Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Trimlett.
Hi Scott, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After 42 years of a successful career working for a major aerospace business in Chula Vista, I retired in 2015. I’ve always had a passion for creating art and once retired I started taking adult education art classes with Drew Bandish (my instructor and our current Vice President) and continued with that for about 4 years. During that early period of my retirement, I also became the President of the Foothills Art Association in La Mesa, CA, and held that position through the end of 2020. About that time, I was tapped on the shoulder to consider joining the Board at the San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS) and after a good discussion with our prior President (Nell Bartlett), I was nominated and then elected as Vice President for our 2021/2022 fiscal year. With a year of guidance and mentoring by Nell and her fellow Board members, I was nominated and elected as President of our SDWS.
As you might imagine I continue to have a passion for creating art, but also love and enjoy our amazing, dedicated Directors for our leadership and administrative roles we fill in our all-volunteer organization for the benefit of our members, visitors, and art community worldwide. Personally, my position of leading our SDWS group, that is filled with professionals in the arts and other talents fulfills my being of help and support of others in our group and community, and to pursue expanding my creative ability.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
With the help of all my fellow Board members and our hard-working volunteers, the challenges that arise are readily worked through and resolved. My belief is that ‘life happens’, plus people are good-natured and have the best of intentions in mind. So, anything that comes up can be addressed by paying close attention to what is being raised, follow the requirements in our bylaws and policies, then look for a practical and appropriate resolution.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Prior to retiring and seeking art instruction, I created my artwork by letting my mind wander by stippling (dot after dot after dot…) using a rollerball pen and my sketchpad during long airplane rides during business trips to various places around the world. After a couple of years of instruction from Drew (where I learned more about capturing the world and grandchildren around me realistically in my artwork), I joined a Marie Wordell Alumni critique group. Folks there suggested I should look at using Dr. Ph. Martin’s Hydrus watercolors if I was seeking more vibrant and colorful artworks. I confess, I’ve been using them now for about 4 years and barely use any other watercolors in creating my artworks. Try them, you might like them too…
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Our SDWS is dedicated to artworks which are water media creations created by the artists based on their own original designs and drawn/painted onto media by themselves. To advance our member and other artists’ talent, we offer a continuing number of instructional premier, weekend, and beginner workshops. We also currently hold weekly and monthly plein-air paint-out sessions for our members and public to participate in. When our member artists have completed their works they can enter our Member Shows, and our International and Plein Air Exhibitions are open shows in which member and non-member artists around the world can enter. All of which helps us to accomplish our mission and vision to be an ongoing recognized leader in expanding the appreciation of and involvement in water media painting through member instruction, exhibition, community education, and promotion. The details for our current workshops, events, and shows/exhibitions can are viewable on our SDWS website.
Concerning our outlook, based on what I am hearing I foresee a strong growth in the number of artists pursuing Plein Air creations and the professionals continuing to pursue offering online/streamed demonstrations and teaching as instructors. I also foresee a challenge to hand-created artworks by artists coming up from the use of artificial intelligence technology. However, for me, I am sticking to pencils, pens, brushes, and the like to create my works. It’s too much fun seeing what and how things turn out with each brush stroke.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sdws.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesdws/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdwatercolorsociety/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/theSDWS
Image Credits
Scott Trimlett
Drew Bandish
Rebecca McCullough
