Peggy Dressel is both an illustrator and fine arts artist. As a watercolor and pastel artist, she has exhibited in galleries, museums and juried exhibitions where she has won many awards. Her most recent solo exhibition was at the Pine Gallery in the Maurice M. Pine Public Library in Fair Lawn, in September 2024.
Her paintings, palette and knowledge of color were featured in the 2007 spring issue of Watercolor Magazine, The Basics of Watercolor Paints I & II. She is an elected member of the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, New Jersey Watercolor Society, The Degas Pastel Society, the American Artist Professional League and the Art Center of Northern NJ Watercolor and
Peggy has illustrated picture books, posters, book covers, chapter books, ads and magazines stories. Companies such as Marshall Cavendish, Dial Soap, Macy’s and Vogue have published her work. Her most recent published book is Lullaby Wisdom, The Stories, Songs and the Science of Soothing, by Licia Clair Seaman which includes 30 of her illustrations. Currently she is working on a children’s chapter book, Sandy the Wonder Dog by Fred Groos
She has been teaching drawing, watercolor and pastel for the past 30 years, before that she worked in an illustration and design studio. Currently, she is an instructor at the Art Center of Northern NJ, the Ridgewood Art Institute, the Mahwah Senior Center, Ramsey Adult School and the Wyckoff family YMCA.
In Peggy’s classes, she works with both beginners and advanced students. Beginner’s focus on the basics, color theory, value and mixing colors. For continuing students, a different lesson is taught at each class. Peggy either does a demonstration or hands out step by step instructions. You also do not have to know how to draw. Students are given a line drawing to trace onto their watercolor paper if needed. Different subjects are painted each session, still life, flowers or landscapes. Students also can work on their own projects.
Peggy studied at the Pratt Institute, NYC, AOS, the National Academy of Design, NYC and Moore College of Art, PA.
Artist Statement
“I love painting with watercolor. It is the perfect medium to create beautiful and colorful paintings. I use transparent washes of changing complimentary colors. This helps to vibrate the color and produces a luminosity and glow in my work. The sense of light and value in my paintings is also important to me. It conveys mood, place and time of day.”
New Brunswick Art Salon 2026 – Watercolor and Mixed Media “Liquid Layers” Exhibition
Education
Pratt Manhattan, NYC Degree, AOS, 1985
Moore College of Art, PA
National Academy of Fine Arts, NYC
Solo Exhibitions
Pine Galley, Fair Lawn, 2024
Library of the Chatham’s. 2022
NECA, Parsippany, NJ, 2004
Franklin Lakes Library, Franklin Lakes, NJ 1999
The Interchurch Center, NYC 1998
New York Theological Seminary, NYC, 1998’
ADP Inc, Roseland, NJ. 1995
Dow Jones & Co, Inc. Princeton, NJ 1994, ‘05
Children’s Specialized Hospital, Mountainside, NJ 1995
Ringwood Manor, NJ State Park, Ringwood, NJ 1994
St. Peter’s Church, NYC 1992
Two-Person Exhibitions
Mayo Performing Arts Center Gallery, 2005
Kurth Cottage Gallery, Valley Hospital
Gallery of U Frame It, 1995
Galleries
Blue Hill, NY, 2024
Alfa Art Gallery New Brunswick , 2023, 2022
The Clifton Art Center, 2023,2019
Pine Gallery Fairlawn,2026, 2024, 2022, 2019, ‘13
The Riverdale Art Center, Bloomingdale, 2016,’11
Livingston Gallery, 2015, ‘11
MPAC Mayo Performing Arts Center, 2015. 02
Riverside Gallery, Hackensack, 2026, 2016,‘14, ‘10
Atrium Gallery, Morristown, 2019,’18,’17,’16,’15,’14,13,’12,’11,’10,’09’08,’07,‘06,’05,‘04,’03,
Art Center of Northern NJ,2023,2022, 2019, ‘17,’15,’13, ‘11
Ward-Nasse Gallery, NYC, 2003
Nexus Gallery, NYC, 2002
Intermission Gallery, John Harms, 2000
Lena DiGangi, Totowa, NJ
Gallery One Main, High Bridge, NJ
Nathans, West Paterson, NJ,
Drue Chryst Gallery, Sparta, NJ
The Legal Arts Gallery, Goshen, NY
Essex Fine Arts Gallery , Montclair, NJ
Museums
The Belskie Museum of Arts and Science, 2023. 2017, ‘16,’14,’13,’12,’11
Bergen Museum of Arts and Science, 2004,‘0
Juried Exhibitions
NJ Watercolor Society Juried ,2023, 2022, 2021,’20, ‘18, ‘15,
Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, 2021, ‘20,‘19, 1994
Ridgewood Art Institute, Juried, 20,26, 25, 24, 23, 22, ‘21,’19’18,’17,’14’10, ‘09, ’05, ’04, 03, ’01, 1995, ’94, 92, 91
The Art of Healing, Englewood Hospital, 2026, 2023, 2022, 2017
AAPL, National, 2016, 2004, 1997
Pascack Art Association, Tri-State, 2015, ‘14
Journey, ASMGT, Montclair, NJ. 2017
Childhood Memories, Zufall Health, Dover,2020, 2015
AAPL, National, 2016, 2004, 1997
April Arts. Arts Council of Morris County, 2010, 08, 06, 04, 02
The Modern Family, The Interchurch Center, 2010
THE Art of Giving, Benefit Table to Table, 2001 `
Paint the City, Art Auction, Society of Illustrators, 2001
Skylands’ Art Exhibit, National, 2005, ‘04, ‘03, ’02, 01, 1999
2004 Skyland’s Art Show by Popular Request
Mountain Art how, Bernardsville, NJ 2004, ‘03, ‘02, ‘01, 2000, 1999, ’95, 94’
CAA National Juried Exhibition, 2004, 03, 02, 1999, ’98,97, 96
Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council, Old Lafayette Village, 2003
Ridgewood Arts Council, Juried, Lambert Castle Museum, 2002, 2004
Degas Pastel Society, National Biennial 2000, 1992
The Wilson Gallery, Exhibition and sale,2009, 2008,07, 04, 03, 02, ‘01
Center for International Art & Culture, NYC 2000
Oregon Pastel Society, National 2000. 1992, ’91, ‘90
Nabisco Foods Co, 1999, ‘94
Newark Museum Artist Night, 1999, ‘96
Watchung Arts Center, 1998
Ringwood Manor Assoc. Open Juried Exhibition, 1999, ’94, ’93, & ‘92
AAPL of NJ, 1997, ’96, ‘95
Southeastern Pastel Society, 1993, ’92, ’91, ’90, ‘89
Northwest Pastel Society, National, 1992, ‘91
Patel Society of North Florida, National 1992, 91, 90
Pastel Society of the West Coast, National, 1991
Kansas Pastel Society, National 1991
The Society of Illustrators, Student Show, 1985
Awards
Best in Show – Bergen Museum Outdoor, CAA Inserria Corporate Show
First Place – CAA’s National Juried Show
Second Place – Ringwood Manor, Watchung Art Center
Special Awards
Purchase Award, Degas Pastel Society Cynthia Goodgal Memorial Award, Ridgewood Art Inst.
Merit Awards
CLWAC, NJWCS, Degas Pastel Society, Oregon Pastel Society, Inserria Corporate Show, Kansas Pastel Society, Southeastern Pastel Society, Pastel Society of North Florida, Northwest Pastel Society, Salute , Salutes the Village, Nexus Gallery, Salute, Intermezzo Gallery, Ridgewood Arts Council, Community Arts Association
Memberships
Current Elected Memberships
The Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, New Jersey Watercolor Society, Degas Pastel Society, Art Center of Northern NJ Watercolor Affiliates, President, American Professional League
Past Elected Memberships
Southeastern Pastel Society, Oregon Pastel Society, Pastel Plus, President
Collections
Marsh, USA Inc, Morristown, NJ, People’s Bank and Trust Co. Tupelo, MS, Private Collections
Honors
Paintings and palette featured in an article in Watercolor Magazine, May 2007
Selected for Art Strings, NJ Symphony Orchestra 2005
Twill NJ Featured Artist Fine Artist Poster collection and 1998 Calendar