p r e s i d e n t 's n o t e
South Hill Artists ✫ April 2025 Newsletter ✫ Issue 73
Greetings to all Current and New SHA Members!
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I would like to welcome Dennis Gough for our May 1, 2025 demo. Dennis will be sharing his amazing watercolor talents with a landscape painting in watercolor! For those of you that are just starting to explore watercolor, I always find lots of great inspiration and information on YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram. The sky’s the limit for seeing all the possibilities this wonderful medium has to offer.
It’s always fun to see how other artists work with this medium… done loosely or more realistically, watercolor is like no other. Sometimes challenging and unpredictable, but so often rendering gorgeous unexpected results!
Start with just a few of your favorite colors and take time to play and experiment with this lovely medium today!
“Color! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams.”
~ Paul Gauguin
Our Next Demo Will Be:
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Thursday, May 1, 2025
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
D e n n i s G o u g h
​​​"Watercolor Landscape"​
Demonstration and Workshop
Overview​
Dennis will focus on texture through use of:
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1) Spritz bottle
2) Lifting of pigment
3) Salt
4) Tissue paper
Since the "granulation" effect is what brought my work to Celine's attention,
we will work on a sky using browns, grays, and blues.
Will use the Spritz bottle (as the watercolor is drying) to cause a "dimpled" effect in the sky.
Tissue paper can be used, if desired to create a fog-line or clouds.
Salt will possibly be used to create texture on rocks.
Morning Swim
D e n n i s G o u g h
W a t e r c o l o r s
Taking It All In
Fly By
Materials List:
1) Colors suited towards an overcast seascape.
* I prefer blues (Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue) and browns (Yellow Ochre, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Sepia) and greens (Olive Green or mix your own) for this piece.
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2) brushes from mop brushes to the smallest. Also, if you have a favorite brush for "lifting" pigment, bring that.
3) Spritz bottle (not a fine mist, though...semi-coarse droplets preferred.
4) Tissue paper
5) Pencil
6) Salt
Dennis Gough - Biography
Dennis Gough is, for the most part, a lifelong Washington State resident having roots in the State going back to the 1890s when his grandmother moved to Skagit County as a child. Born in Ft. Lewis as the dependent of a career soldier, Dennis moved around quite a bit seeing and living in places from Alaska to Germany...and in between until he was 16 years old when his father retired from the Army and returned to Skagit County.
A couple of years later, Dennis wound-up in the Army himself, served a tour in South Vietnam and went to college in Bellingham upon his return. Dennis, always known as the "Art Kid" in school, majored in Art Education but never formally taught after graduation. Instead, he had careers in radio and
Social Services while running a small family-farm in Central Washington.
Upon retirement, Dennis and his wife relocated to Olympia where he resumed his passion for Art. Dennis, always fascinated but intimidated by watercolor, decided now was a good time to learn. With the help of YouTube tutorials, Dennis jumped into what has turned-out to be an extremely gratifying journey in watercolor. His primary focus is on Pacific Northwest and Western / farm themes.
Facebook Group
Our Facebook group is a private group for South Hill Artist members. We should think about using it more to share items that may be of interest to our members. Things to share could be books, artists you have learned about, new project ideas, photos of what you are doing, new art tools or supplies that others might not know about, etc. Think of ways you can contribute to our Facebook group.
Some Class & Paint Out Opportunities!
W O O H O O W O R K S H O P S
Spend the day learning and creating in community.
These workshops focus in on a deep dive into a technique or medium.
NEW lower prices!
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Artful Play Watercolors
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THREE-PART ARTFUL PLAY CLASSES
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These evening classes offer a taste of each art form. This is not a paint by numbers approach, you will have the opportunity to work on what you want to work on. I will do a demo with my wild loose approach to each art form. Come out and play!
Monday’s April 7, 21 & 28: 6 - 8 pm Maple Valley Woo Hoo Studio $90
In this lively watercolor class we will try lots of techniques. Including loose washes and sprays plus some loose drawings. There will be some playful homework. We will work on a small watercolor journal and if you don’t have a watercolor palette I will loan you one. This class will include a supply video for those who are brand new to painting. Painting has been shown to lower cortisol levels and increase relaxation. Join me for artful play!
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Vashon Island Troll
Thursday April 24: 10 - 2 pm on Vashon Island $20.
(From Tacoma - 9:15 ferry is the best to get to the paint out).
Join me at the Vashon Island Troll to plein air (French term for painting outdoors) create and spend some time with friends.Then go down to the lighthouse to have packed lunch. At Thomas Dambo’s beautiful found art piece, Oscar The Bird King I will demo acrylic techniques for creating outside. It is a five minute hike on a gravel trail. We can stay at the Troll for packed lunch or head down to the beach and lighthouse at the same park to paint in the afternoon (From Tacoma - 9:15 ferry is the best to get to the start of the paint out).
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GET ‘ER DONE SESSIONS
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May 4 Maple Valley Woo Hoo Studio 1 - 5 pm $20 per session
May 12 Mineral Lake 10 - 2 pm $20 per session
Creatives can pile up Unfinished Objects (UFO) or Works in Progress (WIPS). This time is set aside to work on finishing those projects. I will help with creative coaching and loving guiding to your best results. This can include paintings, journaling, yarn crafts, sewing, sculpture or whatever you can think of. Bring what you would like to work on and what you need to finish it.
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​​​RSVP & Register. woohoocreative@gmail.com or 253.347.3036 (text or call)
@colewoohoo on YouTube, Instagram & Pinterest
Click on the Links Below to Check out Cole Adams!
Spray Paint Papers & Found Objects
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Friday May 9, 2025 10:00 - 2:00 pm Maple Valley Woo Hoo Studio $50.
(min 3 participants, max 10)
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One of my favorite ways to create a good quantity of stash papers. Quickly, with the use of stencils and spray paint. I will bring a vast selection of stencils and spray paint
to create some amazing translucent papers for our collage practice. If you have a case, tin or item you would like to spray paint. Bring it for the afternoon section of the class, or continue to make collage papers.
Mud Pie Journaling
Thursday’s May 8, 15 & 22 6:00 -8:00 pm Maple Valley Woo Hoo Studio $90
Remember when you were a child - a bunch of dishes & some mud, would be an afternoon of play. I think of my journaling style the same way - simple ingredients, play and time create a space for idea building in my art practice. Let’s work together to form a ritual of art journaling. This class will include a supplies video for those who are brand new to journaling. Join me for artful play!
ARTIST ADVENTURE DATE SERIES
Have you ever read Julie Cameron’s book The Artist Way? She highly recommends taking solo trips out isn’t as an artist date I find these dates are so much more fun with friends.
BONFIRE ART RETREAT *
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June 6 - 8, 2025
Waterfront Vashon Island, $450 (this includes room & food)
(We need 6 participants to make this weekend go)
PLAY CREATE SHARE. Sparks to ignite your creative fire and rekindle or light up your practice. Come explore the Northwest,
reflect on the journey in an art journal you make yourself.
Create a to reflect and build your visual library.
Light your creative fire with art journaling, movement painting, inspirational field trip, deepening of creative community with sharing and campfire learning. Breakfast, pupu’s (appetizers) and dinner will be created by an excellent chef and assistant.
Review from previous participant - "Cole's Journaling workshop is a balanced mix of creativity, relaxation, fun, and freedom to explore your own artistic expression of your surroundings without any judgment and with lots of encouragement and good feelings. I discovered that art journaling is a great way to record life in a personally unique and creative way without any pressure. You are the Goddess of your own journal."
Members’ Corner​​
Do you know of an art show, competition, workshop, class,
Or art exhibit that may interest other SHA members?
To include information in the newsletter, please send the information
To the email below by the first of the month.
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The email address that generates the SHA newsletter is not monitored.
Please send email inquiries to:
F o r S a l e
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Projector Stand- $35
For more information contact Celene Ryan jceleneryan@hotmail.com
South Hill Mall Sales - if interested in more information contact:
Patty McPhee
206-919-4938
SHA Membership Information
Membership to South Hill Artists - SHA offers individuals numerous opportunities to create, learn and gather in a supportive and creative atmosphere. Throughout the year there are scheduled live demos, where one can paint and create alongside an experienced professional artist. Twice per year SHA holds a weeklong art camp workshop in Eatonville, at an affordable cost to its members. Membership also gives artists the opportunity to display and sell their artwork in SHA’s annual art exhibit. Members will receive an email newsletter, announcements, an invitation to join the private SHA Facebook group, and participate in various social events.
A paid SHA Membership entitles you to participate in all these activities, September through August. Payment of dues is required 30 days prior to participation in art exhibits and shows. SHA members are encouraged to volunteer and support SHA activities, events, and chartered objectives.
Membership dues are $50.00 for the 2024-2025 SHA year. When joining SHA, please download and fill in the SHA Membership Form. Send the completed form with your check to the address below.
Membership dues can also be paid at the monthly demo meeting. Also, please update your contact information when joining or renewing your SHA membership.
Guests are welcome to attend and participate in an art demonstration for a $30.00 fee. Invite a friend to join us!
Please send your payment to:​
SHA
PO Box 731762
Puyallup, WA 98373-0019
Please Note:
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Posts, information, or details for the website and newsletter
need to be received by the 1st day of the month - to be included that month.
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- The email address that generates the SHA newsletter is not monitored. Please send email and inquiries to: ​​
