p r e s i d e n t 's n o t e
South Hill Artists ✫ Newsletter March 2025 ✫ Issue 72
Greetings to all Current and New SHA Members!
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March 1, 2025 and the count down to spring has begun!
Looking around my garden I see many beautiful signs of growth and new life. The gorgeous purple Grape Hyacinth are poking out of the ground and the daffodils have
suddenly appeared after all the warm days we’ve had.
Take time to appreciate this lovely season and paint something to
reflect the “newness” of spring. Try a new technique, color, palette or
reflect the “newness” of spring. Try a new technique, color, palette or medium and let your imagination flow. Use this time to “branch out”
and be inspired by new directions and results!
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“Spring signifies hope for renewal, birth/rebirth, new love/romance, and starting anew. It's a season that reminds us that change is
possible and that there's always room for growth.”
~ D.R. Wells
Our Next Demo Will Be:
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Thursday, April 3, 2025
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
K a y S e a l e s
​​​"Painting a Wild Watercolor"​
Demonstration and Workshop
Overview
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I love to paint eyes! In selecting a subject matter for this demonstration,
I began sifting through reference photos of all kinds of domesticated and wild creatures …
finally settling on a lion for our Wild Watercolor!
I can’t begin a demo without painting a few eyes; if they aren’t right, then I might as well quit painting! So that is where we will begin. I’ll do a fairly large eye of the lion I’ll use in smaller size for the rest of the demo. You can watch or paint with me.
After painting the eyes I’ll proceed to the full painting and hope to
finish most of that by lunchtime. I’m happy to help with yours after that.
The reasons I chose this lion were due to its simplicity and broad application for other animals – the tilt of the head, intensity of its eyes, smoothness of the nose, skin folds on its back, fluff of the ears, hard and soft edges, and a limited color palette. But this is just a starting point. You can definitely go tame … or wild … with any colors you choose!
Materials List:
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Bring your regular watercolor supplies you are comfortable working with. (What I will be using is italicized in the descriptions to follow)
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Watercolor Paper: Bits and pieces for practicing eyes … or the back side of an ‘under-the-bed’ painting. (I mostly use Arches 140# blocks in rough or cold press … but I also use 300# paper and I occasionally stretch watercolor paper from rolls over stretcher bars for larger, unframed works of art)
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Watercolor paper sketched or transferred and ready to paint: I’ve included a pdf of an 8x10 color photo plus an 8x10 black and white high contrast photo. I would suggest painting this size or no larger than 11x14 for this short class.
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Watercolor Paints: Bring paints you normally use. (My palette highlights a triad of quinac burnt orange, French ultramarine blue, quinac permanent rose [DaVinci] … along with yellow ochre, Payne’s gray, indigo, opera, orange chromium, quinac violet, veridian, Titanium White).
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Brushes: Assortment you normally use plus a large flat for washes (I always have 1 ½ - 2” flat brushes handy, some angled flats and a nice pointed round size 12).
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Printed reference photo: Bring the supplied reference photo. Enlarged detailed areas help me, but you know what works for you (see pdf for more information)
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Masking Fluid: For saving whites in pupils, whiskers, etc. You don’t need a lot; if you have none, find a friend who will share.
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The Usual: Pencils, palette, water containers, paper towels, table-top easel if you use them, spray misting bottles, masking fluid eraser, tape, etc.
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Other Options: Watercolor pencils, crayons, and sticks (won’t be used in demo). Salt (creates texture around noses or in some fur). (I will bring some to share)
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Kay Seale - Biography
​Kay Seale’s Graphic Design degree enabled her to have a rewarding art career long before computers offered design programs with templates. This experience made her strong in layout, design, value and color; creating ‘fine art’ became intuitive. Her passion for life … anything that breathes … is a trademark of her work as seen through Kay’s illustrations of people, animals and landscapes. Travels across the USA and to Africa,
Europe, Central & South America provide many resources.
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Kay has become established as an award-winning watercolor artist (including the first Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Award won by an Idaho artist). She has won Best of Show Awards and has received ‘Reject’ notices, too! Kay has been the enviable recipient of the Idaho Western Fair Purchase Award four times! She has taught workshops on painting eyes, and how to use Photoshop to help with layouts of paintings. In 2023 Kay researched, wrote, created and led an Art Camp to complement her
church’s purchased VBS (Vacation Bible Study) Sport’s Camp Program.
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As a 2014 cancer survivor, having a vision-robbing meningioma removed in 2018,
and living with MS daily ... the exercising of her brain that creating
art requires has preserved both mind and talent.
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Kay Seale’s art is collected corporately and privately in many states. She is a Distinguished Merit Member of the Idaho Watercolor Society (IWS) and is a
Merit Member of the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies (WFWS).
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In 2020 Kay moved to Graham, Washington, to be near family and enjoy life with her husband and their two rescued canine companions. Missing the camaraderie she had with her painting friends in Idaho, Kay is pleased to have been ‘found’ by Celene while exhibiting at the 2023 Washington State Fair. She joined the South Hill Artists group in June and is excited to share her expertise and paint alongside this group of talented and fun creatives!
Kay Seale - Artist's Creative Statement
“A good subject matter, plus confident use of color, value, design and shape should invite a viewer to ‘step into’ the painting. Once in, I hope they desire to touch, feel, smell or wonder why …. If the painting elicits a response, that equates to success! I paint very realistically, yet aim to allow paint and water to collide spontaneously on paper and do their thing scientifically … granulating, resisting and blending.
I enjoy incorporating both loose areas and others that are tightly controlled.
What do I hunger to paint? Anything that lives and breathes! Even if I am painting old relics in a field my goal is to paint them as if they were alive. ‘I begin a painting with the eyes; if they aren’t right … if they aren’t full of life and light … nothing can save it!’ From personal experience, I know this talent is a gift from God. I never want to take credit for creating paintings that move people, but I give credit right back to the Creator …
who moves me … to create, and paint!’
​SHA Spring Art Camp​​
April 14 - 18, 2025
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If you are going to sign up for Camp Arnold,
it is important to do so as soon as possible.
The registration form, cost, what to bring etc. is on the southhillartists.com website.
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Click on the link below for more camp information!
Look forward to seeing you there!
Please Note
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The extra Sunday arrival will not be available this for spring camp.
Total camp payments are due by April 3, 2025, and
there will be no refunds for cancellations after that date.
Some Class & Paint Out Opportunities!
W O O H O O W O R K S H O P S
Spend the day learning and creating in community.
These workshops focus in on a deep dive into a technique or medium.
NEW lower prices!
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Magical Mark Making
MONDAY March 10: 10 - 2 pm Mineral Lake Lodge $50
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Shh, don’t tell anyone, but mark making is the way to create lively and interesting marks in your work using tools. I will have plenty of tools to share, I will show storage and organization techniques. Use markers, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, crayons and lots of other water soluble media to create lush, line and beautiful bleeds.
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Stamped Collage Paper
Wednesday April 2: 10 - 2 pm Maple Valley Woo Hoo Studio $50 (min 3 participants, max 8)
I will demo making a styrofoam stamp from recycled materials. Most of our time will be spent using my extensive stamp collection to create collage papers and fabrics. Creating a array of collage papers, both transparent to opaque and talk about how we use this collage of papers in our work.
Artful Play Watercolors
Monday’s April 7, 21 & 28: 6 - 8 pm Maple Valley Woo Hoo Studio $90
In this lively watercolor class we will try lots of techniques. Including loose washes and sprays plus some loose drawings. There will be some playful homework. We will work on a small watercolor journal and if you don’t have a watercolor palette I will loan you one. This class will include a supply video for those who are brand new to painting. Painting has been shown to lower cortisol levels and increase relaxation. Join me for artful play!
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Vashon Island Troll
Thursday April 24: 10 - 2 pm on Vashon Island $20.
(From Tacoma - 9:15 ferry is the best to get to the paint out).
Join me at the Vashon Island Troll to plein air (French term for painting outdoors) create and spend some time with friends.. At Thomas Dambo’s beautiful found art piece, Oscar The Bird King I will demo acrylic techniques for creating outside. It is a five minute hike on a gravel trail. We can stay at the Troll for packed lunch or head down to the beach and lighthouse at the same park to paint in the afternoon
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GET ‘ER DONE SESSIONS
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March 27 & May 12 Mineral Lake 10 - 2 pm $20 per session
March 16, April 6 & May 4 Maple Valley Woo Hoo Studio
1 - 5 pm $20 per session (or $50 for all three)
Creatives can pile up Unfinished Objects (UFO) or Works in Progress (WIPS). This time is set aside to work on finishing those projects. I will help with creative coaching and loving guiding to your best results. This can include paintings, journaling, yarn crafts, sewing, sculpture or whatever you can think of. Bring what you would like to work on and finish it.
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​​​RSVP & Register. woohoocreative@gmail.com or 253.347.3036 (text or call)
@colewoohoo on YouTube, Instagram & Pinterest
Click on the Links Below to Check out Cole Adams!
Members’ Corner​​
Do you know of an art show, competition, workshop, class,
Or art exhibit that may interest other SHA members?
To include information in the newsletter, please send the information
To the email below by the first of the month.
​
The email address that generates the SHA newsletter is not monitored.
Please send email inquiries to:
SHA Membership Information
Membership to South Hill Artists - SHA offers individuals numerous opportunities to create, learn and gather in a supportive and creative atmosphere. Throughout the year there are scheduled live demos, where one can paint and create alongside an experienced professional artist. Twice per year SHA holds a weeklong art camp workshop in Eatonville, at an affordable cost to its members. Membership also gives artists the opportunity to display and sell their artwork in SHA’s annual art exhibit. Members will receive an email newsletter, announcements, an invitation to join the private SHA Facebook group, and participate in various social events.
A paid SHA Membership entitles you to participate in all these activities, September through August. Payment of dues is required 30 days prior to participation in art exhibits and shows. SHA members are encouraged to volunteer and support SHA activities, events, and chartered objectives.
Membership dues are $50.00 for the 2024-2025 SHA year. When joining SHA, please download and fill in the SHA Membership Form. Send the completed form with your check to the address below.
Membership dues can also be paid at the monthly demo meeting. Also, please update your contact information when joining or renewing your SHA membership.
Guests are welcome to attend and participate in an art demonstration for a $30.00 fee. Invite a friend to join us!
Please send your payment to:​
SHA
PO Box 731762
Puyallup, WA 98373-0019
Please Note:
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Posts, information, or details for the website and newsletter
need to be received by the 1st day of the month - to be included that month.
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- The email address that generates the SHA newsletter is not monitored. Please send email and inquiries to: ​​
