Artist's Statement

Lydia Steadham
Captivated by watercolor at a very early age, I found there was something akin to magic in taking a blank sheet of paper, some daubs of color, and making a recognizable image. What a marvelous "sleight of hand" it was and still is!

Each of us is surrounded daily by the most amazingly beautiful designs and patterns, but all too few recognize and appreciate this wonder. The artist's job is to identify and interpret for others this beauty, found in the commonplace and the grand. There exists an almost limitless expanse of images created for us and even by us.

Watercolor is a lovely and fluid language in which to interpret these ideas and images. Spontaneous and delicate, it offers me constant challenges and surprises.



 

 

Curriculum Vitae

B.A., Georgia State University, 1966
Famous Artists' School, Westport, Connecticutt, 1969-71
Workshops with Georg Shook, Naomi Brotherton, Doris Matthews, Alex Powers, Tom Lynch, Ken Hosmer, Ray Ellis, and Frank Webb
Taught privately 1986-88
Instructor "Watercolor Painting Techniques" Millsaps College's Continuing Education Program, Winter, 1988, and Fall 1988
Guest Lecturer, Miss. Artists' Guild, Feb., 1988
Art Editor , "Water and Fire," (Episcopal newsletter) 1985-88

Professional Associations

Associate Member of the American Watercolor Society, 1986-1996
Associate of the Southern Watercolor Society, 1986-87
Charter Member of the Mississippi Watercolor Society, 1986-88
Mississippi Artists' Guild, 1981-88
Arts Alliance of Jackson and Hinds County, 1985-88
United Artists of Mississippi, 1987-88
Watercolor Art Society - Houston (WAS-H), 1989-2012
Imperial Art Alliance (formerly Sugar Land Area Artists), 2000-2002, 2013-present
Texas Watercolor Society, 2006-2008

Galleries

1975-77 Checkerberry Shop, Memphis, TN
1982-83 Galleria, 4791 McWillie, Jackson, MS
1984-86 Press and Palette, Canton Mart, Jackson, MS
1984-88 Cathedral Bookstore, St. Andrews Cathedral, Jackson, MS
1985-87 Thy Marvelous Works, Highland Village, Jackson, MS
1987-88 Normans Studio and Gallery, Raymond Rd., Jackson, MS
1987-88 Artists 5, Ridgeland, MS
1987-90 Ford's Gallery, N. State St., Jackson, MS
1986-90 Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS, (Participant in Corporate Art Program)
1994-95 M. Martin Gallery, Richmond, TX
1998-2001 Art Etc., Sugar Land, TX
2001-2002 M. MacKenzie Gallery, Spring, TX
2003-2004 Cassies Gallery, Sugar Land, TX

Shows and Awards

2nd place Mid-South Fair Art Exhibit, Memphis, TN 1972
Deposit Guaranty Plaza (DGP), Miss. Artists' Guild (MAG) Show, 1st and 3rd place, watercolor, Jackson, MS, 1982
DGP Show, MAG, 1st place, WC, Jackson, MS, 1984
Raymond's 1860's County Fair, 2nd place in Art Competition, Raymond, MS, 1984
Artists 5 Strawberry Festival, 2 Honorable Mentions in WC, Ridgeland, MS, 1985
Goodwill Industries, Jackson, MS, 1985
Unifirst Show, MAG, 1st in WC, Jackson, MS, 1985
Firehouse Gallery, Vicksburg, MS, 1985
Unifirst Show, MAG, 2nd place, Jackson, MS, 1986
Unifirst Show, MAG, Best of Show, Jackson, MS, 1986
Municipal Art Gallery (MAG), one-woman show, Jackson, MS, Oct.,1986
DGP Show, MAG, 3rd place and honorable mention, Jackson, MS, 1986
Mississippi Watercolor Society, Member's Exhibit Eudora Welty Library, 1986
St. Andrew's Episcopal Lower School, Jackson, MS, Feb., 1987
Miss. Watercolor Society's Grand National Exhibition, 1988, Ray Ellis, juror
WAS-H 20th Annual Membership Exhibition, 1989, Christopher Shink, juror
WAS-H Introducing Aquamedia, 1990
Fort Bend Visual Arts Festival, 1991
St. Francis' Art Show, 1991-1997
WAS-H Anything Goes Show, 1992
WAS-H The Westheimer Alley Show, 1992, 1st place in landscape
Archway Gallery Christmas Exhibit, 1992
WAS-H Celebrate America Show, 1993
WAS-H 25th Annual Membership Exhibit, 1994, Carl Dalio, juror
WAS-H 26th Annual Membership Exhibit, 1995, Judi Betts, juror
WAS-H George Memorial Library Show, 1997, 2nd place, Peoples Choice Award
WAS-H George Memorial Library Show, 1998, Peoples Choice Award
Fort Bend Visual Arts Open Exhibit, 1999, 2nd place, Honorable Mention
WAS-H February Show, 2001, Honorable Mention
Fort Bend Visual Arts Open Exhibit, 2001, 2 Honorable Mentions
Sugar Land Area Artists, Sugar Land Then and Now Exhibit, 2001,  Honorable Mention
Lone Star Art Guild Methodist Show, 2001, Honorable Mention
Fort Bend Visual Arts Open Exhibit, 2002, 2 Awards of Merit
Fort Bend Visual Arts Open Exhibit, 2006, 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place in watercolor
WAS-H 36th Annual Membership Exhibition, 2006, Polly Hammett, juror
Fort Bend Visual Arts Open Exhibit, 2007, 2nd place, 3rd place, Honorable Mention in watercolor
St. Francis' Art Show, 2010, 2011
WAS-H January Show, 2012, Honorable Mention
Art League of Fort Bend November Show, 2013, 2nd place professional watercolor category
Sugar Land Area Artists Fall Fine Arts Show and Sale, November 2014
LSAG/HCC Show, February 2015, 1st place, 3rd place, Honorable Mention in watercolor
First Annual Marilyn Dickey Open Show, September 2015, Finalist
Sugar Land Art Center's Harvey Relief Show, September 2017
Art League of Fort Bend Fall Show, October 2017, Best Watercolor, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place
IAA Fall Art Show, November 2017, 2nd, 3rd place, Honorable Mention Watercolor
IAA Spring Art Show, April-May 2018, 1st, 3rd place, Honorable Mention Watercolor
3rd Annual Marilyn Dickey Open Show, September 2018, Finalist
IAA Spring Art Show, April 2019, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, Watercolor
One woman show of 20 watercolors at Missouri City Visitor's Center, December 2019 - January 2020
IAA Fall Art Show, 2022, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, Watercolor
Lone Star Art Guild Show, 2023, Honorable Mention Watercolor Professional

Corporate Collections

Perkins Restaurant, I-55N, Jackson, MS, 13 paintings permanent collection
Kentucky Fried Chicken Corp. Offices, Jackson, MS, 2 paintings
Town House Restaurant, Jackson, MS, 1 painting
Peat, Marwick and Associates, Jackson, MS, 1 painting in their "Miss. Artists Collection"
Deposit Guaranty National Bank, Jackson, MS, 32 paintings "Miss. Artists Collection"
Hinds County Chancery Court House, Jackson, MS
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS
Arthur Andersen and Company, Detroit, Michigan, 5 paintings

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