World of Watercolor and Beyond is now open at Fallbrook Art Center

FALLBROOK - World of Watercolor & Beyond, the ninth annual Signature American Watermedia International Exhibition & Sale, opened with a reception at the Fallbrook Art Center on Feb. 3.

This year's show features 120 original works selected from 398 submissions. The artists represent 29 of the 50 states as well as Malaysia and Singapore.

Featured works are all originals in a wide range of subject matter, techniques and styles (experimental to traditional) selected by show juror Ratindra Das, AWS (DF), NWS. This show is the only one of its kind in the U.S., as only artists who have attained 'Signature Level Membership' status in one or more U.S. Societies are eligible to submit works – so they are all 'the best of the best' in watercolor or watermedia works created by national and international contemporary working artists.

Over $15,000 in cash and merchandise awards were bestowed by the show juror:

Best of Show Award - $2,500 - Ron Thurston, Pennsylvania, 'Time Travel'

First Place Show Award - $2,000 - John Salminen, Minnesota, 'River Café, Brooklyn'

Second Place Show Award - $1,500 - Carla O'Connor, Washington, 'Fancy That'

Third Place Show Award - $1,000 - Dean Mitchell, Florida, 'I Am Joseph Northern'

Mijello Mission Gold Merchandise Award - $500 - Charles Rouse, California, 'Little Italy Pizza Parade'

Mijello Mission Gold Merchandise Award - $500 - Valerie Cohen, Nevada, 'Windy Day on Carson Peak'

John Singer Sargent Award - $500 - Robin Erickson, California, 'Pony's Window'

Marine Corps Legacy Award - $500 - Carol Thomason, California, 'Lines of Communication: 244 PETCO.COM'

Monet Award - $500 - Judy Janc, California, 'Flamingo Interlude'

City Slickers Urban Scene Award - $500 - Grace Haverty, Arizona, 'Jazz Player'

Rembrandt Award - $500 - Ingrid Albrecht, Illinois, 'And off to the Park We Go'

The World Around Me Award - $500 - Angela Chang, California, 'Filling Station Café XII'

Take Me - New Places Award - $500 - Kathleen Conover, Michigan, 'Divided: Industrial Revolution'

The Erickson Family Award - $500 - Tan Suz Chiang, Malaysia, 'Story of the Season #1'

Stand Up for Still Life Award - $250 - Soon Warren, Texas, 'Reflection Festivity'

Art in Life, Art in Food Award - $250 - Chris Krupinski, West Virginia, 'Pomegranates & Grapes on a Quilt'

Celebrating the Good Life Award - $250 - Bonnie Woods, California, 'We'll Always Have Paris'

Crazy for Abstraction Award - $250 - Elaine Daily-Birnbaum, Wisconsin, 'Detour'

Dazzling Vistas Award - $250 - Jerry Smith, Indiana, 'Blue Haven'

Don't Spatter Me Award - $250 - Robert Mejer, Illinois, 'Somewhere in Between'

Cezanne Award - $250 - Carolyn Lord, California, 'Autumnal Equinox Heliotropes'

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Award - $250 - Margaret Godfrey, Oregon, 'Will She Be Allowed?'

The Jeanne Shanahan Memorial Award - $250 - Sue Johnston, California, 'Rio di San Provolo'

The Sky's the Limit Award - $250 - Rita Crooks, Wisconsin, 'Calf on the Roof'

CaliforniaWatercolor.Com - $195 - Jansen Chow, Malaysia, 'Good Morning Machu Picchu

Cheap Joe's Art Stuff Award - $125 - Carol Mansfield, California, 'Orbital Traffic Control'

The show is open daily through April 15, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays noon to 3 p.m. Admission is $6, free for members. The Fallbrook Art Center is at 103 S. Main Ave., at Alvarado.

For other information on the show, to support center programs, or to volunteer, call (760) 728-1414 or visit http://www.fallbrookartcenter.org.