Call Description

PROSPECTUS
2024 MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION

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

CALENDAR

• Exhibition: Oct 10, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026
• Entries accepted:  June 6, 2025 - Aug 6, 2025
• Notification to artists: Aug 29, 2025
• Receipt of accepted work:  Oct 6, 2025 10AM - 1:30PM
• Joel Popadics workshop in Columbia, Maryland:  Oct 7-9, 2025 (details will be on the BWS website as they become known)
• Reception and awards presentation: Nov 9, 2025, 1:30pm-3:30pm

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

• $45 for nonmembers
• $30 for BWS members using coupon code
• $20 for BWS student members using coupon code
• $5 optional donation to the production of the online and paper catalogs

A PDF version of the exhibition catalog will be sent to all entrants.  BWS members have an ongoing annual option to receive paper versions of the catalog.  Non-members 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 $1,750
Silver Medal $1,450
Bronze Medal $1,250
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 $18,000 in cash, gift certificates and merchandise. 

In addition to the standard awards determined by the exhibition juror, BWS will award an Artists’ Choice prize to the artist receiving the most online votes among BWS members and exhibition applicants.

JUROR OF SELECTION AND AWARDS
We are excited to announce Joel Popadics (AWS, ASMA) as the juror and workshop instructor for the BWS 2025 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition. 

Joel Popadics’ paintings have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in galleries and museums across the United States, including the National Academy of Design in NYC; the San Francisco and the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT.  His paintings are in public and private collections most notably, the Art for Healing Program at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, NJ and the United Methodist Church in Ridgewood, NJ.  Mr. Popadics is the recipient of numerous national awards and has been featured many times in American Artist, The Artist’s Magazine, Watercolor Artist, and Watercolor Magic magazines. 

Popadics is an advocate of watercolor and has dedicated his career to the advancement and appreciation of the medium. He is President of the prestigious American Watercolor Society (AWS) in New York City and a Past-President of the New Jersey Water Color Society.

He received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York. He resides in Wayne, NJ with his wife Patricia and their two sons. For more information about Joel and his art, visit his website at: www.watercolorpop.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 (or 16 years of age or older for BWS student members).

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 or set up and and taken under the sole direction of the artist. Use of archival or family photographic references is permitted for purposes of achieving likeness or historical context, provided that compositions are those of the artist, not the photographer.

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.  For safety reasons, the total weight for framed paintings must not exceed 35 lbs. 

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 August 29, 2025 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 6 (10AM-1:30PM), 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 Oct 2 or 3, 2025.

Unsold artworks must be picked up Jan 12, 2026 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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