Call Detail
Call Overview
Application Closed
Entry Fee (Entry Fee): $50.00
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 3
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 3
Eligibility: National
State: Texas
Event Dates: 8/25/25 - 9/27/25
Call Description
PROSPECTUS
62nd Annual Membership Exhibition Southwestern Watercolor Society
The Southwestern Watercolor Society (SWS) is a prestigious national organization celebrating its 62nd anniversary with over 500 members throughout the United States. Information about SWS may be found on our website at SWSwatercolor.org, including a monthly newsletter, and on Facebook.
Click here to download Prospectus
Key Information:
| Venue | Greater Denton Arts Council, Meadows Gallery, 400 E. Hickory Street, Denton, TX 76201 | |
| Qualified Entrants | SWS members only; new members are welcome | Section I below |
| Online Entry Fees | $50 for up to three artworks | Section II below |
| Juror | Iain Stewart, AWS, NWS | Section III below |
| Awards | Over $6,000 in cash and merchandise credits | Section IV below |
| Exhibition Sales | Commission of 30% on sales | Section VIII below |
Important Dates:
Entries Accepted | May 1 - June 30
Entry Deadline | June 30, 11:59pm Central Time
Accepted Artists Posted | July 14
Shipped Art Due | August 11-16
Painting Drop-Off | August 16
Exhibition Dates | August 25 - September 27
Section I: Eligibility:
The SWS Annual Membership Exhibition is open to all SWS members in good standing. (Membership in SWS also confers eligibility to enter the Western Federation of Watercolor Society’s (WFWS) Annual Exhibition in 2026.) Current membership dues for 2025-2026 must be paid no later than the close of the exhibition call for entries, June 30, 2025.
- New Member Sign-Up: go to SWSwatercolor.org > JOIN
- Membership dues may be paid by Credit Card, online, as the last step of Sign-Up
- Already a member: go to SWSwatercolor.org > MEMBER LOGIN
- You can verify your membership or pay dues to renew your membership
Section II: Entry Fees and Registration:
The non-refundable entry fee is $50 for up to three entries.
The entry fee must be paid online through the call for entry (CaFÉ) website Callforentry.org. Applying is a three-stage process:
- Upload your paintings at My Portfolio
- Apply to the SWS Annual Membership Exhibition at Apply to Calls
- Complete and pay the entry fee at Checkout
Image Requirements:
- Digital image submission should show the painted image only, not the mat or the frame.
- Only a JPEG or JPG format is permitted, with an image size of under 5 MB, and a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side.
- For complete specifications, tutorials and resources, please go to the CaFÉ Help/Uploading Media menu. For further technical support, please call CaFÉ support at 303-629-1166.
III. Juror of Selection and Awards – Iain Stewart, AWS, NWS
Judge and Juror Iain Stewart, a distinguished watercolorist, is widely celebrated for his mastery of the medium’s delicate interplay of light and color. With over three decades of experience, Iain's works have been featured in numerous national and international exhibitions. His expertise spans a range of subjects, from captivating landscapes to intricate still lifes, and he is known for his ability to create rich, atmospheric compositions using transparent washes. Trained as an architect, Iain approaches the design of his paintings with a similar sensibility. He says “I feel that I need to communicate the vernacular of place in a way that is deeply meaningful to me. I embrace the dialogue between the real and imagined - seeking a way to allow myself to express my personal feeling being in a certain setting rather than being confined by the reality of it. That ebb and flow, the back and forth, are what I find important and are my motivation for all of my work.
As the juror for the SWS 62nd Annual Member Exhibition, Iain brings a wealth of knowledge and a refined eye for technical execution. His broad experience in both creating and curating artworks makes him a thoughtful and discerning judge. Iain’s ability to see beyond the surface will make for an insightful and inspiring selection process. To learn more about Iain Stewart, go to www.stewartwatercolors.com
Section IV. Awards:
Over $6,000 in cash and merchandise will be awarded at the discretion of the Juror,
including:
Naomi Brotherton Best of Show $1,500
Edgar A. Whitney Transparent Watercolor Award $1,000
1st Place Award $750
2nd Place Award $600
3rd Place Award $500
Lou Bono Memorial Award $500
Joel Sampson Memorial Award $500
Additional cash and merchandise awards will be given.
Section V. Requirements and Restrictions - Please Pay Close Attention:
| Artwork | Artists may enter up to three paintings, but no more than one entry per artist may be accepted into the show. |
| Artwork must have been painted after January 1, 2023. | |
| Original artwork only. (Definition of Originality: From concept to execution, this ‘original’ painting is strictly my own composition, and was not produced under direct instruction. If the painting is made from a photo reference, the photo must have been taken by you.) | |
| No AI (Artificial Intelligence) is allowed to create reference material or any portion of the artwork. | |
| No digital media, photography, prints or reproductions may be a physical part of the painting. | |
| No diptychs or triptychs will be accepted. | |
| No paintings of nudes will be accepted. | |
| Entries received after the drop-off or shipped-art deadlines will not be accepted. | |
| Works previously hung in an SWS or WFWS exhibition are not permitted. Works which have won an award in a National exhibition, are not permitted. | |
| Once artwork has been submitted via CaFE, no additional changes can be made. | |
| Substrates | Only paper or Yupo are permitted. |
| Mediums | Watercolor and acrylic paints, inks, gouache, casein, egg tempera, watercolor pencils, and watercolor crayons are permitted. |
| Collage | Collage materials must be painted with water media by the artist. Collage build-ups must not be greater than the thickness of the collage paper and must not exceed ¼-inch. |
| Minimum Image Size | The minimum image size permitted is 100 inches squared (h x w), without mat or frame, e.g., 10” x10”. |
| Maximum Outside Framed Size | The maximum permitted outside framed size is 42 inches in either direction. |
Frames
| All paintings must be framed. No stretcher wraps without frames will be accepted. Simple frames are encouraged. Damaged frames will not be hung and the artwork will be disqualified from being shown. |
| Framed works must be wired, ready to hang, with backing. No saw-toothed hangers will be accepted. Please use D-rings instead of screw eyes. |
| Unvarnished Artwork | Unvarnished artwork must be framed and matted and under clear, unscratched plexiglass. Glass will not be accepted or hung. |
| Mats | Only single mats will be accepted, in white or off-white. Colored or beige mats will not be accepted. Mats must be clean without blemishes or damage. |
Varnished Artwork
| Artwork may be sealed with varnish or cold wax in lieu of plexiglass. Sealed work must be free of lint, hair, debris, haziness, or visible brush strokes. |
| A mat is not required for sealed artwork. However, if a sealed painting is matted and not protected by plexiglass, the mat must also be sealed. |
Section VI. Delivery of Accepted Paintings:
Drop-Off - Local artists are responsible for promptly dropping off hand-delivered artwork to the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Saturday, August 16, 2025 only.
Pick-Up - Local artists are responsible for promptly picking up hand-delivered artwork from the Greater Denton Arts Council Patterson-Appleton Arts Center between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 28, 2025 only. SWS and the Greater Denton Arts Council are not responsible for the secure storage of hand-delivered art not picked up during these times. Exhibited works may be picked by someone other than the artist, ONLY with a written signed permission of the artist.
Shipped Art - Remote accepted artists must:
- Email Monica Austin at exhibitions@SWSwatercolor.org of their intention to ship their artwork, enabling her to keep close track of arrivals.
- Ship their art via FedEx or UPS (or other preferred shipper) directly to:
GDAC - SWS Exhibition
ATTN: Caitlin Spencer
400 E. Hickory Street
Denton, TX 76201
- Do NOT use packing peanuts or loose styrofoam bits to protect your art during transit.
- We recommend the use of AirFloat shipping boxes, as they are robust for shipping, straightforward to pack and return, and reusable for many future events.
- Ensure that the art is received between Monday, August 11, 2025 and Saturday, August 16, 2025. SWS will store the paintings until they are hung. Further shipping instructions will be sent with your acceptance email.
- A pre-paid return shipping label must also be included with the shipped art.
Liability - Although SWS will exercise due care in the handling of artwork submitted to this exhibition, you are encouraged to insure your art when shipping for your own protection. Neither SWS nor the Greater Denton Arts Council will be responsible for any loss or damage to your artwork. You are responsible for insuring your painting.
Section VII. GDAC - Meadows Gallery Hours:
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed (special exception for our opening day)
Tuesday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Section VIII: Art Sales and Pricing:
Greater Denton Arts Council withholds 30% commission on sales, and charges sales tax on the final sale. Please price entries accordingly. Artists may choose to enter a $0.00 sales price in CaFÉ for paintings that are Not for Sale (NFS). No price changes will be admissible after acceptance into the show. Any price changes made after acceptance will disqualify the painting and it will be removed from the show. Receipt of payment and delivery of the art to the purchaser is the responsibility of Greater Denton Arts Council.
Section IX: Accepted Paintings and Signature Membership:
Notification - Artists will receive email confirmation of works accepted or not accepted into the Exhibition by Monday, July 14, 2025.
Use of Images - Acceptance into the Annual Membership Exhibition gives SWS the right to use images of your artwork for promotional purposes. Digital archives of accepted entries will be retained by SWS for the exhibition catalog, printed materials, the website, and for our permanent collection.
Signature Membership - SWS Signature Membership is earned by having five different paintings accepted into SWS- or WFWS-sponsored exhibitions.
Section X: Disqualifications and Rights of Refusal:
Artwork that does not meet the Prospectus specifications or differs at all from the CaFÉ image submitted, as determined by the SWS Standards Committee, will be disqualified. SWS reserves the right to refuse any entry. Art will be returned to the artist at the conclusion of the show, alongside the other paintings being exhibited. Accepted artworks must be presented for hanging and judging, and hang in the show for the duration of the show.
Failure to meet ANY of the Prospectus specifications will result in the disqualification of your entry and the ineligibility to enter future SWS exhibitions for one (1) year and the forfeiture of any awards.
Section XI: If You Need Assistance:
Questions regarding the Exhibition and entry may be emailed to Monica Austin, Exhibition Chair, Exhibitions@swswatercolor.org
For technical support with the on-line entry process, call CaFÉ support at 303-629-1166 or go online at Callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/.
Section XII. AGREEMENT:
Entering this exhibition shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to accept all rules and conditions as set forth in this Prospectus.
Application Requirements
Please review artwork requirements and restrictions in Section V.
Eligibility Criteria
The SWS Annual Membership Exhibition is open to all SWS members in good standing. See Section I.