"I think everyone will enjoy your class . In a time when realistic photographic paintings are vogue, you are a shining star celebrating what paintings ought to be!"

                                                                      Ratindra Das AWS (DF), NWS


​"I'm always amazed at how one's brain can fracture and abstract ordinary reality into gloriously fascinating compositions."

                                                                      Holly Pultz, fellow artist

2018 Juror of Awards at Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Annual. Photo John Walker

Some past invited shows

Copyright © Ron Thurston. All rights reserved.

Photo Melonie Vera

​​​​​​​Awards And Achievements

​​Art of Watercolor Magazine cover and feature story 49th Edition 

Accepted into National Watercolor Society's 2023 Annual Exhibition 

​​​Accepted into National Watercolor Society's 2022 Annual Exhibition

Accepted into San Diego Watercolor Society's 2022 Annual Exhibition

Three Smart Sisters Award for 40th Annual Adirondacks National               Exhibition Of American Watercolors

Eight American Watercolor Society International Juried Exhibitions

2ND Place 2020 Signature American Watermedia Exhibition,

  Fallbrook Art Center, Fallbrook, CA 

Forest Runes Award - 2019 Adirondacks National Exhibition

Best Of Show 2018 Signature American Watermedia Exhibition

First Place Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 38th International 2017

 Juror of Awards 2018 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 39th

   International Exhibition

 Juror of Acceptance and Awards 2018 West Virginia Watercolor

   Society National Exhibition

Invited 2018 Feature Artist for 23rd Annual Art Show At Century Inn

Included into 10 Best Watercolor Paintings of 2017- ArtistsNetwork

2017 Northeast Watercolor Society Excellence Award

Silver Medal- Adirondacks National Exhibition Of American Watercolors

Keystone Award and Medal- Pennsylvania Watercolor Society

Grumbacher Gold Medal- Pittsburgh Watercolor Society

Five Best Of Shows - Pittsburgh's Aqueous Open Juried Internationals

Watercolor Artist Magazine Feature

Water Authority/ Three Masters Of Watercolor Exhibition with Frank 

   Webb and Bill Vrscak - Greensburg Art Center

Impressions: Three Rivers/Four Seasons Competition, Pittsburgh, PA

Invited Workshop Instructor for Florida Watercolor Society's 2016

    Annual Convention, Ocala, Hilton.


Conducted Workshops and Classes 

Red River Watercolor Society

​Touchstone Center For Crafts

Sweetwater Center For Arts

The Studio School, Roanoke, VA

Florida Watercolor Society

Art Institute Of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Center For The Arts

North Hills Art Center, Pittsburgh

Greensburg Art Center

Arts About Town, Wheeling, West Virginia

Stifel Fine Art Center at Oglebay Institute and Resort