January 22, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Joan McKasson and Joan Merrick were awarded first and second places respectively in the San Diego Watercolor Society’s January show “New Beginnings”. The juror, Carol Mansfield, complimented both paintings for their expert use of watercolor along with their strong colors and designs.

January 16, 2013 (Lakeside)--Sandra (Sandie) Seckington of Lakeside won a First Place award for miniatures at the San Diego Watercolor Society’s January show, “New Beginnings”.  Sandie’s painting, “Uncertain Future”, was picked by juror Carol Mansfield because of its painterly but realistic depiction of a cheetah.  Mansfield said that the cheetah had “such presence”.  

Asked about her painting, Sandie said, “As a lifelong animal lover and currently doting "Mom" to two horses, two cats, a parrot and a dog, paintings of animals are a special pleasure for me. I try to really get to the soul of the animal through its eyes and imbue it with fanciful colors to express my delight in the creature.

June 21, 2011 (San Diego) -- The paintings of Chuck McPherson, an East County resident,  are often among  the winners in exhibitions  he enters. Since 2008 he has won almost forty awards for his paintings.  In the San Diego Watercolor Society's 31 Annual International Exhibition, his watercolor painting, Cantos Cove, New England ,was juried into the show, and earned McPherson Signature Status.