Tipping Point
A Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild Show
October 9, 2025 - November 20, 2025
Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center
2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, FL 33764
Gallery Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. to noon and Sunday before and after church services. Tours also offered by appointment; contact Maryann Hamilton at ARTXHAM@yahoo.com
Opening Reception – Sunday, October. 12, 2025, 12:00 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Call for SDG Artists:
Create 2-D artwork inspired by TIPPING POINT theme. The Guild encourages members’ best work that is originally conceived and created by a Surface Design Guild member within the last two years and has not been shown in a UU Church sponsored show.
Drop off artwork: on Tuesday October 7 or Wednesday October 8 to either of the following, after contacting for appointment:
Jodi Doll-Bowling - Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770 - jodidoll55@gmail.com
OR
Aida Sheets - St. Petersburg, FL 33710 - aidajune@me.com
Deliver on Thursday, October 9 by noon to: Unitarian Universalist Church, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, FL
The Show Committee Will:
- Accept 2-D artwork and garments that can be displayed on a wall mounted mannequin, or a freestanding mannequin that you will provide.
- Coordinate drop off of artwork at Unitarian Universalist Church
- Work cannot be taken down until show closes
SDG Members Will:
- Fill out and sign submission form (can be printed from TBSDG website)
- Provide label information by emailing info to Aida Sheets at aidajune@me.com no later than September 20, 2025. Label info to include: Artist Name, Title of Work, Medium, Price or NFS, Email and Phone Number.
- Pay $10 on this TIPPING POINT Event online for up to 3 submissions.
- Deliver artwork to locations listed above under Call for SDG Artists.
- Provide ready to hang 2D artwork and/or garments and TBSDG Artwork Submission Form found on TBSDG website in Members Only/Exhibit Submissions.
- Send out e-vites and invitations to your mailing lists.
- Volunteers to provide food for Opening Reception on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, 12pm to 2pm
- Pick up artwork at Unitarian Universalist Church on Thursday, November 20 between 10:30 and noon*
We Need: 2 volunteers to coordinate Opening Reception on Sunday, October 12, 2025, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Contact Jodi Doll-Bowling, jodidoll55@gmail.com, to volunteer.
Exhibition Calendar:
Thursday, September 20, 2025 Label text emailed to aidajune@me.com
October 7 & 8, 2025 Deliver artwork to Jodi Doll-Bowling or Aida Sheets
Thursday, October 9, 2025 Deliver artwork to UU Church by noon
Thursday, October 9, 2025 Artwork hung by UU Church
Sunday, October 12, 2025 Opening Reception at Unitarian Universalist Church 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 20, 2025 Pick up work from Unitarian Universalist Church, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.*
*If you are unable to pick up your artwork yourself, please arrange for another Guild member to do this for you.
The address of the workshop is
515 22nd Street S, St Petersburg FL
Studio #103 of the ArtsXchange campus
Saturday Nov 1, 10 am to 3 pm
Directions for designs will be emailed to registered students one week before class.
In 1915 a group of 6 women printmakers decided to spend their winter in the resort town of Provincetown, Massachusetts to develop a new printmaking technique. These women were all Japanese Wood cut Printers; a technique that requires separate plates for each color in the composition. These artists wanted to invent something that looked similar but used one plate versus many. White line printmaking emerged from this collaboration.
The method utilizes a soft wood block as the printing plate. The image is transferred to the wood then each line is cut with a craft knife, making V-lines that appear as white lines in the finished product. The paper is tacked to the top of the wood plate with thumb tacks to create a perfect registration, making sure the paper falls in the exact same place each time.
The pigment is watercolor paint and is applied directly onto the wood plate in one small area at a time. The paper is then folded over the plate and burnished with a spoon to transfer all the pigment. This process is repeated until the print is complete. Each plate can be reused to create more images.
White-line woodblock printmaking is the first printmaking technique unique to the United States.
Materials Students are Expected to Bring:
To help with time and to ensure that you all go home with a finished art piece, I'd like to ask each of you to come to class with an 8x10 or 8x8 design already created.
As you can see in the samples attached, it’s important to break down larger shapes into smaller ones. I’d like you to think of it as a coloring book design that you’re creating for yourself. Please consider your background as well and try not to have it be a white space, devoid of design. Ways around that are to create shapes such as a square with stirpes or to actually create a wallpaper design for the background.
Design elements to avoid are items that are too small or too large. As we will be cutting around each shape, if it’s too small, you’ll risk cutting into your shape or taking most of it away. If it’s too large then the watercolor paint will evaporate before you even finish loading the area and it’ll appear blotchy.
All supplies will be provided so all you need to bring with you are your design, drink and lunch.
Materials Provided by Teacher:
· Soft pine wood block for printing plate
· X-acto knives and blades to use during plate carving time
· Tracing & transfer paper for design to board
· Thumb tacks to attach paper to plate
· Printing paper
· Watercolor paints, palettes and brushes to use during class
· Water bowls & paper towels
TBSDG Member Meeting
Date & Time: Nov 10, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Location: King of Peace MCC, 6085 Park Blvd Pinellas Park
Please arrive a few minutes early so that we can all socialize and start the meeting on time.
Show-n-Tell: We are all anxious to see show-n-tell items in-person, but please limit your number of items to three, so that everyone will have a chance to "show-n-tell." If you attended last month's workshop, please bring your created items to share.
Mini Demo: Kathy Peel will be sharing a fascinating technique.
A "Free Table" will be available for the free exchange of no longer needed surface design materials and supplies. Please check the table before you leave the meeting to be sure to take home with you anything you bring that does not go home with someone else.
Date & Time: Dec 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Annual Holiday Party
