This coming Monday evening, May 8th, is CMW’s month meeting scheduled for 6:00 pm in the lower level of the Paramount. Our featured demo artist is James Turner. We will begin with a short meeting updating the membership on the Art Crawl in June, Munsinger Garden Art Fair in July and other items of interest. You will have an opportunity to sign up for these upcoming events.
The following information will introduce you to James Turner if you don’t already know about him. There are three samples of his fine artwork, too. Remember to meet this Monday, May 8th at 6 pm!
“I was trained and practiced full time as an MD anesthesiologist until 3 years ago, but have been drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpting and otherwise involved in making art all my life. I took up watercolor painting seriously about 25 years ago. I have attended workshops with several nationally known artists.
“I have been teaching at Minnetonka Center for the Arts, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and have done workshops for the Minnesota Watercolor society and for other local societies. I have volunteered as a watercolor teacher at the Mound Westonka Middle School (12 years) and was assisting/teaching at the Mound Westonka High School in their Advanced Art Program for several years until Covid shut that down. I currently serve as curator for the Performing Arts Center at the High School (volunteer) exhibition space.
I have won multiple awards from the Minnesota Watercolor Society including Best in Show twice and am a signature member. I have had paintings in the Minnesota State Fair fine arts show the last 3 years and won awards there. I have also won multiple awards in plein air painting events including Best Watercolor (twice) and best body of work at the Grand Marais plein air event as well as Best in Show and Quick Paint awards at Red Wing and Hudson events. I have had several solo shows and have paintings in collections across the US.
I have had paintings in the annual American Watercolor Society show the last 3 years and currently have a painting in the AWS traveling show. This third acceptance in the most prestigious watercolor event in the world has given me signature status, and the painting was awarded the Francis Neil Storer memorial Award.
I cannot now look at the world without thinking about color, texture, value, and design. I am driven to paint and my favorite times are spent in front of an easel. For me it is really and truthfully about the process of creation. It’s great when a painting succeeds and I and others can look at it and appreciate and enjoy it, but I love painting even when the results are not so great, when the new idea doesn’t pan out. Maybe because of this I love to try things I haven’t tried before, new techniques, new media, new compositions, because it’s FUN.
I paint because it’s magic, and I love doing it, and my favorite painting is always the next one.”
James Turner 1
James Turner 2
James Turner 3
More information may be found by clicking on the following link: