Wiregrass Gallery - January 2022 Visiting Artist - William H. (Bill) McKeown
Name:
Wiregrass Gallery - January 2022 Visiting Artist - William H. (Bill) McKeown
Date:
January 1, 2022 - January 31, 2022
Event Description:
William H. (Bill) McKeown
ARTIST STATEMENT
After retiring from a 30-year career in state government, I began watercolor classes. It was a life changing step that opened a new world to explore. As a fifth generation North Floridian, I grew up and still live on the family farm in Quincy, Florida. From an early age, I was taught to preserve, respect, and enjoy the land and its beauty. I try to express this through realistic paintings of the people, barns, dilapidated sheds, boats, and rural and coastal scenes of north Florida and the "forgotten coast" of the Florida panhandle.
I work primarily in transparent watercolor and continue to study through classes, workshops, and demonstrations. I try to capture my subjects in such a way as to encourage the viewer to appreciate the history, work ethics, and natural beauty of our area as well as others in which I've traveled.
AFFILIATIONS
+ American Society of Marine Artists
+ Southern Watercolor Society
+ Georgia Watercolor Society
+ Watercolor Society of Alabama
+ Florida Watercolor Society
+ Tallahassee Watercolor Society
+ Kentucky Watercolor Society
Missouri Watercolor Society
National Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
The American Artists Professional League
(*denotes signature status)
RECENT JURIED SHOWS AND AWARDS
2021
Southern Watercolor Society 44th Annual Exhibition, Quincy, FL
Georgia Watercolor Society 42nd National Exhibition, Carrolton, GA, 6th Place Award
Watercolor Society of Alabama 80th National Exhibition, Tuscaloosa, AL
TaWS 33rd Tri-State Water Media Exhibition, Le Moyne Art Center, Tallahassee, FL. Gold Award
American Society of Marine Artists 18th National Exhibition, Traveling Exhibition
American Watercolor Society Associate Members Online Exhibition
2020
Missouri Watercolor Society2020International, Barcelona, Spain
National Watercolor Society: The First 100 Years Centennial Exhibition, Orange, CA
American Artists Professional League 92nd Grand National, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
Georgia Watercolor Society 2020 National Exhibition, Atlanta, GA
TaWS Brush Strokes Exhibition, City Hall, Tallahassee, FL, Honorable Mention
COCA's Tallahassee Proud Exhibition, city Hall, Tallahassee, FL, Honorable Mention
Watercolor Society of Alabama 79th National Exhibition, Fairhope, AL
Southern Watercolor Society 43rd Annual Exhibition, Clarksville, TN
32rd Annual Art in Gadsden, A Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
2019
" TaWS 31st Tri-State Water media Exhibition", LeMoyne Art Center, Tallahassee, FL, Silver Award
"31st Art in Gadsden, Regional Exhibition of Fine Art", Quincy, FL
"Aqueous USA 2019", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
"TaWS 2019 Brush Strokes Exhibition", Tallahassee City Hall. Tallahassee, FL, Silver Award
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 78th National Exhibition, Decatur, AL
"Southern Watercolor Society 42nd Annual Exhibition, Kerrville, TX
"56th Bay Annual Art Exhibition", Panama City, FL
2018
"Missouri Watercolor Society 2018 International", Quingdao, China, Quingdao Loatian Museum Award
"TaWS 30th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition", FSU Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 77th National Exhibition", Auburn, AL, Southern Watercolor Society Award
"30th Art in Gadsden Regional Exhibition of Fine Art", Quincy, FL, First Place
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 2018 Brush Strokes Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL
"Aqueous USA 2018" Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY, Pat Hagan Memorial Plein Air Award
"American Artists Professional League 90th Grand National", New York, NY
2017
"National Watercolor Society 2017 Members Exhibition", San Pedro, CA
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 76th National Exhibition", Talladega, AL, Patron Fine Art Award
"Georgia Watercolor Society XXXVIII National Exhibition, Carrolton, GA
"Creative Tallahassee 2017", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 29th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition, Tallahassee, FL
"YUM", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL, First Place
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society Brush Strokes Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL, Bronze Award
"29th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy. FL
"Aqueous USA 2017", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
"American Artists Professional League 89th Grand National", New York, NY
2016
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 75th National Exhibition", Decatur, AL
" Southern Watercolor Society 39th Annual Exhibition", Columbia, TN
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 28th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition, Tallahassee, FL, Award of Merit
"Creative Tallahassee 2016", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"American Society of Marine Artists 17th National Exhibition", Williamsburg, VA
"Tall Timbers Research Station & Conservancy Spring Exhibition" Tallahassee, FL
"Georgia Watercolor Society 2016 Member Exhibition", Norcross, GA
"American Artists Professional League 88th Grand National" New York, NY: Claude Parsons Memorial Award
"28th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
2015
"American Society of Marine Artists, South Regional Exhibition", Quincy, FL
"30 for 30 Invitational Exhibition", City of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 74th National Exhibition", Fairhope, AL
" Southern Watercolor Society 38th Annual Juried Exhibition", Clarksville, TN
"Georgia Watercolor Society XXXVI National Exhibition", Atlanta, GA
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 27th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL
"27th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
"87th Grand National Exhibition", American Artists Professional League, New York, NY
"Aqueous 2015", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
2014
"American Watercolor Society 147th International Exhibition", New York, NY:
Margery Soroka Memorial Award
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 73rd National Exhibition", Decatur, AL: Merit Award
"Tri-State Watercolor Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society, Brush Strokes", Tallahassee, FL
"Creative Tallahassee", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"26th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL,
"Aqueous 2014", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
2013
"American Society of Marine Artists, South Regional Juried Show", Gainesville, GA
"Tri-State Water Media Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL: Award of Excellence
"Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition", Hartselle, AL
"Creative Tallahassee", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society, Brush Strokes", Tallahassee, FL
"25th Art In Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
PUBLICATIONS
AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR, June 2019, Collector's focus, Marine Art
EXHIBITIONS
2017 Solo Artist, "Here, There and Yonder", Tall Timbers Research Station. Tallahassee, FL
"Three Ladies and a Gentleman", Sautee Nacoochee Center, Helen. GA
2013 "Paintings by William H. McKeown: A Solo Exhibition", Tallahassee Regional
Airport, Tallahassee, FL
2012 Alla Prima Landscape Group, Cedar Key Art Association Exhibition, Cedar Key, FL
2011 Alla Prima Landscape Group, LeMoyne Center for the Arts, Tallahassee, FL
2010 Featured Artist, Gulf Alliance for Local Art, Port St Joe, FL
2010 Solo Artist, "Southern Tradition," Gadsden Arts Center, Quincy FL
2009 Invitational Solo artist, "Summer Showcase," Thomasville Cultural Center,
Thomasville, GA
ARTIST STATEMENT
After retiring from a 30-year career in state government, I began watercolor classes. It was a life changing step that opened a new world to explore. As a fifth generation North Floridian, I grew up and still live on the family farm in Quincy, Florida. From an early age, I was taught to preserve, respect, and enjoy the land and its beauty. I try to express this through realistic paintings of the people, barns, dilapidated sheds, boats, and rural and coastal scenes of north Florida and the "forgotten coast" of the Florida panhandle.
I work primarily in transparent watercolor and continue to study through classes, workshops, and demonstrations. I try to capture my subjects in such a way as to encourage the viewer to appreciate the history, work ethics, and natural beauty of our area as well as others in which I've traveled.
AFFILIATIONS
+ American Society of Marine Artists
+ Southern Watercolor Society
+ Georgia Watercolor Society
+ Watercolor Society of Alabama
+ Florida Watercolor Society
+ Tallahassee Watercolor Society
+ Kentucky Watercolor Society
Missouri Watercolor Society
National Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
The American Artists Professional League
(*denotes signature status)
RECENT JURIED SHOWS AND AWARDS
2021
Southern Watercolor Society 44th Annual Exhibition, Quincy, FL
Georgia Watercolor Society 42nd National Exhibition, Carrolton, GA, 6th Place Award
Watercolor Society of Alabama 80th National Exhibition, Tuscaloosa, AL
TaWS 33rd Tri-State Water Media Exhibition, Le Moyne Art Center, Tallahassee, FL. Gold Award
American Society of Marine Artists 18th National Exhibition, Traveling Exhibition
American Watercolor Society Associate Members Online Exhibition
2020
Missouri Watercolor Society2020International, Barcelona, Spain
National Watercolor Society: The First 100 Years Centennial Exhibition, Orange, CA
American Artists Professional League 92nd Grand National, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
Georgia Watercolor Society 2020 National Exhibition, Atlanta, GA
TaWS Brush Strokes Exhibition, City Hall, Tallahassee, FL, Honorable Mention
COCA's Tallahassee Proud Exhibition, city Hall, Tallahassee, FL, Honorable Mention
Watercolor Society of Alabama 79th National Exhibition, Fairhope, AL
Southern Watercolor Society 43rd Annual Exhibition, Clarksville, TN
32rd Annual Art in Gadsden, A Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
2019
" TaWS 31st Tri-State Water media Exhibition", LeMoyne Art Center, Tallahassee, FL, Silver Award
"31st Art in Gadsden, Regional Exhibition of Fine Art", Quincy, FL
"Aqueous USA 2019", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
"TaWS 2019 Brush Strokes Exhibition", Tallahassee City Hall. Tallahassee, FL, Silver Award
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 78th National Exhibition, Decatur, AL
"Southern Watercolor Society 42nd Annual Exhibition, Kerrville, TX
"56th Bay Annual Art Exhibition", Panama City, FL
2018
"Missouri Watercolor Society 2018 International", Quingdao, China, Quingdao Loatian Museum Award
"TaWS 30th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition", FSU Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 77th National Exhibition", Auburn, AL, Southern Watercolor Society Award
"30th Art in Gadsden Regional Exhibition of Fine Art", Quincy, FL, First Place
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 2018 Brush Strokes Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL
"Aqueous USA 2018" Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY, Pat Hagan Memorial Plein Air Award
"American Artists Professional League 90th Grand National", New York, NY
2017
"National Watercolor Society 2017 Members Exhibition", San Pedro, CA
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 76th National Exhibition", Talladega, AL, Patron Fine Art Award
"Georgia Watercolor Society XXXVIII National Exhibition, Carrolton, GA
"Creative Tallahassee 2017", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 29th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition, Tallahassee, FL
"YUM", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL, First Place
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society Brush Strokes Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL, Bronze Award
"29th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy. FL
"Aqueous USA 2017", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
"American Artists Professional League 89th Grand National", New York, NY
2016
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 75th National Exhibition", Decatur, AL
" Southern Watercolor Society 39th Annual Exhibition", Columbia, TN
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 28th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition, Tallahassee, FL, Award of Merit
"Creative Tallahassee 2016", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"American Society of Marine Artists 17th National Exhibition", Williamsburg, VA
"Tall Timbers Research Station & Conservancy Spring Exhibition" Tallahassee, FL
"Georgia Watercolor Society 2016 Member Exhibition", Norcross, GA
"American Artists Professional League 88th Grand National" New York, NY: Claude Parsons Memorial Award
"28th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
2015
"American Society of Marine Artists, South Regional Exhibition", Quincy, FL
"30 for 30 Invitational Exhibition", City of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 74th National Exhibition", Fairhope, AL
" Southern Watercolor Society 38th Annual Juried Exhibition", Clarksville, TN
"Georgia Watercolor Society XXXVI National Exhibition", Atlanta, GA
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society 27th Tri-State Water Media Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL
"27th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
"87th Grand National Exhibition", American Artists Professional League, New York, NY
"Aqueous 2015", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
2014
"American Watercolor Society 147th International Exhibition", New York, NY:
Margery Soroka Memorial Award
"Watercolor Society of Alabama 73rd National Exhibition", Decatur, AL: Merit Award
"Tri-State Watercolor Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society, Brush Strokes", Tallahassee, FL
"Creative Tallahassee", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"26th Art in Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL,
"Aqueous 2014", Kentucky Watercolor Society, Louisville, KY
2013
"American Society of Marine Artists, South Regional Juried Show", Gainesville, GA
"Tri-State Water Media Exhibition", Tallahassee, FL: Award of Excellence
"Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition", Hartselle, AL
"Creative Tallahassee", Tallahassee City Hall, Tallahassee, FL
"Tallahassee Watercolor Society, Brush Strokes", Tallahassee, FL
"25th Art In Gadsden", Regional Exhibition of Fine Art, Quincy, FL
PUBLICATIONS
AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR, June 2019, Collector's focus, Marine Art
EXHIBITIONS
2017 Solo Artist, "Here, There and Yonder", Tall Timbers Research Station. Tallahassee, FL
"Three Ladies and a Gentleman", Sautee Nacoochee Center, Helen. GA
2013 "Paintings by William H. McKeown: A Solo Exhibition", Tallahassee Regional
Airport, Tallahassee, FL
2012 Alla Prima Landscape Group, Cedar Key Art Association Exhibition, Cedar Key, FL
2011 Alla Prima Landscape Group, LeMoyne Center for the Arts, Tallahassee, FL
2010 Featured Artist, Gulf Alliance for Local Art, Port St Joe, FL
2010 Solo Artist, "Southern Tradition," Gadsden Arts Center, Quincy FL
2009 Invitational Solo artist, "Summer Showcase," Thomasville Cultural Center,
Thomasville, GA
Event Media:
