By Kathy L. Collins
Sue Allen has achieved a level of success in her career as a watercolor artist that few can claim. Allen, who lives in FishHawk Ranch, recently had a piece of artwork titled, “Palimpsest” accepted into the 146th International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society.
Allen said, “This is something that I dreamed of for a long time.” Being accepted into the American Watercolor Society Exhibition is like a mountaineer reaching the summit of Mt. Everest. It is the pinnacle of a watercolor artist’s career, and something that they aspire to achieve.
To put this achievement into perspective, consider this fact. This year there were over 1,000 entries from the U.S. and all over the world. Of that number, only 140 were accepted. Each painting goes through a two step, very specific process. The first process is where a group of four judges jury each piece that has been submitted. Then, once the piece is juried into the exhibit, it undergoes another round of judging for purposes of awards.
Allen and her husband travelled to New York City in April to attend the exhibition. “When I learned that my piece had been accepted, I just knew that I had to attend,” said Allen. “I was in the room with artists that I admire and respect and have studied with in the past,” said Allen. The 2013 Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition was held at the Galleries of the Salmagundi Club located on 5th Ave. in New York City.
Allen uses water media to create her abstract paintings. Allen received her BFA from the University of Utah in 1980. She has been painting and teaching ever since. She is a signature member and past president of the Florida Watercolor Society, a teacher at Center Place and a long time member of the Brandon League of Fine Arts.
For more information, please visit www.sueallenart.com/whatshappening.html.
