Instructor Spotlight
MAY 2025
Tony Armendariz is an award-winning contemporary realist artist living and painting in Palatine, Illinois. His work focuses on figurative subjects rendered in watercolor. Graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, he studied under renowned watercolor instructor Irving Shapiro. He has won numerous awards in regional and national competitions and has exhibited his work in many group and solo exhibitions.
Watercolor can be a challenging medium to work with, but in his course at OPAL, students observe how Tony has mastered the medium and explore variations of watercolor techniques while receiving one-on-one guidance from him.
Tony is a signature member of many national artistic societies including the American Watercolor Society and the Illinois Watercolor Society where he also served as director. He is represented by Hilliard Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. He recently has had work accepted into the Southern Watercolor Society’s 48th Annual Juried Exhibition, the Hudson Valley Art Association’s 92nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, the Bridgeport Art Center’s 13th Annual Juried Art Competition, the Fallbrook Art Center 16th Annual Signature Watercolor Exhibition, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America’s 49th Annual Exhibition. Additionally, he has had work place at the Missouri Watercolor Society’s International Juried Exhibition, the Georgia Watercolor Society’s 46th National Juried Exhibition, and Splash 26: The Best of Watercolor publication.
Tony doesn’t offer his class every session so when you see it offered, grab a spot. Tony will be offering his class in Summer 1 Session 2025 starting the week of May 25. His class is suitable for students of all levels.
