PROSPECTUS
2023 MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION

LOCATION:  Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion Galleries, 311 and 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland

CALENDAR

• Exhibition: Oct 6, 2023 - Jan 15, 2024
• Entries accepted:  June 2, 2023 - Aug 2, 2023
• Notification to artists:  Sept 1, 2023
• Receipt of accepted work:  Oct 2, 2023 10AM - 2PM
• Alexis Lavine workshop in Columbia, Maryland:  Oct 3-5, 2023 (details will be on the BWS website as they become known)
• Reception and awards presentation: Nov 12, 2023, 2pm-4pm

ENTRY FEE for one or two images (only one entry per artist may be selected for exhibition):  

• $35 for nonmembers
• $30 for BWS members using coupon code
• $20 for art students meeting eligibility criteria using coupon code
• $5 optional paper catalog purchase or donation to the production of the online catalog

A PDF version of the exhibition catalog will be sent to all entrants.  Those who wish to receive a paper version of the catalog will be given the opportunity to request one during the application process.

AWARDS
Gold Medal $1,500
Silver Medal $1,200
Bronze Medal $1,000
Determination of the full spectrum of Mid-Atlantic awards is in-progress and expected to be similar to last year's awards which totaled more than $15,000 in cash, gift certificates and merchandise. 

JUROR OF SELECTION AND AWARDS
Alexis Lavine is delighted to be juror and selector of awards for the 2023 exhibition.  She is a signature member of nine watercolor societies, most notably The National Watercolor Society, Watercolor USA Honor Society, and Transparent Watercolor Society of America.  She is especially pleased to be a long-time signature and life member of BWS.  Honored as one of Watercolor Artist Magazine’s “Ones to Watch,” her paintings have also been published in Splash, The Artistic Touch, and The Palette Magazine.  Alexis’ paintings have been exhibited in juried shows across the country and overseas, including The American and National Watercolor Societies, Watercolor USA, Watercolor West, and many others.  Having exhibited in numerous juried shows, she understands how important it is to serve as juror.  She considers this to be a great honor and she approaches the task with a good eye for design, technique, and expression ... and with true respect, humility, wonder, and fairness. 

You can learn more about Alexis by visiting her website at alexislavineartist.com.

ELIGIBILITY
All BWS Signature and Life members may enter regardless of place of residence. Other artists must reside in one of the following: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia or West Virginia.  Artists must be 18 years of age or older.

Entrants under the student category must be art students enrolled in a degree or certificate program, who are not members of BWS. Information on the student's art program and institution will accompany the artist's name throughout the exhibition and publicity process.

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS 
All entries must be original paintings, entirely the work of the entrant, and free from any copyright infringement. No class or workshop paintings. No copies or likenesses of other artists’ work are permitted. Compositions based on photographs must use photos taken by the artist or be the sole property of the artist. 

Entries must have been completed within the last five years and not previously exhibited in prior BWS Mid-Atlantic exhibitions.

Works must be watermedia paintings on natural or synthetic paper, paperboard, clayboard, or equivalent. Paper may be mounted to a rigid smooth substrate using archival materials. No canvas.

Although acrylic and acrylic mediums are permitted as forms of watermedia, the expectation is that they be applied in a fluid manner, not in thick, impasto applications.  Collage elements are permitted, but must be original work executed on watermedia paper.

No side of the painting visible within the mat can be less than 10 inches. Frames must not exceed 48” in either height or width.

PRESENTATION
All paintings must be framed in wood or metal. Mats, if used, must be plain white, cream or light gray with an optional colored liner. Glazing (glass), if used, must be Plexiglas for shipped paintings and for works larger than half-sheet (approx. 333 square inches). Floated paintings must use spacers. Works varnished before framing will not require glazing. Backing must be archival. Framing must be professional in appearance with clean mats, frames without visible damage, and clean glazing without noticeable scratches. Works must be ready to hang with taut wiring attached to the frame no lower than 1/3 of the height from the top of the piece. Poorly matted or framed works are subject to disqualification.

NOTIFICATION 
Selected entries will be posted no later than Sept 2 at www.baltimorewatercolorsociety.org.  All entering artists will receive email notification. Artists whose work is selected will receive detailed instructions. 

DELIVERY OF SELECTED WORK 
If unable to hand-deliver on Oct 2 (10AM-2PM), you will receive detailed ship­ping instructions. Artists will be responsible for shipping costs and prepaid return shipping.  A $25 handling fee will be charged for unpacking and repacking shipped paintings.  Shipped paintings must be timed to arrive on Sept 28 or 29, 2023.

Unsold artworks must be picked up Jan 16, 2024 10am-noon at the gallery or shipping arrangements made in advance.

SALES
Paintings must be for sale.  Sales inquiries will coordinated by Kentlands gallery staff.  A 35% commission will be taken on all sales (30% for the gallery, 5% for BWS). Paintings should be priced to include framing and sales commission.

USE OF SELECTED WORKS
In submitting work for consideration, all entrants give permission to BWS and the host gallery to use images of selected works for publicity, education, and reproduction in the catalog.

BWS MEMBERSHIP
Interested?  Go to baltimorewatercolorsociety.org

QUESTIONS
Questions may be sent to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition Chairs at midatlanticexhibit@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org

Application Requirements

ENTRY SUBMISSION PROCESS USING www.CallforEntry.org  (CaFÉ)

1. Create an account on http://callforentry.org if you do not already have one

The artist accounts are free.  There are excellent instructions for creating the account and preparing your images, and applying to calls for exhibits.  Use the following links:
callforentry.org/getting-started-on-cafe-an-ultimate-guide-for-artists/
callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/how-to-apply-artists/

2. Prepare your image 

Take the best photo of your painting following the instructions on the BWS website or one of the many instructions available online.  The image file should have correct color balance, be cropped to show only the painting, and sized to be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side.  The file must be under 5MB.

3. Sign into your CaFÉ account and upload your images into MY PORTFOLIO

You may consult this link for further instructions about uploading images:

callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/

You may enter the name of your painting as you wish it to be in the exhibit.  The dimensions are that of the painting itself, no frame, no mat.  Remember the 10” minimum requirement for the smaller side of your work and the 48” limit on the planned frame dimension.

4. Select APPLY TO CALLS and search for 2023 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition

Enter the information in the form, selecting the image or images from your already uploaded portfolio.

5. Pay the entry fee via CaFÉ-provided options

Note:  CaFÉ will not permit any image changes, replacements or refunds after submission.

Eligibility Criteria

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