President’s Message June/July 2019

Thank you, for your approving vote for me to be your President of UWS for the 2019-2020 year. The operative words in the previous sentence “your President,” because I am here for you, all of you. Whether it is your preference to volunteer to be on the UWS Board, or attend meetings and participate, or quietly slip in and out of monthly meetings, I’m here for you. All Included, that is my goal.

If you don’t know anything about me, here is a little info about my journey so far. I was born and raised on Long Island, N.Y. came out west to attend College, BS, MFA, and taught Art, Biology and English in public schools ( Jr. High ugh!) for 40 years. Summers were spent in many ways; as a Chef for a river running company, a Lecturer on Cruise Ships ( been on 18 cruises) and Road trips all over the US in a VW Bus, that never started in the summer! Never married, so I adopted my two daughters, ( one at birth, the other at age 3 from Uzbekistan). They are now 31, and 27 and I get to be a grandma of two Grand girls. Many illustrated journaling worthy stories in there, and it all works out in the end. I get to paint for fun now!

I waited too many years before I got the courage to join UWS. In fact, it was back in 1975, that I first heard about a group that actually loved watercolor. I had been painting most of my life, and often outside on location, before I found out that it was actually a “thing” and had a real name…”Plein Air”. I assumed that one had to audition, by submitting paintings for approval, before being accepted into the group. I waited until 2012 to find out that that wasn’t true. All are welcomed. If you don’t paint, think you “can’t” paint, hate most of the things that you do paint, or celebrate your talent and thrive on competition, you are welcomed here!

I look forward to a great year for all of us. Try and support a paint out, if you can. Be brave and enter a show, find a painting buddy so you can motivate each other to paint, maybe once a week. If you have stars, or are a signature member, I hope there will be something this year, that will inspire you to try something new.

If you would like to volunteer for something ( with no commitment)  or have suggestions, ideas or concerns, contact me or anyone else on YOUR Board, so they can be addressed. We are here for you! “Happy Painting”  

~Linda Flannery