2024 NATIONAL WATERCOLOR SOCIETY 104th  INTERNATIONAL OPEN EXHIBITION
AWARDS:  Estimate $40,000+ in Cash and Merchandise includes NWS $5,000 (Cash) Permanent Collection Purchase Award.

Acceptance is one count toward NWS Signature status and qualifies you for Signature Review.

Entry Fee:  $45 NWS Members (click here for Promo/Coupon Code) / $70 Non Members  

Click here for PROSPECTUS                                                               

Exhibition Dates: October 1, 2024 – November 3, 2024 

April 1- May 31, 2024        Entries accepted at www.callforentry.org 
Friday, May 31, 2024         Entry deadline – 12:00 NOON, Pacific Time
July 2, 2024                       List of accepted artists posted on NWS website 
July 31, 2024                     Deadline for shipped artwork to be received

Sat, Oct 12, 2024              Awards/Reception at NWS Gallery (by invitation)                                            

JURORS OF SELECTION: 
Juror: Keiko Tanabe  https://www.KTanabefineart.com
Mostly self-taught, Keiko embarked on a professional art career in 2005. Since then, her paintings have been in many national and international exhibitions, both juried and invitational, and gained world-wide recognitions. She also had her paintings featured in leading art magazines and a number of publications in the U.S., Europe and Asia. A sought-after workshop instructor and a juror, she has conducted numerous workshops and frequently served as an art exhibition juror around the world. 

Juror: Mary Ann Beckwith  https://maryannbeckwith.org
Mary Ann Beckwith is a painter & teacher with a passion for both.  A Professor of Art Emeritus at Michigan Technological University, she has twice been the recipient of the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award.  She is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Allied Artists, Watercolor Honor Society, International Society of Experimental Artists (Nautilus Fellow), Society of Layerists in Multimedia, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, as well as the many more. She has served on the boards of many societies and judged numerous exhibits. 

Juror: Joanna Barnum  https://www.joannabarnum.com
Joanna Barnum is an accomplished fine artist from Maryland. With a focus on emotional portraits and moody landscapes, her signature technique includes the innovative use of masking fluid to splice and layer imagery in watercolor. Joanna has been included in numerous NWS Exhibitions, AWS Exhibitions and traveling show, Fallbrook’s Signature Exhibitions, and the Springfield Art Museum's Watercolor USA. She has also exhibited with Rehs Contemporary Gallery, Abend Gallery, and IX Arts. Her work is in the corporate collection of Ten Percent Happier and selected for the James Webb Space Telescope Artist Project with NASA Goddard. Joanna has taught and judged regionally and nationally.

JUDGE OF AWARDS:  Gordon McClelland  Click here for Gordon McClelland                             Gordon T. McClelland is an author, art historian and artist. He has also curated art exhibitions in America and Europe since the early 1970’s. In addition, he has authored or co-authored over 22 books and catalogs that link California art and California’s social history. Most recently Gordon curated: California Water Color Society (CWCS) - the first fifty years now on display at the Hilbert Museum in Orange, California.

 General Questions about the exhibition and entry contact
Annie Strack, NWS Director of Exhibitions at Exhibition@NationalWatercolorSociety.org

ARTWORK REQUIREMENT: 

1. Artists must be 18 years or older.
2. Each artist may enter one (1) painting into the exhibition.
3. All entries must have been created after 1/1/2022.
4. Paintings previously exhibited in any National or International Open Exhibition, including NWS Member Exhibits, are not eligible.
5. Painting must be watermedia paintings on natural or synthetic paper, Yupo, Aquabord and Claybord must be framed. No stretched canvas or canvas board. Collage may be used but aqueous medium must constitute 80% or more of the work. All collage materials must be original designs executed on watermedia paper by the artist.
6. Other media, if used, must be in conjunction with the water media, which must be dominant.
7. Digital media, photography, prints, reproductions, diptychs or triptychs are not permitted.
8. Your entry must be original and not derived from published images; artist's own idea, composition, and design (not computer generated), nor done in a class. Photo reference material must have been taken by you.
9. Painting must be at least 5" x 7" minimum. Maximum size is 40" on the longest dimension.
10. All accepted artists are required to ship their paintings.

SUBMISSION: Artwork can only be submitted online via CaFE.  If you do not already have an account,  click here  to create your free account. (CaFE Specs / file type-jpeg or jpg / 1200 pixels or greater on longest side / max 5MB). Images must be cropped to exclude mat, frame and any background. 

FEES, SALES AND LIABILITY: 

1. The non-refundable entry fee is $45 for NWS active members and $70 for non-members. Members must go to the MEMBERS ONLY page of the NWS website to get the discount code for members.  Click here for link. Overpayment of any fee will be considered a donation and will not be refunded (without  exceptions).
2. A Non-Member may join as an Associate Member by paying the $60 annual dues BEFORE entering. To join or pay dues before entering at https://nationalwatercolorsociety.org
3. All work must be for sale and there are no price changes after entry. Your price should reflect the cost of frame. NWS is responsible for all sales and will retain a 30% commission. Also, NWS is due a 30% commission on “presold” paintings-those sold before the exhibition opens.
4. Purchase Award recipients must ship framed artwork to the Donor (price accordingly / shipped within USA).
5. Attention International Artists:  NWS wants to make sure you receive all proceeds, including awards.  NWS will provide all documents and tax forms necessary.
6. NWS and its representatives will take the utmost care; but are not responsible for misrepresentation.
7. Monetary awards remaining unclaimed by 12/01/2024 will be forfeited.

** Click here for CAFÉ Tips – including how to find and enter Promo/Discount Code for Members Discount. The Code must be entered prior to checkout.  Can not be submitted afterwards; no refunds. Need help; contact Exhibition Director before paying.

NWS SIGNATURE STATUS INFORMATION:

NWS Associate members and non-members who are juried into this exhibition shall be invited to apply for Signature Membership. NWS By-Laws, Article III, Section 3.01 (A) (B) state that: 

1. Associate and Non-members shall submit three (3) additional paintings, to be viewed by the members of the Jury of Selections; at a time to be set by the Board of Directors.  The Jurors of Selection will make the decision regarding granting Signature Membership.
2. Associates and Non-members shall submit a signed application for Signature Member status providing evidence that he or she has had three (3) paintings accepted and exhibited in the NWS International Open Exhibitions.  Acceptance in the NWS Membership Exhibitions and any other NWS Exhibitions shall not be considered for such application.

Tutorial for Signature Applicants will be Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 at 8:00 AM (Pacific Time) via Zoom.

For general questions about the exhibition and/or entry, contact:
Annie Strack at Exhibition@NationalWatercolorSociety.org

Please submit early, so we can assist you with any technical issues that may arise in the entry process. 

Artists are responsible for monitoring their emails and the NWS website for postings. 

Application Requirements

Artwork previously exhibited in any National or International Open Exhibition including NWS Member Exhibition is not eligible.  Please thoroughly read the prospectus. 

Eligibility Criteria

Refer to Artwork Requirements.