Colored Pencil Society of America News

CPSA Members Announced as Finalists in Prestigious Competition

2013-05-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

The finalists and award winners of the 2012-2013 Art Renewal Center Salon were announced recently, and we are thrilled to share that four of our CPSA members were selected as finalists in this prestigious competition.

In the still life category, Arlene Steinberg, CPSA (NY) was selected for her work Crystal Beauty.

Crystal Beauty

Cecile Baird, CPSA (OH) was selected as a finalist with two pieces, Garlic in a New Light and Beauty So Deep It Makes You Weep. Arlene’s and Cecile’s works were done in colored pencil.

Garlic in a New Light

Beauty So Deep It Makes You Weep

Eileen Sorg, CPSA, CPX (WA) was chosen for The Power of Self Esteem, done in colored pencil, ink and watercolor.

The Power of Self Esteem

Tanja Gant (TX) was chosen in the figurative category for her colored pencil piece, Scarlet. She was also a finalist in the drawing category for her graphite piece, Waiting.

Scarlet

In the animal category, Eileen Sorg’s Foiled Again was chosen as a finalist. Foiled Again took top honors in the CPSA Explore This! 9 exhibition, which is on display through January 2014 at www.cpsa.org

Foiled Again

The Art Renewal Center strives to display the largest selection of fine art pieces on the internet in an online museum setting. This year, over 2,000 entries were received and 600 were selected as finalists. The center actually had to raise their maximum number of finalists to include such high quality works of fine art. To learn more about the ARC, please visit http://www.artrenewal.org

21st Annual International Exhibition Accepted Artists Announced

2013-04-24T07:48:00.001-07:00

CPSA is pleased to announce the accepted artists for the 21st Annual International Exhibition to be held this year in Brea, CA. You may view the list of artists here: http://www.cpsa.org/latest-announcements/36-cpsa-organization/exhibitions/157-cpsa-21st-international-exhibition-accepted-artists

Congratulations to all!

CPSA Board Changes...Membership Director Position Available

2013-04-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Effective April 1, 2013, Barbara Gleason (OR), corporate image director (CID) for CPSA, is stepping down. She and her husband, Dan, have embarked on a new venture which suits their passion and expertise perfectly, Wild Birds Unlimited in Eugene, OR. We greatly appreciate her contribution and volunteer service to our national governing board and the CPSA community of artists.

Also effective April 1, our membership director, CJ Worlein, will be stepping into the CID directorship. She has an extensive background in graphics and design, and has a wonderfully creative "eye". Watch for future changes to the "image" of CPSA!

CJ Worlein
CPSA Corporate Image Director

This change leaves our membership director (MD) position open. We are looking to fill the position no later than the convention in Brea this July. The MD candidate must be detail-oriented to keep track of our 1,500 members' information, and must be people/user friendly. The MD is often the first contact with potential members and needs to uphold our CPSA philosophy, "We build the society one member at a time." It's a great volunteer position for meeting many colored pencil artists. Please contact Cindy Haase, CPSA president at president@cpsa.org for a job description if this is the job for you.

CPSA Announces New Board Members and 2014 Convention Location

2013-03-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

CPSA is pleased to announce two new board members effective November 1, 2013. Debbie Hook (OH) will take on the job of convention director. Debbie is currently president of DC 119-Greater Cincinnati, which hosted the 2012 convention. Hosting that convention provided her with a great learning experience. Gemma Gylling, CPSA (CA) will be stepping down after eight years of service to the board.

Debbie Hook

Debra Yaun, CPSA (GA), president of DC 107-Atlanta, will assume the role of district chapter development director (DCDD). Debra has served her chapter in a leadership capacity for many years and her experience will be invaluable in her new role. Jeffrey Baisden, CPSA (FL) will be stepping down after several terms on the board as DCDD.

Debra Yaun, CPSA

CPSA also has exciting convention news. The 2014 convention and exhibition will be held at Daytona Beach, Florida! The hotel will be the Daytona Beach Resort, 2700 N. Atlantic Ave. (on the beach). The 22nd Annual CPSA International Exhibition will be at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum (OMAM), 78 East Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach. At its spring meeting, the governing board toured the museum. The gallery and its beautiful, tropical grounds offer a delightful setting for the exhibition. This is an event you simply won't want to miss. The dates for the convention are Wednesday, July 30, 2014 through Saturday, August 2, 2014. The exhibition dates are June 13, 2014 through August 25th, 2014. The prospectus with more details will be available about November 15th of this year.

A Moment With Two of Our Explore This! 9 Winners

2013-02-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

For its ninth show, Explore This! offers some of the most diverse artwork the exhibition has displayed in its history. Artists offer an exciting range of styles from the abstract to the ultra-realistic and from poignant to whimsical. There truly is something for everyone in ET!9. This year, as in past years, artists used their creativity with a variety of media including travertine stone, crayon, gold leaf, textured gel medium and resin, among many others. If you haven’t yet seen Explore This! 9, you can view the online exhibition here: http://www.cpsa.org/view-explore-this-9

We are fortunate this year to have spent a few moments with EXPY winner, Eileen Sorg, CPSA, CPX (WA) and our second-place winner, Deborah Friedman, CPSA (MA) to explore their thoughts about their work and the creative process while working on their ET! entries. Here’s what our winning artists had to say…

Eileen Sorg is from Kingston, Washington. She earned her CPSA signature status in 2006 and her CPX in 2011. Her piece titled, “Foiled Again” earned her the Best of Show and EXPY award, sponsored by Prismacolor.

Best of Show EXPY Winner "Foiled Again"

CPSA: Eileen, how did you come up with the composition for “Foiled Again?”

Eileen: "Foiled Again" evolved entirely around that old skate. I had bought it several years ago because I liked its shape and I felt there was a story there. Many of my drawings start this way, their beginnings centered around an item that caught my eye somewhere. In this case, that skate started to look like a chariot to me. From there I just had to cast my players and put my story to paper.

CPSA: How did you develop the ink, watercolor and colored pencil “formula” for your artwork?

Eileen: I learned this mixed media process from an amazing artist and now friend, Sueellen Ross. I took her class many years ago where she taught her technique. Sueellen is a much better painter than I and she spends more time on the watercolor. I try to get to the pencil part of things as quick as possible since that is more my strength.

CPSA: "Foiled Again" is listed in the exhibition as “not for sale.” Have you decided to keep it in your collection, or have you had the good fortune of selling it?

Eileen: The story of the purchase of this piece is pretty simple. I was working on "Foiled Again" while working at some festivals this past summer. The collector saw it while I was in Michigan and emailed me a few days later to purchase it even though it was still not finished. Some drawings are like that - they just have an appeal that finds a buyer right away. Once completed, I shipped the piece to its new home in LA.

CPSA: For artists trying to create realistic art from unrealistic settings, such as a squirrel riding a roller skate, what is your advice to them in creating those compositions so that they appear realistic? Do you use real objects or photo references?

Eileen: To create these sort of fantastical pieces I find it helpful to work from many sources. I use photos for the animal subjects and to "freeze" my lighting for the duration of the drawing. I set up the inanimate objects in a still-life box on a rolling toolbox in my studio, which I can move into place as needed. Many times this will get me about 80% of the information I need to complete the drawing, for the rest I rely upon my unfettered imagination. I think that is the soul of my current work, that 20% that is sort of unplanned and, until that moment, unseen outside of my mind's eye.

CPSA: What is on the drawing board next and what are your artistic plans for the coming year?

Eileen: Rabbits are showing up a lot for me right now. Not cutesy rabbits but more stern and glib. Crows are always involved because they are such great subjects for telling stories. Every situation I put them in is always a bit believable because they are so intelligent. I am also moving forward into children's book illustrations and a series of copper plate etchings so there will be lots to see from me this year.

"Bending Your Ear"

Eileen will be offering two 2-day workshops this spring to teach her technique. The first is March 16^th and 17^th in Shoreline, WA and the second is May 18^th and 19^th at her studio in Kingston, WA. Space is limited. Please contact Eileen at twodogstudio@msn.com for more information.

Deborah Friedman is our second place winner for her piece titled, “Spirit Stones.” Deborah creates her artwork from her studio in Wellesley, MA. She earned her CPSA status in 2011.

Second Place Winner "Spirit Stones"

CPSA: Deborah, you’ve done several different pieces centered around beautiful stones. Where do you find your subject matter?

Deborah: I have been collecting stones for quite some time now, mostly finding them on beaches in Rhode Island. Friends have also brought me unique stones from all over the world, including from the Dead Sea and Turkey. I first did a stones piece as a silent auction donation for the CPSA Chapter 112 Juried Show in 2008. (See "Beach Stones" below.) It received so much attention, including from the DerWent Pencil Company (who commissioned me to do a drawing with their graphite pencils) that I decided to explore several ideas I had with stones over the course of one summer. When doing those exploratory drawings I got the idea to put stones in vases and add water, enabling me to play around with light, color and shape distortions, the meniscus line, and much more.

"Beach Stones"

CPSA: The juror, Mana Hewitt found humor in your piece, “Spirit Stones.” She asked, “Could those rocks be smiling?” They really do appear to be happy...was that your intent?

Deborah: My intent was to convey a variety of emotions in the stone surfaces/faces, from happy to chagrined, perplexed and puzzled. I first pursued this idea in the piece I did for the CPSA’s silent auction held in Covington, KY. But those stones were laid in a dry, clear bowl, and seen from a bird’s eye viewpoint. (See "Stone Faced" below.)

"Stone Faced"

CPSA: Much of your artwork is derived from nature. What about nature inspires you and what about nature do you wish to convey in your work?

Deborah: That’s a tough question to answer! I love nature, and find it interesting and challenging to juxtapose particular natural elements that interest me in new, and hopefully, fresh ways. Stones with feathers or leaves. Stones in water. Birds, eggs, nests, and leaves have been longstanding fascinations for me, but I have for the most part been focusing on stones in a variety of formats recently.

CPSA: Do you have a favorite surface (paper) and favorite pencils you use in your work? How did you incorporate graphite into this mixed-media piece?

Deborah: I have experimented with working on sanded surfaces and boards, but always gravitate back to Strathmore Bristol Board, or Canson Mi-Tientes papers. I used to use Prismacolor Pencils exclusively, but have recently begun experimenting with Faber Castell Polychromos and Lyra Splendor Pencils. I also sometimes will layer Caran D’Ache Supracolor II pencils (blended with water) under the dry layers. The graphite in “Spirit Stones” is used in the glass and the background shadowing. The stones are entirely Prismacolor Pencil.

CPSA: What are you working on now and what are your artistic plans for the coming year?

Deborah: I have been doing a series of stones drawings on Canson Mi-Tientes, exploring a new manner of “joining” the stones in a still-life format. These new drawings (there are 6 so far) will be on my website soon, which is currently being re-designed. I haven’t updated my website in over a year, and have about 20 new pieces to add to the galleries. I also plan to do another large, colorful stones in water/vase still-life, and perhaps another bird drawing. I’ve always wanted to incorporate an owl into a snowy landscape. Technically, I also plan to experiment on a small scale with CP on cradle boards, varnishing the pieces and leaving them unframed.

Deborah will be offering a five-week intermediate colored pencil course through Wellesley College Botanic Gardens beginning Thursday, May 23^rd. Click on the following link for a brochure: http://new.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/assets/departments/wcbg/files/wcfh_fy13_brochure_web.pdf

Deborah’s class information is on page 20 of the brochure.

CPSA Announces Explore This! 9

2013-02-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

CPSA is pleased to present the ninth annual Explore This! online exhibition. Explore This! (ET!) is a juried competition of mixed-media artwork focused around the main medium of colored pencil. Out of 298 entries, 53 were selected to appear in the exhibition. Thirteen of those entries were selected as award winners. The best of show “EXPY” award of $2,000 is sponsored by Prismacolor and the $1,500 second prize is sponsored by CPSA. The top award went to Eileen Sorg, CPSA, CPX of Kingston, Washington for her piece, “Foiled Again.” The second place winner was Deborah Friedman, CPSA of Wellesley, Massachusetts for her piece, “Spirit Stones.” Ms. Sorg achieved her CPSA status in 2006 and CPX in 2011. Ms. Friedman achieved her CPSA status in 2011.

Eileen Sorg, CPSA, CPX (WA)

"Foiled Again"

Colored Pencil, Watercolor, Ink

12 x 27 inches

Not For Sale

This year’s ET! juror is Mana Hewitt. Ms. Hewitt is a director of undergraduate studies and gallery director for McMaster Gallery in the Department of Art at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. When asked about selecting the winning entries, she said, “In selecting the award winners I found that first place and Best in Show, “Foiled Again” by Eileen Sorg, was exceptional in process and content. Sorg skillfully pushed beyond the expected to create a wonderful visual pun.” She continued, “Second place, “Spirit Stones” by Deborah Friedman, manipulated transparency, light and reflection with exceptional skill and good humor. Could those rocks be smiling?” CPSA expresses gratitude to Mana Hewitt for serving as juror and the insight on her award choices.

Deborah Friedman, CPSA (MA)

"Spirit Stones"

Colored Pencil, Graphite

17.5 x 13 inches

$1,000

ET! 9 is now on display and will be available on our website through January 31, 2014. You can see the exhibition now by clicking the following link: http://cpsa.org/view-explore-this-9. Congratulations to all our winners and accepted artists!

Explore This! 9 Accepted Entries Announced

2013-01-16T10:17:00.003-08:00

CPSA is pleased to announce the accepted entries for ET! 9. Congratulations to our accepted artists! Please click on the following link for the complete list: http://cpsa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=150. The exhibition will be live on the CPSA website, www.cpsa.org on February 1. Award winners will be notified by mail before February 1. This year's top prize, the EXPY award, is $2,000 and is sponsored by Prismacolor. ET! 9 boasted nearly 300 entries this year, the most ever entered in the online competition.

Entries Are Now Being Accepted to CPSA 21st Annual International Exhibition and Convention

2012-12-20T11:55:00.001-08:00

CPSA is pleased to announce that we are now accepting entries to our 21st Annual International Exhibition. Likewise, you may also register for the convention to take place in Brea, California from July 30 to August 3, 2013. The exhibition will be on display at the City of Brea Gallery from July 31 to September 13, 2013. Our competition has grown in size and quality with each exhibition, and we anticipate that this year will be no different.

A word about the exhibition...
Entries are currently being accepted for our international exhibition which features 100% colored pencil artwork in two-dimensional format. CPSA has recently released a list of specific, accepted materials for the international exhibitions. You may access that list here:
http://cpsa.org/index.php/?option=com_content&view=article&id=147

Jeff George, CPSA (CA)

"The Home of the Brave"

18" x 24"

Last year, artists competed for more than $16,000 in cash prizes and for the coveted CIPPY Best of Show Award. CPSA encourages members and non-members alike to enter this wonderful exhibition. The final deadline for entries is March 31, 2013. Those who wish to enter may do so on the CaFÉ^TM website at www.callforentry.org. Please read the prospectus thoroughly at www.cpsa.org before submitting your entries.

Paul Lundberg (MN)

"Good Day Sunshine"

10" x 8"

A word about the convention...
For the first time, those wishing to make reservations for the convention must do so online at www.cpsa.org. You may, however, send payment via mail if you do not wish to pay online. You can sign up for two wonderful workshops by Elliott Everson, CPSA and Arlene Steinberg, CPSA. Elliott’s workshop titled, “Colored Pencil on the Rocks” will focus on colored pencil artwork done on travertine stone. Arlene’s workshop is titled, “Creative Trompe L’Oeil Made Quicker with Inktense Pencils and Pan Pastels.” Participants will learn about the history of trompe l’oeil and work on your own piece using Arlene’s techniques. You can also make reservations for the awards banquet. Deadline for payment is July 22, 2013.

We look forward to seeing you next summer in Brea!

Announcing New PR Director

2012-09-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

NEW Public Relations Director

CPSA is so excited to announce we have selected Lisa Mills for the position of Public Relations Director, effective November 1, 2012. Lisa is from Colleyville, TX and is a member of DC-215, Dallas/Forth Worth. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas Christian University in Interior Merchandising with a concentration in Illustration. Lisa brings her professional skills in advertising and public relations to our National Governing Board, and we can all look forward to having CPSA more in the public eye. Her official email is publicity at cpsa (dot) org

EXPLORE THIS! 9 - Open for Entries

You can now submit your entries for our next online Explore This! 9 exhibition. The prospectus is available at the cpsa.org website. Deadline is November 15, 2012. Exhibition dates are February 1, 2013 – January 31, 2014.

September Update - Membership, Explore This! 9

2012-09-01T16:15:00.003-07:00

Explore This! 9 Online Exhibition - Prospectus at Website
Believe it or not, it’s time again to get back to your drawing board and put your pencils and other art media to work creating your entry for Explore This! 9. The prospectus is downloadable now from the CPSA website.

Important Dates are:

September 15, 2012 – First day to submit entries at CaFE™
November 15, 2012 – Deadline for entries
February 1, 2013 – January 31, 2014 – Artwork posted online

MEMBERSHIP

Renewals: This year, email renewal reminders (instead of postcards) for the 2013 membership year were sent to members who have an email address on record. This change will be cost effective for CPSA and hopefully more convenient for our members. The emails were sent over several days the week of August 26. Members without an email address still receive a postcard. Please be sure to renew by October 31 to continue your membership benefits uninterrupted when the new membership year begins November 1.

New Members: This is the first year new members who join prior to the start of the 2013 membership year not only receive 2013 membership, but also have immediate access to member-only items for the balance of the 2012 year. If you've been thinking about joining, there's no need to wait until November 1!

CPSA Website: The entire Membership section of the CPSA website has been revamped in preparation for 2013 membership activity. We encourage you to take a moment to read through the FAQ and updated pages for new and renewing members.

SPECIAL FOR OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS

“How You Can Make an Impression”
Jamie Markle, Publisher and Editorial Director at F+W Fine Art, presented a very informative seminar at our recent convention. He has generously made this information available to us as a PDF document which is available at the CPSA website. You will learn how to connect with editors, discover what they are looking for and gain an understanding of the editorial process. This document also includes a technical review of how to submit material to a publisher. If you have considered authoring a book or have any curiosity about the publishing business, this document will be very helpful.

20th International Convention Reminders

2012-07-19T09:42:00.001-07:00

Silent Auction

One of our favorite Convention attractions is the Silent Auction of artworks donated by some of our award winning members. The bidding will take place in our Hospitality Suite on Wednesday, August 1 and Thursday, August 2 and builds to a crescendo at our Membership meeting on Thursday evening. Bidding takes place during the evening meeting and all bidders must be present, or have a surrogate bidder.

This year we will be able to accept major credit cards which should keep the bidding even more competitive. There are more than 30 great artworks from which to choose. You can see the Slideshow Preview of the Silent Auction. This is your chance to own a small but cherished piece of art created by one of your favorite artists.

Reservations for the Awards Banquet

The hotel has required that we cut off reservations for the Awards Banquet by July 23rd. There will be no banquet reservations sold during convention week. Therefore, if you plan to attend the Awards Banquet and have not yet registered, please contact Gemma at conventions@cpsa.org by Monday, July 23rd to arrange for payment to be made using your credit card.

20th Annual CPSA Exhibition

2012-06-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

Important reminder for artists accepted into the 20th Annual CPSA International Exhibition:

You should have shipped your artwork, or arranged for its delivery, to the Carnegie Center. Next week - June 25-29 - is the window of time for it to arrive at the Center.

If you haven't filled out, signed and mailed the Hold Harmless Agreement to the Exhibition Director, Paula Parks, you should do that immediately.

You can also fill it out, scan it and email it to exhibitions@cpsa.org.

Paula will be happy to answer any email inquiries, but please don't send your HHA by certified mail because that necessitates a trip to the PO. And, please don't call.

It is too late to make any changes to information previously submitted about your name or your piece or art.

20th EXHIBITION - May 2012 Updates

2012-05-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

Shipping and Hold Harmless Agreements for Artists in the 20th International

For those of you honored artists chosen for this year's International Exhibition, we have posted the Shipping Instructions and Hold Harmless Agreement at our website. Forms can be accessed at this link.

Please read all of the information carefully and if you have any questions, please contact Paula Parks at exhibitions@cpsa.org immediately.

It is extremely important for your artwork to arrive in Covington, KY within the designated dates of June 25-29. In addition, all artists must sign a Hold Harmless Agreement and return that document to Paula Parks, Exhibition Director, at the address on the form before June 29th. Please note: The artwork will not appear in the exhibition unless the Hold Harmless Agreement has been signed and returned to Paula.

CPSA 20th International Exhibition - Accepted Artists Announced

2012-04-22T05:39:00.000-07:00

The juror, Jamie Markle, has made his selection of the artworks to be included in the CPSA 20^th International Exhibition. Congratulations to each of the artists who will have their artwork exhibited at The Carnegie, Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington, Kentucky. Thanks to all of the artists who submitted their work for consideration. Accepted artists will receive a postcard in the mail.

Registration is open for our Convention which will be Wednesday, Aug 1 through Saturday, Aug 4. Workshops are popular and some are nearly full. The instructors this year are Eileen Sorg, CPSA and John Ursillo, CPSA. Please see details for the workshops in the Show Prospectus. http://cpsa.org/images/stories/exhibitions/prospectus12-final.pdf, Registration for the convention and the workshops can be completed on line at this link.

Other Important Dates:

Shipped artworks must arrive at the Carnegie between June 25 and June 29^th.
Shipping information will be available on the cpsa.org website on May 1^st.
Awards judging will be July 9^th.

2012-02-23T09:47:00.008-08:00

CaFE - callforentry.org Announced New Simplified Entry Specs

The CaFE system that manages the entries for both our International and Explore This! Exhibitions has been simplified. Now you can upload your images by sizing them to 1920 pixels in the longest direction. They no longer need to be square with black borders. Images already in CaFE can still be used without making changes to them. Please follow the new CaFE guidelines and disregard any previous instructions.

20^th International Exhibition and Convention – deadline March 31st

We are now approaching the final month prior to the entry deadline for this competition. March 31^st will be the final day to enter. If you have not already entered your images, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to do so. As always we are expecting quite a few of the entries to be placed in the final hours. Beat the rush by doing it now! Enter through http://callforentry.org

Convention registrations are also well underway now. Workshops are starting to fill so don’t wait too long to commit to either a Thursday or Friday workshop with Eileen Sorg, CPSA, or John Ursillo, CPSA. Both instructors are award-winning artists and experienced instructors. The Convention dates are August 1 through 4, 2012 and is being held at the Embassy Suites Cincinnati-River Center in Covington, KY. The prospectus gives details for hotel reservations, transportation, etc.

Explore This! 8 On Line Exhibition

In all your excitement to enter the 20^th International, don’t forget to visit the online Explore This! 8 exhibition at the www.cpsa.org website. The show includes artwork from 53 artists who have uniquely worked with colored pencil and other media to create beautiful and expressive artworks. The show will be available for one year.

Free for CPSA Members

If you're a current (2012) member of CPSA, you can receive any of three CPSA publications as PDF files at no charge. This will be of particular interest if you were late renewing your membership and missed the Directory and To The Point magazine mailed in January. Items available in PDF form include the 2012 CPSA Directory, Fall-Winter 2011-12 To The Point, and Lightfastness Test Results (listed by brand only, not the full Workbook). Ordering instructions are on the Free Items for CPSA Members page at the CPSA website. Once your membership status is confirmed, you will receive the requested file(s) by email. If you’d prefer to purchase printed copies of the Directory, this or past issues of To The Point, or the Lightfastness Workbook, all can be ordered from the CPSA website.

Mail in Purchases

We have also added to the site a new easy to print, downloadable form for purchasing items from our site if you prefer to mail in a check.

January 2012 Update

2012-01-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

Explore This! 8 Online Exhibition – Accepted Artworks have been Selected

You can now see the list of accepted artists and artworks at the cpsa.org website. Soon you will be able to see the actual artwork and the award winners. The exhibition begins February 1^st and will be online for a full year. As always the artwork is varied and innovative.

CPSA Publications in Production

The Fall-Winter To The Point and the 2012 Membership Directory are both at the printers currently and should be in the mail very soon.

Convention Registration for the 2012 – 20^th Annual CPSA International Exhibition

We are happy to announce that the convention registration is now available on our website. The information is included in the downloadable prospectus. You can register for Thursday and Friday workshops by Eileen Sorg and John Ursillo, the Awards Banquet and our Saturday Speaker, Jamie Markle. Registration can be completed through PayPal using either a PayPal account or a major credit card. You can also mail In payment via the USPS. Remember, however, that registration is not complete until your payment is received.

Get Ready for 2012 -it's almost here!

2011-12-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

Get Those Pencils Sharpened and Ready!

The Prospectus for the 20th Annual CPSA Exhibition is now available at the cpsa.org website. It is a downloadable PDF file. The exhibition for 2012 will be held in Covington, KY at The Carnegie, Visual and Performing Arts Center. Deadline for entries is March 31, 2012. The dates for the exhibition are July 13 – August 30, 2012. You can enter your artwork in the exhibition through the call for entry.org website using this link.

Again we are planning a great convention featuring workshops with two outstanding and award-winning artists, Eileen Sorg, CPSA and John Ursillo, CPSA. Download your copy of the prospectus to see the details of the workshops. We will also be treated to a great Saturday event featuring Jamie Markle, this year’s juror, who will provide valuable information on getting your artwork published. Registration for the convention will be opened in January at the cpsa.org website.

Membership Deadline

We are fast approaching the December 31 deadline to renew your membership (or to join CPSA) in time to be listed in our 2012 Membership Directory. The new Directory and Fall-Winter 2011 To The Point will be mailed only to members of record as of December 31. Those who renew after that date will need to order their copies from the website at an additional charge to cover individual shipping and handling. So, if you have not yet paid online or sent off your check, now is the time! Membership

To The Point Magazine/Newsletter

Watch for the Fall/Winter issue to arrive in January.

Explore This! 8

Will be opening February 1, 2012 on line at cpsa.org

CPSA on Facebook

For timely news, featured CPSA member artwork and helpful educational links, follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/CPSA.ORG)

NOTE correct date for Explore This! 8 Entry Deadline

2011-10-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

Apologies if anyone panicked at my error in the deadline for ET! 8. Correct deadline is November 15th as is stated in the prospectus.

CORRECTED DATE! Fall Updates from CPSA

2011-10-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

November 15th is fast approaching
November 15th is the deadline for entries for the Explore This! 8 Online Exhibition. Your innovative and unique entries to this mixed media show are wanted to make this a great show. This is a great opportunity to share your artwork without having to ship the original. Entries need to be uploaded to http://callforentry.org . The prospectus is available at cpsa.org and at https://www.callforentry.org/index.php

CPSA on Facebook.
CPSA now has a unique URL on Facebook to make it easier to visit. The new URL is https://www.facebook.com/CPSA.ORG. This is a good way to hear about DC events, artists in the news, and product promotions from our Patrons and Sponsors.

Have You Renewed Your CPSA Membership Yet?
Our thanks to those who have, but if you haven’t renewed for 2012 yet, you can:
1) renew online from the CPSA website (www.cpsa.org/ShoppingCart),
2) mail a check with the renewal card you received in August, or
3) print the form from the website and mail it in.
Remember, the final deadline for inclusion in the 2012 Directory is December 31. Don’t wait until the last minute! (Note: last chance to avoid loss of acceptances or Signature status for members who did not renew for 2011 from 2010 is October 31! Look for the special 2011 renewal option on the website.)

Explore This! 8 Open for Entries

2011-09-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

Explore This! 8 is now open for entries at http://callforentry.org. You can find the prospectus on our website and at the CaFÉ (callforentry.org) website. The deadline for entries is November 15, 2011, and the show will open February 1, 2012.

This is your opportunity to use other media and techniques not allowed for the CPSA International Exhibition as long as your artwork is predominantly colored pencil. If you are a CPSA member, acceptance will count toward earning our new CPX Signature status established for Explore This! shows.

It’s never too early to start! Pencils ready? Start drawing. We’re waiting to see the entries.

NEW LOOK, NEW DUES RATE, Facebook

2011-08-31T16:26:00.000-07:00

CPSA’s website (www.cpsa.org) has been updated and redesigned

Please visit the site and make use of the updated information. You will find new information about exhibitions, lightfastness and a new Shopping Cart for renewing membership and ordering items offered for sale. If you have any problem accessing the new page, please try “refreshing” or “reloading” the page in your browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc). You should have a curly arrow or something similar to this graphic near the web address line. If you click on it, the current page will display.

Reload symbol

CPSA is now on Facebook

Find us at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Colored-Pencil-Society-of-America-Official/231838816849481. We have a number of online ways to keep up with CPSA events – Facebook, Twitter, Blog, and Website. The winter issue of our newsletter magazine To The Point will be published at the end of the year and will include the images of the 19^th Annual. You can also order a copy of the DVD of the show at the website (Shop CPSA link).

New rates for Membership

CPSA has new membership rates starting with the 2012 year. A U.S. or Canadian membership is now $45 and residents of other countries will pay $65. Lifetime Memberships are also available. As you know, for this membership fee you receive a member directory, 2 issues of the news magazine, To The Point, reduced fees for convention, exhibitions and workshops – still a good deal!

Another Explore This! Show is on the horizon

The Prospectus is at the website as of September 1^st. Entries will be accepted after September 15^th with a deadline of November 15^th. The show will be online from February 1^,2011 through January 31, 2012.

Featured Artist - CIPPY Award Winner

Last, but not least, you have a chance to get to know our CIPPY winner and new Membership Director a bit better. Please visit the Featured Artist article about CJ Worlein.

Convention Recap - What's Next?

2011-07-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

The convention in Dallas/Richardson, Texas has just concluded. CPSA sends a round of applause and thanks to host District Chapter 215 for their part in making this year’s event such a success.

The Thursday evening membership meeting included the raffle drawing for 8 wonderful Top of the Line products donated by Patrons and Sponsors. Again there was the excitement of bidding on the Silent Auction artworks donated by CPSA members. Thank you to all of the donors and winners for supporting this fund-raising event.

We are also excited to announce that upcoming conventions will be held in the following cities: Covington KY (Greater Cincinnati area) in 2012 and Brea CA again in 2013. Plan ahead—we want to have as many of you attend as possible.

The convention closed with the Awards Banquet on Friday and a Reception at the Charles W. Eisemann Center on Saturday. You can view the list of award winners and images at the CPSA website. Awards Link This year’s Best of Show and CIPPY winner is CJ Worlein of Oregon with her beautiful and sensitive artwork titled “The Sisters.”

If you are in the Dallas area, the show continues until August 1st.

Upcoming things to add to your calendar:

Membership for 2012 will open September 1^st.
Prospectus for Explore This! 8 – due September 1^st
New look for the CPSA website – on or before September 1^st

Like the energizer bunny we keep on moving!

2011-06-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

More good news regarding Sponsors

CPSA is proud to welcome Strathmore as another new sponsor.

The Strathmore Paper Company has been in business since 1892 in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It takes its name from the Valley of Strathmore in England and uses the thistle as its trademark. Many of you are already familiar with this company's high quality art and printing papers. Learn more about the company and its products, read their Artist Newsletter and learn about their Visual Journey workshops. You can use this link to access this information. The cpsa.org website also links to this information and that of other sponsors and patrons.

Please support all of our Patrons and Sponsors.

Convention Notes

If you are coming to the convention in Dallas, and we hope you are, the airport recommends advance reservations for shuttles to the hotel. See the prospectus or the latest CPSA newsletter for those numbers. Also, Dallas has two airports so be sure you have your shuttle reserved at the correct airport. (DAL = Love Field; DFW = Dallas/Fort Worth International).

The 19^th Exhibition is only days from being a reality. The show will be opening June 29^th at the Charles W. Eisemann Center in Dallas. Paintings have been arriving this week. We are confident it will be a beautiful show. The last day to register on line for the Convention and its events is July 1^st.

Not to miss…

Workshops by Sheila Theodoratos & Bonnie Auten – info and registration at www.cpsa.org
Silent Auction – Preview these original artworks at www.cpsa.org
Raffle Tickets – win 1 of 8 “Top of the Lines” prizes - tickets and info
Trade Show at the hotel on Saturday, July 16 by Asel Art Supply

It’s a great week full of art and friends. We hope you can be in attendance.

CPSA gains a new SPONSOR MEMBER - Jerry's Artarama

2011-06-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.jerrysartarama.com/promotions/2011/soho-professional-colored-pencils.html

We are really excited to announce our new relationship with the well-known art materials retailer Jerry’s Artarama. You will soon be hearing about exclusive special offers available to CPSA members when you shop online or in one of their stores. At the same time, they are introducing a new product: Soho Urban Artist Professional Colored Pencils are available in 72 colors and very competitively priced. But of course they also carry all your favorite brands – at www.JerrysArtarama.com, you will find a full range of art supplies, framing, and crafts at discount prices. Get there from a new banner link from the CPSA website on the Patrons and Sponsors page, or call their easy to remember toll free number: 1-800-U-ARTIST. Check out their blog too, at http://www.jerrysartarama.com/blog/ Jerry's says that since opening their first store in 1968, they have always believed in treating customers like family, and that proud tradition continues today. We’re delighted to have them in the CPSA family too.

Opportunities and Reminders

2011-05-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

UKCPS CALL TO ARTISTS - Deadline June 11, 2011

Our friends in the UK are having their Tenth Annual Open International Exhibition. Both pure coloured pencil and mixed media are welcome for this event. The exhibit will be at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, London. Details can be found at www.ukcps.co.uk or contact exhibitions@ukcps.co.uk.

__________________________________________________

CPSA Top of the Lines Fundraiser Raffle – Buy your tickets now!

Again this year, CPSA is offering great prizes. You have a chance to win 1 of 8 great prizes. Our CPSA member companies have provided their Top of the Line products. This includes a Caran d’Ache Luminance lightfast pencils, Chartpak/Koh-i-Noor Polycolor Art Set,, Coloursoft Pencils, Faber-Castell, Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils, Dixon Ticonderoga/Lyra Set of pencils, Prismacolor New Premier Soft Core Pencils and, from Ester Roi, an Icarus Drawing Board. The drawing will be held at the Membership Meeting on July 14, 2011. You do not need to be present to win.

Important links: Details about each prize and a link to the Raffle Ticket Sheet

___________________________________________________

DVD of CPSA Exhibitions of 2011

Again we will be producing a DVD of the two shows sponsored by CPSA this year—Explore This! 7 Online Exhibition and the CPSA19^th Annual International Exhibition. The DVD can be ordered on line or by check at the cpsa.org website.

__________________________________________________

WORKSHOPS & HOTEL DEADLINE for Convention

It’s time to make sure that you have your hotel and workshop reservations in place. The deadline for the CPSA Special Hotel rate is Monday, June 20^th, and the number of rooms at that price is limited. The hotel is the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel and you can make reservations at 972-367-2000. Mention CPSA when you make the reservation so that you will receive the special rate.

Workshops are filling as well so be sure you are able to get the date and workshop that you wish. One day Workshops are offered July 14^th and 15^th with Sheila Theodoratos, CPSA and Bonnie Auten, CPSA. More information about the workshops is in the Show Prospectus. http://cpsa.org/EXHIBITION/19thEXHIBITION/Prospectus11-TX-FX-4-11.pdf .

You can register for the Convention activities on line through this link at the CPSA website: http://cpsa.org/MEMBERSHIP/ConventionRegistration.html.