In 1971, the Tennessee Watercolor Society became an organization after two years of meetings and exploratory letters. The Tennessee Watercolorists was the original name given to the group but was later abandoned because of a trend toward designating such organizations as Societies.
When first exploring the possibility of a state organization Mary Britten Lynch, a Chattanooga artist, began by contacting Budd Bishop, director of the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga, George Cress, chairman of the University of Chattanooga (later called the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga) art department and Kermit “Buck” Ewing, art department head at UT in Knoxville. All were very supportive of a statewide organization and provided lists of potential artist members across the state.The first meeting, held in Nashville at the University Club, included Ms. Lynch as chairman, Anton Weiss, Don Cannichael, Louise LeQuire, Mildred Cantrell, Gordon Holl and Norman Worrell.
Mr. Holl and Mr. Worrell, from the Tennessee Arts Commission, helped the organization get off the ground. Jim Franklin, a Chattanooga architect and exhibiting artist, provided expertise in organizing and writing bylaws. Memphis artist, Jason Williamson accepted the challenge to become the first president with the support of 26 founding members.The First Annual Exhibition was held in 1972 at the Hunter Museum. Ohio artist and author Robert Laessig, AWS, juried the exhibition. Today TNWS is a biennial exhibition organization with a statewide membership of more than 200 artists and supporters.
The Tennessee Watercolor Society (TnWS) was formed in 1971. The purpose of the TnWS is to elevate the stature of watercolor and educate the public to the significance of watercolor as an important, creative, permanent painting medium. The organization purposes are to further the interest of painters in all water media by its programs, competitive exhibits and workshops, encourage the study of water media by art students and others engaged in the medium, as well as supporting all the visual arts.
The Tennessee Watercolor Society is a statewide organization. Membership includes artists who reside in the state of Tennessee. Where cities border the state line, artists who work or reside with the greater metropolitan area, whether in Tennessee or not, will be eligible for membership. We have five geographical/metropolitan regions: Region 1-Memphis, Region II-Nashville, Region III-Chattanooga, Region IV-Knoxville, and Region V-Tri-Cities. This system is in place to pull together our large statewide membership for efficient and inclusive communication and organization. The Biennial Juried Exhibitions rotate around the state through the five regions.
The TnWS sponsors workshops, regional activities, membership shows, and biennial juried exhibitions. The TnWS Exhibitions are strong and well respected competitions, with an abundant award structure that is enhanced each exhibition with new patrons. Artists throughout the state eagerly await the Exhibitions. The last 3 biennieal exhibitions were held in Clarksville - 2006; Knoxville - 2008; and Chattanooga - 2010. The 2012 exhibition will be hosted in Memphis. All membership shows and juried exhibitions require that the paintings are executed in an aqueous manner, on paper and framed behind glass or Plexiglas.
The Tennessee Watercolor Society is stretching its boundaries; while remaining true to its mission of promoting an appreciation of watercolor and water media, it strives to bring exciting shows having versatility and innovation in both traditional and cutting-edge paintings in water media.
The society is open to artists and patrons, eighteen and older, throughout the state of Tennessee.
2008-2010 – Mary P. Spellings / Mercer
2006-2008 – Harriet Howell / Rutledge
2002-2006 – Wendy Latimer / Brentwood
2000-2002- Jan Batts / Nashville
1996-2000 – Victoria Lenne / Oak Ridge
1995 – Durinda Cheek / Ringgold, GA
1994 – Sandra Baker-Hinton / Rossville, GA
1993 – Harriet Howell / Knoxville
1992 – Christopher Terry / Knoxville
1991 – B. J. Clark / Knoxville
1990 – Judy Ann Hostetter / Chattanooga
1989 – Leathers Maddux / Nashville
1988 – Pat Hopkins / Oak Ridge
1987 – Edna London / Signal Mountain
1986 – Harriet Chipley / Lookout Mountain
1985 – Anne Powers / Rockwood
1984 – Fran Henley / Rockwood
1983 – Janice Pollard / Nashville
1982 – Betty Robinson / Chattanooga
1981 – Lois Shelburne Wallace / Knoxville
1980 – David Wade / Memphis
1979 – Dot Galloway / Knoxville
1978 – Anton Weiss / Nashville
1977 – Beryl Hawkins / Bristol
1975-1976 – Connie Hendrix / Memphis
1974 – Donald Carmichael / Jackson
1973 – Mary B. Lynch / Lookout Mt., GA
1972 – George Shook / Memphis
1971 – Jason Williamson / Memphis
Region One
Allen, Mary Lawrence
Bailey, Bill
Baker, Eleanor
Barker, Sara W.
Beach, Ann Cobb
Bishop, Peggy S.
Bloom, Joanne
Broadbent, Debbie
Carpenter , Sandra
Condle, Janet
Coop, Kay
Dawson, Elaine Henry
DeWitt, Terry
Eoff, Robert H.
Fitzgerald, Ann
Hacker, Tim
Harrington, Kristine L
Hendrix, Connie
Highers, Charlotte (Charley)
Holman, Berlynne
Hyback, Susan
Lagaly, Kate
Mason, Maxine
McCracken, Laurin
McDaniel, Pamela D.
Melhus, Tina S.
Montgomery, Barbara
Murti, K. Gopal
Parker, Marty
Rawlinson, Fred
Ray, V. Gail
Simpson, Bobbie
Simpson, Shelton C.
Speck, Floyd
Spellings, Mary P.
Stephens, Tuva
Thornton, Brenda
Tyree, Jane
Warner, Ann R.
West, Lee
Wilson, Art
Region Two
Adkins, Sue
Balthrop, Claudia
Batts, Jan
Blackburn, Ann
Borders, Joyce R.
Bowron, Nancy P.
Brisbois, Marilyn S.
Cabler, Jan
Camp, Jacques L.
Cognata, Marty
Cook, Glenna R.
Eberhard, Dianne
Evans, Russ
Foote, Leah
Ford, Elaine
Francis, Pam
Griffin, Filiz
Haynes, Kathleen
Hochstetler, T. Max
Holmes, Ingrid
Irvin, Pamela D.
Johnson, Erin
Kern, Eunice G.
Kolodziejski, Vinci
Langreck, Ralph F.
Latimer, Wendy
Lau, Dorothy (Dottie)
Leeson, Lynne T.
Leonard, Wendy
Littleton, Donna
Livingston, Barbara
Long, Nick
Maney, edie
Marshall, Christine Parachek
McComb, Peach
McCrory, Martha
McDowell, Brenda L.
Moorad, Doug
Neville, Mary Field
O'Kelley, Ellen
Pate, Pam
Pfeffer, James
Priest, Ginna
Puryear, Bill
Register, Noriko M.
Sanford, Elizabeth
Schweikert, Nancie
Sharpe, Patsy
Shull, Helen
Siggelko, Linda
Tyson, Pam
Vantrease, Robert
Region Three
Adams, Wendy Oehlert
Aiken, Ann McKenzie
Bagby, Anne
Baker-Hinton, Sandra
Barber, David L.
Boone, Sandy
Bowen, Doris Ferney
Bracey, Jo Ann
Brooks, Helen
Brown, Sandra L.
Burton, Helen
Cheek, Durinda
Chipley, Harriet
Clark, Joan
Cobbe, Mark
Dauer, Courtney
Doubleday, Susan S.
Dulin, Leslie
Farris, Amanda
Fritch, Leroy W.
Garrett, Roxane B.
Godfrey, Emily
Grater, Elizabeth
Graves, Frances
Haas, Marie Spaeder
Hatton, Sherry L.
Henderson, Toneeke Runinwater
Henry, Margaret (Moggie)
Hodges, Randy
Hoffman, Dolores
House, Jane E.
Howe, Robin
Huffstutler, Peggy
Ison, Sue
Jacobs, Beth
Kerlin, Linda
Kind, Mimi Price
Kirkpatrick, Jennie
Klinefelter, Liz
London, Edna
Lynch, Mary Britten
Mayer, Lynne A.
McCullough, Paula
McKay-Seay, Geraldine
McKenney, Louise
McLean, John L.
McNeill, Nora R.
Mitchell, Effton
Nash-Cooper, Sandra E.
Patrick, Pat A.
Ridge, Denton
Roberts, Phyllis L.
Rugina, Linda
Ruocco, Carol
Rutledge, Ann R.
Schoolfield, Jo Anne
Skipper, Virginia
Smith, Betty Jo
Smith, Jimmye Lou
Smith, Rebecca A.
Summers, Sue
Thomas, Anne A.
Vandewalle, Maggie
Voss, Barbara
Washburn, Sandra Paynter
Williams, Evelyn Marie
Williams, Martha W.
Wilson, Michael F.
Zelle, Mary
Region Four
Aken, Mary Ann
Bartholomew-Thomas, Yvonne
Baumgartner, Mary G
Brooke, George W.
Browning, Paula C.
Burnett, Mary C.
Clark, B. J.
Cliff, Connie
Clinard, Lillian
Crews, Bobbie
Eckert, Thomas
Entz, Francie
Even, Genie
Galloway, Dot
Gay, Jane
Harness, Christine S.
Harrington, Chloe A.
Henley, Fran
Hightower, Helen
Howell, Harriet
Lamb, Kay
LaVoie, Judy
McBride, Anne
Miller, Susan B.
Mills, Brenda
Robinson, Max A.
Szilvagyi, Laurie L.
Valvoda, Mary Ann
Voss, Le
Walton, Charlotte J.
Wilkinson, Mary Lee
Yazdi, Kay
Ziegler, Nelson
Region Five
Blevins, Bob
Campbell, Linda S.
Carter, Barbara
Duncan, Angela
Foote, Karen A.
Gotterbarn, Don
Jernigan, Barbara
Neuhaus, Sharon
Reading, Patsy Kelley
Stagner, Jim
Wilson, John N.





