Arne Westerman

Arne Westerman (March 24,1927-April 17, 2017).
We lost Arne 3 1/2 weeks after his 90th birthday. Arne’s paintings have blessed our walls since 1985 along with his wonderful outlook on life and sense of humor. He was greatly loved and is tremendously missed. Arne was an A.W.S. signature member who was Nationally known for his richly colored watercolors of people from all walks of life. He captured fleeting moments in their interaction as they went about their daily pursuits. Arne did not try to paint pretty people or contrived scenes, but real situations catching the warmth and earthiness of his subjects. Whether ballet dancers, Jewish scholars, street people, New Yorkers, Portlanders, Virginians with their horses, they were all painted with directness, emotion and movement. His paintings have depth, feeling and more than a hint of impressionism.

Paintings by Westerman are in permanent collections of art museums and universities throughout the U.S. His awards include the Jane Peterson Award from Allied Artists of America in l990 Exhibition, the l989 Watercolor West Exhibition Grand Prize, three Grand Prizes from the Northwest Watercolor and Midwest Watercolor societies, as well as numerous other awards including the Salmagundi and the Narional Arts Club in New York in l988.

In l994, Arne was invited to join the American Watercolor Society as a signature member becoming one of only three Oregonians to hold this honor. l994 was also the year that Arne’s very successful book, PAINT WATERCOLORS FILLED WITH LIFE AND ENERGY was published (now sold out and a collectors item). Westerman was a native of Oregon, attended Reed College and earned his degree in journalism at the University of Oregon. George Hamilton was his first art teacher along with Sergei Bongardt, David Leffel, Milt Kobayashi and Willam Reese. Arne was a successful teacher who traveled nation wide holding watercolor seminars. He was also a member of the National, Northwest, and Oregon Watercolor Societies and was accepted in the permanent collection of the Arnot Museum in Elmira, New York.

He has been featured in many publications including SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE, NORTHWEST GALLERY MAGAZINE, AMERICAN ARTIST, and SPLASH/AMERICA’S BEST CONTEMPORARY WATERCOLORS.

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