California Watercolor Association

54th National Exhibition

We are very pleased to present our National Exhibition to you on this gallery.

Carolyn Lord, our juror of selection, chose the 85 paintings presented here and Barbara Tapp, our juror of awards, chose the following 20 paintings for the awards listed. Each of them was kind enough to provide us with their thoughts about why they chose the awarded paintings. We hope that you will enjoy the work presented here as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you.

Following the 85 paintings that comprise the National Exhibition, we are pleased to present, as this space allows, an additional 30 paintings that were selected for their merit.

Antoaneta GeorgievaRemains of the Day

$1900

Gold Award

Remains of the Day was selected because of the shift of light across the painting: from softly lit, to color-and-detail depleting glare. Also, the accurate drawing in the portraits is counterbalanced by the fluid application of watercolor, a characteristic that is unique to this painting medium.  
~ Carolyn Lord

This painting evoked joy in me because of the connection between these three women. It is beautifully painted with bold variation in brushwork, colors, values, and delicate effects. A bold well composed group with the focus being their faces surrounded by their well rendered clothing.
~ Barbara Tapp
Jamie MorganColby Park Garden
$1169

Silver Award

Colby Park Garden was selected because of the sophisticated use of perspective and color, the distillation and abstraction of architectural forms, and the seemingly casual application of watercolor: all bound together in a solid composition. ~ Carolyn Lord

Strong values created a pleasing sense of space and took me into this street scene. This artist has an excellent command of perspective, volume and values using a pleasant limited palette and creating a unique and refreshing exceptionally well composed streetscape that captured my attention.
~ Barbara Tapp

Gaoshan HUEnd of the Road

$800

Bronze Award

End of the Road was selected because of its unique color harmony, its fluid shapes and surreal motifs, plus several modes of paint application which demonstrates the watercolor’s inherent flexibility.
~ Carolyn Lord

I loved the unusual design, subject and creativity in this painting. Is the fish scared? It is cleverly designed with the dramatic triangular open mouth balanced by the huge round black eye, three landscape bands of colors and then the contrasting net like black line-work crackling over the fish head.
~ Barbara Tapp

Eileen McculloughH.B. Pier on a Windy Day

$1600

Arnold Grossman Memorial
ColArt Americas
Stillman & Birn
International Artist Publishing
Mijello Co. Ltd Award

Great very appealing choice of fresh colors and individual distinguishable watercolor mark making creating a very attractive dynamic beach scene. Well constructed yet maintaining an abstract looseness. ~ Barbara Tapp
Cara BrownBroadway

$3350

CWA Signature Members I
FLAX Art & Design
University Art Supplies
Art Supply Warehouse
Mijello Co. Ltd Award

Commanding sense of design and fun jive in contrast between round luscious pink organic rose petals, blue stripes and stalks. Full of energy. Love the strong values.
~ Barbara Tapp
Leslie WilsonBreakfast Chef

$1700

CWA Signature Members II
FLAX Art & Design
University Art Supplies
Art Supply Warehouse Award

This is a well constructed painting with accurate drawing and perspective. I loved the light on the cooks shoulder. There is a sophisticated understanding of lights and darks. I feel I am in the room. ~ Barbara Tapp
Jeff IshikawaRemnants

$712

Mary Spivey Award for Excellence in Landscape Painting
Holbein
FASO 1 Award

An exciting use of texture, colors and shapes that captured energy and my curiosity. ~ Barbara Tapp
Lei ChiDad

$10000

Artistic Journey
Armadillo Art
Mijello Co. Ltd
University Art Supplies
de Young Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Award

I thought this was an intriguing portrait and a clever use of light. The pale yellow seat fits well around the man’s torso and the background added mystery to the painting. Beautifully designed and subtle. ~ Barbara Tapp
Marilyn MillerLhasa

$900

Dick Cole Memorial
Mijello Co. Ltd.
FLAX art& design Award

I love the positive and negative shapes and colors creating a nice interplay and support to the moving figures. ~ Barbara Tapp
Michael FriedlandCentral Valley Afternoon Glow

$1200

M. Graham & Co.
Blick Art Materials
FLAX art& design
Art Supply Warehouse Award

A sense of space and mood is captured very successfully in this carefully painted landscape. This artist handles watercolor washes and textures superbly.~ Barbara Tapp
Karen MaiA Quiet Moment in the Typhoon Shelter

$3900

Past Presidents Award

I love the interplay of lights and darks in this busy boating scene. Well painted and designed. I like the sense of place achieved by the calm waters and hazy background. ~ Barbara Tapp
Eric WiegardtUmbrellas

$2000

FM Brush Company Ltd, Mijello Co. Ltd. Award

This painting commanded my attention with its free form drawn figures and trees. The painting feels wet. The artist has freedom and energy in their loose washes, color choices, calligraphy and brushwork plus a great understanding of perspective within the disappearing crowd. ~ Barbara Tapp
Woon Lam NgMorning Market 2023

$5800

David Nathan Memorial
Dan Curry Memorial Award

Great energy in the mark making helped create an exciting set of textures turning this street scene into a new energy. The artist showed restraint choosing a limited palette and soft yellows as a successful background to this painting. ~ Barbara Tapp
Geoff AllenPacking Up

$2150

Legion Paper
Blick Art Materials
Holbein
Mijello Co. Ltd. Award

This is a powerful response to the subject by this artist, showing freedom and joy in the brushstrokes. There is a wonderful natural style and sophisticated understanding of composition as seen in the well placed boats, shadows and large background tree. ~ Barbara Tapp

Linda CurtisPlanter Path

$625

Norbert Volk
Mijello Co. Ltd. Award
My eye had so much to explore in this attractively designed iris painting. This artist has a distinct style with the dark calligraphy markings as seen on the petals. The dark and light contrast interplay between the curled petals and the changes in directions of the stalks created a dynamic painting. ~ Barbara Tapp
Sean BarrettPlasticity

$2200

Watercolor West Reciprocal
Mijello Co. Ltd.
Art Supply Warehouse Award
This is a complex sophisticated watercolor that had me saying, “How did they do this?” The blurred background is painted brilliantly and the tangled wires have been masterfully manipulated. ~ Barbara Tapp
John SalminenCalifornia Line

$5000

QOR Artist Watercolors
Blick Art Materials Award
What great contrast and intrigue as I explored this watercolor. The clearly defined perspective of the cable car tracks ties the painting together. A sophisticated composition as my eye eased into the complicated streetscape from the yellow on the bottom right to the blue in the center allowing me to rest before I explored further. ~ Barbara Tapp

Susan JochheimOh No, There’s a Bug in My Garden

$1500
Holbein
Blick Art Materials
University Art Supplies
Art Supply Warehouse
Mijello Co. Ltd. Award
This is a very playful, watercolor romp with great use of outlines and washes. ~ Barbara Tapp
Patrick FanningLoading Net
$1200
Holbein
University Art Supplies
FLAX art& design
Strathmore Award
Wow, this is a dramatic composition. There is movement throughout in the figures, nets and mysterious lighting. There is a distinctive style of simplification of shapes and values. I feel swept up in the scene. ~ Barbara Tapp
John JamesFlying Kites In Grey Skies
$950
FASO 2 Award
I loved this freeform abstract painting dealing with fracturing space, creating depth from the upward moving spindly plants. The fan brushstrokes added a refreshing new texture and drew me around them and into this intriguing painting. ~ Barbara Tapp

Congratulations to the 20 award winning paintings. And now, please enjoy these following 65 paintings that were selected from the 370 that were submitted for this year’s National Exhibition.

Ronald BeanCarmel Cove

$500

Barbara BochenekCelebration

$1200

Kathie BoissiereLuscious

$2000

Sasha BoykoView of Legnaro Italy

$300

Francesca BraytonColor Me Koi

$1200

Winifred BreinesMexican Cup, Oranges, Pottery, Blue Stripes

$850

Susan Butler-GrahamForest Bathing
$445
Kathy ByrneAntique Gauges

$1300

Nancy CaldwellFishing from the Pier in Winter

$1250

Kathleen ConoverLocomotion

$1500

Don DevineI’ve Seen Enough

$2500
Linda ErfleMeyers and Cobalt Blue Glass

$1700

Anne FallinBFFs

$3150

Mark FarinaOdello Artichoke Fields, Carmel

$1800

Karen FieneReflections at Blake Garden

$1200

Andy ForrestFruit and Veggies

$500

Karen FreyQuiet Harbor

$2500

Marina GoldbergAge of innocence

$2000

Joan GombosCoffee Time

$1000

Beth GrantHaven’t You Ever Noticed that What the Hell is Always the Right Answer

$1250

Douglas GreerHit the Road Jack

$1000

Lori HessAleah and the Moon

$2750

Sharon Hind-SmithFlooding to Patio
$400

Michael HolterStairway to…

$1500

Gregory HolzhauerBarn Off High Road To Taos

$450

William HookIndustrial Fantasy 2

$900

Carol HussleinRooftops and Flowerpots, Paris

$850

Bev JozwiakIn the Wings

$1000

Kim KearnsJacob

$895

Donna Kenny KirwanSurf’s Up

$1200

Norman KondyPoint Blank

$700

Raffi KondyFreedom Square, Yerevan, Armenia

$900

Chris KrupinskiTake a Cutie to Lunch

$5000

Bharati KshirsagarSunday Morning

$400

Lena LeeThe Golden Hour in Emptiness

$800

Marion LeggettDesert Rose
$400
Iris LianDown the River
$500
Maura Madden DonovanOn the Bayou

$1000

Ellen MaldonadoTranquility

$300

Craig MolineFeather River Canyon

$650

Lily NanDawn
$1200

r. mike nicholsWatercolorist 2

$2000

Irena Noreikaite PetraitieneMagnolia Grande

$3900
C NormartSierra View
$2450
Kristen OlsonCalifornia Oaks
$450
Eileen OrmistonMotorcycle Mirror

$1800

Nancy PartoviSierra Winter

$6000

Kate PeperAll In

$1300

Patricia PierceSanta Fe Serenity
$500
Robin PurcellTurquoise Coyote

$2600

Dale RutzDancing on the Kitchen Table

$600

Tom SallakGenerations

$2500

Jane SneedJava Beach Cafe

$800

Jane SpencerPure Joy

$1800

Allison SpreadboroughBolinas Lagoon

$1500

Kathleen StumpfelMt Shasta Meadow

$900

Sujit SudhiTropical Vista

$300

Jiangang SunQuiet Harbor II

$2500

Michael TangAfternoon Light

$15000

Kirsten TheurerBefore The Storm

$2500

Salvador ValenciaAwakening

$1200

Steve WaltersOpen For Conversation

$1200

Margaret WashingtonObon Festival

$2500

Georganne ZaroHarbor Watch

$1000

Tianya ZhouEnjoy Music

$2900

The following thirty paintings were selected to present here for their merit.

Mary AxelsonPeony III

$5000

Marnie BeckerRed Kimono

$2500

Cindy Brabec-KingFresh Coat of Gold

$3000

Keming ChenPainting Artwork

$3000

Robert DavidsonCayucos Coast

$3000

Margaret FagoRed Begonias

$475

Qian GaoOutdoor market

$800

Dmitry GrudskyNaughty Girl

$1500

Iretta HunterTrail Stars

$650

Carol IrwinTornado

$1000

Lei JinRed Boat

$1200

Lucinda JohnsonCanyon Light

$850

Karen KramerEnchanted Forest

$1400

Patricia LawrenceRolling at Ocean Beach

$4500

Shirley LimWelding In Sunset

$900

Ann MaglinteBay Trees at Dusk

$600

Michael ReardonSaint Agnese

$2200

Bonnie Joy SedlakBranching Out

$850

Tony SegaleEl Rancho

$950

Charlotte SeverinWinter Frost

$850

Lynn SladeSpring Runoff

$1500

Katherine StairStroll on St. Charles

$1500

Carol StairAvenue of the Giants

$1850

Joseph TringaliSecret Spot

$750

Monique UyterhoevenDusk on Monte Bello Preserve

$1200

Ann WalkerMali Mavens

$3000

Marilyn WearBlissful Blossoms

$1200

Laurie WighamPoint Reyes Tree Tunnel Two

$1200

Pamela WilburnRed Zinnias

$1000

Kikuko YoungCyclamen in Bloom

$750

Thank you. We hope that you’ve enjoyed our National Exhibition web gallery this year. Inquiries about purchasing a painting can be sent to: national@californiawatercolor.org

The CWA
National
Exhibition
Committee

Director
Michael Friedland

Jurors
Carolyn Lord
Barbara Tapp

Fundraising
Carol Husslein
Iretta Hunter

Catalog Design
Patricia Rosa

National gallery page design: © Michael Friedland
Excellent web gallery development: Adrienne Hefter
Thank you Adrienne!