The Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona unveiled 50 exceptional and award-winning paintings in watermedia at the CWA Exhibition through March 3.

Awards for outstanding artistic achievements, carefully selected by the esteemed juror, Cynthia Peterson, will be presented to the talented artists during the CWA Exhibition Art Reception.

The exhibition is hosted at The Vista Center for the Arts, 15660 N. Parkview Place.

The Art Reception, a free and open event to the public, is scheduled to be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at The Vista.

Attendees will have the opportunity to witness the unveiling of the award-winning paintings and engage with the artists behind these remarkable creations.

All exhibited paintings will be available for purchase, providing art enthusiasts and collectors the chance to acquire these unique and celebrated pieces. For inquiries about purchasing artwork, interested parties can contact Pamela Root at pamela.root@gmail.com or Candice Diaz at taydiaz@earthlink.net.

For information about Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona, visit contemporarywatercolorists.com.

Additionally, details about exhibition hours at The Vista can be found at thevistaaz.com/gallery or by calling The Vista Box Office at 623-523-8888.

Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona began in 1969, formed by a group of professional art teachers and accomplished artists who met first to paint together then critique their paintings. The first group exhibition was held in 1972.

The purpose of the organization is to motivate each artist member to stretch and expand the scope of their work, aim at new goals and reach their next level of accomplishment. Monthly motivations are meant to stimulate freethinking, play and experimentation to achieve a new view within their own work and style. The paintings are then shared and critiqued. New artists to the CWA group are added by invitation.

The group is held to 40 artists. This is a working group of artists solidly based in the fundamentals of painting in the field of watermedia where all the latest, most exciting experimentation and advances are being achieved. New water soluble art materials are being produced which tempt our artistic appetites.

Its artists are often juried into international, national, regional and local watercolor competitions and frequently win awards. Some members are working in numerous other art-related fields and showing excellent achievement. Many artists have been published in various publications, magazines or art books. Several artists have their paintings hanging in corporations, museums and private collections across the country and abroad.