Watercolor Artist reader Bonnie E. Rodgers of Papillion, NE, shares her latest homespun solution for a common painting problem:

"Carrying paintings around can be a challenge because of the possibility of the edges and surface becoming damaged. Pipe wrap can be used to protect any size of painting by cutting it to the length of each edge. This is a great way to package your paintings for shipping also. Simply cut the pipe wrap to the paintings size and slip on. (Note: the black version works best because it comes in sizes of 1/2-inch to 2-inch openings. The beige version shouldn't be used because it has an adhesive that will leave residue on the painting or glass. It's also more brittle than the black.)
 
"Pipe wrap is also good for carrying brushes.  It can be cut longer that the longest brush and then the brushes can be set comfortably in the center. To stop the brushes from slipping out, simply place a tissue or paper towel at the ends and secure it with a rubber band."
 
Thanks Bonnie! To submit your creative solutions to those nagging painting problems, e-mail wcamag@fwmedia.com.

This week we’re proud to have Birgit O’Connor back with the Watercolor Essentials workshop. This 70-minute video has over 40+ lessons that will help you put the magic of transparent watercolor in action, so you can see how the paint is applied and reacts on the paper. Check out a free sample and learn how O'Connor paints trees below.

The Watercolor USA National Honor Society’s (WHS) competitive exhibition, Watercolor U.S.A. 2009, opened last Saturday at the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri, featuring 155 paintings in watermedia. This is one of the biggie juried exhibitions—659 entries by 357 artists from 42 states were submitted this year—so if you’re in the Springfield area, get to it (the show runs through August 2).
 
Also on display (through August 2) at the Springfield Art Museum is Japan Watercolor Foundation, which showcases contemporary Japanese watermedia paintings. This exhibition is an exchange program between the WHS and the Japanese Watercolor Foundation; next April, 30 paintings from WHS will go on display at the National Art Center in Tokyo.

Also, Missouri State University’s Art & Design Gallery (also in Springfield) hosts the Honor Society Member Invitational, a watercolor exhibition of work by the WHS Members, through July 17. Exhibiting artists are: Wayne Conyers; Kathleen Kuchar; Bob Mejer; Ellen Murray-Meissinger; Karen Poulson; Susan Puelz; Camille Rendal; Sarah A. Riley; Sandra Schaffer; Carol Ann Schrader (who was featured in the June 2007 issue of the magazine); Bruce Thayer; Elizabeth Yarosz-Ash; and Peggy Zalucha.

Check out a free sample of the latest watercolor video from ArtistsNetwork.tv: Dramatic Light With Patrick Howe.  Howe starts very simply with just one watercolor and a brush, and then takes you through the different stages, explaining how to turn the white of your paper into sunlight. In his final demo, he’ll show you how to sketch out a dimly lit street scene in oils. Enjoy!

Those BMW ad execs are smart cookies. Probably the most expensive paintbrush I’ve ever heard of, the 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster was used as such a tool in continuing the company’s art car legacy with its unveiling of the new model.

BMW commissioned South African visual artist Robin Rhode to express on canvas the experience of driving the Z4 Roadster. The ad not only caught my eye but prompted me to do as it said—not buy the car, but witness what happened next on its website. See how the artist created the painting (pictured) by clicking here.