Call Description

ELIGIBILITY

Artists participating in the juried competition must be a current 2026 member of the Southern Watercolor Society and reside in the United States. Members in good standing who have moved from the United States remain eligible. Dues are $30.00 and must be paid online at www.southernwatercolorsociety.org before entering this exhibition. If you are a current member, the application fee for 1 Entry is $35 and the 2nd Entry is an additional $10.

___1. Paintings must be original in composition / design and not copies of other artists’ work, including photographs by people other than the artist. No AI assisted images. Paintings started or completed under supervision in a workshop or class are not eligible to enter.

___2. Paintings are limited to water-based media that can be diluted and manipulated with water, such as; acrylic, gouache, casein, egg tempera, watercolor paints, water based metallics, water-soluble ink, watercolor pencil, watercolor crayons. (No water-soluble oil, pastel products, textured OR thickly layered mediums).

___3. Substrates can be watercolor papers of any tint, illustration board, watercolor board, canvas, Claybord/ Aquabord, Yupo or other synthetic paper.

___4. Collage is acceptable if it consists only of paper painted by the artist to include White tissue paper/rice paper/ handmade paper/mineral paper. (No newsprint, photos, digital images, giclée, 3-D objects, gold leaf or metal).

___5. Minimum image size 140 square inches. Maximum Outside Frame Size is 44” in either direction.

___6. All works must have been completed in the last 5 years (2021) and have not been accepted into previous SW exhibitions.

ONLINE ENTRIES:

All entries will be submitted online through www.callforentry.org CAFÉ (Call for Entry). A link to the application is also found at www.southernwatercolorsociety.org. For assistance you may call 303-629-1166 to speak to a CAFÉ Technical Assistance Monday thru Friday, 8:30—5:30 MT. Submissions will close at NOON EST on the last day of submissions.

ENTRY PROCEDURES

___Pay Membership before entering if you are a new member, or renewing member on SW Website.

___First, prepare your images for uploading.

___Set up or log into your account with CAFÉ.

___Go to My Profile to verify your contact information is correct.

___Go to My Portfolio and upload your images.

___Go to Apply to Calls and type in on the blank entry line under Call Listings: Southern Watercolor Society's 49th Watermedia Exhibition 2026.

___Read the Prospectus, then select Apply Now to complete the application.

___Preview your application before paying the application fee.

Questions about the prospectus, contact: email: micheletaborkimbrough@gmail.com or Phone: 850-557-0655 .

IMAGE SUBMISSION

Artists with dues paid may submit up to two painting images. No more than one painting per entrant is selected for this exhibition. Acceptance into three exhibitions earns Artist Signature Membership (SW). Acceptance into ten exhibitions earns Life Membership (LM pays no dues).

JPEG IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS:

File Type: JPEG or JPG

File Dimensions: 1200 pixels or greater on the longest side. File Size: Under 5MB

File Name: Artwork Title (Blowing Bubbles) Crop out all matting.

Correctly orient the image as viewed, vertically or horizontally

SW reserves the right to reject any juried painting that is noticeably different from the JPEG image or does not comply

with entry specifications.

 PRESENTATION CHECKLIST

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in return and/or disqualification. SW reserves the right to refuse any work for unacceptable quality. For example: improper framing, damage caused by shipment, matting with fingerprints, pet hair, or smudges, and plexiglass is overly filthy, such as, splatters of something all over it and obvious nicking that affect the viewing of the artwork.

IMAGE

___Painting image a minimum of 140 sq. in., as viewed within the mat opening or frame opening. An image painted exactly to the edge of 140 sq. in. (e.g. 10x14) paper can be floated within a larger mat opening.

FRAMING

___Maximum overall width of frame cannot exceed 44” x44”.

___Artwork must be ready to hang, which includes d-straps with wire. No sawtooth hangers, screw eyes, string, fishing line, or other wire substitutes. MUST tape the ends of hanging wire.

MOLDING

___Molding maximum width of 2”.

___Simple, smooth, flat profile in undecorated metal or wood.

___Color must be Black, White, Gold, Silver, or Natural Wood.

CANVAS/AQUABORD

___Canvas must be gallery wrapped with no staples on the side and either painted on the side or framed.

___Claybord/Aquabord with no cradle (wood side) must be framed. With a cradle, it must not remain as raw wood.

GLAZING

___If required for your work, it must be protected with Plexiglas or an acrylic glazing sheet. No Glass Allowed.

___Paintings that are varnished or waxed do not require Plexiglas or acrylic glazing sheet.

MAT BOARD

___If required for your work, White or Off-White matting.

ARTIST BIO & PHOTO

___Provide a 1 page biography/artist statement. Photos allowed. These will be available to the public to view.

ARTIST’S AGREEMENT: (IMPORTANT)

Submission of the entry shall serve as an agreement by the artist that all conditions in this prospectus have been met. SW reserves the right to refuse, upon arrival, any painting of unacceptable quality or damaged in shipment. A painting that does not match the submitted digital image or doesn’t meet the presentation guidelines of this prospectus will be returned. Any SW member who attempts to influence, intimidate and/or harass a judge, exhibitor, Board member, or exhibition committee member can be banned from the current show and from future entry into SW exhibitions by a vote of the Board. The ju- ror’s decision will be final for the accepted paintings as will be the judge’s decision for awards. The Southern Watercolor Society (SW) and its officers and the Gadsden Art Center & Museum (GACM) and its representatives and employees are released and discharged of any and all claims made by damage or loss of the painting while in the possession of SW or GACM. Each artist must carry his/her own insurance for shipping and/or damage during the exhibit. Images of selected art will be used in the SW catalog, for publicity, for educational purposes and on the organizations’ websites at the discretion of the SW Board. No work accepted for the SW Annual Exhibition may be withdrawn prior to the closure of the exhibit. Suspension of membership privileges for one year will be enforced for the following:

1. Failure to submit an accepted painting.

2. Painting is not original

3. Submission of artwork other than the one that was juried into the SW Exhibition

4. Submission of a painting already accepted in a previous SW show.

ACCEPT/DECLINE

It is your responsibility to check CAFÉ whether you receive an email or not. Go to your My Entries page, then go to the Accept/Decline Status and select “Accept” for the Southern Watercolor Society’s 49th Watermedia Exhibition. If you decline, you will receive a 1-year suspension.  Once you accept, look further at the right and select payments to pay the Handling Fee of $40.

SHIPPING CHECKLIST:

___1. Accepted paintings must be shipped in a reusable fine art shipping box via UPS or FedEx including PREPAID return shipping labels. Return labels must include a bar code. NO Will Call Return Labels.

___2. Shipping artwork in Airfloat, U-LINE or Master Pack boxes is Mandatory. NO other shipping containers are acceptable. No taped-up packing material around the artwork. NO wooden boxes. NO screws or nails. NO peanuts. (Imagine if you had to unpack and repack your painting 100 times in one day.)

___3. Print your name boldly on the outer flap for easy recognition for packing.

___4. Place a copy of your accepted image on the inside lid of your shipping box.

___5. Ship to: 

Gadsden Arts Center & Museum

C/ Ashley Williams

13 N Madison St.

Quincy, FL 32351

49th WATERMEDIA EXHIBITION CALENDAR 2026:

This exhibition will hang at Gadsden Arts Center & Museum (GACM) February 20—Apr 25, 2026

Entries Open:  October 20, 2025

Entries Closed:  December 1, 2025

Jury Selection:    December 5, 2025 

Acceptance/Declined Notice:    December 15, 2025 via CAFÉ

Acceptance Complete thru Café:   December 19, 2025 

Handling Fee Complete thru Café:   December 19, 2025

Shipped Artwork:  MUST ARRIVE BETWEEN January 27-30, 2026

Hand Delivered Artwork:  February 3, 2026 (10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)

Juror’s Award Selection:  February 18, 2026

Directors Circle Preview:  February 19 (By Invitation Only)

WORKSHOP:  February 19, 20, and 21st from 10-5

EXHIBITION DATES:  February 20, - April 25, 2026

Reception and Awards:  February 20, 2026 (5-7 p.m.)

Members Annual Breakfast:    February 21, 2026 (9:30—10 a.m.)

Pick-up Hand Delivered Work:    Apr 28, 2026 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Works packed for shipping:  Apr 29 - May 1, 2026

AWARDS

Cash Awards and merchandise awards will exceed $10,000 this year. Best of Show - $2000, Platinum - $1,750, Gold - $1,500, Silver, Bronze - $1000, Georg Shook Memorial $500, Charles & Alberta Lasham Memorial $500, Sapphire - $450, and Reciprocal awards by other watercolor society’s averaging $250 each.

CONTACTS

Prospectus Questions: MicheleTaborKimbrough@gmail.com or 850-557-0655

Workshop Questions:   Don Taylor, dltaylor215@gmail.com, 850-215-9424

GACM: Ashley Williams, Ashley.williams@gadsdenarts.com, 850-627-5021, www.gadsdenarts.org

JUROR / WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR

Iain Stewart AWS, NWS, is a Scots born watercolor artist and a signature member of the American and National Watercolor Societies among other state and international entities. He has also recently been in- ducted into the Whiskey Painters of America. His work has received numerous awards in international competitions and hangs in many corporate and private collections. Iain is a sought-after watercolor in- structor and juror with works published in numerous books and periodicals. He has just finished produc- tion of his 5th instructional DVD. In 2021 his first book on painting; En Plein Air- Light and Color, was pub- lished. Iain maintains a studio in Opelika, Alabama, and in addition to gallery work, is an Architectural Il- lustrator with an international clientele and has taught watercolor and design drawing at Auburn Univer- sity where he received his degree in Architecture. Iain is an International Brand Ambassador for Escoda Brushes, Daniel Smith, Watercolors Stillman & Birn Sketchbooks. Artist’s Statement: I am trained as an architect and, as such, approach painting design with a very similar sensibility. I feel that I need to com- municate the vernacular of place in a way that is deeply personal to me. I embrace a dialogue between the real and imagined- seeking a way to allow myself to express my personal feeling of 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 my work.

WORKSHOP Feb. 19-21, 2026

The 3-day workshop is $399. The workshop will be held at the Gadsden Art Center & Museum, Thu - Sat, Feb. 19 – 21, 10 am to 5 pm. Registrants must be SW members or join at the same time. Workshop information, application and payment are on the Southern Watercolor Society’s website  www.southernwatercolorsociety.org under the “Exhibition Menu.”

If you have questions, contact Don Taylor, SW Exhibition and Workshop Coordinator, dltaylor215@gmail.com 850-215- 9424.

 49th SOUTHERN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY WATERMEDIA EXHIBITION

2026 COMPLIANCE & PRESENTATION CHECKLIST

*REQUIRED: Complete this form with your signature. Separate the form and attach it to the back of the painting on the upper left corner. Ship to the Gadsden Art Center & Museum.

Title of the Painting:___________________________________

Artist’s Name:_______________________________________

Phone: ____________________________________________

Email:____________________________________________

Price: $ _________________

VALUE for insurance amount for NFS $____________

I understand that my shipped painting will be rejected prior to installment if it does not comply with the prospectus. Thank You, Southern Watercolor Society Board of Directors

Your Signature:________________________________________                                                                             

Application Requirements

See Above.

Eligibility Criteria

See Above.