Press

Tess Myers - In the studio
A short documentary by Wafula-Card Productions

WSO Live! 
Educational Webinar for the Watercolor Society of Oregon

Biography

Tess was born and raised in Washington DC, moving to Portland in order to graduate from Reed College with a degree in Biology. Her work has been diverse; aside from the visual arts, she has worked in medical research, software development, and movement arts. 

Best known for her award winning portraiture, Tess focuses on walking the line between highly realistic representation and loose abstraction. She endeavors to capture rich tangibility, stillness before movement, or simply the expression of a human caught at a juncture in time. Her subjects are often from her community, portrayed in moments of mundanity, warm intimacy, or sublime existence. She also enjoys painting landscapes and has a particular soft spot for the mist- and rain-soaked Pacific Northwest scenery.
​
Currently, Tess teaches watercolor and portraiture at the Oregon Society of Artists and delights in working with students of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Awards

Affiliations

American Artist's Professional League | Elected Artist Member
​Watercolor Society of Oregon | Signature Member
​

Exhibitions / Awards

2026 / Upcoming
AAPL - All Members All Levels Online   |   High Noon
​
WSO - Spring Experimental Exhibition   |   Dappled

Spokane Watercolor Society - National Juried Show   |    Pomona

Juried Artist - Mt. Tabor Art Walk​

2025 
Watercolor Society of Oregon - Fall Exhibition
Award of Distinction for JJ in Sun  |  Awarded signature membership
               
Watercolor Society of Oregon - Spring Experimental Exhibition 
Second place for Laramie's Window   

Propulsion Network and District Four - PYXIS International Mixed Media Exhibit

Solo Exhibition - Café UNITED, Portland, OR

Invited Artist Exhibition - Calm Chiropractic Studio, Portland, OR

Juried Artist - PDX Open Studios 

Juried Artist - Mt. Tabor Art Walk

2024
American Artists Professional League - 96th Grand National Exhibition, NYC
Milan in Rain  

Watercolor Society of Oregon - Fall Exhibition 
Award of Distinction for Casey and His Old Pointe Shoes

Women in Watercolor - 5th International Juried Competition
Honorable mention for Awaiting

Oregon Society of Artists - Water Media show
First Place and People's Choice award for Milan in Rain

Emerald Art Center - 18th Annual Exhibition
Award of Achievement for Girl Singing to Her Flower by a Bathroom Window

American Artists Professional League - Associate Members show
Second Place for Awaiting

Western Federation of Watercolor Societies - 49th Annual Exhibition 
Sol, illuminated

Watercolor Society of Oregon - Spring Experimental
People's Choice and Award of Distinction for Awaiting

Juried Artist - Mt. Tabor Art Walk     
​

2023
Oregon Society of Artists - Water Media show
Best in Show for Blues Harmonica
​

2022
Oregon Society of Artists - 12 x 12 Art Show
First Place for Sun
​

2013
Creative Crafts Council - 29th Biennial
Excellence in Metal Award for ​Gastropodia
​

Notable Commissions
​
2023         Portrait of Queen Déja |  Portland Rose Festival Foundation                                                              
2023         Album Artwork | Jamie McKenzie Debut Single ‘Not Here’
2023         Newport Mural | 8’x22’ installation,  Walmart - NOWArt Community Mural Program             
​