Recently relocated to the State of Massachusetts from Florida, Anita Shaw, artist and teacher, has continued spearheading a new movement which she pioneered in Florida. While experimenting one day with watercolors on a shiny, non-absorbent paper, she realized that all the difficulty and drawbacks of painting on regular watercolor paper disappeared, and hard-to-come-by effects were easily achieved.

Subsequntly, she further developed and pioneered new techniques and watercolor effects. Soon many of her artist friends requested she teach them these new skills, and so she did. This led to her not only painting a new series of watercolors, but to eventually expand her teaching to include the general public. She refers to her course as "Watercolors Made Easy".

Now the movement is slowly emerging in various parts of the U.S. with artists, including Shaw, winning contests at shows and festivals utilizing effects heretofore not achieved with watercolors. "There is nothing as satisfying as bringing out people’s artistic abilities even when they have never painted before. I can’t think of any higher calling in life than stimulating creativity in another human being." In December 2007, she taught her watercolor techniques on the QE2 sailing from Southampton, England, in March and October 2008 on the QM2 sailing out of New York. In the winter of 2009 she taught on the Celebrity Cruise Line.

However, Shaw also paints in oils and acrylics and is mostly self-taught. Because of her diversity, she refers to her work as "Shawisms". During the Summer of 2007, Shaw was represented by Tito’s Gallery in Provincetown, MA, and in September her work was shown in the State House in Boston. In addition, Shaw has exhibited at local art fests and open studio events in MA. In the Fall of ‘07, Shaw was one of 14 artists, chosen out of over 800 nationwide, to have her painting included in the 2008 AARP calendar, the theme of which was "From Sea to Shining Sea". Shaw's painting "House In the Country" is featured on the cover of professional storyteller Susan O'Hara's "Home-Tales" CD, as well as on the front page of the Home-Tales website: www.storyhub.com.

Shaw was born and raised in New York. As a child she spent every spare hour practicing the piano and was a music major in high school. Then she received both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Business Administration. In 1979, Shaw relocated to Florida. But it wasn’t until 1991 that she actually started to paint. Deciding to leave the business world, Shaw pursued her art full time, and took an active role in promulgating the arts in Florida. For two years she was President of the Strawbridge Art League in Melbourne, FL, member of many art organizations, participated in outdoor art shows in various states, and was represented by various Art Galleries in the Space Coast area. Shaw has also appeared on public TV and radio programs to discuss her art.

While in Florida, Shaw had won many awards. Among them: First Prize in the 1997 Black History Month Exhibition, Honorable Mention at yearly fine art festival "ArtWorks 2004", Best Demonstration at "ArtWorks 2002" and Merit Award in 2001, first place in oils in the "Juneteenth 2002 Festival, First Prize in "Celebrate Freedom through the Arts Festival" in Cocoa Village, and Best of Show in Acrylics in "Under the Oaks" at Vero Beach in 2002, among many others.

In Florida, Shaw has exhibited twice at the Orlando Museum of Art, twice at The Vero Beach Museum of Art (2003, 2005), and at The Brevard Museum of Art and Science, in 1997. Also, she had major solo shows at The King Center for the Performing Arts in 1997, and Advent Lutheran Church in 2004, both in Melbourne, FL. In addition, her paintings have appeared many times at Viera Government Center, Henegar Center for the Arts, and the Melbourne International Airport, as well as offices, libraries, universities and colleges between 1999-2005. She also was part of the Olde Brevard Watercolor Society Touring Historic Art Show which began at the King Center for the Performing Arts, Melbourne, as well as other Touring Shows: Patriotic Show; Florida, Florida, Florida Show; Africa, Africa, Africa Show, among others. Her works are also in private collections throughout the world. A critic stated: "Shaw’s work is intriguing. I like her surrealistic qualities."