Cordova Bay 55+

October 20th to December 8th- 8 weeks – Mondays 1- 3:30 must have a CB55+ membership and register through CB55+  mornings: 250-658-5558

Mason Jar Project-

Well painting on this project has slowed due to travel but the project is calling my name again with Fall harvest in full swing now.  I’ll be painting over the next few weeks and will have new works to show by October.  I’ll also take another try at a BCArts Council grant for this project as it is growing and developing as I take it along.  Wish me luck with that!  I think having 75+ images and a more developed concept will help my application. 

Those of you wanting to be my ‘sponsors’ for this project just need to let me know. You send me $100 and I send you the password.

As a sponsor you will:

-be invited to the unveiling exhibition(s) for the project as it unfolds

The first being Friday October 10th from 5 - 7 pm for an English style ‘drinks party’!

-have first opportunity to purchase any painting on the sponsor page – these are not from the series and are representative of my work over the past 5-10 years and you can purchase them right now.

- be able to use your sponsorship $100 to purchase a painting on sponsor page or toward the purchase of a work from the series when they become available. 

- receive my thanks!

As always email me if you want more information about any of the above. joannedthomson@shaw.ca