During this tumultuous time. We understand that working artist will be having a challenging time.  We have put together a listing of organizations available to help with relief for those that are in need.

Artist Relief Fund

Craft Emergency Relief Fund

Music Maker

Our hearts are with everyone and hope that everyone will be safe.  To assist in offsetting some of the issues that are arising from the COVID 19 virus we are working on creating online resources to assist all artists.   Please check back regularly for updates to our website: FVAC

Have you started your Inktober challenge? I hid in the sidelines for the last couple of years and enjoyed the work that various artists produced. Seeing the growth of each of the artists as they practice and mastered their art.  But this year I plan to participate at least once a week with the prompts using my style of art.  

Let’s start at the beginning, What is Inktober? Inktober is a month-long art challenge created by artist  Jake Parker.  It is focused on improving your drawing habits. Every day for the month of October those participating creates an ink drawing and can post it online if they choose using the following hashtags #inktober #inktober2018 if you want others to see your art.  

Jake has prompts for each day to spark your creativity but you don’t need to use prompts. The point is to create, learn and grow.  If you're interested in participating check out the Inktober webpage for details. 

I invite you as fellow artist to pick up your ink and pen and create, learn and explore with me.  Looking forward to seeing what you create. Post it on our Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter.  Please add the following hashtag #FVACInktober so we can see what you’ve been up to.  

Stay Inky,

Jessica Yee

President, FVAC

Want to know a little more about Jessica? Check out her bio. 

Meet Leah Hauser, the 2018 David Morris Scholarship for Students in the Arts recipient. Leah graduated with honors from Fuquay-Varina High School and plans to attend N.C. State College of Art & Design. She was a member of the National Art Honor Society and served as Vice President during her senior year at FVHS. Leah was also a co-founder of the Cinema Club, collaborated on several community service projects, and held a number of leadership roles at FVHS. “She puts her all into everything she does,” says Nancy Robinson, Leah’s art teacher and FVHS Art Instructor. “She is well respected by her teachers and her peers. She has superb social skills, and her classmates often ask for her suggestions and advice on their work.”

Photo credit: Prestige Portraits

Leah is the first recipient of the David Morris Scholarship for Students in the Arts, created by FVAC in honor of long-time Fuquay-Varina resident and avid arts supporter, David Morris.The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors pursuing a college degree in an arts-related field. “All of our applicants were very talented, and worthy, which made our decision that much more difficult,” said Carol Kaminski, FVAC President. “In the end, we chose Leah, not just because of her talent, but also because of her extracurricular activities and community outreach where she used her artistic talent to make a difference in our community.”

Self-Portrait

Acrylic and glitter on canvas

20 in X 24 in

Koi Pond

Spray paint and acrylic on canvas

11 in X 14 in

Snapshot

Spray paint and acrylic on canvas

18 in X 24 in

Photo credit: Paul Wiltsey

FVAC Secretary Shirley Hunsberger, presented the scholarship to Leah on behalf of the Arts Council during the FVHS Senior night. “Thank you so much for the David Morris scholarship as I am honored to have received it this year,” Hauser recently said in an email to the Council. “I truly appreciate the support that the Arts Council provides for students majoring in the arts.” The scholarship is an annual award open to graduating high school students in the Fuquay-Varina community. For more details, check out Artists Opportunities.

FVAC is on the GO>FV app!

Download the Chamber of Commerce's new Go>FV App, and you can keep up with Fuquay-Varina Arts Council on the go. The updated Go>FV app is even more interactive and user-friendly. It has a new, modern look and lots of new features.

From the main landing page, scroll down until you find the FVAC logo, and click to enter our content.

The app is available FREE on the Apple Store or Google play. Click below to download...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/go-fuquay-varina!/ id1171203198?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fuquayvarina .android&hl=en

En plein air is a French term, meaning "painting in the outdoors".  Some of our FVAC Members and friends gathered to paint en plein air in various locations in and around Fuquay-Varina in 2017.  Read more on the "Rural Rendezvous" post, 3/181/17.

Pictured below: Cassidy English, Ann Mayer, Vickie Wilson, Judy Lucas, George Howe, Leila Hartman, Diane Knesovich, Flora Pinkham.

Holt Farm, March 17^th, 2017
Holland Road Sheds, March 29^th, 2017
BB King at Rock Harbor Grill, April 5^th, 2017
Hall Farm near Chalybeate Springs, November 18^th, 2017
FV Christmas Tree Lighting, November 30^th, 2017

By Vickie Wilson

St. Patrick's Day morning was full of sunshine as three local painters met on the Holt Farm property near Holly Springs. George Howe, Flora Pinkham, and Vickie Wilson plied their skills with cold fingers for several hours painting en plein air, or outdoors.

George chose to paint the old red barn beside Cass Holt Road. It is very difficult to paint with the sun directly on your painting surface and get the right values, but this was the angle he wanted.

Flora drew a crowd of curious calves as she used a sketch to plan the layout of her painting.

Flora stood sideways to her subject, the shed on the right, in order to eliminate the direct sunlight on her painting board. Vickie set up to paint the same shed, but she was in dappled light at first and more shade toward the end.

George's barn painting nailed the colors and values he was after. With many years of experience, he was able to compensate for the brilliant sunlight on his work.

Flora's shed turned out beautifully. She tweaked the colors a bit to help the shed stand out as a focal point. To the eye, the colors and values of the shed seemed almost the same as the tree patterns surrounding it.

Vickie shortened the slope to the right of the scene to create a more interesting composition. She also made the emerging dogwood blossoms more prominent to give contrast to the right side of the shed.

A special thanks to Joel Holt for allowing us access to his private property. These three plan to paint more local vistas during 2017. If you would like to join us, or if you know of places we could get permission to paint, please contact Vickie Wilson at vickiewilsonart@yahoo.com, or leave a comment below.