Virginia Watercolor Society Information

The Virginia Watercolor Society, organized in 1979 by Roanoke artists John Will Creasy and Ernest Johnson, is an organization of artists and non-painters which seeks to foster interest and participation in the exciting world of watercolor through the active programming of publications, demonstrations, annual jurored exhibitions and social activities. Its objectives are to create opportunities for beginning as well as established artists to advance their skills and professionalism, and to be educational for the public at large. The IRS recognized VWS as a publicly supported organization and granted a tax-exempt status to the Society in 1988. The VWS Foundation was incorporated in March 1994. John Will Creasy envisioned it as a way to establish a permanent fund, the proceeds of which would be used for the charitable purposes of educating and encouraging deserving artists, particularly students and beginning painters, and underwriting various educational projects of the VWS. In 1996 the name was changed to Creasy/Johnson Fund to honor both of our founders. Because VWS is itself incorporated, the Creasy/Johnson Fund will function as a committee within the VWS corporation.