University Art - Newsletter

The Community Artist

University Art Newsletter Vol. 6 Issue 6, June 2007

ART ORGANIZATIONS SPOTLIGHT

Water-media painting is easily one of the most popular ways to paint in our area as attested to by the existence not only of The Santa Clara Watercolor Society but of our focus group this month, The California Watercolor Association. This is a huge group of artists (at least 950 members and counting),that paint in all types of water-soluble media ; membership is open to anyone that paints in these media. For more information on upcoming shows, events, meetings and membership you should check out their website at www.california.org, or you can write to Rachel Brown at P.O. BOX 6909, Moraga, Ca. 94570

COMING SOON

Bob Semans,
Fundamentals of Drawing
University Art Center San Jose.
Monday Mornings 9:30-12:30.
Call (408) 377-8562 for details

Triton Museum of Art
Claire Verbiest
New Works,
and
Louis Gutierrez,
Passion, Evolution, Liberation.
5/1 – 6/30
1505 Warburton Avenue Santa Clara, visit
www.tritonmuseum.org

Joyce Faulkner Workshop
6/18-6/22
Hoover Theatre rooms A & B
1635 Park Avenue San Jose
for more details try:
www.scvws.org

TRIVIA AND STUFF JUST FOR FUN

The importance of summers light and warmth is celebrated by many cultures on the summer solstice ( June 21st this year at 11:06 a.m.) and marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. The ancient holiday surrounding the solstice is known as Litha to some (meaning stone in connection with megalithic monuments) and in Wales it is known as Alban Hefin (meaning point of summer).A Welsh custom of the 1820’s to celebrate the solstice was to set ablaze a wheel stuffed with straw and roll it down a hill. If the wheel stayed lit all the way to the bottom of hill, the coming harvest was believed to be abundant. This custom survived in England well into the 1900’s !!!

ASK BRAMSCHANDOZ

Q: My instructor tells me it is best to paint under a “daylight” lamp. What does he mean?

A: In the past the two lamp types available to artists were incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps, the former being warmer in nature, the latter cooler. Then lamps combining both fluorescent and incandescent bulbs in the same housing were developed. You could use either of the two types of bulbs in these lamps separately, or turn them both on at the same time to simulate “daylight”. The new daylight lamps have bulbs of various configurations (but usually tubes) that have both warm and cool filaments within them approximating daylight. There are several daylight bulbs on the market that fit standard lamps that fulfill the same purpose.

JEFF'S TIPS

Sooner or later we all create or receive a piece of art that needs to be custom framed. This should be given adequate consideration because a poor framing job can really cheapen the look of a piece of art. Ask your custom framer for options and most importantly, leave yourself enough time to make and informed choice. Rushing in on a lunch hour or break or between clients or appointments is a recipe for frustration and possibly disaster. In general leave yourself at least ½ hour per piece to be custom framed

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