Days remaining to deadline: 85
Entry Fee (Entry Fee): $25.00
Media Fee(Additional Image Fee): $5.00
Images | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 4
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 4
Eligibility: National
State: Kansas
Event Dates: 8/1/25 - 9/27/25
The 2025 National Watercolor Exhibition is open to all artists living and working in the United States, both amateur and professional. Watercolorist Paul Jackson of Missouri will serve as this year’s exhibition juror. The exhibition will be on view from August 1-September 27, 2025, in the Gladys and Karl T. Wiedemann Gallery at Mark Arts in Wichita, KS.
AWARDS
Mark Arts is proud to offer enticing cash awards to attract leading artists from across the country. $3,000 in Cash Awards will be awarded, including $1,500 for first place.
JUROR | PAUL JACKSON, AWS-DF, NWS
A prolific artist and ambitious world traveler, Paul Jackson is one of today's most versatile and visible contemporary watercolorists. He discovered his passion for watercolor at Mississippi State University where he earned a BFA in 1989, and he received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1992. Paul is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society and was recently honored with the Dolphin Fellowship, the highest honor in watercolor. He is also a Signature member of the National Watercolor Society and an Honor Member of the Missouri Watercolor Society. Paul has been featured in numerous publications, media outlets, exhibitions, and was Grand Prize winner in the Paint Your Way to Paris competition. He was the featured speaker at the International Watercolor Masters Invitational in Lushan, China in 2008, served as the juror for American Watercolor Society’s 142nd annual international exhibition in 2009, and was the only American artist invited to the International Art Meet in Kolkata, India, in 2011. Whether his subject is landscape, cityscape, portrait, architecture, still life or abstract, Paul captivates his audience with genuine emotion, intensity and finesse that energize each of his creations.
JUDGING
All entries will be judged from digital images submitted through CaFE Entry or by digital photography submitted with paper form. If upon delivery, an accepted artwork is found to have been misrepresented it may be disqualified. Award winners will be selected by the juror and all decisions are final.
CALENDAR
Friday, May 23: Mailed entries must be post marked
Friday, May 30: Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. CST; mailed entries must be received by this date to be judged
Friday, June 13: Result notification email sent
Friday, July 11: Deadline for receipt of shipped artwork
Friday, August 1: Opening Reception from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with remarks and award announcement
Saturday, September 27: Exhibition concludes
Tuesday, September 30: Hand-delivered artwork picked up
*Please note artwork will not be available for pick up before this date
Friday, October 17: Shipped artwork returned
CATALOG
Mark Arts publishes an illustrated catalog with all accepted entries. A complimentary copy will be mailed to each accepted artist at the conclusion of the exhibition.
Application Requirements
MEDIA LIMITATIONS
Only original paintings in water media on paper are acceptable. Each entry must be wholly designed and executed by the artist. No computer-generated images accepted. Your source material must be your own design or your own photograph. You may not use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to create reference material or any portion of your artwork. Prints, copies, photolithographic or computer-generated artwork are not eligible. Collage elements must be less than 10% and comprised of water media on paper. Minimum image size is 8 x 10 inches. All artworks must be display-ready with display hardware included.
Eligibility Criteria
ELIGIBILITY
Mark Arts encourages artists of diverse backgrounds and perspectives to submit work for consideration. The exhibition is open to all artists living and working in the United States, both amateur and professional. Work must be ready to exhibit, created in the past two years, and not previously exhibited in Wichita, KS. Each artist may enter up to four pieces. Artwork should promote an environment conducive to welcoming all audiences to Mark Arts, including school tours and community outreach programs. All artworks must be for sale.