Art League

The Leisure World Art League will meet Jan. 9, in Clubhouse 4 at 7 p.m.. The guest artist is John “Jim” Salchak. He last demonstrated for the club in October 2022. He is also at times can be seen attending our monthly meetings. Jim will not do a painting demonstration at this meeting but rather will do a lecture/slide presentation on the works of an American painter, John Singer Sargent.

Jim Salchak has been captivated by the medium of watercolor for over 40 years. His paintings have been shown in numerous local and national juried exhibitions, including the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society and Watercolor West. Jim is a signature member and past president of both the National Watercolor Society and Watercolor West and has also achieved signature membership in the Nevada and San Diego Watercolor Societies. His paintings have been published in the Best of Watercolor, People in Watercolor and Watercolor Expressions.

Here’s a brief description of the lecture as written by Jim. “This lecture, illustrated with approximately 80 images, will overview the life and career of artist John Singer Sargent (18561925) and will focus on his watercolors painted between 1900 and 1922. Art historians agree that his virtuoso watercolor “snapshots” painted after 1900 are among his masterpieces and account for his reputation as one of the greatest American watercolorists.”

John Singer Sargent, the son of an American doctor, was born in Florence, Italy in 1856. He studied painting in Italy and in France where his family moved to when he was 18. In 1884, he caused a sensation/scandal at the Salon de Paris (the most prestigious annual or biannual art event in the world from 1740-1890) with his painting of Madame Gautreau. Exhibited as “Madame X,” people complained that the painting was provocatively erotic. The scandal persuaded Sargent to move to England, where he established himself as a leading portrait painter.

The highest price for a Sargent painting was sold for $23.5 million in December 2004 at Sotheby’s. The painting was called “Group with Parasols (A Siesta) (1905).”

Art League members should come early, especially if they are submitting art to the competition. All artworks must already be on display or hanged by 6:30 p.m. to be considered for judging. The popular vote theme for this meeting is “WINTER”.

The club will collect payments in cash and check for the 2024 membership dues renewals at this meeting. The dues are $20 per person, $25 for a couple. People who are 90 years old and above are honored with a “Lifetime Member” designation and no payment is required.

—Larry Sioson