Jo Williams
Watercolor Paintings
photo credit: Johnny Williams
Biography
A native Texan, Jo Williams has been painting professionally for almost forty years. She is a versatile and accomplished painter choosing her subjects from the natural world.
Williams has a degree in art education from the University of North Texas (UNT) and has been teaching painting, primarily watercolor, for about forty years. A popular teacher, she conducts plein aire workshops throughout the southwest including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Mexico. In the summer of 2000, she taught in the Colorado Plateau Painting Workshop at Flagstaff, AZ. She taught week-long workshops for Artistic Gourmet Adventures in Provence and Brittany in France, in the summers of 2015 – 2017. In addition to teaching, she gives demonstrations for area art organizations and judges regional art exhibits.
Williams holds signature memberships in Southwestern Watercolor Society, Artists and Craftsman Association, and the Society of Watercolor Artists. Her work has been exhibited in numerous regional and national juried exhibitions. She has won several awards including Best of Show in the Texas Neighbors Art Competition in Irving and the North Texas Area Art League Annual Juried Exhibition 2000 in Denton. In 2008, Williams was invited to paint an ornament for the White House Christmas tree to represent the 26th Congressional District.
She has had several solo exhibitions including an invitational exhibit at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and an invitational exhibit at the Center for Visual Arts in Denton. TX. Her work is included in many private collections and public collections including Raytheon, Ben E. Keith Co., Denton Publishing Company, City of Denton, and the Greater Denton Arts Council.
Teaching
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Teaches classes at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton, Texas
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Conducts plein air workshops at various locales throughout the Southwest
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Juries local and regional art exhibitions
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Demonstrates for area art organizations
2010 - present
2010 - present
Artist Statement
Painting is the language I employ to express the intensity of my internal relationship to the natural world.
As a child growing up in the woods and prairies of North Texas, where I continue to live, I spent hours roaming the woods and meadows near my home. The images of big skies, trees, roots, rocks, creeks, leaves, and acorns are all strongly embedded in my psyche. I paint all these subjects as well as all things natural. Even my abstracts are based on natural forms.
I choose to paint in watercolor, because it challenges me more than other media. All of my work involves the use of spontaneous and reactive brushwork and becomes a vehicle for expressing my inner response to color and texture in my environment. These are the constant and unifying elements of all of my work.
Resume
JO WILLIAMS, ACA, SWS, SWA
JURIED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
2017 Society of Watercolor Artists 2017 Juried Membership Exhibition, Juror: Sarah Graham Harman
2017 Visual Arts Society of Texas 11th Annual 125 Mile Exhibition, Denton, TX, Juror Linda Ridgeway
2016 Southwestern Watercolor Society Members Exhibition, Richardson, TX
2016 Visual Arts Society of Texas 27th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Juror Colby Parsons
2016 19th Annual Rio Brazos Art Exhibition, Granbury, TX, Rio Brazos Founders Award
2016 Society of Watercolor 2016 International Juried Art Exhibition, Fort Worth, TX, Juror Frank Eber
2015 Southwestern Watercolor Society Members Exhibition
2015 Society of Watercolor Artists International Juried Watermedia Exhibition, Fort Worth, TX
2015 VAST 26th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Juror Mark S. Smith
2015 Visual Arts Society of Texas 9th Annual 125-Mile Exhibition, Juror James Thurman, First Place Watermedia
2014 Southwestern Watercolor Society Members Exhibition
2014 Society of Watercolor Artists Membership Juried Art Exhibition, Juror: Benito Huerta
2014 51st Annual Membership Exhibition, Southwestern Watercolor Society, Dallas, TX, Juror: Fealing Lin
2014 Visual Arts Society of Texas 25th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX; Award; Juror Marilyn Ivy
2013 Visual Arts Society of Texas 24th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX; Juror: Michelle Hays; Award
2013 50th Annual Exhibition 2013, Southwestern Watercolor Society, Plano, TX
2013 Society of Watercolor Artists 2013 International Juried Art Exhibit, Fort Worth, TX
2012 Society of Watercolor Artists Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Fort Worth, TX
2012 ViAST 24th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX
2012 Merging Visions A Collaborative Exhibit of Art and Poetry, Denton, TX
2012 Society of Watercolor Artists 31st International Juried Art Exhibition, Fort Worth, TX; Juror: Robert Burridge
2011 Society of Watercolor Artists Annual 2011/2012 Juried Art Exhibition, Fort Worth, TX, Juror Jane Jones, Signature Status
2011 Southwestern Watercolor Society Members Exhibition, Plano, TX
2011 VAST 23rd Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX
2011 VAST 6th Annual 125-Mile Visual Arts Exhibition, Denton, TX
2011 Society of Watercolor Artists, Inc. 30th International Juried Art Exhibition, Fort Worth, TX; Juror: Ric Dentinger
2011 Merging Visions A Collaborative Exhibit of Art and Poetry, Denton, TX
2010 VAST 22nd Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX
2009 VAST 21st Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX/Award
2008 VAST 20th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX
2007 VAST 19th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX/Award
2006 VAST 1st Annual 125-Mile Exhibition, Denton, TX/Award
2006 VAST 18th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX
2005 VAST 17th Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Denton, TX
2004 Fort Davis Sesquicentennial Juried Art Show, Davis, TX
2003: 35th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/Award
2002: 34th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX /Award
2002: 17th Annual Texas & Neighbors Regional Exhibition, Irving, TX
2001: 33rd Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX
2000: Southwestern Watercolor Society Thirty-seventh Annual Exhibition, Dallas, TX
32nd Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
1999: Southwestern Watercolor Society Thirty-sixth Annual Exhibition, Dallas, TX
1998: 30th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX / Award
North Texas Area Art League Membership Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
1997: 29th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX
1996: 28th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
1995: Montana Watercolor Society’s 13th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Great Falls, MT
27th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
1994: Southwestern Watercolor Society Thirty-First Annual Exhibition, Dallas, TX
26th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX
Society of Watercolor Artists Thirteenth Annual National Juried Exhibition, Ft. Worth, TX/ SWA President’s Award
1993: Breckenridge Fine Arts Center Art Competition, Breckenridge, TX
Southwestern Watercolor Society Thirtieth Annual Exhibition, Dallas, TX
Watercolor Society 17th International Exhibition, Houston, TX/ Award
Southwestern Watercolor Society Signature Exhibition, Dallas, TX
Aqueous ‘93 Sixteenth Annual National Exhibition, Frankfort, KY
Pastel Society of the Southwest 13th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition, Irving, TX
25th Annual Juried Fine Arts Award Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
1992: Southwestern Watercolor Society 29th Annual Exhibition, Dallas, TX/ Signature Status
Watercolor Art Society Houston 16th International Exhibition, Houston, TX
Richardson Civic Art Society, 26th Annual Regional Painting Show, Richardson, TX
Rio Bravo Watercolorists Tri-State Aqua Media Exhibition, El Paso, TX
West Texas Watercolor Society Signature I Charter Exhibition, Lubbock, TX
1991: Aqueous 1991, Owensboro, KY
1990: Aqueous 1990, Murray, KY/ Award
Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, El Cahon, CA
Artists and Craftsman Annual Awards Show, Dallas, TX/ First Place Award
Texas/Neighbors Art Exhibition, Irving, TX
2nd Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX
Richardson Art Competition, Richardson, TX
1989: Arlington Art Association National Juried Exhibition, Arlington, TX/ First Place Award
Society of Watercolor Artists Eighth Annual National Juried Exhibition, Ft. Worth, TX/ Award
21st Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Lubbock, TX
1988: Southwestern Watercolor Society Annual Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX
Pastel Society of the Southwest 8th Annual Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX/ Awards (including People’s Choice)
Trinity Arts Council Juried Exhibition, Bedford, TX
20th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
Texas/Neighbors Art Competition, Irving, TX/ Best of Show Award
Plano Juried Art Show, Plano, TX/ Award
1987: Pastel Society of the Southwest 7th Annual Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX/ Award
Trinity Arts Council Juried Exhibition, Bedford, TX/ Award
Texas/Neighbors Art Competition, Irving, TX/ Award
19th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
Artists and Craftsman Annual Award Show, Dallas, TX/ Signature Status
Richardson Art Competition, Richardson, TX
1986: Pastel Society of the Southwest 6th Annual Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX/ Award
Trinity Arts Council Annual Juried Exhibition, Bedford, TX/ Award
18th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Award
Artists and Craftsman Annual Awards Show, Dallas, TX
1985 Pastel Society of the Southwest 5th Annual Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX/ Award
North Texas Area Art League Artist of the Year, Denton, TX
17th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX
Artists and Craftsman Annual Award Show, Dallas, TX
1984: 16th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX
Artists and Craftsman Annual Award Show, Dallas, TX
Pastel Society of the Southwest Membership Exhibition, Dallas, TX
1983: Pastel Society of the Southwest 4th Annual Juried Exhibition, Dallas, TX
15th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX
Artists and Craftsman Annual Awards Exhibit, Dallas, TX
1982: 14th Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Denton, TX/ Greater Denton Arts Council Purchase Award
ADJUDICATION
2018 Wimberly Art Society Exhibition
2017 Richardson Civic Art Society High School Competition
2015 2016 Congressional High School Art Contest
2015 2015 Congressional High School Art Contest
2012 University of North Texas Watercolor Program Exhibition
2011 University of North Texas Watercolor Program Exhibition
2011 Regional Private High School Competition, Liberty Christian School
2011 Farmers Branch Art Association Members Exhibition
2010 Gainesvile Visual Arts Association Members Exhibition
2009 The Colored Pencil Society of America, Fort Worth Chapter,
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
1997: Toward Integrating Spaces: A Personal Journey, Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, TX
1991: Scapes of Pattern, Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO
1989: Greater Denton Arts Council Welcomes Texas Instruments, Denton, TX
1987: Saguaro Gallery, Denton, TX
1983: Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX
1982: Image of Today’s Woman, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
City of Denton Public Art Collection
Below Corporation (Denton Record Chronicle, Denton, TX
Ben E. Keith Corporation, Abilene, TX
Raytheon
Greater Denton Arts Council Permanent Collection, Denton, TX
SPECIAL HONORS
2003 CARA (Community Arts Recognition Award), Denton, TX
2008 Invitation to paint an ornament for the White House Christmas tree, which remains stored in the Smithsonian
2012 Selected to do cover art for Passion, Art, Community, Denton, Texas in Word and Image published by City of Denton.
WORKSHOP AND INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCE
A Week in Brittany Watercolor Experience with Jo Williams, 2017
Plein Aire Workshop, Fredericksburg, Texas, 2017
A Week in Provence Watercolor Experience with Jo Williams, 2016
A Week in Provence: Watercolor Experience with Jo Williams, 2015
Gainesville Area Visual Art, 2012
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Workshop, 2012
Wichita Mountains Workshop, 2011
Lake Murray, OK Workshop, 2008
St. Francisville, LA Workshop, 2007
Hill Country Workshop, 2007
Painting Northern New Mexico, 2006
Caddo Lake Workshop, 2005
Oaxaca, Mexico, 2004
Taos, New Mexico Workshop, 2001
Caddo Lake Workshops, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2004
Community Education Program Instructor, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Fort Worth Woman’s Club Art Department, 1997-1998
Tyler Museum of Art, 1997
Taos Workshop, Shady Brook Conference Center, UNT, 1996
Hill Country Retreat, Fredericksburg, TX, 1996
Turner Falls Workshop, 1996
Santa Fe Summer Workshop, Santa Fe Community College, 1995
Art Teacher, Strickland Junior High School, Denton, TX (retired)
Demonstrations and lectures, area art organizations
Private instruction, Austin Street Studio and Gallery
Instructor, Highland Village Art Academy
Irving Art Association Workshop (Pastel)
Farmer’s Branch Art Association (Batik)
Mesquite Art Association Workshop (Batik)
EDUCATION
B.S., Art Education, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Continuing Education Courses at Fort Worth Art Museum
Post-graduate study with nationally recognized artists
Post-graduate student at Louisiana Tech University
Post-graduate study at the University of North Texas
MEMBERSHIPS
Artists and Craftsman Association, Dallas, TX, Signature Membership (not current)
Society of Watercolor Artists, Fort Worth, TX, Signature Membership
Southwestern Watercolor Society, Dallas, TX, Signature Membership
Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton, TX
The Art Guild, Denton, TX
Greater Denton Arts Council, Denton, TX
Kingston’s National Registry of Who’s Who, Lifetime Member (189683--member number)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Visual Arts Society of Texas: 1976 – present. President1982 – 1983, 2003 -2005, 2013 – present.
Have also served as Vice President in charge of programs, and served several times as chairs of various exhibitions.
City of Denton Public Art Committee, 2006 – 2012, Chair
Citizens Bond Committee for the first election that Public Art was included on the ballot. The 2% for art was included on
the ballot and passed, resulting in $400,000 for public art.
The Arts Guild of Denton, 1980 – present; Art solicitation
Greater Denton Arts Council, Exhibition and Education Committee
Volunteer judge:
Local Own My Own Time exhibitions (two years)
Greater Denton Arts Council school wide Wildflower Art Competition
Numerous PTA sponsored art contests
Regional private high school exhibitions (two years)
26th District Congressional High School Art Competition (three years)