Sterling holds signature memberships in several of the world’s most prestigious art societies, including the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC), the Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA), and the National Watercolor Society (NWS). In 2015, he was designated a "Bonafide Whiskey Painter" and awarded a lifetime signature membership in the Whiskey Painters of America (WPA)—an elite international group restricted to just 150 artists worldwide. He was also named a Charter Member of the North American Watercolor Society in 2025.

In 2025, to celebrate the centenary of the CSPWC, one of Sterling’s watercolor paintings was selected through an international art competition for the Royal Collection Trust of His Majesty King Charles III, entering the permanent collection at the Windsor Castle Library. That same year, by invitation from the Watercolor Society of Romania (I.W.S. Romania), he exhibited on the "Wall of International Watercolor Masters" at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest. Recognized by Marquis Who's Who in America as a Biographical Listee since 2016, Sterling was elevated to the "Top Artists" category within their "Top Professionals Series" in 2026.

Sterling authored the best-selling instructional book Creating Luminous Watercolor Landscapes: A Four-Step Process (North Light Books, 2010). His work has also been featured in numerous other books and international publications, catalogs, and fine art journals. His paintings reside in prominent private and corporate collections across the globe. Sterling operates his international workshop program, studio, and publishing endeavors alongside his wife and business manager, Diane Edwards.