American Artist Watercolor 70th Anniversary Competition Winners

Be sure to check out American Artist magazine's Watercolor 70th Anniversary Competition winners; winners and semifinalists are featured. Gail M. Wheaton's "After The Harvest" won first place.

When Life Gives You Lemons

Watercolor sketch in Holbein sketchbook, 8 x 12" (20.3 x 30.5 cm).

This bowl of lemons forms our current kitchen table centerpiece. I hope to later formalize this into a larger painting.

Larimer Square

Watercolor sketch in Aquabee Super Deluxe 808 sketchbook, 6" x 9" (15.2 x 22.9 cm).

I started this sketch on location in Larimer Square in downtown Denver, but finished it based on a photo that I took. I almost missed these striking red awnings while walking down the street; I saw someone taking a photo, looked up, and saw these red awnings as the subject of her photo. So I snapped my own references and painted it later.

Writer's Square

Watercolor sketch in Aquabee Super Deluxe 808 sketchbook, 6" x 9" (15.2 x 22.9 cm). I quickly sketched this on location in Denver, along the 16th Street Mall, at Writer's Square. You can see the Starbuck's awning at the top of the sketch, and the restaurant seen through the trees is Willie G's Steaks & Seafood.

Ruth Point

Watercolor sketch in Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketch Book, 6" x 9" (15.2 x 22.9 cm). This sketch, named "Ruth Point" is a made-up scene. Not from memory, but made up. I'd be interested in comments from other artists if they do "made-up" works like this. Other comments welcome too.