Hopkins Community Education

ABOUT THE ARTIST 

Sonja is a Signature Member of the Minnesota and Red River Watercolor Society’s and has been painting in watercolor since 2001. Her interest was ignited through a class taught by a friend at the Linden Hills Community Center in Minneapolis that first winter. She has studied with many established local watercolor artists and those of international renown such as Alvaro Castagnet, Cheng-Khee Chee, Andy Evansen and John Salminen. She served as President of the Minneapolis Watercolor Society from 2016 – 2018 and served on the Board of Directors for 13 years from 2008 to 2021. Her watercolors have earned numerous awards in local and national juried exhibitions. 

AWARDS 

• 2022 Award of Excellence - Arts North International Exhibition Juried by John Salminen and Curt Pederson 
• 2022 Award for NE Minneapolis Arts District Calendar and Chroma Exhibit at the MSP International Airport. Juried by Pablo Lituma, Benjamin Rasmussen, Susan Wagner and LeeAnn Johnson 
• 2019 Emrich-Stordahl Award - Minnesota Watercolor Society Juried by David Feinberg, Art Professor, University of Minnesota 2019 Third Honors - Arts in Harmony International Exhibition Juried by Curt Pederson, Curator American Swedish Institute 
• 2019 Award of Merit - Robbin Gallery Juried by Florence Hill, Artist 
• 2018 Artist’s Choice Award – Northstar National Exhibition Juried by Rachel Daly – Director of Visual Arts – Artistry 2018 Award of Excellence – Minnesota Artist’s Association Juried by Tara Sweeney – Retired Art Department Chair – Augsburg College Sonja Hutchinson 
• 2016 Artist’s Choice Award – Northstar National Exhibition Juried by Kerry Morgan – Director of Exhibition Programs at Minneapolis College of Art and Design 
• 2016 MNWS Award – Arts in Harmony International Exhibition Juried by Curt Pederson, Curator American Swedish Institute 
• 2016 Award of Excellence - Robbin Gallery 
• 2015 Award of Excellence - Northstar National Exhibition Juried by Jack Richeson - Jack Richeson & Co. 
• 2015 Third Honors - Arts in Harmony International Exhibition Juried by Curt Pederson - Curator of Exhibitions - American Swedish Institute 2015 Second Honors - Minnesota Watercolor Society Juried by Richard Kochenash - Artist - Kochenash Fine Art 
• 2014 Honorable Mention - Minnesota Artists Association Juried by JuliAnne Jonker - Artist and photographer - Jonker Portrait Gallery 
• 2012 Emrich-Stordahl Founders Award - Minnesota Watercolor Society Juried by Maarja Roth - Artist and Educator at ArtStart, Inc. 
• 2011 Honorable Mention - Savage Arts Council 

TEACHING 

Adult Classes and Workshops – Minnetonka Center for the Arts, U of M Landscape Arboretum and Hopkins Center for the Arts, Trillium Woods and private sessions at the Northrup King Studio 

ORGANIZATIONS 

Signature Member – Minnesota Watercolor Society and Red River Watercolor Society 

Minnesota Artists Association 

Westside Artists Guild 

Northeast Minneapolis Artists Association 

COMMISSIONS 

Numerous private commissions that celebrate engagements, happy moments, travel adventures, new family arrivals and to honor those departed. US Bank and Monarch Wealth Advisors corporate commissions to embody workspace values and brand reinforcement respectively. 

MY MISSION 

To empower compassion, self-acceptance and creative expression. 

ARTIST’S STATEMENT 

For me, painting in watercolor is where spontaneity and intention collide. I find it stimulating to use processes that both challenge and celebrate the fluid nature of this medium. My most recent works are from my “HumanSpirit” series and express moments of joy, connection, personal growth and empowerment. They reinforce those instants that can fuel our wellbeing.