Spring 2021 Member Show

 The St. Augustine Art Association was the location for our 2021 spring member show. Many of us have struggled to paint in this crazy year, so thanks to all the members who participated in the show. Also thanks to Richard Lundgren for agreeing to be our judge, and doing such a superb job of it. Here are Richard's statements as well as winning paintings:

Best in Show: Janelle Wagoner (Convergence)

First Place: Renée Faure (View Up Stream)

Second Place: K.L. Pilkenton (Ocean Eyes)

Third Place: Becky Woodward (Sunset March Trees)

Honorable Mention: Rebecca Pasko (Chloe's Pumpkin)

Honorable Mention: Jane Haverty (Meandering Reflections)

Alpine Groves

 Alpine Groves Park is a lovely location on the eastern shore of the St. Johns River. It was the setting for our May plein air day. Not a big attendance but those who were able to participate enjoyed the morning there. As some said: 

"What a beautiful day with lots of trees, old buildings and river areas to explore in an old Florida setting!"

"The cool breeze, the river waters lapping on the banks behind me, and the sunlit scene all made for a delightful morning for getting in the painting zone."

Rita Kirkman Workshop

 On April 17 we had our first workshop of the year. Like our previous workshop in 2020 it was still done with Zoom, with Rita Kirkman. If we've learned one thing from our Covid year it's that we actually can learn lots of things with remote learning. A couple quotes from the workshop attendees: 

"It was a fun day and I enjoyed  learning and trying her underpainting technique."

 "Rita is very generous with her instruction and the time she spent with each individual!"

Also some of the paintings workshop attendees were willing to share with us:

April Member Meeting

The first Saturday in April gave us the opportunity to have our first in-person meeting in over a year since the start of the Covid pandemic. We met at our new meeting place - the North Shores Community Center at Vilano, close to the ocean. Most all of us were vaccinated it and was great to see one another in person and not have to wear masks, as president Cindy Pierson updated us on things ahead of us to think about.

We were so lucky and pleased to have as our presenter member Patrick Mahoney. Pat is a master of any medium he has tried, with pastel being only one of them. But he is also a master of repairing, cleaning, and restoring old paintings, primarily oils.

 Pat had books showing years of his restoration work, as well as several actual paintings he'd worked on. I think all of us were amazed, and were so impressed by all he'd accomplished.

Here's looking forward to the upcoming events of 2021, and being able to get together more as the year progresses. 

One of the "thrills" of the meeting was a silent auction of a painting donated by our founder, Lyn Asselta. Lyn was our guiding light for several years. We all love her and miss her. I've yearned to own a "Lyn" painting for years, and so I'm so happy that I was the winner of the silent auction. I love this painting, and I'm happy the money I paid will go to support our group.