John Hewitt, Artist Bio – John Hewitt Art

Slide 2

Artist Bio

My first meaningful experience in art came in high school when the department head in art at Pacific Union College Vernon Nye did a demonstration watercolor which piqued my interests which before had been science and history. I chose a career as an Emergency Physician allowing time to pursue other interests concurrently. As interest grew into passion, I studied art 6 weeks a year for the next twenty years with all the greats in watercolor of that time. Millard Sheets became a friend and mentor. George Post likewise to a smaller degree. Brief encounters with Rex Brandt, Morris Graves, Tom Nicholas, Frank Webb, and many others occurred. As my skills accrued, I was asked teach at College of the Redwoods and later Pacific Union College at the request of Mr Nye. Of course I worked it in!

Retired now from Medical career completely, I am devoting full time to painting. I enjoy teaching and receive excellent reviews in doing so, so I now teach and lead several workshops yearly in Europe as well as the USA. For many years i entered the usual competitions and rolled up over 130 such shows before discontinuing most of them which can be viewed on this site. Most notably I am Watercolor Honor Society inductee which consists of major show winners nationally. As transparent watercolor landscape plein air devotee, I also treasure my signature Transparent Watercolor Society signature membership earned many years back.I was inducted into the Watercolor Honor Society 2017. I received second place overall 2020 Sept Plein Air magazine.

In 2013 I started up with the Mendocino Art Center, the Mendocino Open Paint Out which has grown into a major art event on the west coast in a few short years. My goal is to make Mendocino an arts destination like it was nearly 100 years back at the birth of the ‘California Style’ of painting. I have become of the opinion that outdoor painting is being given little notice in most of the “society” shows and this event I hope will help retain the relevance of direct outdoor work as the basis of all landscape.

Artistic Process

As a representational artist I am by definition interested in reality as an inspirational starting point. My goal is to interpret, not to copy. By using every tool available I attempt to create an image that is intended to have strong visual and emotional impact on a viewer. I have learned from the previous generation of Americas best-painters (Millard Sheets, Vernon Nye, George Post, Rex Brandt and many others) that this is most often achieved by adherence to the academic guidelines formulated by hundreds of years of searching and experimentation. These are best distilled into a list of the elements and principles of design listed in any good text. I think particularly important to me is dominance, contrast, color and rhythm. A painting must be constructed from a scene, not copied from a scene, to create the most compelling works of art.

Shows

2019 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society annual juried show juror John Salminen
2019 Adirondacks National, Old Forge, NY juror Richard Sneary
2019 California Art Club “City by the Bay” Studio Gallery SF. second prize- juror Jim McVicker
2018 Watercolor Honor Society show, Watercolor USA, Springfield Ms
2017 California Art Club Millard Sheets Memorial show Pasadena
2016 Watercolor Magazine feature best paintings of 2015
2015 Watercolor USA Kenneth M. Schuck $2500 Memorial Award Best of Show
2014 Louisiana Watercolor Society Aqueous
2014-15-16-17-18-19 Mendocino Art Center open
2013 Mendocino Art Center Open, Juror John Fisher, 1st Prize
2012 Kentucky Watercolor Society, Juror; Ted Nuttal
2012 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Juror; Skip Lawrence
2011 National Watercolor Society; Juror: Marciano Martine
2011 Mendocino Art Center Open
2011 Philadelphia Watercolor Society
2011 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society
2010 Bold Expressions
2010 Mendocino Art Center; Juror: Bob Rhoads
2010 Expressions West – “Annagasson”; Juror: Kevan Kadar
2010 Gualala Art Center – “Headands”; Juror: Lucinda Barnes
2010 Louisianna Watercoor Society – “Day Off”; Juror: Soon Warren
2010 Georgia Watercolor Society – “Red Poppies”; Juror: Judy Morris
2010 Illinois Watercolor Society – “Noyo Night”; Juror: Peggy Zalucha
2010 Watercolor West – “Wave Action”; Juror: Frank Francese
2009 National Watercolor Society; Juror: Brad Faegre
2009 California Watercolor Association – “Buckhorn Cove”; Juror: John Salmenin
2009 Watercolor West – “Little River”; Juror: Scott Moore
2009 Mendocino Art Center
2008 Mendocino Art Center
2007 National Watercolor Society members show
2007 California Watercolor Association; St Cuthbert´s Mill Award
2007 Watercolor West Juror: Chris Van Winkle
2007 Mendocino Art Center Open; Juror: John Fisher
2006 Watercolor West; Juror: Barbara Nechis; Honorable Mention
2006 Alaska Watercolor Society
2006 Morro Bay Art Society; Jack Richeson Merchandise Award $200
2006 San Diego Watercolor Society; Juror: Frank Francese
2006 Mendocino Art Center Open; Frederick’s Art Supply award, selected for traveling show 2005
2005 Kentucky Watercolor Society; Juror: Gerald Brommer
2004 Allied Arts; Juror: Rie Palkovic
2004 Texas Watercolor Society; Juror: Margaret Martin AWS; Strathmore Artist Papers Award
2004 Kentucky Watercolor Society; Juror: Mary Whyte AWS
2004 Rhode Island Watercolor Society; Juror: Frank Francese
2004 Bold Expressions; Juror: Cynthia Hurley
2004 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society; Second Award Oil Painting
2004 Society of Western Artists; Juror: Dean Dallin
2004 Taos National Exhibition of Watercolor; Juror: Louise Cadillac
2004 Pittsburgh Watercolor Society
2004 Adirondacks National; Juror: Charles Reid
2004 Transparent Watercolor Society of America; signature status TWS on the basis of this acceptance
2004 Texas Watercolor Society
2003 Mississippi Watercolor Society; Juror: Frank Francese
2003 Rhode Island Watercolor Society; Juror: Tom Francesconi
2003 Kentucky Watercolor Society ; Juror: Pat Dews; Silver Medal
2003 Watercolor Society of Eastern Washington; Juror: Don Getz
2003 Marin County Fair
2003 Society of Western Artists Annual; Second Award Watercolor
2003 Arizona Watercolor Society; Juror: Donna Watson; signature member of PWS on the basis of this show
2003 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society; Juror: Maxine Masterfield
2003 Midwest Watercolor Society
2002 Arizona Watercolor Society
2002 Eastern Washington Watercolor Society; Juror: Don Getz; Silver Award
2002 Society of Western Artists; Second Award Watercolor; Daniel Smith and International Artist Magazine Award
2002 Midwest Watercolor Society
2002 Philadelphia Watercolor Society
2002 Society of Western Artists First & Second Watercolor, First Oil
2002 California Watercolor Association; Juror: Arne Westerman
2002 Period Gallery, Omaha Nebraska; Juror: Larry Bradshaw
2002 Wyoming Watercolor Society; Second Prize
2002 Louisiana Watercolor Society; Juror: Henry Caselli
2002 North Valley Art League (Two paintings accepted)
2001 San Diego Watercolor Society
2001 Western Colorado Watercolor Society; Juror: M Douglas Walton
2001 Bold Expressions (Northern California Arts, Inc.); Juror: Ken Waterstreet
2001 Rhode Island Watercolor Society
2001 Kentucky Watercolor Society; Juror: Cheng-Khee Chee
2001 North Valley Art League (Two paintings accepted)
2001 Wyoming Watercolor Society; Presidents Award
2001 Society of Western Artists; Best of Show
2001 Louisiana Watercolor Society; Selected for year long traveling show tour of Texas.
2001 Texas Watercolor Society; Juror: Domenic DeStefano; Honorable Mention
2000 Period Gallery, Omaha NE
2000 North Valley Art League
2000 Pittsburgh Watercolor Society; Juror: Skip Lawrence; Aquamedia Award
2000 Northwest Watercolor Society; Merchandise Award
2000 Kentucky Watercolor Society
2000 Georgia Watercolor Society; Juror: Gerald Brommer; Merit Award
2000 Arizona Watercolor Society; Juror: Dan Burt; Merchandise Award
2000 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society
2000 Pittsburgh Watercolor Society; Juror: Nita Engle; Merchandise Award
2000 Pikes Peak Watercolor Society (two entries); Juror: Judy Betts
1999 Society of Western Artists; Second Award Watercolor
1999 Mississippi Grand National Watercolor Society Exhibition
1999 Alabama Watercolor Society
1999 Rhode Island Watercolor Society; Juror: Janet Walsh; Honorable Mention
1999 Houston Watercolor Society
1999 Northwest Watercolor Society; Juror: Dean Mitchell; Winsor Newton Award
1999 Mississippi Watercolor Society
1998 Alabama Watercolor Society
1998 Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society; Juror: Michael Schlicting; Honorable Mention
1997 Florida Arts Council ; Panama City, FL
1997 North Valley Art League
1997 Montana Watercolor Society
1996 Eastern Washington Watercolor Society
1996 Florida Arts Council, Panama City FL; Juror: Frank Webb
1996 North Valley Art League; Juror: Donald Putman; Honorable Mention
1995 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society
1995 La Grange XIX, GA
1995 Northwest Watercolor Society, Seattle, WA
1995 North Valley Art League
1995 Eastern Washington Watercolor Society
1994 North Valley Art League, Redding CA
1994 Georgia Watercolor Society
1990 Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society; Dr and Mrs Michael Hess Award
1989 Florida Arts Council (2 entries accepted); Juror: Frank Webb
1988 Georgia Watercolor Society
1988 North Platte Art Guild
1987 Mississippi Watercolor Society
1987 Midwest Watercolor Society
1987 Adirondacks National Watercolor Society
1986 Colorado Watercolor Society
1986 North Platte Art Guild
1986 Texas Watercolor Society
1986 Midwest Watercolor Society
1985 West Coast Watercolor and Drawing Survey, Eureka, CA
1985 West Coast on/of Paper Competition, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA; Honorable Mention
1985 West Texas Watercolor Society , Lubbock, TX; Juror: Millard Sheets
1985 Jade Fon Asilomar Annual Competition; Purchase Award
1984 Jade Fon Asilomar Annual Competition; Second Place Award
1984 Ink People Studios Juried Competition, Eureka, CA
1983 Redwood Art Association Annual, Eureka, CA
1982 Redwood Art Association Annual, Eureka, CA

Awards

Inducted into the Watercolor Honor Society in 2015 and featured in Watercolor Artist Magazine that year as a result. I qualified by winning best of show 2015 Watercolor USA. This included a two page article in Watercolor magazine that year. Won second prize overall in Plein air Magazine Plain Salon and as such the highest watercolor award nationally.for that cycle . I received a full page feature in the watercolor issue July 2021 in Plein Air Magazine. WHS honor is only achieved by winning best of show in a major exhibition of Watercolor (Juror Carol Waits 2015). Inducted into the California Art Club as member Jan 2020. Judge of Coos Art Museum Annual Exhibition 2013, Mendocino Art Center First Prize; 2010 Bold Expressions Honorable Mention; 2007 Watercolor West St Cuthberts Mill $200; 2006 San Diego Watercolor Society Richeson $200, 2005 Kentucky Watercolor Society $250; Fredericks 2004 Kentucky Watercolor Society Strathemore Award; 2004 Rhode Island Watercolor Society $200 Award; 2004 Society of Western Artists Second Award Oil; 2003 Society of Western Artists Second Award WC; 2002 Eastern Washington WC Society Silver Medal International Artist; 2002 Transparent Watercolor Society America Daniel Smith & 2002 Society of Western Artists First Award Oil; 2002 Society of Western Artists First Award WC; 2002 Wyoming Watercolor Society Second award; 2001 Wyoming Watercolor Society Presidents Award; 2001 Society of Western Artists Best of Show; 2001 Texas Watercolor Society Honorable Mention; 2000 Northwest Watercolor Society Merchandise Award; 2000 Georgia Watercolor Society Merit Award; 2000 Arizona Watercolor Society Merchandise Award; 2000 Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Aquamedia Award; 1999 Rhode Island Watercolor Society Honorable Mention; 1999 Northwest Watercolor Society Winsor Newton Award; 1998 Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society Honorable Mention, 1990 Niagara Frontier watercolor Society Dr. Micheal Hess Award; 1985 West Texas Watercolor Society Honorable Mention; 1985 Jade Fon Asilomar National Competition Purchase Award.