Artist Bio for Deb Ward

I began painting in watercolors in 1996 and have been teaching watercolor since 2004.  Since then, my paintings have won awards in several regional and national competitions and have been purchased by patrons from Cincinnati to Seattle.  A collection of my paintings hangs in the Hansen Center in Batesville, Indiana.

My paintings have been accepted into national shows - a painting entitled "Line O' Limos" (watercolor) won the National 2002 Viewpoint Watercolor Magic Magazine Award; "Sunlit Pears" (casein) was accepted into the 2007 Viepoint, and 3 of my casein pieces were accepted into Richeson 75: Still Life & Floral 2009.  In addition, my work has been shown at the Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati, Middletown Fine Arts Center, Middletown, Ohio, the Miamisburg Art Gallery, Miamisburg, Ohio and the Kennedy Heights Arts Center and the Bethesda North Center for Breast Care, Cincinnati, Ohio.

In addition to teaching watercolor classes in my home and for a local home school organization, I also teach classes for the Dearborn Highland Arts Council, Dearborn County, IN, Dunham Recreation Center and Kennedy Heights Arts Center in Cincinnati, OH.  In addition, I have taught classes at The Franciscan Center of Oldenburg, IN, Life Learn at Mt. St. Joseph College, Cincinnati, OH and Evergreen Retirement Center, Cincinnati, OH,

I am currently a member of the Cincinnati Art Club Board of Trustee serving as the Chairperson for ViewPoint; Georgia Watercolor Society; Louisiana Watercolor Society; the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society; the Queen City Art Club and the Kennedy Heights Arts Guild in Cincinnati, Ohio and Southeast Indiana Art Guild in Aurora, Indiana.

Artist Statement for Deb Ward

The luminous quality of watercolor and the way colors mingle on the paper are what drew me to the medium.  My favorite way to use watercolors is by glazing (layering of colors).  Another favorite way to use the medium is by dropping color onto very wet paper, then spattering or dripping paint and salt to create texture in the original wash layer.  I also love color - my palette holds 22 colors and sometimes that’s not enough. 

I enjoy working in a "series" of similar subjects or ideas, in a realistic manner.  My subject matter rarely involves an actual figure, but often implies the human element.  “With few exceptions, when you see my work you know exactly what you are looking at”.  Recently I have been working in fluid acrylics and casein, both forms of water media, in addition to watercolors.

Juried Shows and Awards

2009   Richeson 75: Still Life and Floral         

           Kimberly, Wi

2009   Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati

            116th Regional Juried Exhibition

2008   "Fall into Art" - Maple Knoll

             Village - Cincinnati, OH

2008   Miamisburg Art Gallery Show

          2^nd Place – Watermedia

2008   Area Art Show – Middletown, OH

             Juried Exhibit

             Mariemont, Ohio

2008   “Treasures” Winter Show (Online)

            Creative Catalyst Productions

            Honorable Mention - Floral

2008   “HeArt of Art”

            Kennedy Hts. Arts Center  

2007    Viewpoint, 2007

           Cincinnati, OH

2007     Miamisburg Art Gallery Show

            3^rd Place – Watermedia

2007    Area Art Show -  Middletown, OH 

            First Place - Watermedia

2007   “Aqua”

            Kennedy Hts. Arts Center

           Cincinnati, OH

2006   “Internationale”

            Kennedy Ht.s Arts Center

            Cincinnati, OH

2006    Miamisburg Art Guild

            Miamisburg, Ohio

2002    “Viewpoint”

             Watercolor Magic Award

Other Shows

2009   Richeson 75:  Still Life & Floral

             Kimberly, WI

2009   Greater Cincnnati Watercolor Society -

            "Seven Year Itch" @ Evergreen

2009   SIAG Spring Show

             Aurora, IN

2009   Queen City Art Club

             Chesterwood Village

2008   Holiday Treasures

             Kennedy Hts. Arts  Center

             Cincinnati, OH

2008   Queen City Art  Club - Fall Show

            Baker-Hunt, Covington, KY

2008   "Colorburst" at Evergreen

2007   “Colorburst” at Evergreen

           Cincinnati, Ohio

2007    Spring Guild Show

            Kennedy Hts. Arts Center

           Cincinnati, Ohio

2006    Nov – Jan (2007)

            One Woman Show

            Kennedy Hts. Arts Center

2006    “The Diversity of  Water  Media”

            Sharon Centre

            Cincinnati, Ohio

2006    “Art Burst” at Evergreen

            Cincinnati, Ohio

2005    “Colorburst” at Evergreen

           Cincinnati, Ohio

2004    “Along for the Ride”

             A Two Woman Show

             Walnut Street Guild

             Batesville, IN