Ralph F. Wilson

Since I retired in 2012, I've been enjoying painting watercolors. I invite you to browse among my paintings and find one that makes you feel good. If you find one you'd like to purchase, please call me about pricing. Here are some of my newest paintings.

Gernaiums in Blue Pot was juried into the WASH Open Show, "Go with the Flow,"  July 9 to Aug 3, 2024 at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center,  where it won an Honorable Mention. Three paintings exhibited in the “Awash with Color” WASH Show at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, April 2 to 20, 2024: Sonoma Vines in Autumn, Memorial Church Arches, Stanford, and Lodgepole Pine Sprig, which won an Honorable Mention. My painting Spring Tulips on Yupo won the April 2024 WASH Painting of the Month. Secret Ravine Roses won the October 2024 WASH Painting of the Month. 

I had three paintings exhibited in the juried WASH Open Show "Go with the Flow" (August 15-September 10, 2023). Bleeding Hearts, Carol's Rose, and Ruth's Rose that won the coveted Dorothy Steed Award. 

From May 1 to July 11, 2023 I was honored to have fourteen of my watercolors displayed prominently at the Loomis Library and Community Learning Center.

From 2019 through 2021 I served as President of WASH (Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons), allied with Sacramento Fine Arts Center. It is the largest association devoted to watercolor in the California Central Valley. Previously, I served for 2014 to 2018 as Program Chair. In 2022 I served on the Board as Past President and ran the Zoom to make meetings available on the Internet. Currently, I am retired from WASH duties.

'Dusk Over the Pacific' won Honorable Mention in the WASH ‘Awash with Color’ Member Exhibition at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, March 28-April 15, 2023. In addition, 'Elijah' and '10 Mile Beach and Point Reyes' were in the show. Exploding Dahlia and Stanford Arches were juried into the 2022 WASH Open Show "Go with the Flow," August 16-Sep 10 2022.

Nieuwe Kerk Steeple was awarded second place in the WASH August 2021 Painting of the Month. Three paintings were received into the WASH Open Show "Go with the Flow," Aug 31-Sept 25, 2021: Hard Driving Wheels,  Poppies among the Lupine. and Dancing in the Fields, which won the coveted Nancy Haley Award.

Two paintings were awarded Honorable Mention in the WASH Painting of the Year 2020 competition: Donner Summit Crags at Dawn (Landscape/Seascape category) and Hard Driving (Architecture and Machinery category).

Four paintings were juried into the WASH 2020 Open Show, "Go with the Flow," September-October 2020.  Sea Fig on the Sonoma Coast, Sunny Tahoe Shore, Zebra Love, and Rose Bush (won Award of Merit). Clouds over the Great Rift Valley, Kenya won 3rd Place in the WASH September 2020 Painting of the Month.

Three paintings are exhibited in the WASH 2020 Member Show, "Awash with Color," April 7-26, 2020. "Flamingos at Lake Nakuru" (won Award of Merit), "Sunset on the Savannah," and "Dawn Breaking Over Tomales Bay."

Two paintings were accepted for the jurored WASH Open Show, "Go with the Flow," September 3-29, 2019 at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center: "Apricot in Situ" and "Bursting Cherry Blossom."

"Drake's Bay from the West" was displayed in the WASH Board Members' Exhibit, July 2-31, 2019. Two of my paintings were exhibited in the "Awash with Color" WASH Member's Show at Sacramento Fine Arts Center, April 2-20, 2019 -- "Musical Hands" and "Expressive Hands." My painting "Four Euphoniums in the Band" won "Painting of the Month" at WASH for November 2018.

Two paintings were been accepted by the jurored WASH Open Show "Go with the Flow" at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, September 4-30, 2018. They are: Shops in the Shadow of Oude Kerk (Old Church), Delft and Family - Goose, Gander, and 19 Goslings, which won an Award of Merit. The goose painting was also exhibited at the Placer Arts Council's "New Beginnings" show at the Hacker Lab, Rocklin, from 26 January to 23 May, 2019.

"Fish Carts at Monterey Wharf" won Best of Show and the Winsor & Newton Painting Award at the "Awash with Color" WASH Members Show at Sacramento Fine Arts Center, April 3-22, 2018, jurored by Jeannie Vodden. Two other paintings in this show are "Kayak Konvocation" and "Peeking at Lincoln Cathedral."

"Fingers into the Pacific - the Sonoma Coast" was exhibited as part of the Auburn Art Walk at the Placer County 'Domes' administrative building Oct 13 to Nov 16, 2017 with others from Sonja Hamilton's Thursday watercolor class. During nice weather, I've tried to get out for plein air painting with some friends.

Two paintings were in the 2017 WASH "Go with the Flow" Open Show, September 5 to October 1, 2017 -- "Yucca Spikes" and "Dawn at the Auburn Courthouse."

My painting "Colonnade at San Juan Bautista Mission" won "Painting of the Month" at the WASH Watercolor club monthly meeting for April 2017 at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center. "Shopping in Lincoln, England" won for October 2017. 

Two paintings were exhibited in the the "Awash with Color" juried WASH Member Show April 4-23, 2017 at Sacramento Fine Arts Center. "Odd Egg" won an Award of Merit. Also exhibited was "Full-on Red Rose".

Two watercolors were exhibited in the juried "Go with the Flow" WASH Open Show at Sacramento Fine Arts Center, September 6 to October 1, 2016, -- "Feverfew" and "The Cliffs of Drake's Bay."

"Odd Egg" won an Award of Merit in the "Awash with Color: WASH Member Show," at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, April 4-23, 2017.

'Golden Center - Pink Chrysanthemum' was juried onto Magnum Opus XXVII, Sacramento Fine Arts Center's Annual Open Show, July 19-August 13, 2016.. Three paintings were exhibited at the WASH Member Show, "Awash with Color," at Sacramento Fine Arts Center, April 26-May 14, 2016 -- "Colorful Zebra," "Sing Praises," and "Green Valley, Novato Hills" (which won Honorable Mention).

Two paintings were juried into the "Go with the Flow" 2015 WASH Open Show at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Sept 1-26, 2015 -- "Granddaughter Reading" and "Bluegrass Banjo."

In the Placer County Fair, June 25-28, 2015, "Soft Dogwood" won first place in the watercolor category, "Tranquil Tahoe" won third place. My "Prickly Milk Thistle" was accepted in the Placer Artists League Open Juried Show, Auburn, June 2-20, 2015.

I've been active at the WASH watercolor club at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center. One painting "Lavender Bluebells," won "Honorable Mention" in the WASH 2015 Member's show. Previous exhibitions can be found in the About the Artist page.

I'm having fun. Please check back!

God bless you,
Ralph

Ralph is a member of WASH (Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons), SacArts Center (Sacramento Fine Arts Center), and Placer County Arts Council.