February 2022 Art News from Evy Okerstrom

“Paperweights for Valentines Day”
8″ x 11″, watercolor, unframed
inquire if interested

Thank you for reading my Blog. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read through my comments and news. February is always one of my favorite months, I guess it is because of Valentine’s Day which is associated with the color red. It makes me think back to my childhood and living in Massachusetts. My family always had fun making our own special cards for that day. We used a lot of bright colors including reds and pinks. In winter the days are sometimes dreary and there is not a whole lot of sunshine. The bright colors lifted our spirits and made up for those dark snowy days. Today, even though I live in Florida, I think of February in terms of red. When I design my calendars, I always try to have a picture with red or some related colors in it for February. I still like to make Valentine’s Day cards, and have a few set out for sale at the Hub on Canal. I will add this thought regarding cards…. even if you do not have a special person to give a Valentine to, reach out to someone and say hello and acknowledge them. It will brighten your day! Now to my news:

News: January got off to a quick start. The weekly Sketching with Watercolor, Pen & Ink classes which began January 6th were a hit! The classes have been almost full each week. The theme running through each class is pen and ink techniques. So, each week we have been working on developing those skills. One week we just did making marks and learning what they were. The next time we went further and did contour and line drawing plus some watercolor washes. Fruit such as oranges, pears and apples made colorful paintings. Then the next week we got a little more challenging with drawing and painting birds. The last week was reserved for my favorite class exercise, drawing and painting flower bouquets. I will teach 3 classes in February, and then break until September.

” Mother Duck with her Ducklings”,
Exercise from 1st week
pen and ink.

“Orange, Pear and Apple”,
Exercise from 2nd week,
line drawing and watercolor.

I continued attending the virtual art history classes online through Rollins College. This is a monthly series of weekly lectures by Adjunct Professor, Leslie Boles. January was on the Sistine Chapel, and the artists, including Michelangelo, who did the paintings.
This month, the Florida Women’s Art Association will be having an exhibit at the Casements Gallery, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. The title of the exhibit is: “Songs of Self”. It asks the question: “where are you now as an artist?” I have entered my Wood Stork painting, which is done in watercolor and pastel. There is a reception, Friday, February 4th from 5 to 7.

Save these dates for February:

February 3rd, Thursday classes at the Hub begin, 11 am to 2 pm. (no class February 17th)
February 4th, Friday, at the Casements Gallery, Ormond Beach: Reception for “Songs of Self”, 5 to 7.
February 5th is First Saturday at the Hub. I will be there from 10 to 2.

My Thought of the Day: Congratulations to Ian Scott Campbell, my Grandson and his Fiancée, Alejandra Giraldo Ossaba on their wedding celebration, Friday, February 18, 2022!! This event has been in the making for the past two years. Alejandra, who is from Medellin, Columbia, and Ian applied to the US Gov’t for a Fiancée visa over 2 years ago. Finally granted in Dec. 2021, she arrived Christmas Eve in the US. Best wishes for a long and happy marriage!

“Flowers”
Class exercise
contour drawing and watercolor.

To view my artwork please visit the Gallery. Visit Gallery