Friendship Art Club honors scholarship winner, adds category to Art Show and Sale

Scholarship Chairman Rosemary Jones presents Somerset graduate Ethan Hernandez with a $500 scholarship.

The Friendship Art Club honored 2018 scholarship winner Ethan Hernandez during a salad luncheon, June 12. Ethan is a graduate from Somerset High School and will be attending UT Austin. He intends to enter the school of architecture as a sophomore.
Other scholarship winners for 2018 were Brianna McDonald and Sophia Yandell. Brianna is a student of Texas State University and Sophia attends Austin Community college.
The business portion of the meeting addressed the September Art Show and Sale. The judging portion of the show has expanded to include a separate division for graphite and pencil drawing. In the past, drawings have been judged with paintings. The recommendation was made to create an additional division for judging. It was also decided that any art work entered in the competition must be done within the last two years. This ruling will extend to art work entered in the People’s Choice award.
Further business included scheduling art displays for Naomi’s Restaurant. Art work from club members is exhibited monthly at Naomi’s Restaurant in Lytle. Work by Linda Keller is currently on display. Dee Thompson will exhibit in July. Dee is a local artist from Natalia. She works in oil, acrylic and graphite, as well as pastel and colored pencil. Dee is a retired teacher. She was a classroom teacher and an art teacher for 33 years in the South San Antonio School District. She continues her art education in pastels and graphite classes at the Daystar Studio.
Members reported on the success of the art club participating in a watercolor clinic in early June. The clinic was developed by artist Susie Short. Susie is a nationally recognized watercolorist. The group gathered on the grounds of the Lytle Public Library. Susie demonstrated plein aire painting with watercolor. In plein aire painting, the artist works outdoors and paints natural scenery. After the demonstration, the group returned to the Lytle church of Christ fellowship hall to eat lunch and practice watercolor techniques.
The watercolor clinic continued the following day on the grounds of the Daystar Studio and Gallery hosted by Joyce Bendele. The clinic concluded Thursday, June 7 with the Hondo Art League in Hondo. Other participating artists were pastel artist Barbara Tarsikes and oil painter Patty Dugosh.
The business meeting was adjourned to enjoy a drawing demonstration by local Devine artist and instructor Joyce Bendele. Joyce demonstrated techniques to train your eye to see while drawing. She also shared her various tools and explained their uses. Joyce owns Daystar Studio and Gallery. She displays her work and teaches classes. She participates in many workshops and clinics to keep her art current and vibrant. Joyce, a retired teacher, taught art for twenty-one years.
After the meeting and program, the group shared a salad luncheon, hosted by Sally Lewis and Carolyn Muennink. The Friendship Art Club meets every Tuesday morning to work and share. The business meetings are the second Tuesday of each month. The club meets at the Lytle church of Christ in the fellowship hall. Visitors are welcome. Please call Roberta Andrews for information at 915-256-6444.