Sheila Swanson 

I began painting early in life, quite by accident!  As a child, I sought peace and quiet through mind-absorbing hands-on work and found that I loved brilliant colorful creations. At Christmas, around the age of 9 or 10, I received a "paint-by-numbers" set. Wow!! How I loved it! Quickly, I painted the two art panels that were included and afterward, I used the leftover paint on pieces of cardboard creating paintings of my own design. Since money was very tight, I was not afforded any further painting supplies and eventually purchased my own as a grown-up. Little-by-little, I taught myself to paint in oils as well as acrylics; although they were really not very good, I persisted eventually ready to learn watercolor. I took lessons from two very fine watercolorists, Warren Hunter and Ivan McDougal and began my watercolor adventure lasting well over 30 years.  I have been most honored to receive "Gold Medal" for my entry "Day's End" in the 2001 San Antonio Watercolor Group Show, juried by John Salminen.  I currently am using oil on canvas, or panel, for the majority of my Impressionistic paintings. While rendering landscapes or florals, architecture, or animals, my heart is always singing!! It has been a wonderful journey getting to do what I love to do! Enjoying the world around me, in all of its natural beauty and splendid color is what gets me  inspired....everywhere I go, my focus always seems to return to ........something beautiful to paint!

 Exhibits / Juried Shows/Awards

 2017 "Roundup", Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, Texas

2014 "Solo" Exhibit, St, Marks Episcopal Church, San Antonio, Texas

2009 National Juried Exhibition, Kansas Watercolor Society, Wichita, Kansas

2009 National Juried Show, Pastel Painters of Maine, Saco Museum, Saco, Maine

2008 Fall Festival of At & Music, Boerne, Texas

2008 Fine Art Juried Exhibition, Breckenridge, Texas

2007 Coppini Academy Pastel Exhibit, Award* for "Red Tulips", San Antonio, Tx

2007, 2008,2009,2010 "Roundup", Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, Tx

2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 Western Art Invitational, Pioneer Hall @ Witte Museum, San Antonio, Tx

2007 Cibolo Nature Center Invitational, Boerne, Tx

2007 Pro-Am Fair Oaks Ranch Invitational, Fair Oaks Ranch Tx

2007 Ruidoso Art Festival, Juried for Pastels, Ruidoso, New Mexico

2006 "Hotter Than Hades" Juried Exhibit, Rockport Art Assn, Rockport, Tx, Juror Carol Myers

2005, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015 Parade of Artists, Boerne, Tx

2004 Western Colorado Watercolor Society National Juried Show, juror, Michael Schlicting

2003 Salado Wildflower Exhibition, Salado, Tx

2002 San Antonio Watercolor Group Exhibition, Juror Paula Owen

2001 San Antonio Watercolor Group Exhibition, Juror John Salminen, *GOLD MEDAL*

1999 San Antonio Watercolor Group Exhibition, Juror Marilyn Hughey Phillis

1999 Love Texas Gallery, International Airport, Award*Best of Show*

1999 San Antonio Art League Juried Exhibit, Award*First Place*, "Fiesta" Juror David Shirey

1997 7th Annual Art Exhibition, Inn at Los Patios, Awards*Two Honorable Mentions*

1996 San Antonio Watercolor Group Exhibition, Juror Linda Doll

1996 66th San Antonio Art League Exhibition, *Award* Juror Michael Frary

1996 Artists of San Antonio Invitational, *Award* First Place, Inn at Los Patios

1995 San Antonio Watercolor Group Juried Exhibit *2 Merit Awards*, Juror Miles Batt

1992 Western Art Invitational, Rodeo Grounds, San Antonio Tx

1992 San Antonio Watercolor Group Exhibition, Juror Leo Smith

1990 San Antonio Watercolor Group Exhibition Juror Don Andrews

1989 Invitation in cultural exchange with Kumamoto, Japan, ( 2 watercolors), Mayor Lila Cockrell

1985 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Tubac, Arizona, Jurors Glenn Bradshaw & Fran Larsen

1985 Corsicana Art League National Juried Show, Juror Ronald Thompson

1984 San Antonio Watercolor Group Show, Juror Katherine Chang Liu

1983 Foster Gallery Women's Show, San Antonio, Tx

1978 Painting & Sculpture Exhibition, One Seguin Art Cener, Juror Amy Freeman Lee

1977 River Art Show, *Award* -Purchase Prize for Kirby State Bank

1972-1997 Annual River Art Show, San Antonio Riverwalk

 Magazine/Newspaper/Other

 2017 Southwest Art, "Dappled Light"

2016 Fredericksburg Art Guide, inside cover, "Villages of Provence"

2016 Luling Newspaper, feature article

2013 Hill Country Happenings, Cover, "Rose Garden"

2007 Southwest Art, group, Carriage House Artists

2006-2007 Texas Highways, "notecards"

1995 Color Q Calendar, featuring "Wildflowers of Texas"

1994 Baptist Children's Home 100th Jubilee Celebration, invitation, poster, program artwork

1990 Artist of Texas, Vol. 3, "Riverwalk"

1990 Hermann Sons of Texas, Commissioned Artwork for "100 Years Across Texas" Tapestry San Antonio Tx

1989 Artwork Logo for Bob White Delivery Service

2004, 2006, 2007 several articles in the Boerne Star and Hill Country Recorder

 Oil Painters of America

American Impressionist Society
River Art Group, Life Member