Local artist earns exclusive Watercolor Society membership

So now she is officially allowed to list her name as: Sandy Kinnamon, AWS.

“I started submitting 25 years ago to get into the AWS. It’s really hard to get in,” said Kinnamon. “You have to get into at least two different shows before you become eligible for membership.”

Her first watercolor was accepted into the AWS show in New York in 1994. It would be 10 years before her second work was accepted for the annual AWS exhibit in 2004 for “Gingerbread II.” The scene is the porch of a house from Cape May, N.J., known for their gingerbread hotels. Kinnamon was teaching at an elderhostel there and took a lot of photos.

“I used 90 pound paper, drew on the paper and then poured wax all over it. Then I crinkled the paper and poured dark watercolor on the top so it would seep into the cracks,” said Kinnamon. “Then I took an iron and ironed off most of the wax. It’s very difficult to do.”

Kinnamon said that this is not your typical batik process. She was juried into this year’s AWS show with “Too Many Directors.” For this one, she wet the paper and poured the painting, moving the liquid color around so the colors mixed.

“I was so excited when I got the letter about signature membership this past February. The first person I called was my teacher, Judy Betts from Louisiana,” said Kinnamon. “She’s taught at Fairborn Arts Association and has been encouraging me to enter shows all these years.”

So she was able to attend an AWS banquet at the Salmagundi Club in New York on April 11 to receive her certificate and official AWS pin from well-known watercolorist Frank Webb.

“They only have about 500 members in the entire world, and there are members from other countries like China and Australia,” said Kinnamon.

In the Dayton area, two Kettering artists have the distinction of an AWS signature membership: Paul Melia and the late Homer Hacker.

Kinnamon specializes in original techniques such as combining wax with watercolor, and her styles range from realistic to abstract.

Her love of painting is rivaled only by her love of traveling. She recently returned from a trip to Venice, Italy, combined with a cruise of the Mediterranean.

She teaches on cruise ships, as well. About nine years ago she was the arts and crafts director for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She’s also taught in Florida, Alabama and New Jersey. She is the current president of the Fairborn Arts Association where she also teaches classes.

“My love of painting, fueled by a spontaneous and creative personality, combines with my love of travel and leads me to share my enthusiasm with others,” states Kinnamon on her website.

Kinnamon has a Bachelor of Art from Wright State University, an AS from Clark State in architectural drafting, and she studied commercial art at Sinclair Community College. Besides Betts, she’s studied under Barbara Nechis, Fred Leach and Frank Webb, all signature AWS members. In addition to AWS, Kinnamon is a signature member of Ohio Watercolor Society, PA Watercolor Society, National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylics, and Western Ohio Watercolor Society.

“It took me 25 years, but I finally made it,” said Kinnamon. “This is really special for me.”