WATERCOLORS BY LAURA D. POSS, AWS
Laura D. Poss, AWS, WSNC, SW, PWS
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to creating art. I fell in love with watercolor while living in Oriental, a small sailing town on the North Carolina coast, captivated by its luminous layers, visible brushstrokes, and the way pencil marks can peek through washes of color. That discovery transformed my creative life, and all these years later, I’m still enchanted by watercolor’s blend of precision and spontaneity.
I describe my style as “loose realism”: representational but never photorealistic, inviting viewers to connect with the painting itself as much as the subject. Most of my inspiration comes from the outdoors—North Carolina’s mountains and coastline, as well as scenes from my travels. I’m especially drawn to national parks and other landscapes where light, color, and atmosphere come together in a way only watercolor can capture.
I live in Greensboro, NC, with my husband, John, a professional framer and owner of Penland Custom Frames, who ensures my work is presented with the highest quality and care. When I’m not painting, showing my work, or teaching, I love photography, sailing, birdwatching, gardening, reading, swimming, hiking, and even the occasional sewing project.
Select Honors and Awards
October 2025 – Full Circle, illustrated book with essays by Elizabeth Hudson, Editor-in-Chief of Our State magazine. Available from the Our State Store.
September 2025 – Tenth juried acceptance into the Watercolor Society of North Carolina Annual Exhibition, earning Gold Signature status. Exhibition runs Oct 2 – Nov 2, 2025 at Wilson Arts (Wilson, NC).
March 2025 – First Place, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Annual Online Member Show. View the show at pawcs.com.
October 2022 – Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Merchandise Award, Watercolor Society of North Carolina Annual Statewide Juried Art Exhibition.
2022 – You Make My Heart Sing, illustrated book with essays by Elizabeth Hudson, published by Our State magazine. Available from the Our State Store.
January 2021 – Achieved Signature Membership, American Watercolor Society, through third juried acceptance. Exhibition held at the Salmagundi Club, New York, NY.
March 2020 – Achieved Signature Membership, Southern Watercolor Society, through third juried acceptance.
October 2019 – Dorothy L. Rosenberger Memorial Award, North East Watercolor Society 43rd International Exhibition, Kent, CT.
October 2019 – Betty Mountcastle Memorial Award, Watercolor Society of North Carolina Annual Statewide Exhibition, Rocky Mount, NC.
October 2019 – Silver Linings, illustrated book with essays by Elizabeth Hudson, published by Our State magazine.
June 2019 – Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Merchandise Award, Southern Watercolor Society 42nd Juried Exhibition, Kerrville, TX.
October 2018 – Achieved Signature Membership and Signature Member Award, Watercolor Society of North Carolina 73rd Statewide Juried Art Exhibition.
September 2018 – Outstanding Realism Award, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 39th International Juried Exhibition, Warren, PA. Also achieved Signature Membership.
February 2018 – Margery Soroka Memorial Award, American Watercolor Society 151st International Exhibition.
October 2017 – 5th Place, Watercolor Society of North Carolina 72nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Greensboro, NC.
Volunteer Service
I served on the Board of Directors for the Watercolor Society of North Carolina (WSNC) from December 2012 to October 2017. For the first four years, I was Publications Editor, creating and editing the quarterly newsletter, annual prospectus, printed and digital materials, advertising postcards, and other documents. In 2015, I produced WSNC’s first-ever Exhibition Catalog.
In 2017, I served as Local Arrangements Chair for the WSNC Annual Juried Exhibition in Greensboro, NC, organizing a weekend conference with meetings, seminars, social events, an opening reception, and a book signing with Mary Whyte. I also coordinated a three-day workshop with the artist following the conference.
I continue to actively support WSNC and volunteer as a non-board member. I encourage all North Carolina watercolor artists to join at ncwatercolor.art.
