Symbols of Success NWS TWSA 2017

By Tuva Stephens on 3/7/2017 10:13:14 AM
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Braxton Dixon-Master Builder

The purpose of this blog is to encourage artists to step out to accomplish all your dreams as an artist. Little did I know that four art career goals as a professional artist would be reached within a few months.  It has been the busiest time of my life continuing to write overlapping grants, and it being my third year as Southern Watercolor President.  As a competitive artist for the past 7 years I had been successful by consistently entering local, regional, state, and national / international competitions. I had kept personal journals of my journey and aspirations since 2002 when I started painting with goals in mind. Previously my career as a high school art teacher for 33 years and drama coach left little time for painting seriously. Upon retirement from teaching in May 2009 I "hit the road running" as they say. It was important to gain several signatures surrounding Tennessee such as KY, AL, MO, MS and SW (18 states) along the way.

This year I entered the 96th NWS (National Watercolor Society) International Exhibition not too optimistically for the 4th time. How excited I was to receive wonderful news from NWS President, Ken Goldman! Ken revealed I had received a memorial cash/combined merchandise award! I had also received NWS Signature Status through the juror’s review of three other pieces I sent. It was a pinnacle experience to also attend the reception in San Pedro, California at the NWS Gallery.  Another goal was reached a few months later when the same painting was accepted into TWSA. It was my third acceptance since acceptances in 2013, 2015; now in 2017 I will be receiving my letters. Once again I will be traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin to the Kenosha Public Museum on June 10, 2017. It is in my opinion, the most glowing presentation of transparent watercolor paintings I have experienced. The Awards Reception and Dinner in a grand ballroom with many celebrated artists is always exciting.

Also to my delight I was notified that my painting, “Tiggy”, was printed in Art Journey: Animals A Collection of Inspiring Contemporary Masterworks  available through North Light. It is a beautiful collection of 200 images edited from 1000’s of images from the Splash Series, Strokes of Genius and other books already in print.  Next came an invitation to participate in a special  International Exhibition, Fabriano in Watercolor at the Watermark and Paper Museum in Fabriano, Italy.  I encourage every artist to not give up on your journey because when success comes; it is a mountain top experience. I acknowledge that God has guided me through decline notices and acceptance. I continue to enjoy being God's paintbrush. At times I am overwhelmed by emotion of wonderful it is to be an artist!  As Cheng-Khee Chee once said, " Wouldn't it be bad if you were unable to paint? I wept and started my "no excuse" journey to find my voice. 

Within one of my four hardback journals is written: Work Hard, Take Chances, Respect the Validity of Your Paintings, and Accept the Struggle of the Creativity Process. "If you hear a voice saying, "you are not a painter; then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."- van Gogh