Eric Wiegardt AWS, NWS, AWS Gold Medal of Honor, a native of Washington State, grew up near the small town of Oysterville. Following a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, he graduated from the famed American Academy of Art in Chicago where he studied under his mentor, Irving Shapiro. He returned to his home town in 1985 to open Wiegardt Studio Gallery in the Victorian home built by his oyster pioneering great grandfather. Since then he has left an indelible mark on the art world.
He is a member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Allied Artists of America, Watercolor West, Northwest Watercolor Society, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. His work has exhibited at the Frye Museum, Salmagundi Club, Knickerbocker Artists, National Arts Club, Butler Institute of American Art, and others.
Among other honors, he has received the American Watercolor Society’s Gold Medal of Honor and the
"The Duck Hunter", AWS Gold Medal of Honor
Mary S. Litt Medal, the National Watercolor Society’s President’s Award and Alice Leonard Memorial Award, the Northwest Watercolor Society’s Chuck Webster Memorial Purchase Award, the Grumbacher Gold Medal, the coveted John F and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Award and the Philip Eisenberg Award.
Eric has taught his unique painting techniques to over 4,000 students in the US and internationally. With over 20,000 copies sold internationally, Eric Wiegardt’s book Watercolors Free & Easy has influenced countless artists. This book is now available in a new edition along with his newest publication Essential Design workbook, teaching both professional and beginning watercolor artists.
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Eric Wiegardt AWS-DF, NWS
He is a member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Allied Artists of America, Watercolor West, Northwest Watercolor Society, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. His work has exhibited at the Frye Museum, Salmagundi Club, Knickerbocker Artists, National Arts Club, Butler Institute of American Art, and others.
Among other honors, he has received the American Watercolor Society’s Gold Medal of Honor and the
"The Duck Hunter", AWS Gold Medal of Honor
Mary S. Litt Medal, the National Watercolor Society’s President’s Award and Alice Leonard Memorial Award, the Northwest Watercolor Society’s Chuck Webster Memorial Purchase Award, the Grumbacher Gold Medal, the coveted John F and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Award and the Philip Eisenberg Award.
Eric has taught his unique painting techniques to over 4,000 students in the US and internationally. With over 20,000 copies sold internationally, Eric Wiegardt’s book Watercolors Free & Easy has influenced countless artists. This book is now available in a new edition along with his newest publication Essential Design workbook, teaching both professional and beginning watercolor artists.
Eric was Cover Artist forArtists Magazine and Watercolor Artist Magazine.
His instructional DVD’s have inspired artists around the globe.
Featured in many books on watercolor, Wiegardt has served as a judge as well as lectured and taught in the United States and Europe.
Over 3,500 original Wiegardt paintings are in private and corporate collections internationally.
Eric’s paintings are shown at:
For a display of paintings or workshop information, contact us.
Shows
Adirondacks National Exhibition Old Forge
Allied Artist of America
American Watercolor Society, New York
Arizona Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Butler Institute of American Art
Frye Museum, Seattle, WA
Georgia Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Hawaii Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Iowa Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Knickerbocker Artists, New York
Miami, Florida Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
National Arts Club, New York
National Watercolor Society
Northwest Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Pittsburgh Aqueos (Judge and Juror)
Red River Watercolor Society
Rocky Mountain Watercolor Society
San Diego Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Southern Arizona Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Southern Watercolor Society (Judge and Juror)
Transparent Watercolor Society of America (Judge and Juror)
Watercolor West (Judge and Juror)
Watercolor Society of Oregon (Judge and Juror)
Memberships
American Watercolor Society
National Watercolor Society
Allied Artists of America
Watercolor West
Northwest Watercolor Society
Transparent Watercolor Society of America
Awards
American Watercolor Society – Gold Medal of Honor and Dolphin Fellow 2012
Transparent Watercolor Society of America, 36th National Exhibition 2012 – awarded “Master Status”
Watercolor West XLIII Annual Exhibition – Award for his painting Port Townsend
Watercolor West XLIII Annual Exhibition – Award for Port Townsend Watercolor
Midwest Watercolor Society – Grumbacher Gold Medal
American Academy of Art – President’s Award
Salmagundi Club – “Tidal Pools” – Certificate of Merit
Northwest Watercolor Society – “Lilies” – Chuck Webster Memorial Award – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
National Watercolor Society – “The Novel” – Alice Leonard Memorial Award
American Watercolor Society -”Oyster Dredges at Dusk” – Mary S. Litt Meda Award
American Watercolor Society – “Ville Franche Reflections” – Travel Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society – “Tidal Reflections” – Frye Museum, Seattle
American Watercolor Society – “Oyster Dredges” – Travel Exhibition
Watercolor West – “After Breakfast” – National Watercolor Society Award
Arizona Watercolor Association -”Coupeville Elder” – M. Graham Merchandise Award
Pittsburgh Aqueos Open -”Friday Harbor”
San Diego Watercolor Society -”Brunch” – Purchase Award
Red River Watercolor Society -”The Fishmarket” – Mathison Award
National Watercolor Society -”Sintra Rooftops” – President’s Award
American Watercolor Society – “After Breakfast” – Artist’s Magazine Award
Georgia Watercolor Society – “White Face” – Cash Award
National Watercolor Society – “Madeira” – Award and Traveling Exhibition
San Diego Watercolor Society – “Foss Tugs at Rainier” – Carolyn Thomason Family Award
Northwest Watercolor Society – “Portland, OR” – Waterworks Award
Transparent Watercolor Society of America – “Plovdiv, Bulgaria” – James McNeil Whistler Award
Adirondacks National Exhibition – “Dungeness” – Jack Richeson Award
Watercolor West – “Chinook” – Winsor Newton Merchandise Award
Northwest Watercolor Society – “Chinook” – Framing Certificate Award
Articles
Northwest Watercolor Society, Hot Press–Contributing Artist
Watercolor Artist–”Artist’s Websites”-Dec. 2008
Watercolor Magic–”Let Loose”-Aug. 2005
The Artist’s Magazine–”Brushing Up” Column-2004: Apr., Mar., Jan.; 2003: Oct.
North Coast Living–”The Art of Collecting Fine Art”-Fall 2003
The Artist’s Magazine–Cover Artist, “New Horizons”-July 2002
International Artist Magazine–4 Part Series “Let Go And Express Yourself In Watercolor”-2001
Watercolor Magazine–”The Society Page-Article on the Northwest Retrospective”-Summer 2000
Watercolor Magazine–”The Power of Suggestion”-Spring 1999
Northlight Magazine–”Painting Free & Easy”-Jan. 1996