ABOUT THE ARTIST
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DONNA JILL WITTY, AWS / NWS
WISDOM
“Criticism comes easier than craftsmanship...”
.....Zeuxis
“Go on working freely and furiously and you will make progress....”
....Paul Gauguin
INSPIRATION
“The best way out is always through....”
....Robert Frost
TRUTH
Donna Jill Witty, AWS/NWS/WHS/TWSA Master Status
works primarily with watercolor and holds Signature Membership Status in the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Watercolor Honor Society, and Transparent Watercolor Society of America (with Master Status).
She studied at the University of Florida and the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Il., as well as with nationally known artists Nita Engle and Irving Shapiro. A professional artist for over 40 years, her watercolors are included in private and corporate collections throughout the United States and Western Europe and have been recognized with well over 200 awards, including many Best of Show, in Fine Art shows and exhibitions across the nation.
Featured In:
Splash 18: Value, Celebrating Light and Dark, North Light Books, 2017
Painting In Watercolor, The Indispensable Guide, Quarto Press, London, 2016
American Artist WATERCOLOR magazine, Fall 2012
American Artist Magazine, July/August, 2011
Splash 11: New Directions, North Light Books, 2010
How To Paint Watercolor Flowers, Robin Berry, 2010
The Best of America: Watercolor Artists and Artisans, Kennedy Publications, 2010
The Artistic Touch 4, Chris Unwin NWS, Creative Press, 2010
Watercolor Secrets, Rachel Rubin Wolf, North Light Books, 2009
Splash 10: Passionate Brushstrokes, North Light Books, 2008
The Best of America: Watercolor Artists and Artisans, Kennedy Publications, 2007
Watercolor Magic Magazine: “Making A Splash” and “Forever A Student” (articles) 2005
Splash 7: A Celebration of Light, North Light Books, 2002
25 Tips by the Best of MWS, Midwest Watercolor Society, Aquarelle Press, 2001
“Patterns of Value” (article) The Artist’s Magazine, July 2001
Splash 6: The Magic of Texture, North Light Books, 2000
The Chicago Art Scene, Ivy Sundell, Crow Woods Publishers, 1998
Creative Watercolor: A Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase, Mary Ann Beckwith, Rockport Publishers, 1996
SELECT EXHIBITIONS, HONORS AND AWARDS
2017-2019 President of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
2019 - FABRIANO IN AQUARELLO INTERNATIONAL: Fabriano, Italy
2014 -EAU en COULOURS INTERNATIONAL WATERCOLOR BIENNIAL: Chateau de Bourgogne, Estaimbourg, BELGIUM
2013 - SHENZHEN INTERNATIONAL WATERCOLOR BIENNIAL: Shenzhen, CHINA
National Exhibition
2011 - TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION
2012 - JUROR OF SELECTION/JUROR OF AWARDS- 36th Annual National Exhibition of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2012 - JUROR OF SELECTION/JUROR OF AWARDS - Illinois Watercolor Society Annual National Exhibition
AMERICAN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2005 - Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY
(elected to Signature Status)
2004 - Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY
2003 - Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY
(Elsie and David Wu Ject-Key Memorial Award)
(selected for Traveling Exhibit)
2017 SIGNATURE AMERICAN WATERMEDIA EXHIBITION, FALLBROOK, CA
2016 SIGNATURE AMERICAN WATERMEDIA EXHIBITION, FALLBROOK, CA
2015 SIGNATURE AMERICAN WATERMEDIA EXHIBITION, FALLBROOK, CA
2016 NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2015 NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2008 NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2002 NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Awarded Signature Status)
2018 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
2017 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
2013 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
2009 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
2007 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Awarded Master Status)
2005 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Merit Award)
2003 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(MWS Memorial Award)
2001 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Merit Award)
1999 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Edgar A. Whitney Memorial Award of Excellence)
1998 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
1997 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
1996 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Awarded Signature Status)
1994 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
1988 TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA NATIONAL EXHIBITION
2018 WATERCOLOR USA HONOR SOCIETY
earned admission
2018 WATERCOLOR USA NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION
2008 WATERCOLOR USA NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION
2007 WATERCOLOR USA NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION
2002 WATERCOLOR USA NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION
2019 CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATERCOLOR OPEN WATER EXHIBITION
2018 NORTHWEST WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL OPEN EXHIBITION
2019 WATERCOLOR WEST INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION
2018 WATERCOLOR WEST INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION
2017 WATERCOLOR WEST INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION
AQUEOUS 2017, Louisville, Kentucky (Award)
2018 - MISSOURI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2017 -MISSOURI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2016 -MISSOURI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Museum Aquarelle Award)
WATERCOLOR SHOWCASE 2005 JACK RICHESON GRAND PRIZE AWARD
Watercolor Magic Magazine
WATERMEDIA 2003 CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS
The Continental Center, Houston, Texas
2015 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2013 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2012 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2012 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2011 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2009 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2001 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Savoir Faire, Fabriano Paper & Raphael Kolinsky Awards)
(earned admission to the Sylvan Grouse Guild)
1999 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
(M. Graham Professional Watercolor Award)
1998 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
1997 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Awarded Signature Status)
1996 PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Bronze Medal)
2019 ILLINOIS NATIONAL WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION
2018 ILLINOIS NATIONAL WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION
2017 ILLINOIS NATIONAL WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION
2016 ILLINOIS NATIONAL WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION
PHILADELPHIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY 101st EXHIBITION of WORKS ON PAPER
2001 - The American College, Bryn Mawr, PA
(Sandra Swain Memorial Award)
1999 WESTERN COLORADO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(Daler-Rowney Award)
1998 WESTERN COLORADO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY NATIONAL EXHIBITION
1997 WESTERN COLORADO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY NATIONAL EXHIBITION
(1st Place Award)
(Awarded Signature Status)
1995 WESTERN COLORADO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY NATIONAL EXHIBITION
1994 WESTERN COLORADO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY NATIONAL EXHIBITION