robin lee makowski NWS, FWS-D, NMWS-MP, WFWS, TaWS
fine artist | illustrator | author | instructor 

So What's Going On?

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FWS - The 2025 FWS Convention & Trade Show was an amazing success!  We had close to 400 registered for the festivities.  We had even more at the very prestigious Orlando Museum of Art for the Opening Reception of the 54th Annual Exhibition!  Happy Hour Squared, Happy Hour Series #54, was awarded FIRST PLACE - the coveted Guy Beattie Award - by judge & juror, Matthew Bird, and it was a show-stopper!  That award is just behind Best of Show, won - not surprisingly, but deservedly - by Xi Guo.  I still can't believe it!  THANK YOU, MATTHEW!!!  The show is a must-see!  It will show through January 4th, 2026 at the Orlando Museum of Art.

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NWS - Two Too Many, Happy Hour Series #51, was supposed to be my NWS entry last year, but I didn't finish it in time, so I entered it in NWS this year.  Turns out, second time was the charm and the panel of three Jurors of Selection deemed me worthy!  The day after Matthew Bird gave me that awesome award in FWS, I get a call from NWS, telling me that Carol Carter, the NWS judge of awards, ALSO awarded me a BIG combination cash & merchandise award: The Harriet & Arthur L. Kaye Memorial Award, Combined Cash Award, Michael Harding Watercolor Award, Jerry's Artarama Award, Silver Brush Award, and Royal Talens Award!  HOLY GUACAMOLE!!!  I'm over the MOON!!!!  Thanks to the 2025 NWS Jurors of Selection & especially to Carol Carter for this honor!!!!  Gonna have to have the door frames widened to get my head through...​

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​​WPAG - I will be teaching a one-day workshop for the West Pasco Art Guild in January 2026!  We did Kickin' Glass with them in 2024, so this time they wanted a custom, multi-faceted workshop.  We're doing Outstanding Watercolor Compositions: Design & Application Techniques on January 17th.  The venue is in New Port Richey, FL.  It's an honor to be asked back!  I will put the information on my Workshop Page.  See you there!

 

Workshops & Judging - Speaking of which, I just added a page to the website outlining workshops I teach and judging credentials, if anyone is looking for those services.  Right now, I only teach in-person workshops within three hours drive in Florida, nothing online.  Not set up for it...yet.   

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​​AWS - I was thrilled to receive notification of acceptance for the 158th Annual American Watercolor Society International Exhibition!  The show was held at the prestigious Salmagundi Club in NYC in April.  Many thanks to the judge panel for this honor.  I received notice that I am officially an AWS Signature Candidate, so I definitely need to put my best foot forward in 2026!

​ ​Updated September 19th, 2025