Whiskey painters of america

DEFINITION

An exclusive miniature painting society, its members share a painting ritual and credo, which asserts that an artist should be able "to enjoy two of the three greatest pleasures in life while sitting on a bar stool or at a dimly lit cocktail table." It began in Akron, Ohio in the late 1950s, with artist Joe Ferriot, who traveled for a plastics firm and wanted to paint 'on the road'. For portability, he devised a small cigar box palette and carrying method for watercolor paper, 4 inches by 5 inches. At the end of the day, he would go to a local bar, paint and drink whiskey. His paintings became sought after, and cohorts, mostly members of the Akron Society of Painters, joined in the fun, which 14 of them formalized into an Association in 1962. Ferriot served as President for 10 years. WPA is limited by charter to 150 members who, in turn, have to be sponsored by an active member. For exhibition entries, the size of the work can be no larger than 4 X 5 inches and begun with the ritual of dipping a brush into watercolor and then dipping the brush into alcoholic spirits from which the artist then takes a sip. WPA sponsors two yearly exhibitions each year, one in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and the other in Augusta, Georgia. Members also have nation-wide shows in museums and galleries. Members included Arnold Boedeker, Louis Mong, Jack Mulhollen and Tony Cross. Source: Whiskey Painters of America, http://www.whiskeypaintersofamerica.org/