Instructor: Rock Valley College Community and Continuing Education 2005 – Present
2010 Exhibitions
Watercolor '10 Regional Exhibition - St. Charles, IL
Midland Arts Association 2010 Spring Juried Exhibition
2009 Exhibitions
Allied Artists of America 2009 Exhibition
Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition
North East Watercolor Society International Exhibition
NWWS Waterworks 2009 Exhibition
Taos National Society of Watercolorists Exhibition
Watercolor West Annual Juried Exhibition
Watercolor Art Society – Houston International Exhibition
Illinois Watercolor Society Exhibition
Missouri Watercolor Society National Exhibition
Louisiana Watercolor Society International Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Members Exhibition
Richeson75 - '09 Landscape Competition
Freeport Regional Juried Exhibition
Masterworks in Miniature Competition, Mentor, OH
Hudson Valley Art Association Exhibition
Watercolor 2009 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Midland Arts Association Juried Competition
Kaneland Fine Arts Invitational
A River Runs Through It Regional Competition – Dixon, IL
Survey of Regional Art Competition – Dixon, IL
Farms & Barns Regional Competition – Dixon, IL
Fredericksburg Small Works Competition - Fredericksburg, VA
Fluid Expressions Group Exhibition - Sterling, IL
Images of a Reality Suggested; Solo Exhibition - Monroe, WI
Images and Impressions 2009; Solo Exhibition - Dixon, IL
Awards
Signature Membership, Bronze Status - Watercolor Society of Alabama
Honorable Mention – Watercolor Art Society – Houston
Best of Show – A River Runs Through It Regional Competition
Second Place – Northlight Magazine Cover Competition
Finalist – The Artists Magazine Annual Best of Art – Landscapes
First Place – Regional Surveyof Art, Freeport Art Museum - Freeport, Ill.
2008 Exhibitions
Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
North East Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
Transparent Watercolor Society of America Annual Exhibition
San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition
Greenwich Small Works Competition
Masterworks in Miniature Competition, Mentor, OH
Watercolor U.S.A. Watercolor Now Exhibition
Richeson 75 Landscape Competition
Watercolor 2008 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Farms & Barns Regional Competition – Dixon, IL
Images and Impressions 2008 – Solo Exhibition Dixon, IL
Awards
Wright L’Estrange Purchase Award San Diego Watercolor Society
Second Place – Farms & Barns Regional Competition
Best of Painting – St. Charles Fine Art Fair
2007 Exhibitions
Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
North East Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Members Exhibition
Masterworks in Miniature Competition, Mentor, OH
Greenwich Small Works Competition
Watercolor 2007 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Winter Solstice Regional Competition – Dixon, IL
Survey of Regional Art Competition – Dixon, IL
Regional Survey of Art – Freeport, IL
Farms & Barns Regional Competition – Dixon, IL
Coming Home Regional Competition - Dixon, IL
Artists Paint Ogle County – Two person show – Rockford, IL
Images and Impressions 2007 – Solo Exhibition Dixon, IL
Awards
Signature Status – North East Watercolor Society
Second Place – Coming Home Regional Competition
Daler-Rowney Award – Watercolor U.S.A National Exhibition
Patron Purchase (2 paintings) - Watercolor U.S.A National Exhibition
2006 Exhibitions
North East Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Members Exhibition
Georgia Watercolor Society Annual National Exhibition
Masterworks in Miniature Competition, Mentor, OH
Watercolor 2006 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Particular Places Regional Exhibition – Dixon, IL
Survey of Regional Art Competition – Dixon, IL
Farms & Barns Regional Competition – Dixon, IL
Awards
Third Place – Farms & Barns Regional Competition
Honorable Mention – Survey of Regional Art Competition
Creative Catalyst Award – Georgia Watercolor Society
Best of Painting – Art on the Lawn Artists Fair
2005 Exhibitions
Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition
North East Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Members Exhibition
Midwest Winter Exhibition – Wausau, WI
Masterworks in Miniature Competition, Mentor, OH
Watercolor 2005 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Vanishing Views – Two man Exhibition – Dundee, IL
Awards
Daler-Rowney Award – Watercolor Society of Alabama
Merit Award – Painting – Yorktown Art Fair
2004 Exhibitions
Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Members Exhibition
Midwest Winter Exhibition – Wausau, WI
2003 Exhibitions
Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Awards
Patron Purchase – Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
2002 Exhibitions
Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition
Masterworks in Miniature Competition, Mentor, OH
Midwest Winter Exhibition – Wausau, WI
Awards
Signature Status – Watercolor Society of Alabama
Patron Purchase – Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Award of Excellence – Midwest Winter Exhibition
2001 Exhibitions
Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition
Watercolor 2001 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Watercolor 2001 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Midwest Winter Exhibition – Wausau, WI
Awards
Signature Status - Watercolor U.S.A Honor Society
Robert E. Goodier Memorial Award – Watercolor U.S.A.
Patron Purchase – Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Award of Excellence – Midwest Winter Exhibition
First Place, Painting - Naperville Art Fair
First Place, Fine Art – Rockford Art Fair
2000 Exhibitions
Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition
Northwest Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
Watercolor 2000 Regional Exhibition – St. Charles, IL
Midwest Winter Exhibition – Wausau, WI
Awards
Signature Status – Northwest Watercolor Society
Patron Purchase – Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition
Merit Award, Painting – Rockford Art Fair


Though he grew up in suburban Chicago, Tom Linden has always been
fascinated by the colors and patterns of the landscapes across the Midwest.
Those dramatic sunsets and disappearing farmsteads inspire his original
watercolor paintings.
Tom prefers water media because of its unique properties, which allow him to
create transparent glazes and a glowing contrast between light and dark values.
His creative use of colors, patterns and textures capture the details that make
his work come alive on paper.
His work has been included in numerous local, regional and national
exhibitions, earning him signature status with the Northwest Watercolor
Society, Watercolor Society of Alabama, North East Watercolor Society and
Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society. He is an associate member of the American
Watercolor Society.
When he’s not painting, Tom teaches watercolor classes through Rock Valley College and
adult painting workshops. He lives in Rockford, Ill.