About Sarah

“ I am fascinated by the shapes I see in water, trees and rocks. I look for negative and positive shapes, weaving them together, and giving equal attention to subject and background. I see nature as a woven fabric, all things being interconnected. Understanding so much complexity is always out of reach. Ultimately, my goal is to create a personal statement about places I have been. I use my past experience with calligraphy, graphic design and silk painting to create a distinct style.”
-- Sarah Bouwsma

Sarah Bouwsma is a Signature Member of the Northwest Watercolor Society and the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, and a Diamond Member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon. She is also a member of Lake Area Artists where here newest works can be seen in Lake Oswego, Oregon every year in April.

Sarah was raised in Berkeley, CA where she discovered a passion for painting when she was in high school. She studied painting and design at California College of Arts and Crafts, and later completed her degree in fine art at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has worked as a graphic designer, calligrapher, and illustrator in Berkeley, Madison, and Austin TX. Sarah became a full time painter since moving to Portland, OR in 1993.

Gallery Representation

Portland Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery in Portland Oregon

Earthworks Gallery, Yachats, Oregon

Public Art

Multnomah County Health Department Headquarters in Portland, OR. Two works on permanent display since 2019

Kaiser Permanente Westside Hospital; prints on canvas, installed in 2013 by Art Consultants Studio Art Direct, Inc.

Selected Past Awards

Watercolor Society of Oregon, Best of Show Fall 2021, other awards 2000-2022

Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Honorable Mention 2018, Sandia Award 2022

Northwest Watercolor Society, 1st place in 2012

Lake Area Artists, 1st place 2016, other awards from 2010–2022

Recent Juried Exhibitions

Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, 47th Annual Exhibition, Albuquerque, NM; 2022

Watercolor Society of Oregon Fall Exhibition, Salem, OR; 2022, Third Place Award

Lake Area Artists Exhibition, Lake Oswego, OR; 2022, 2rd Place Award

Northwest Watercolor Society Waterworks Exhibition, Bothell, WA; 2021

Watercolor West 52nd International Juried Exhibition, Brea, CA; 2020

Celebration of Creativity, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Beaverton, OR 2020

Ode to the Tides, a Wetland Conservancy Exhibit traveling to various Oregon locations; 2019

Solo Show, First Presbyterian Church, Portland OR; July - August, 2018

Northwest Watercolor Society International Exhibition Mercer Island, WA; 2018

Prints

Representation by Studio Art Direct, Inc.; Art consultants creating art in architecture for healthcare, hospitality, corporate, and government environments.

Selected Giclee Prints and note cards available from the artist.