The reception for the Fiesta Sonora Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on Thursday February 13, 2025.
Our judge, premier workshop artist, Tom Francesconi, presented the show awards along with show chairs, Willa Barksdale and Jean Pascek. The winning images are posted on our Fiesta Sonora Show Page. These paintings will be displayed in the gallery until March 15th, 2025. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
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SAWG artists started the New Year off right and had a great time at the Medella Vina Ranch sponsored Blues and Vines event on January 26, 2025.
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SAWG artists at the Medella Vina Ranch December 2024 Blues and Vines event displayed and sold their art while enjoying wine, food and music by Heather Hardy.
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| Attendees at the November Blues and Vines event at Medella Vina Ranch brought wine tasting, food carts, local blues musicians and and art by some of our own SAWG members |  |
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| SAWG had a great time with our new sponsor Medella Vina Ranch at the October 20th Blues and Vines event. Event attendees enjoyed wine, music by 'The Porch Rockers', and art by some familiar faces at SAWG! |  |
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The Premier Workshop, California Vibe Portraiture, taught by David Lobenberg, was a huge success and enjoyed by all.
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The reception for the Color My World Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on Thursday October 17th, 2024! Our judge, David Lobenberg, selected six great paintings from the set of submissions. The winning images are posted on our Color My World Show Page. This celebration of color is SAWG’s first point Show of the season. These paintings will be displayed in the gallery until November 16th, 2024. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
Show Chairs: Kay Sullivan and Sarah Kochanowski |
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Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild’s
Meet and Greet Expo for ALL SAWG Members!
Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Held at: St. Francis in the Foothills, Community Center Room, 4625 E. River Road, Tucson, NW Corner of Swan & River
Come to the Meet and Greet Expo, Bring a Friend! Meet and mingle, visit with other member artists and our information tables. Win raffle prizes, participate in some fun challenges to win prizes, explore new Guild offerings, all while enjoying refreshments. What Can You Expect at the Meet and Greet Expo? Hourly Artist Demos, Scavenger Hunt, Word Puzzle, Raffles, Prizes, Socializing with other members, Snacks and Refreshments. There will be many informational tables representing what is offered in our guild with folks ready to answer any of your questions; Membership, Premier Workshops, Gallery Classes, Shows, Western Federation of Watercolor Society show, DVD Library, Gallery Sales, Framers Corner, Scholarships, and Masterpiece - Website opportunities. We even have invited some of your favorite Art Suppliers to join us, stay tuned! Please RSVP if you plan to attend: Questions: contact Betsy Conroy, VP of Programs at: programs@southernazwatercolorguild.com |
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The reception for the People, Pets, and Places Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on Thursday September 19th, 2024! Our judge, Susan Morris, stepped in to select six great paintings from the set of submissions. As the winning images were announced, Susan had a few comments for each choice. The winning images are posted on our People, Pets, and Places Show Page. The People, Pets, and Places Show evokes a plethora of cherished feelings and memories past and present. These paintings will be displayed in the gallery until October 5th, 2024. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
Show Chairs: Carla Massee & Risa Waldt |
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IMPORTANT CHANGE TO NOVEMBER PREMIER WORKSHOP Our two-day November Premier Workshop with Roberta Rogers has been revised to include artists at all levels of experience. Scheduled for November 12th and 13th, Roberta will provide extra help as needed for beginners and still provide the support and encouragement needed for those with more experience. This workshop has a fun holiday theme and Roberta will help you design and paint a cherished memory or vision for the holidays. Examples include a poinsettia bouquet, a decorated front door, a snowy winter scene, Santa Claus or a desert winter scene to name just a few. She is providing reference photos but also encourages you to bring your favorite photos. You will paint both days, and learn from demonstrations and critiques. Roberta is also providing crayons to accentuate your paintings, especially those with snow. Tuition is $275 for members and $325 for non-members. Click here to enroll. Questions? Contact Kay Sullivan at sullivan6601@gmail.com. |
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The reception for the Great Escapes Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on Thursday August 15th, 2024!
Our judge, Jan Thompson, selected six great paintings from the set of great submissions. As the winning images were announced, Jan explained her reasoning behind each choice. The winning images are posted on our Great Escapes Show Page. The Great Escapes Show is a chance for SAWG artists to use the fundamental aspects of the practice of visual art through various water media to depict and share the "scapes" that are important or memorable to them personally. These paintings will be displayed in the gallery until September 7th, 2024. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
Show Chairs: Kay Sullivan and Maureen Henson-Brunke
Check out this upcoming great event with our new Sponsor Medella Vina Ranch!
Gallery Classes:
The first class in the 2024 "Try Watercolor with SAWG" series was a happy event for the students on Saturday morning, July 13th. They finished little veggie paintings that they can hang in their kitchens. Look at those smiles!
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Demos at the April General Meeting
At the April General Meeting, SAWG members, Sandy Walker and Kay Sullivan, demonstrated some of their painting techniques. Sandy showed us how to make carrot people to put in our landscapes and city scapes to give them interest, and Kay demonstrated her new style. She painted very loose flowers using gloss black acrylic from a hair color bottle on Yupo. She added color with her watercolor paints resulting in a Van Goghish style painting.
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The reception for the Signature Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on Thursday April 11, 2024!
Our judge, Chuck Albanese, selected NINE great paintings (3 additional Judge Awards) from the set of submissions. The winning images are posted on our Signature Show Page. The Signature Show is open to Signature and Saguaro Fellow members and there are truly outstanding paintings. These paintings will be displayed in the gallery until May 4th, 2024. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
Show Chairs: Nancy Johnson & Marti Hubbard
The reception for the 56th Annual Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on Thursday March 14, 2024!
Our judge, David Smith, selected 7 great paintings (including the Past President's Award) from the set of submissions. The winning images are posted on our 56th Annual Show Page. Of course, all the paintings look even better in person and will be displayed in the gallery until March 30th, 2024. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
Show Chairs: Tracy Lynn Ross and Joy Ellsworth
The reception for the Fiesta Sonora Point Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on February 15, 2024!
Our judge, Lynn Ferris, selected 6 great paintings from the outstanding set of submissions. The winning images are posted on our Fiesta Sonora Show Page. Of course, all the paintings look even better in person and will be displayed in the gallery until March 2nd, 2024. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
Show Chairs: Montie Slavin and Kat Manton Jones
The reception for the Lasting Impressions Point Show was held in SAWG’s gallery on January 11, 2024!
Our judge, Dylan Scott Pierce, selected 6 great paintings from the outstanding set of submissions. The winning images are posted on our Lasting Impressions Show Page. Of course, all the paintings look even better in person and will be displayed in the gallery until February 3rd. Many thanks to the artists and the many volunteers who make our shows possible.
Show Chairs: Jean Pascek and Willa Barksdale
SAWG celebrated the Southern Arizona art community through the annual Scholarship Award ceremony on Monday May 8th at the SAWG Gallery.
Chairperson Perianne Grignon and SAWG members Leslie Grignon and Tracy Lynn Ross presented a program that celebrated the accomplishments of student artists from around Southern Arizona and presented them with scholarships awards to continue their art education.
Art education is at the heart of SAWG’s mission to advance and develop watercolor as an important painting medium and to provide educational and cultural benefits for our members and interested supporters of our community.
In addition to the SAWG Scholarships, awards were presented for Hollander and Schwartz awards along with the Jennette award. Robert and Helen Jennette attended the ceremony and were recognized for their contributions.
An evening with these very deserving students, their families, and their teachers was a heart warming and fun event filled with some good food, mingling among the wonderful artwork at the Gallery, and congratulations to the scholarship awardees.
Voted 2022 Best Art Gallery
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WE WON! WE WON! Cindy Engquist and Judy Constantine attended the Tucson Daily Star Readers’ Choice award ceremony. Imagine their delight and surprise when the Best Art Gallery Award came up and SAWG was announced as the winner! SAWG sends a great, big THANK YOU to our members, families, friends and supporters who voted us one of the top three art galleries in Tucson! We are honored! This is a public validation of how great our gallery and guild are. Thank you everyone! |
KGUN9 Morning Blend Interview!
Watch Tracy Lynn Ross and Kay Sullivan who gave SAWG's second interview on the KGUN9 Morning Blend program July 11, 2022. SAWG's first interview, last year on June 24th, talked about how SAWG survived the pandemic and announced our post-pandemic-shutdown grand reopening. During this new interview, Tracy Lynn and Kay update viewers about our non-profit's ambitious and dedicated efforts to build momentum and thrive since our reopening and to share news about our exciting recent Encore & Debuts Show Reception.
KGUN Morning Blend Interview!
Watch Kathy McLean and Kay Sullivan who gave an interview on the KGUN9 Morning Blend program on June 24, 2021. They talked about how our non-profit survived the pandemic and enthusiastically announce our grand re-opening.
The SAWG Collection
In a climate-controlled storage unit here in Tucson, there are nearly forty very special paintings that rarely get to see the light of day.
Over the years, our founding members and Premier Workshop instructors have donated paintings to SAWG. On occasion, a few have been displayed in the gallery on a rotating basis. We are pleased to tell you that now, for the first time, you are able to view the entire collection on this six-minute video.
We hope you enjoy it!