Biography

annAnn Pember earned a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston in 1968 and worked as a free-lance commercial artist for 12 years. She and her husband relocated to Lake Champlain in the Adirondack region of New York In1976. She has been painting in watercolor since 1960 and is a signature member of 22 art and watercolor societies.

Pember’s paintings often have a close focus and employ dramatic lighting. They have been included in more than 375 national juried exhibitions, including those of the American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society, Rocky Mountain National and Watercolor USA and they have won more than 115 awards. Her work has been featured in more than 50 books and publications, including 7 of the popular Splash books by North Light Books.

Pember has produced four self published books in PDF format; available on CD, or as a download, “Discover Your Inner Inspiration” in 2016, Make Flower Paintings Glow In Watercolor in 2015, The Magic of Painting On Smooth Surfaces in 2014 and Make Dynamic Paintings In Watercolor in 2008, Her hardcover book, Painting Close-Focus Flowers in Watercolor, was released by North Light Books in 2000 and is almost sold out. Her instructional videos, Vibrant Orchid; Painting in the Flow of Watercolor, and “Painting in the Flow of Watercolor on High Plate Illustration Board were produced by Creative Catalyst Productions in 2004 and 2006. She has been teaching painting workshops since 1988 and has been invited to act as juror of numerous national exhibitions and online shows. Ann welcomes visits to her studio by appointment.

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

The abstract patterns and shadows created by light have fascinated me since childhood and are an important element in the design of my paintings. My paintings are my interpretation of what I see, often exploring an intimate point of view. I frequently paint in a series as a means of fully exploring a subject. While my paintings are realistic, my intention is to convey: feeling, the spirit of the subject and a sense of personal connection, rather than to make a photographically perfect image. I edit content and suggest rather than exactly copy the subject.

The most important technical elements to me are; the patterns formed by light, a good balance of values and the use of clean luminous color. I work on an easel, with the board tilted at an angle, allowing gravity to make the transparent paint move and produce beautiful passages. I paint directly, adding darks before the paint dries to achieve the freshest color. I use very little subsequent glazes of paint.

My watercolors include flowers, landscapes, still-lifes and portraits, mostly inspired by nature and my home environment near Lake Champlain. Its vistas, rocky shore and gardens provide me with an abundance of beautiful scenery and subjects.

 

PROFESSIONAL SIGNATURE MEMBERSHIPS

ACADEMIC ARTISTS ASSOCIATION

ALLIED ARTISTS OF AMERICA

AMERICAN ARTISTS PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE; FELLOW

AMERICAN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

AUDUBON ARTISTS

BALTIMORE WATERCOLOR SOCIETY, INC.; Watercolor Master Elite & LIfe Member

CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB

CENTRAL NEW YORK WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

ILLINOIS WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

KNICKERBOCKER ARTISTS USA

MISSISSIPPI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

MISSOURI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

MONTANA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ARTISTS, INC.

PENNSYLVANIA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

PITTSBURGH WATERCOLOR SOCIETY; INVITED MEMBER

POTOMAC VALLEY WATERCOLOR SOCIETY; HONORARY MEMBER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WATERMEDIA SOCIETY

TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA

VERMONT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF ALABAMA: SIGNATURE PLATINUM MEMBER

WATERCOLOR USA HONOR SOCIETY

MASTER WATERCOLOR WEST

WESTERN COLORADO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY: Master

 

AWARDS

2023 HONORABLE MENTION 2 PAINTINGS WOMEN IN WATERCOLOR ONLINE ANNUAL
2023 EDGAR WHITNEY MEMORIAL AWARD, Hudson Valley Art Association 90th Annual, Lyme, CT
2023 WESTERN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY AWARD; Rockies West, CO
2023 BLICK AWARD MOWS National Ann Pember Topaz
2023 GORDON NELSON MEMORIAL AWARD; 82nd Annual National Exhibition of the Watercolor Society of Alabama
2022 MARGARET AND WILLIAM FOLEY AWARD; Adirondacks National, Old Forge
2022 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARTS ASSOCIATION AWARD in the 54th WATERCOLOR WEST ANNUAL NATIONAL EXHIBITION, CA
2022 MERIT AWARD; LOUISIANA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY
2022 CHEVY” CHEVILLION MEMORIAL AWARD in the 46th Transparent Watercolor Society of America Juried Exhibition
2022 THIRD PLACE the 32nd Rockies West National of the Western Colorado Watercolor Society
2021-2022 HONORABLE MENTION; WSA National Online Showcase
2021 ATLANTIC PAPERS MATERIALS AWARD in Aquamedia $200 Certificate
2021 DICK BLICK GIFT CARD AWARD; MTWS 2001 WATERMEDIA
2021 GOLDEN ARTISTS COLORS MERCHANDISE AWARD; Pikes Peak International Watermedia Exhibition, CO
2021 The M. Graham Award; 31st Rockies West National
2020  FIRST PLACE, GOLD AWARD & MEDALLION WITH $1000 in MTWS 38th Annual National Juried Exhibition
2020  JURORS CHOICE AWARD; Central New York Watercolor Society Members Annual Exhibition Online
2020  FASO MERCHANDISE AWARD; Women In Watercolor 1st Online National Exhibition
2020  BLUE DOOR ART CENTER AWARD; Hudson Valley Art Association 87th National; Lyme Art Association Gallery, CT
2020  AWARD OF EXCELLENCE; Watercolor USA National; Springfield Art Museum
2020  AWARD; Western Colorado Watercolor Society’s Rockies West, CO
2020   Margaret M. Martin Award Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club 123rd Annual Open; National Arts Club, NYC
2019   SYLVAN GROUSE AWARD  & BRONZE MEDAL; Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 40th International, PA
2019   PRESIDENT’S AWARD; Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 40th International, PA
2019   Upper Hudson River Valley Watercolor Society Award
2019   John Tatge Memorial Award
2018   PRESIDENT’S AWARD American Artists Professional League 90th Grand National; Salmagundi Club, NYC
2018   Third Award Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Aqueous Open 2018
2018   President’s Award Montana Watercolor Society 36th Watermedia Annual Exhibition
2018   Honorable Mention Award in The 2018 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
2018   Honorable Mention Award; Illinois Watercolor Society
2018   Honorable Mention Award for Texture/Use of Medium; American Artists Professional League Online Members Show
2017   BRONZE AWARD & MEDALLION; Montana Watercolor Society 35th Annual Exhibition
2017   LOUISIANA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY AWARD: Watercolor Society of Alabama
2016   PRESIDENT’S AWARD: American Artists Professional League 88th Grand National
2016   FRANK WEB AWARD IN AQUAMEDIA; Audubon Artists Annual; Salmagundi Club, NYC
2016   MTWS FOUNDERS AWARD: MTWS Annual Watermedia
2016   CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB AWARD: Allied Artists of America Annual; Salmagundi Club, NYC
2016   INTERNATIONAL ARTIST MAGAZINE FLORALS & GARDENS CHALLENGE FINALIST 3RD AWARD: June/July Issue
2015   EDGAR A. WHITNEY MEMORIAL AWARD: CLWAC 119th Annual Open: National Arts Club, NYC,
2015   AMERICAN ARTISTS PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE PRESIDENT’S AWARD; SALMAGUNDI CLUB, NYC
2015   THIRD PLACE BRONZE AWARD & MEDALLION: Montana Watercolor Society 33rd Annual Watermedia
2015   JUROR’S AWARD; Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 35th International, Carlisle, Pa
2015   MARGARET G. KRANKING MEMORIAL AWARD: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Regional, MD
2015   PATRON’S FINE ART AWARD: Watercolor Society of Alabama
2014    BEST OF SHOW: GOLD MEDALLION AWARD: Montana Watercolor Society 32nd Annual Watermedia
2014    REALISM IN NATURE AWARD: Adirondacks National; Old Forge, NY
2013    MERIT AWARD: Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Aqueous Open
2013     HONOURABLE MENTION: Mississippi Watercolor Society 2013 Grand National
2013      MARY BRYAN MEMORIAL AWARD; Academic Artists Association, CT
2013,07TRAILS & STREAMS MEDALLION FOR A WOODLAND THEME; Adirondacks National; Old Forge, NY
2013     INVESTMENT AWARD Oklahoma Watermedia Exhibition
2013     PATRON’S FINE ART AWARD: Watercolor Society of Alabama
2013     ART ACADEMY LIVE.COM AWARD; Western Colorado Watercolor Society’s Rockies West National
2012     CLAUDE PARSONS MEMORIAL AWARD; American Artists Professional League Grand National On-line
2012     JUROR”S AWARD; Watercolor West 44th Annual, CA
2012     WINSOR NEWTON AWARD; Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Regional, MD
2012     GORDON & MILDRED EVANS MEMORIAL WARD; ANEAW Old Forge, NY
2012     PATRON’S FINE ART GIFT CERTIFICATE/MERCHANDISE AWARD #3 Watercolor Society Alabama
2011    AWARD: 38TH Rocky Mountain National, CO
2011    MERIT AWARD: Watercolor Society of Alabama
2008    AWARD WITH GIFT CERTIFICATE; Watercolor Society of Alabama
2008    ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Missouri Watercolor Society
2006     VERILUX INC. MERCHANDISE AWARD: Watercolor Society of Alabama
2005     LITTLE HOUSE ON LINDEN AWARD: Watercolor Society of Alabama
2005     JERRY’S ARTARAMA MERCHANDISE AWARD: Academic Artists Association Annual, MA
2005     CREATIVE CATALYST PRODUCTIONS MERCHANDISE AWARD: Baltimore Watercolor Society,
2004     MTWS SILVER MEDALLION AWARD: Montana Watercolor Soc 22nd Annual
2004     M. GRAHAM & CO AWARD: Pittsburgh Watercolor Soc. 58th Aqueous Open
2003     MTWS EXPRESSIONIST AWARD: Montana Watercolor Soc 21st Annual Watermedia 2003
2003     BEST OF SHOW: PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL WATERMEDIA XIII: Colorado Springs Art Center
2002     MERIT AWARD: Watercolor Art Society-Houston, Texas
2001     ST. CUTHBERT’S MILL MERCHANDISE AWARD; Kentucky Watercolor Society Aqueous USA
2001     STRATHMORE PAPER CO. MERCHANDISE AWARD: Academic Artists Assoc.
2001     ALPEN AWARD: Pikes Peak Watercolor Society International Watermedia Twelve
2000    DALER-ROWNEY MERCHANDISE AWARD: Western Colorado Watercolor Society
2000     AWARD OF RECOGNITION: Western Colorado Watercolor Society for 5 acceptances.
2000    JACK RICHESON & CO. AWARD: Mid-Atlantic Regional, Baltimore Watercolor Society
2000    DANIEL SMITH ARTISTS’ MATERIALS AWARD: Watercolor Society of Alabama
2000    MERIT AWARD: Louisiana Watercolor Society International
1999    VIEUX CARRE MERIT AWARD: Louisiana Watercolor Society International
1998    ALLSTATE INSURANCE AWARD: Mississippi Watercolor Society
1998    VIRGINIA WEIGAND AWARD FOR FLORALS: Rocky Mountain National: Foothills Art Center, CO
1998    MARTIN FAMILY AWARD: Adirondack National Exhib. of American Watercolors; Old Forge, NY
1997    AWARD: WESTERN COLORADO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY
1997    DICK BLICK ART MATERIALS: Audubon Artists Exhib. NYC
1997    MERIT AWARD: BALTIMORE WATERCOLOR SOC., Johns Hopkins Univ., MD
1977     GRUMBACI~ER ACADEMY GOLD MEDAL AWARD: Louisiana Watercolor Soc Ex.
1997    NWS MEMBERS & ASSOCIATES EXHIBITION: CA
1996    BORDEN-RILEY MERCHANDISE AWARD: Louisiana Watercolor Soc. Annual International,
1995    THE GLASS ART SHOP AWARD: Watermedia ’95; Montana Watercolor Society
1995    CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB HONORABLE MENTION: 99th Annual; NYC
1995    JOYCE & GLENN HIMES PURCHASE AWARD: WATERCOLOR USA, Springfield Art Museum, MO
1994    SAUNDERS WATERFORD & BOCKINGFORD PAPER MERCHANDISE AWARD; Watercolor West, CA
1994     M.GRUMBACHER GOLD MEDAL AND MERCHANDISE AWARD: Mississippi Watercolor Soc. Exhib.
1994     NEW JERSEY WATERCOLOR SOCIETY AWARD: Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Annual, NYC
1994     PERRY HOUSE GALLERIES: HONORABLE MENTION WITH MEDAL: Invitational; VA
1993    DOROTHEA & ALBERT GORDON MEMORIAL AWARD: Adirondack National Exhib. Old Forge, NY
1993    JERRY’S ARTARAMA GIFT CERTIFICATE: Watercolor Art Society-Houston 17th International, Texas
1992    STRATHMORE PAPER AWARD: Adirondack Park Centennial Watercolor Exhibition, NY

PUBLICATIONS

AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS

2016   DISCOVER YOUR INNER INSPIRATION; Digital Book on CD in PDF format

2015   MAKE FLOWER PAINTINGS GLOW IN WATERCOLOR; Digital Book on CD in PDF format

2014   THE MAGIC OF PAINTING ON SMOOTH SURFACES IN WATERCOLOR; Digital Book on CD in PDF format

2008   MAKE DYNAMIC PAINTINGS IN WATERCOLOR; Digital Book on CD in PDF format

2000   PAINTING CLOSE FOCUS FLOWERS IN WATERCOLOR; Publisher: North Light Books

VIDEOS

2004   VIBRANT ORCHID…PAINTING IN THE FLOW OF WATERCOLOR

2006   PAINTING IN THE FLOW OF WATERCOLOR ON HIGH PLATE ILLUSTRATION BOARD

PUBLICATIONS

2016  THE INTERNATIONAL ARTIST MAGAZINE CHALLENGE #93, FLORALS & GARDENS, WON THIRD AWARD; published in International Artist magazine #109, June/July issue.

2016  AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE: Awarded a one page feature article

2014   Article: THE ART OF WATERCOLOR MAGAZEINE: France

2013, 11, 09 Selected Finalist Art Challenge: INTERNATIONAL ARTIST MAGAZINE: Article

2013   Included in the book; THE COMPLETE BOOK OF WATERCOLOR, Secrets of 15 Watercolor Masters; France

2011   Included In the Book: SPLASH 12; North Light Books

2010   Included in the French Magazine: PRATIQUE DES ARTS

2005   Included in the book: BIG BOOK OF PAINTING WATERCOLOR FLOWERS: North Light Books

2005   Featured Article: WATERCOLOR MAGAZINE; Advice From Experts:

2004   Included In the Magazine: WATERCOLOR BASICS; March Issue

2003   Included In the Magazine: WATERCOLOR MAGIC HANDBOOK; June Issue

2002   Included In the Book: THE COLLECTED BEST OF WATERCOLOR: Rockport Publishers

2002   Featured Article: THE ARTIST’T MAGAZINE: “MORE THAN REALITY

2002   Included In the Magazine: watercolor Magic

2002,00 Included In the Books: Splash 7 & 6; North Light Books

2000   Included In the Magazine: WATERCOLOR MAGIC: Yearbook Issue – THE ONES TO WATCH

2000   Included In the Magazine: COLOR

2000   Included In the Book: KEYS TO PAINTING FRUIT & FLOWERS; North Light Books

1999   Featured In the Magazine: Watercolor Magic; Summer Issue

1999   Included in the book: BEST OF FLOWER PAINTING 2; North Light Books

1999   Featured in the book: PAINTING THE MANY MOODS OF LIGHT; North Light Books

1998   Included In the Book: EXPLORING COLOR; by Nita Leland

1998-96Included in the book: SPLASH 3, 4 &5; North Light books

1997   Included In the Book: FLORAL INSPIRATIONS; Rockport Publishers

1997   Included In the Book: BEST OF WATERCOLOR- PAINTING LIGHT AND SHADOW; Rockport Publishers

1997   Included In the Book: BEST OF WATERCOLOR- PAINTING COLOR; Rockport Publishers

1997   Included in the book: THE BEST OF FLOWER PAINTING; North Light Books

1996   Included in Book: IN WATERCOLOR- FLOWERS; Rockport Publishers

1996   Included In Book: BASIC FLOWER PAINTING TECHNIQUES IN WATERCOLOR; North Light Books

1996,95 Included In Book: CREATIVE WATERCOLOR- A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE & SHOWCASE; Rockport Publishers

1995   Included In Book: BEST OF WATERCOLOR; Rockport Publishers

1995   Included In the Magazine: WATERCOLOR ’95; American Artist Pub. Spring Issue