ARTIST BIO

My name is Allison Spreadborough. I’m a native of Northern California and currently reside in Sacramento. For as long as I can remember I’ve been drawing and creating art. I primarily paint landscapes using watercolor on cotton paper.

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I started painting outdoors by using journals to capture nature's beauty, then I progressed to painting larger watercolors outdoors. I especially love painting along the California coast and in the Sierra because it reveals an abundant source of imagery and wonder. In fact, the Sierra beauty inspired me to hike up Half Dome three times, backpack the Tahoe Rim Trail twice, backpack most of the John Muir Trail, and to hike all of the Yosemite High Sierra Camps.

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​My formal art training took place at California State University, Sacramento and two local community colleges. I later improved my training with private instruction from several National watercolor masters. This intensive instruction helped me to develop my own artistic representation which I describe as contemporary landscape painting in the California Regional Style, or in the category of "Realism and Beyond" as described in the book Landscape Painting Now by Barry Schwabsky.  I am a Signature Member of the California Watercolor Association(CWA).

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My work has been exhibited at California State University, Sacramento; American River College; Sacramento City College; and numerous Regional, National, and International group exhibits. Because I’m passionate about watercolor, I created and administer a popular Facebook group, California Watercolor Artists.

 

In early 2023 my painting “On the Beach”, was accepted and shown in CWA's 53nd National Exhibition by Juror, Gary Tucker at the Harrington Gallery in Pleasanton, CA.  In late 2023, my painting, "Bolinas Lagoon" was accepted by Juror, Carolyn Lord for CWA's 54th National Exhibition to be shown online in 2024.

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​​2022 was a busy art year, I was awarded a four week long artist-in-residence at O'Hanlon Center for the Arts in Mill Valley, CA and was invited to paint en plein air as an artist at the annual Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival. My painting, "Off Heeser Street, Mendocino" was accepted in CWA's 52nd National Exhibition by Juror, Andy Evansen; Harrington Gallery, Pleasanton, CA. And, one of my plein air paintings won first place at the inaugural Gualala Plein Air Affair.