Mark Your Calendars!

Almost time for our annual Juried Show. Note that since our opening reception is on the evening of Friday, June 2, this will be in lieu of our usual meeting time of Saturday, June 3. Our next meeting will be in September, so after the show reception we hope everyone has  a great summer!

And in the meantime mark your calendars for our upcoming 2017-2018 season. Stay tuned here and on our calendar as we fill in details about these events, and add items to the calendar, but at least you can mark the days to make sure you are available to join us.

September 9, 2017 - (skipping Labor Day Weekend) - Meeting at the Cultural Center 10-12 (board meeting 12-1)

October 7, 2017      - Plein Air 

November 4, 2017  - Meeting at the Cultural Center 10-12 (board meeting 12-1) 

December 2, 2017  - Meeting at the Cultural Center 10-12 (Holiday Event)  (board meeting 12-1) 

January 6, 2018      - Plein Air 

February 3, 2018    - Meeting at the Cultural Center 10-12 (board meeting 12-1) 

March 3, 2018         - Plein Air 

April 7, 2018           - Meeting at the Cultural Center 10-12 (board meeting 12-1) 

FCPS Member's Show April 27, 2018 to June 2, 2018 

May 5, 2018             - Plein Air 

June 2, 2018             - Meeting at the Cultural Center 10-12 (board meeting 12-1) painting pick-up

First Coast Pastel Society Member Show - Press Release

The First Coast Pastel Society’s 2017 Member Show and Sale will be on exhibit June 2 to July 7, 2017 at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 50 Executive Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. The CCPVB is conveniently located off A1A with ample free parking.

The opening reception and award presentation will be held on Friday evening June 2 from 6 to 8 pm. This year’s exhibit is juried by a team of jurors. Jeanette Toohey, Maureen Kirschhofer and Anthony Whiting
 
The First Coast Pastel Society is based in northeast Florida, with members from Jacksonville, St. Augustine and points north, west and south.

The Society offers workshops, demonstrations and plein air opportunities at their monthly meetings and welcome new members. You are invited to come out and view this gorgeous exhibit of works of pastel that showcases the beauty of the versatile pastel medium.

The mission statement of the FCPS is as follows:

"To promote the use of soft pastel within the FCPS membership and the community at-large as an important and continually evolving fine art medium."  

Pastel is pure powdered pigment with a binder and usually is applied to a textured paper. To learn more about the pastel medium, visit  http://www.pastelsocietyofamerica.org

Visit FCPS site at http://firstcoastpastelsociety.com to learn more about the group.

Mayo Clinic - a perfect day

Wow, this past Saturday could not have been more perfect for a plein air day. It was a crisp sunny day, and felt more like a fall day rather than a late spring day in Florida. Temperatures had dropped into the low 50s during the night, and hovered in the mid-60s for most of the morning. 

The Mayo grounds are amazing and had all sorts of wonderful options for painting, though I think most folks wanted a spot to get a little of the sun. Very different for much Florida plein air where we often search for shade!

 Luckily there were plenty of spots that offered a wonderful view as well as both sun and shade options.

 It was still cool enough though, that those without jackets found makeshift ways to keep warm in the early hours. :-)

 Since the day was so perfect it's a shame that only nine FCPS members showed up to paint with us. Still, it was great  to meet with those who did come, and we all had a great time gathering for lunch and having a show and tell of our work. Two folks didn't join us for lunch and we missed you!

But here are the works we did get to share. I love that everyone's paintings and styles are so different, and everyone finds their own interesting viewpoints to paint.

Paint-Out this weekend

What:   Last paint-out for the season
When:  Saturday, May 6. 9 AM to 1 PM
Where: Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224
           

(map courtesy of Deb Fox)

This coming Saturday will be our last paint-out together before our summer break. So far the weather forecast is looking nice for Saturday: sunny and a high in the upper 70s. 

Deb Fox has sent the attached map of the campus and recommends it is best for everyone to park in Lot B off the main entrance to the clinic. She can meet everyone there and guide you to some of the nicest and easiest places to set up and paint and give directions to rest rooms, etc. Please remember the restrictions - no photographing or painting patients and visitors.  Deb also attached some of the beautiful views available from that area.

The campus is beautiful indeed, and offers lots of shade. I hope we have a great turn-out for this last outdoor get-together before the summer.

It's really nice to see the sort of grounds Mayo offers. Just these sorts of grounds alone offer a sense of peace and healing. How nice for the patients, and how nice it will be for us.

I hope to see many of you there. Please feel free to bring a lunch which we often share together. Then stay tuned for our final seasonal meeting in June, and of course our wonderful upcoming juried member show!

 (photo courtesy of Deb Fox)

(photo courtesy of Deb Fox)