The Pittsburgh Watercolor Society (PWS) Aqueous Open 2022 International Exhibition is a juried exhibit for artists using water-based media on paper. This year's 77th Aqueous is being presented in person in the Stifel Fine Arts Center, Ogleby Institute in Wheeling West Vieginia, and online on the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society website.  

This year's Juror is Barbara Jones former Chief Curator The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Ms. Jones, was the Museum’s first Curator. She joined The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in October 1995, was promoted to Chief Curator in 2009, and retired after 26 ½ years on April 1, 2022.

We invite artists 18 or older working primarily with water-based media on a paper surface to submit two (2) works for jury. Only one (1) can be chosen.

Awards: Awards are selected from received work. The Best of Show award is $1,200, with over $5,000 in total cash and prize awards. Awards announced at Opening, September 11th

Important Dates:

• Registration deadline: July 15, 2022, Midnight

• Notice of acceptance: Week of July 31

• Shipped work must arrive at the Stifel Fine Arts  Center by: August 20, 2022

• Hand delivered work drop off:  August 20, 2022 - 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Exhibit dates: September 8 - October 29, 2022

• Opening Reception: September 11, 2022 1-4 p.m. at  Stifel Fine Arts Center

• Pick up/shipping of unsold works: October 31- November 5

Entry fee: for one or two pieces is $45 (US funds) for non-members and $30 (using a discount code) for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society members. The fee is non-refundable.

Application Requirements

Digital Files: Images must be professional quality,

showing only the painted image, and be accurate for color catalog reproduction. All files must be saved in high-quality (maximum) jpg format. The dimensions must be 1920 pixels or greater on the long side. Resolution should be at least 300 dpi and the file size must be 5 MB or less.

For detailed instructions on preparing and sizing digital files, visit the PWS website:

www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/Digital-Entry-Help.

A useful online resource for resizing images is at:

www.picresize.com.

Accepted Work: All work must be framed and ready for hanging (with wire). Absolutely no sawtooth hangers.

Hand Deliver Work to Stifel Fine Arts Center: Saturday, August 20, from 11a.m. - 2 pm.

Ship Work: Acrylic/Plexiglas only; NO GLASS.

Do NOT pack work in “popcorn”.

Ship to: Stifel Fine Arts Center

              1330 National Road

              Wheeling, WV 26003

Shipped work must arrive between August 10 and August 20.

No shipped work will be accepted after August 20th

Domestic work and international work shipped through a domestic clearinghouse must include pre-paid, pre-arranged return shipping documents and instructions.

International shipments must contain all completed return documentation, airbills, customs forms, and appraisal (if value is over $300).

Framing: Matting must be: white, off white, light gray.

Frames should be simple and black.The work must be wired and ready to install. No sawtooth hangers.

Sales: All work must be for sale at current market value.

Sales will be handled through Stifel Fine Arts Center. All work must be for sale. Artist will receive 60% of sale price (minus sales tax), Stifel Fine Arts Center will receive 30% and Pittsburgh Watercolor Society will receive 10%. If purchased, the artist will be responsible for shipping the painting to the buyer, so price accordingly. Paintings must remain installed until close of show.

PWS Membership Eligibility: Artists exhibiting in Aqueous Open two years out of five become eligible for PWS membership. Members who get accepted in Aqueous Open three out of five years become Signature members.

Inquiries to:

membership@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility: PWS Aqueous Open 2022 Annual International Exhibition is open to all artists 18 or older working primarily with water-based media on a paper surface (YUPO and Tyvek are permitted) and unvarnished.

Mediums include: watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, egg tempera. No pastels, class work, digital images, any form of print or reproductions, 10% collage only. Artist’s original work only. No copies or likenesses of another artist’s work including published source or reference not attributable to the artist.

 • Minimum size: 12" x 12" image size

 • Maximum size: 40" x 40"  framed size

Work must have been completed within the last two years and not previously shown in a PWS exhibit. All paintings must be sturdily framed under glass or Plexiglas® plastic glazing for hand delivery, shipped work must be Plexiglas® ONLY.