The Jan Hart Watercolor Workshop, attended by 24 artists, was held at the White Oak Grand in Somers, Montana , October 7-10, 2004 . Jan is an artist who is educated and worked in architecture and science (as a chemist), giving her a strong background in design and a deep understanding of color pigments.

She had a lot to say about color relationships and mixing and prefers the genuine earth tones of Daniel Smith watercolor paints for rocks and her southwestern landscapes. Her ideas in the design of paintings, especially landscapes, were instructive. Here are some “Jan Hart-isms” and special pointers.

• View the landscape as drapery.   Imagine a knot where the material gathers. It can be inside the painting or off the page. There may be more than one knot. Lines flow from them as draped fabric would. This helps with unity and leading the viewer’s eye to focal points elsewhere or at the knot.

• Do a value sketch in less than 10 minutes using a six-step value scale for reference. The sketch is for thinking and planning without using up too much creative energy.

• Get more abstract as you go through a number of paintings of the same scene. Georgia O’Keefe’s first paintings were representational, then went abstract.

• To enhance the creative process, ask: what do I bring to my painting?   For example, look at your doodles for the shapes that you like most, then incorporate these into your painting—especially the more abstract pieces.

• Adolescent paintings, like people, are those that are not finished yet. They may be ugly ducklings. Don’t judge them too harshly and don’t give up on them. You might focus on one small area and make it extremely beautiful.

• To really put your heart into a painting, make up a story about your subject. Name the painting in the early stages. Love what you are doing and enjoy the process.

See more information on Jan and the show Here!

ART NEEDED!!!

Montana Watercolor Society  
Members’ Art Auction
Watermedia 2004 Awards Banquet
October 9, 2004

Small, matted and shrink wrapped paintings are needed for this auction which raises funds for the 
MTWS Watermedia Merit Awards.

Hand deliver to banquet.

Press Release  ART  CALL
ANNOUNCING 
MONTANA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY’S  
22^ndANNUAL NATIONAL JURIED  ART EXHIBITION ---- WATERMEDIA 2004
OCTOBER 5 - OCTOBER 30 
at the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center, Bigfork, MT.

Watermedia includes watercolor, gouache, acrylic, inks and collage on watercolor paper or board. Juror of selection and awards is Jan L. Hart.  Over $5,000 in cash and merchandise prizes are awarded.

For a prospectus send a #10 self-addressed, stamped envelope to Jean Triol, PO Box 367, Somers, MT 59932.  Deadline for slide entries is May 1, 2004.

For more information contact:

Jean Triol, Watermedia Chair
Montana Watercolor Society
PO Box 367
Somers, MT 59932
(406) 857-3150
jeantrio@digisys.net