Georgia Watercolor Society 46th National Juried Exhibition 

First prize $2K - ANTICIPATED $10K IN AWARDS!

Entry fee for up to three images: $35 for Members / $60 for Non-Members. Click here to JOIN OR RENEW MEMBERSHIP.  To request your member discount, please email georgiawatercolorsociety@gmail.com

Juror: Ryan Fox

Click here for more information about Ryan Fox Workshop

This will be an in-person exhibition held at the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta Georgia. Located on the Riverwalk in historic downtown Augusta, the Morris Museum of Art is the oldest museum in the country that is specifically devoted to the art and artists of the American South, and it is noted for its multifaceted permanent collection of 5,000 works of art and a rich variety of continually changing special exhibitions and public programs. The Morris is dedicated to the continued interpretation of the culture of the South in all its forms. The Morris Museum https://www.themorris.org

Augusta is the hometown of the Masters, one of the four major golf tournaments, along with the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship, The Masters is held on the second week of April and attracts visitors from all over the world. Georgia Watercolor Society 46th national exhibition will be open during the Masters, affording the artists a great opportunity to have their artwork viewed by a select audience of visitors to the city of Augusta.

 Important dates (2025) :

January 8 - Deadline to receive entries

January 17 – Accepted artists are published on GWS website and GWS FB page

February 17-21- Shipped work must arrive at Morris Museum of Art

February 22 - Hand delivery of work between 11 am and 2 pm

March 6 - Exhibition opens

March 19-21 – Ryan Fox workshop

March 22 – Ryan Fox demo and Award Ceremony

June 26 - Exhibition closes

June 28 - In person pick up of paintings between 11 am and 2 pm

June 30 - Shipped works will be mailed out

For a complete description of requirements please click here to download the entire prospectus https://georgiawatercolorsociety.com/new-page-75

If your painting is accepted, you will be required to sign a disclaimer form affirming that your work is not a copy or likeness of another’s work and that it is your original work from conception to completion without supervision, and that you comply with all rules stipulated in the prospectus. See FAQs for more information: GWS FAQ’s

Online Requirements 

You will need the following information for each painting entered:

•           Title of the painting

•           Size of painting in inches (height x width, i.e., 22” h x 30” w)

•           Selling price or NFS (Not for Sale)

You will need a digital .jpg image of each painting saved on your computer per these instructions:

•           Image resolution 300 dpi

•           Image is 1800 pixels on the longer side

•           File size less than 3.0 Mb

•           Image submitted must include ONLY the artwork. Do not include framework or surroundings.

•           Filename includes the artist’s name (last,first), title, size of image(height x width), city, state and price. Each item is separated by underscore. Example: Smith,John_SunsetAtParis_21hx16w_MilledgevilleGA_$500

•           Payment online can be made via PayPal or credit card.

If you have trouble with the online payment, please notify Entry Exhibition Chair (vivianevangiesen@gmail.com) and send a check to:

Georgia Watercolor Society Treasurer

Peter Evans

116 Laurel Overlook

Canton GA 30114

OR send your PayPal payment directly to georgiawatercolorsociety@gmail.com and indicate that it is for the Exhibition Entry.

Acceptance Notification
On January 17, 2025 a list of paintings and artists that have been accepted into the show will be posted at: GWS Website and on GWS Facebook. In addition, the accepted artists will receive an email from Café. Please mark your calendars!

Sales of artwork

•           There will be a charge of 40% commission on all sales with 30% going to Morris Museum of Art and 10% to GWS. Please price your paintings accordingly.  Paintings not for sale must be marked NFS on the entry form.

Application Requirements

• All work must have been completed after January 1, 2023
• All work must be original from conception to completion. Submitted artwork may not be a copy, likeness, or direct derivative of another person's creative work including paintings, drawings, photography, digital images or prints.  Work done in a workshop or under classroom supervision is not permitted.
• Allowed water media: watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, egg tempera, water-soluble ink, and batik using watermedia along with wax resist on paper.
• Watercolor crayons and pencils are accepted if part of it is dissolved in water.
• Collage is accepted only if all elements were made using water media and created by the artist.
• Preprinted or computer-generated images are NOT ACCEPTED.
• Allowed surface: paper, Yupo, watercolor canvas, canvas, Claybord, rice paper, and Tyvek.
• Media NOT allowed: pastels, charcoal, alcohol ink, oil, and water-soluble oil.
• Work previously exhibited, or modified after being exhibited in any GWS show is NOT ACCEPTED.
• Submitted artwork may not be a copy, likeness, or direct derivative of the artist's previously juried and/or published creative work, either in GWS or other exhibitions/competitions.
• See FAQs for more information: GWS FAQ’s

 Presentation

•           All paintings are to be framed in wood or metal; accepted colors include gold, silver, black, brown, white or natural wood tones.  Cradled Clayboard is not required to be framed; all other paintings require framing, including canvas.

•           Frames are to be plain, unadorned with no beading, with a smooth finish and no distressed finish,and must not exceed 3” in width. They must be ready for hanging with wire in place.

•           Plexiglass must be used – NO GLASS.

•           Work may be varnished or waxed before framing (varnished/waxed paintings do not require plexiglass or paper mat).

•           If you want to use a paper mat with a varnished/waxed painting you must protect it with plexiglass.

•           Maximum frame size may not exceed 40” in either direction.

•           Image size displayed within the mat is no smaller than 80 square inches, with no side smaller than 8 inches.

•           Mats (double or single) must be only white or variations of white (e.g. cream or off-white) with no accent colors, in untextured paper.

•           The mat contains one single opening.

•           Diptychs or triptychs are not accepted.

•           Improperly framed pieces or those unsuitable for hanging will be returned.  In case the frame is unacceptable, GWS will call the artist to ask if he/she agrees to pay to service the frame.

•           Any painting submitted in violation of these presentation rules, at the discretion of the GWS board may either be rejected from the exhibition, or allowed to stay in the exhibition but not eligible for any awards.

Packaging & Delivery/Shipping

Shipping Artwork 

•           SHIP ONLY VIA UPS OR FEDEX TO:

Morris Museum of Art

1 Tenth Street

Augusta, GA 30901

706-724-7501

•           To avoid handling fees, you must use only a TOP LOADING box such as Airfloat Strongbox, or Masterpack TitanStrongBox, or Uline Deluxe Artwork Shipper. SIDE LOADING BOXES MUST INCLUDE $50.00 HANDLING FEE.

•           Attach a photo of the painting inside the box so that it is visible when repacking. This will help ensure that the correct painting is returned to you.

•           Wood or metal crates will not be accepted.

•           Packages sent with popcorn or packing peanuts will be returned and not be displayed.

•           Paintings must be shipped to arrive at the center between February 17 – 21, 2025.

•           IMPORTANT: A prepaid return shipping label must be enclosed. Do not include shipping labels that contain a booklet of carbon copies. It must be a self-adhesive label or a printed label on a single piece of paper.

•           Handling fee is only charged if you don’t use the boxes specified above. If you choose to use a side-loading box, please include a $50.00 check made to GWS inside your box. Improper packaging may result in damaged, returned or unopened shipments. 

Hand-delivered Artwork

Hand-delivered paintings must arrive on Saturday, February 22, 2025 between 11 am and 2 pm, at: 

Morris Museum of Art

1 Tenth Street

Augusta, GA 30901

706-724-7501

•           Pick-up is Saturday, June 28, 2025 between 11 am and 2 pm. No early or late pick-ups allowed.

Eligibility Criteria

•           All work must be original from conception to completion. Submitted artwork may not be a copy, likeness, or direct derivative of another person's creative work including paintings, drawings, photography, digital images, or prints.  Work done in a workshop or under classroom supervision is not permitted.

•           All work must abide by the rules stated on this Application.