Editor's note You’ll see a few changes in this edition, starting with the format itself! To streamline our delivery, we’re moving away from PDFs. Moving forward, you can find our latest updates published directly as blog posts on our website. Don't worry, though, the great content will remain exactly the same, thanks to the awesome submissions from our members! Best, Jon
President's message
Dear Members,
When I sit down to paint, what I love most about watercolor is the sense of discovery. Regardless of how carefully we plan, the medium always reminds us that unpredictability can lead to something beautiful.
That spirit of discovery is what makes the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society such a special community. Like many of you, I was initially drawn to watercolor by the interaction of light, color, and water. Over time, I have realized that the true gift of belonging to PWS is the opportunity to learn from one another—observing how fellow artists solve problems, approach subjects, or capture fleeting moments.
Before my life in art, I served in the Army, where leadership meant careful planning and teamwork to meet challenges. In watercolor, I have learned a different lesson: sometimes the most beautiful results occur when we allow the paint and water to take the lead.
Our members represent an incredible range of styles and voices, yet we share a common love for this challenging and rewarding medium. As we move into the coming year, I look forward to seeing the work you create, celebrating your accomplishments, and continuing to build a welcoming community for watercolorists across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Spring is a wonderful reminder of why we paint—new light, fresh color, and the quiet return of life to the landscape. I hope the coming months bring you inspiration, ample time at the easel, and the joy of watching water and pigment create something unexpected.
Lela C. King (Chris)
President
Wishing you courage, curiosity, and a little watercolor magic.
A special thank you to Linda Young
We wanted to send a huge, heartfelt thank you for your incredible leadership as President of the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. Working alongside you on the Board of Directors has been such a privilege for all of us, and your dedication to our community of artists has truly left a lasting mark.
Your energy, vision, and tireless efforts have done so much to elevate PWS and support our members. It’s no small feat to keep an organization like ours thriving, but you managed it with grace, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for the medium we all love. You’ve set a wonderfully high bar, and the positive momentum you’ve built will continue to benefit us for years to come.
While we will certainly miss having you at the helm, we are so excited for you to get some well-deserved time back, hopefully to spend more of it in the studio with your own paints!
Thank you again for everything, Linda. Your hard work has meant the world to all of us, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to have learned from your leadership.
A Special Thank You to Jeannine Swartz
The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society extends heartfelt appreciation to Jeannine as she steps down from her role as Annual Exhibition Chairman. Her organization, attention to detail, and steady leadership have been instrumental in the continued success and strong reputation of our Annual International Juried Exhibition.
Behind every successful exhibition is an enormous amount of planning, coordination, and quiet dedication. Jeannine brought all of this — and more — to the role, ensuring that artists, volunteers, and audiences experienced exhibitions that truly reflected the best of PWS.
On behalf of the Board and our members, thank you, Jeannine, for your commitment, professionalism, and the lasting impact you have made on the Society. We are deeply grateful for your service.
Staying Connected: New Email address for PWS
As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen how the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society operates behind the scenes, we are making an important improvement to our email communications.
You’ll begin to see more messages coming from @pawcs.com email addresses—and most importantly, we now have a central point of contact:
info@pawcs.com
This is the best way to reach the Society moving forward.
Why the change?
Like many volunteer organizations, we’ve historically relied on personal email accounts that change hands as volunteers rotate through roles. That can make it difficult to keep track of information, respond consistently, and ensure smooth transitions from one volunteer to the next.
By moving to shared, role-based email addresses:
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Messages won’t get lost during leadership transitions
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Multiple volunteers can help monitor and respond when needed
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Society records and conversations stay organized in one place
For you as a member, this should feel simple: If you’re not sure who to contact, just email info@pawcs.com and your message will get to the right person.
You may still see familiar names responding—but behind the scenes, we’re building a more stable and sustainable system to support the Society’s work.
This is one of many small steps we’re taking to strengthen PWS for the future while keeping things easy and accessible for our members.
As always, thank you for being part of the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society.
Our Members Shine in the 2026 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Show
Congratulations to all PWS members who took part in this year’s show! Our 2026 show features 179 pieces from 102 artists and represents our diverse and talented membership. View the list of award winners and see entire show at https://pawcs.com/online-member-2026
Here are the award winners:
1st Place - Eileen Sudzina - Morning Traffic Jam
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3rd Place - Pam Wenger - Camouflage
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4th Place - Hui Wang - Still Tides at Dusk
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5th Place - Lana Privitera - Homage to Artisans
Honorable Mention
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William Perry - Hint of Spring
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William Vrscak - Lawrenceville
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Z Feng - Morning Creek
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Laurie Goldstein-Warren - Street Art
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Annie Strack - Into Darkness
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Cheri Keller - Diane and Cassie
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Stacy Lund Levy - Ladies, Ladies, Ladies
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Cheryl Emo - Blue
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Robert Steedman - David’s Dock
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Robert Kraszewski - Narcissus
Our juror of awards, Kim Johnson, had this to say about the show:
"Your society has sooo many wonderful artists and the paintings they submitted are outstanding!! So many more deserved awards! I chose awards based on composition, color use, originality, and creativity. I found this group to have many that fit these qualities, which made it very difficult to choose the award winners. Congratulations to all in the show, it’s a beautiful showing of the talent of the artists in your society. Thank you for trusting and honoring me with this challenging task."
Waterspots
Anni Matsick
Two paintings by Anni Matsick, “Waves” and “We are the Honey Bees”,have been accepted in the 2026 Watercolor USA exhibit on display May 30-July 25 at Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, MO.
Two of Anni’s paintings are included in the Watercolor Honor Society’s 2026 Watercolor Now! exhibit in Kenosha, WI. The show runs April 5-May 25 at the Anderson Arts Center.
Annie Strack
Annie Strack, PWS, had paintings juried into the 49th Southern Watercolor Society Exhibition and the Western Federation Watercolor Society 51st National Juried Exhibition, and she was Judge of Awards for the Philadelphia Watercolor Society Annual Member Exhibition.
Christine Alfery
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Be Different and Your Inner Compass. Covered & Kept is an online Virtual Reality (VR) exhibition.
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She Is A Creative. Abstract National Exhibition at Marks Arts. The Gladys and Karl T. Wiedemann Gallery. Wichita, Kansas.
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Different Journeys. National Online Showcase ’26 presented by the Watercolor Society of Alabama.
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Intersections. 2026 National Juried Exhibition. Georgia Watercolor Society. Carrollton Center for the Arts in Carrollton, GA.
Sue Marrazzo
Participating Art Shows:
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"Making Your Mark," an online juried show 2026 / multi-media; Rhode Island Watercolor Society; View at http://www.riws.com
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"Making our Marks," International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) 12th Annual Members Only Online Exhibit, 2026.
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"I Touch the Future," Instructor's Exhibition at CALC-Carlisle Arts Learning Center, Jan.2026.
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I showed 4 works of Art; www.carlislearts.org
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"Utterly Profound," Online Juried Show 2025; International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA); I earned my Nautilus Fellow (NF) with this acceptance. View this beautiful show at http://www.iseaart.smugmug.com
Susanna Anastasia
Susanna Anastasia, Elected Member 's painting,"Black Bird" is accepted into The Monmouth County Museum 's 46th Annual Juried Exhibition. Her painting is on view from March 15 to May 10 ,2026.
Susanna Anastasia's watercolor, "Master Class" was accepted into the Ridgewood Art Institute,
Ridgewood, N. J.Exhibition is on view until March 22, 2026.
Upcoming Member Vote on Proposed Bylaws Amendments
The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Board of Directors has approved forwarding several proposed amendments to the Society’s bylaws to the membership for ratification.
These amendments are intended to align the bylaws with the Society’s current board structure and improve governance efficiency as the organization continues to grow.
Summary of proposed changes:
• Update the Board quorum requirement from two-thirds to a simple majority
• Remove the Video Library Chair position
• Remove the Historian position
• Add five Members-at-Large to the Board of Directors
Members will receive an email when voting opens, along with a link to review the proposed amendments and cast their vote.
Members are encouraged to review the proposed amendments when they are posted on the Society website prior to the opening of the vote.
