Washington Oaks paint-out

Mark your calendars now for Saturday, April 7, for the next scheduled paint-out of the First Coast Pastel Society. Our next paint-out is scheduled at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast. We are heading a little further south this month, but hope to be able to draw folks who have expressed an interest in our society from the Ormond Beach and Gainesville areas.

The park is situated between the Matanzas River and the Atlantic ocean, featuring the famous cochina beaches. In addition it contains the amazing formal gardens, featuring native and exotic species, that was created by former owners who gave the property to the state in 1965.

As this map of the park shows, there are nearly limitless choices for wonderful plein-air setups. Flowers should be in full bloom in the gardens.  Our paint-outs run from 8:30 AM to 1 PM, though folks often tend to stay later. But bring your lunch with you! In addtion to painting supplies you may also want water, hats, sunscreen, bug repellant. Come have fun with your fellow pastelists.

Putting Down

This beautiful 11x14 painting is being donated to the society by our very own co-Treasurer Rick Petersen, and you can read about his creation of this painting here. The FCPS is planning to hold a fund-raising raffle with this painting as a prize. Stay tuned to this space for more details. I'll be buying my ticket! I love seagulls also.

General Meeeting - March 3

The First Coast Pastel Society held its second general meeting this morning in Green Cove Springs. We had eleven attendees who heard all about the upcoming events of the society. Among the exciting upcoming events are our first member show, to be held in September 2012 at the gallery of Jacksonville gallery owner Heather Sams, and a workshop with Michael Chesley Johnson in October 2013.

We have submitted our membership to IAPS and should have a listing on their website shortly, which will begin to put us on the map.

Our president Lyn Asselta presented an excellent demo on underpainting techniques. including notan, watercolor underpainting. complementary color underpainting, and using either warm or cool toned papers.

Any of these techniques can be used depending upon the desired effect and the wishes of the artist. But Lyn's demo gave us all many things to think about when planning an underpainting.

Our meetings are fun and we provide refreshments! So please think about joining us at our next meeting which will be in May, details to follow. In the meantime consider our next plein air get-together on Saturday, April 7, 8:30-1:30, at Washington Oaks State Park. We will have more information about that coming up too.