Friday's Finds: A little bit of everything



 Like many Bloomington Watercolor Society members, I now have a collection of Artist Trading Cards too beautiful to store in a drawer. The first step was putting the cards into 9-pocket pages, but all that did was organize them. I wanted a binder worthy of the miniature artworks I had acquired at the Holiday Party! I found what I was looking for at Target: a 1-inch binder made by greenroom "with paper containing 100% recycled fiber and printed with nontoxic soy-based ink." The price was right, too. $5.99. I haven't had a binder this pretty since 6th grade.

Looking for gifts or something for your own walls? Head on over to the IU School of Fine Arts Building this afternoon or early evening for the Holiday Art Auction. IU faculty and students have donated photographs, prints, ceramics, textiles and other media for the auction, which is in the IU SoFA Gallery. From noon to 4 p.m., you can purchase any item at the "Buy It Now" price. The Silent Auction starts at 6:30 p.m. and will end about an hour later. Refreshments will be served during the Silent Auction.

Looking way past the holidays, I found an affordable workshop that sounds intriguing. Judy Mudd will be presenting "Painting Children's Portraits from Photos" Feb. 9-10 at the Kentucky Watercolor Society Gallery in Louisville. The workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $85. It's inexpensive enough that you could book a hotel room and have yourself a midwinter getaway. The workshop will cover contour drawing and improving accuracy with a Prospek tool, mixing colors on paper to achieve flesh tones, and instructions on painting eyes, lips, noses, ears and hair. For more nformation, call Sue Hinkebein at 502-458-5043 or send a check payable to KWS to Sue Hinkebein, 2015 Gardiner Lane, Louisville, KY 40205.

If you're in Louisville tonight, stop by the New Member Show at the KWS Gallery at the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center, Suite 121, 1860 Mellwood Ave. The Opening Reception is 5 to 7 p.m. with the awards presentation at 6 p.m. I'll be there, hoping for better driving weather than last weekend when I delivered the paintings!