John Salminen
While perhaps best known for his realistic urban landscapes, John Salminen has also gained recognition for his mixed medium abstract paintings, one of which won first place in The Artist’s Magazine’s Art competition in the experimental category judged by Edward Betts.
John’s work has been featured in many national and international magazines and books. He is listed in Who’s Who in American Art and in Who’s Who in America. He has released two instructional DVD’s.
Please click the red triangle to the left for more biographical information.
Biographical Information
John Salminen earned his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota. He lives and works in Duluth, Minnesota.
John is a signature member of numerous art societies, including the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, The Watercolor USA Honor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Allied Artist and Watercolor West. He has been honored with Master Status in TWSA and inclusion in the American Watercolor Society’s Dolphin Fellowship. He is an honorary member of the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute in China.
John has won more than 190 awards in national and international exhibition, including the AWS Gold Medal in both 2006 and 2010, the Silver Star first place award in the National Watercolor Society Exhibition in 2005, the Skyledge First Place Award in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America Exhibition in 2010, the Silver Medal of Honor in the Allied Artists 2009 Exhibition and the Biennial Award in the Shanghai Zhujiajiao International Watercolor Biennial in 2010. John was invited to represent the United States in the Lushan Mountain Watercolor Festival in China in 2010. His work has been exhibited in the National Academy show in New York.
John is a frequent juror of national shows. He has served as Juror of Selection for both the American Watercolor Society International Exhibition and the National Watercolor Society International Exhibition and two times as Awards Judge for the American Watercolor Society Exhibition. He served as Judge of Awards for the Annual Competitions of The Artist’s Magazine and Watercolor Magic in the landscape and experimental categories.
John is represented by the American Legacy Gallery in Kansas City and the San Marino Gallery in Pasadena.
Honors and Awards
---- Edgar A. Whitney Award, Midwest Watercolor Society---- L’Atelier Art Studio Award, Midwest Watercolor Society
---- Leech Lake Art League Award, Midwest Watercolor Society
1987-1998 Various Awards, Northern Lights Exhibit
1988-1997 Various Awards, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
1992 Jerry Berger Springfield Museum Purchase Award, Watercolor USA
1994 Dr. Ruth Grant and Dr. Howard Schwartz Purchase Award, Watercolor USA
1996 Patron Purchase Award, Watercolor USA
1996 Springfield Museum Cash Award, Watercolor USA
1997 High Winds Medal, American Watercolor Society
1997 Jane Peterson Memorial Award, Audubon Artists
1997 NWS Patron’s Award, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
1997 Rose Yeni Memorial Award, American Artists Professional League
1998 Best of Show, Georgetown International Art Exhibition
1998 Case Award, Watercolor USA
1998 First Prize in watercolor, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
1998 Silver Medal of Honor, American Watercolor Society
1999 Board of Directors Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
1999 High Winds Medal, American Watercolor Society
1999 Honorable Mention, National Watercolor Society Members’ Exhibition
1999 Winsor and Newton Award and Plaque, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2000 Finalist Landscape Category, Artist's Magazine 2000 Art Competition
2000 First Place Experimental Category, Artist's Magazine 2000 Art Competition
2000 Maxwell Desser Award, American Watercolor Society
2000 North American Open Exhibition, New England Watercolor Society
2000 People’s Choice Award, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2000 Skyledge Award, Midwest Watercolor Society
2001 Finalist “Experimental,” “Landscape,” Artist's Magazine 2001 Art Competition
2001 Finalist, International Artist Landscape Competition
2001 High Winds Medal, American Watercolor Society
2001 Lana and Kenneth Vernon Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2001 Michael Wilcox Merchandise Award, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2002 Arlington Heights Art Guild Award, Midwest Watercolor Society
2002 Award of Excellence, San Diego Watercolor Society
2002 First Place, Eastern Washington Watercolor Society
2002 First Place, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2002 First Place, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2002 First Place, Mississippi WS Grand National Watercolor Exhibition
2002 First Place, New England Watercolor Society
2002 Honorable Mention, Rhode Island WS 9th and 12th Annual Exhibitions
2002 Merchandise Award, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society
2002 Second Place, Montana WS
2002 Second Place, Pennsylvania WS Juried Exhibition
2002 Third Place, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2002 Third Place, Red River Watercolor Society Annual Art Exhibition
2002 Third Prize, Watercolor Art Society of Houston International Exhibition
2003 Award of Excellence, Arizona Watercolor Society
2003 Award of Excellence, Missouri Watercolor Society
2003 Award of Excellence, Philadelphia WS Exhibition
2003 Beryl Larkin Mem. Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2003 Best of Show, Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition
2003 Capt. and Mrs. Edward B. Rogers Sponsor Award, San Diego Watercolor Society
2003 High Winds Medal, American Watercolor Society
2003 Marion Louise Shuck Memorial Award, Watercolor USA
2003 Merit Award, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2003 Merit Award, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2003 Merit Award, Pennsylvania WS Juried Exhibition
2003 North East Watercolor Society Millennium Award
2004 Award of Distinction, Missouri Watercolor Society
2004 Award of Excellence, San Diego Watercolor Society
2004 Best of Show John Koser Memorial Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2004 Best of Show, Plano Texas Art Association
2004 First Place, Mississippi WS Grand National Watercolor Exhibition
2004 First Prize, Georgia Watercolor Society
2004 Founders’ Award, Texas Watercolor Society
2004 Henry Fukuhara Award, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2004 Materials Award, Pennsylvania WS Juried Exhibition
2004 Merit Award, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2004 Past Presidents’ Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2004 Past Presidents’ Award, Western Colorado Watercolor Society
2004 People’s Choice Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2004 Silver Award, Red River Watercolor Society Annual Art Exhibition
2004 Third Place, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2004 Third Place, North West Watercolor Society
2005 American Artist Magazine Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2005 Award of Excellence, San Diego Watercolor Society
2005 Bronze Award, California Watercolor Association
2005 First Place Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2005 First Place, Mississippi WS Grand National Watercolor Exhibition
2005 First Place, Red River Watercolor Society Annual Art Exhibition
2005 First Place, Rhode Island WS 9th and 12th Annual Exhibitions
2005 First Place, Silver Star, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2005 First State Bank Award, Taos National Watercolor Exhibition
2005 Friedlander Award, Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors
2005 Merit Award, Pennsylvania WS Juried Exhibition
2005 Quintessence Award, Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition
2005 Second Place Award, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2005 Second Place Award, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society
2005 Springfield Museum Cash Award, Watercolor USA
2005 Third Place, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2005 Third Place, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2006 Award of Excellence, San Diego Watercolor Society
2006 Combined Merchandise Award, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2006 Edgar Whitney Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2006 First Place Award, Watercolor Art Society of Houston International Exhibition
2006 First Place, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2006 First Prize, Georgia Watercolor Society
2006 Gold Medal, American Watercolor Society
2006 Northern National Patron Award and Peoples Choice
2006 Second Place Award, Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition
2006 Second Place Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2006 Second Place Award, Western Colorado Watercolor Society
2006 Second Place, Western Colorado Watercolor Society
2006 Third Place Landscape Category, Art Renewal Centers International Salon
2006 Top 100 Finalists Landscape Category, Art Renewal Centers International Salon
2007 Award of Excellence, First Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International
2007 Award of Excellence, Missouri Watercolor Society
2007 Award of Excellence, Watermedia Masters
2007 Best of Show “Architecture with Art,” Memphis Germantown Art League Annual National Juried Exhibition
2007 Combined Merchandise Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2007 Daler-Rowney Award, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society
2007 First Place Watercolor Category, Hilton Head Art League Exhibition
2007 First Place, Red River Watercolor Society Annual Art Exhibition
2007 High Winds Medal,American Watercolor Society
2007 Honorable Mention and Finalist Art Renewal Centers International Salon
2007 Honorary Membership, Jiangsu Watermedia Research Institute, China
2007 John Singer Sargeant Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2007 Merit Award, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2007 Merit Award, Watercolor Art Society of Houston International Exhibition
2007 OWA Investment Award, National Watercolor Oklahoma Exhibition
2007 Porte Family Award, San Diego Watercolor Society
2007 Richeson Purchase Award, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2007 Second Place Watercolor Category, Richeson 75 Portrait and Figure Exhibition
2007 Vance Kirkland Memorial Award, Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition
2008 Certificate of Honor with Medal, Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters
2008 First Place Award for Painting, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey International Juried Show
2008 First Place Award, Watercolor Art Society of Houston International Exhibition
2008 High Winds Medal, American Watercolor Society
2008 Honorable Mention Landscape Category, Artist's Magazine 2008 Art Competition
2008 Honorable Mention, Texas Watercolor Society
2008 Past Presidents’ Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2008 Second Place Award, Memphis Germantown Art League Annual National Juried Exhibition
2009 Combined Purchase and Cash Award, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2009 Sallie & Gannon Kashiwa Award, Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors
2009 Second Place “Landscape,” Art Renewal Centers International Salon
2009 Second Place Award, Pennsylvania WS Juried Exhibition
2009 Second Place Award, Watercolor Art Society of Houston International Exhibition
2009 Silver Medal of Honor,Allied Artists of America National Exhibition
2009 Third Place Award, Kentucky Watercolor Society Exhibit
2009 Third Place Award, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2009 Third Place Holly Coors Award for Realism, Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition
2009 Top 100 Finalists “Landscape,” Art Renewal Centers International Salon
2010 Biennial Award, Shanghai Zhoujiajiao International Biennial Watercolor Exhibition
2010 Certificate of Honor with Medal, Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters
2010 Gold Medal of Honor, American Watercolor Society
2010 Honorable Mention, Georgia Watercolor Society
2010 Honorable Mention, Watercolor Art Society of Houston International Exhibition
2010 Merchandise Award, Texas Watercolor Society
2010 Second Place Landscape Category, Artist's Magazine 2010 Art Competition
2010 Skyledge First Place Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America
2010 Third Place Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2010 Top 100 Finalists “Landscape,” Art Renewal Centers International Salon
2011 Award of Distinction, Missouri Watercolor Society
2011 First Place Award, Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors
2011 Gold Medal With Honor, Allied Artists of America National Exhibition
2011 Henry Fukihara Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2011 People's Choice Award, Watercolor West Exhibition
2011 Silver Star First Place Award, National Watercolor Society Exhibition
2011 Two Finalists Awards Landscape Category, Artist's Magazine 2011 Art Competition
Publications - Magazines
1996-1997 Winter Minnesota’s World Port, Seaway Port Authority Quarterly Magazine, Cover1997 Fall Minnesota’s World Port, Seaway Port Authority Quarterly Magazine, Cover
1998 Fall Minnesota’s World Port, Seaway Port Authority Quarterly Magazine, The Twin Ports In Living Watercolor
1999 Spring Watercolor Magic, Bright Lights, Dark City Feature Article
1999 Fall Watercolor, An Urban Realist Takes On The Big Apple Feature Article
1999 Winter International Artist, International Showcase of Prize Winners
2000 Summer Watercolor Magic, East Meets West, Interview Of Cheng Khee Chee
2000 Autumn Watercolor Magic, From Our E-Mail Newsletter, Quote
2000 Winter International Artist, International Showcase of Prize Winners
2000-11 February/March International Artist, Prize Winners Showcase
2000-11 November Watercolor Magic - Landscapes, Night Visions
2000-12 December Artist’s Magazine, 2000 Art Competition, Experimental Category
2001 Watercolor Magic Handbook, Water Media Techniques
2001 Watercolor Magic Yearbook, Another Interactive Experience
2001 Winter Watercolor Magic, Competition Winners
2001-01 January Artist’s Magazine, Blurring The Lines Feature Article
2001-17 February/March International Artist, International Artist Magazine Challenge 1
2002 Summer Watercolor, How To Keep The Painting Process Meaningful
2002-04 April Artist’s Magazine, Creativity Toolbox: Explore the Abstract
2002-08 August Artist’s Magazine, Creativity Toolbox: Breaking Through
2003 Winter International Artist, International Showcase of Prize Winners
2003 Winter Watercolor Magic, Let There Be Light
2003-10 October Artist’s Magazine, The Artist’s Life Feature Article
2004 Watercolor Magic Yearbook, Cover Art
2004 Watercolor Magic Yearbook, Picture This
2004 Watercolor Magic Yearbook, Staying In The Flow Feature Article
2004-02 February Watercolor Magic, How To Win A Prize In 2004
2004-02 February Watercolor Magic, State and Regional Winners
2004-04 April Artist’s Magazine, On The Street Feature Article
2004-09 September American Artist, Recent Award Winners
2004-11 November September American Artist, Quick Sketches
2004-34 December/January International Artist, International Artist Magazine Challenge 18
2005 Winter International Artist, International Showcase of Prize Winners
2005-02 February Watercolor Magic, View From the Top
2005-06 June Watercolor Magic, Watercolor Essentials: Use Value Wisely
2006 February/March International Artist, Every Picture Tells a Story Feature Article
2006-05 May Artist’s Magazine, Artist's Magazine State of the Watercolor
2006-08 August Watercolor Magic, The Right Touch Feature Article
2007-02 February The Artist, City Life in Watercolour, Artists of the World
2007-02 February Watercolor Magic, Best of 2006
2007-08 August Watercolor Magic, Picture This Feature Article
2007-12 December September American Artist, National Watercolor Society's 87th Annual Exhibition Award Winners
2008-12 December Artist’s Magazine, The Year's Best Art
2009 Winter Artist to Artist: John Salminen
2009 Winter Watercolor, Artist to Artist Feature Article
2009-01 January/February Artist’s Magazine, An Intricate Illusion Feature Article
2009-03 March Artist’s Magazine, Brushing Up
2009-08 August Watercolor Artist, Inside The Artist’s Studio
2009-10 October Artist’s Magazine, Studio Tour
2009-12 December Pratique des Arts
2010-03 March Artist’s Magazine, Brushing Up
2010-03 March, American Art Collector, Street Sense
2010-05 May Southwest Art, Cover
2010-09 September L’Art de L’Aquarelle, Featured Article
2010-10 October Artist’s Magazine, City Lights Feature Article
2010-10 October Artist’s Magazine, Eyes on Watercolor in Shanghai
2010-10 October Watercolor Artist, Making a Splash
2010-12 December L’Art de L’Aquarelle, Issue 6, Les Lumieres de la Villla Featured Article
2011-02 February Watercolor Artist, The Year's Best Painting
2011-03 March Artist’s Magazine, Brushing Up
2011-03 March Artist’s Magazine, In the Mood
2011-03 March Chinese Watercolor Quarterly, The Official Journal from the Watercolor Art Committee of the China Artists Association, Watercolor Works of John Salminen
2011-06 June Watercolor Artist, Trade Routes Feature Article
2011-10 October Artist’s Magazine, Brushing Up
2011-10 October Artist’s Magazine, Simplify the Design
2012-02 February Watercolor Artist, The Year's Best Paintings
Publications - Representation in Books
---- Iron Range Country, illustrator, State of Minnesota and the Iron, Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board1997 Best of Watercolor 2, Rockport Publishers
1999 Artistic Touch 3, Chris Unwin Publisher
2000 Splash 6 - The Magic of Texture, North Light Books
2001 L’Art de L’Aquarelle Le Livre 2011, Twenty Four of the World’s, Greatest Artists, France
2002 Expressing The Visual Language Of The Landscape, The Urban Landscape, International Artist Publishing, Inc.
2002 Searching For the Artist Within, Karlyn Holman, Abstract and Realistic Paintings Based on Design, Bayfield Street Publishing, Inc.
2007 How to Enter Shows, Win Awards and Become Famous, Harold Walkup
2008 Splash 10 - Passionate Brushstrokes, North Light Books
2011 Spring The Reason for Watercolor, Chinese Academy of Art, Hangzhou China
201102 June Splash 12 - The Best of Watercolor: Celebrating Artistic Vision, F & W Pubs, Inc.
Publications - Limited Edition Prints
1997 Superior1999 Brooklyn Bridge
1999 Lake and Wells
1999 Lester River
1999 Venice Beach
2003 Winter Berth
2004 Service Printers Artists Series Calendar
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