Watercolor in the Willamette Valley
What fun we had at the fall convention!
The weekend began on Friday October 6 with the Meet and Greet, where we enjoyed fellowship with members and friends to kick off our 2023 Fall Convention. Juror Trish McKinney was introduced by WSO President Rebecca Sentgeorge while participants viewed all the entries to the 2023 Fall Watercolor Exhibition. The hospitality team distributed name tags, the WSO 100 Club displayed many items for a silent auction, and everyone enjoyed the light appetizers and beverages as we mingled and reunited with WSO members.
As the hospitality team helped members with information and gave out name tags, Saturday was a busy day with a full lobby at the convention center. The WSO 100 Club members had set up a table with their auction and information. The Merri Artist and American Easel sold art supplies and offered demos and products to try. The WSO logo merchandise table displayed many items for sale and video rentals were available for check out. Members were able to attend a selection of breakout sessions and critiques, with opportunities to observe and learn from 13 amazing artists!
In the afternoon, we attended the artists’ reception, hosted by the Elsinore Gallery, where we were able to view the 79 accepted paintings. Light appetizers and beverages were served, and award ribbons were on display so that we could see the winning paintings. We enjoyed a social hour at the convention center before the Awards Banquet, which offered a buffet with a choice of three entrees, side dishes, salad, and dessert. We had an entertaining evening as Trish McKinney announced the award-winning paintings and presented the artists with their special awards and certificates. We were able to view a fabulous slide show of all the beautiful accepted paintings!
On Sunday morning we attended the semi-annual business meeting conducted by our President Rebecca Sentgeorge. During the meeting, members debated some of the future changes proposed for WSO. Linda Burgel and her team gave out raffle tickets, much to everyone’s delight. There was so much to give away; everyone was a winner! Winnie Givot spun the wheel with her team for the Annual Thank You to Volunteers who served in any capacity for WSO during the past year. As the meeting concluded, the gavel was passed to Mary Holt for her upcoming term as president of WSO. A fast turn around to the stage, and Juror Trish McKinney was ready to demonstrate her fascinating technique of creating different surfaces for watercolor paintings. By using words as inspirations, she developed panel boards and paper to achieve the hidden meaning behind her paintings. Trish’s wonderful demonstration showed us how to weave a sense of wonder into our own work.
Michelle Myers, 2023 Fall Convention Co-chair