Enter Online, Due July 5, 2017
Each artist may enter one or two pieces, but only one piece will be accepted.

• Go to www.callforentry.org
• Create a free artist profile and upload your digital images (1 or 2) to your portfolio.
• Click “Apply to Calls”, search for “Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Aqueous Open 2017”
• Follow entry instructions, click to enter and pay securely by credit card or check.

Digital Files: Digital images must be professional quality, showing only the painted image, and be accurate for color catalog reproduction. All files must be saved in high-quality (maximum) jpg format.  The dimensions must be 1920 or greater pixels on the long side. Resolution should be 72 dpi and the file size must be 5 MB or less. For a tutorial on resizing images in Photoshop, visit www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/resources/Documents/Photoshop_Resizing_Tutorial.pdf. For detailed instructions on preparing and sizing digital files, visit the PWS website: www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/Digital-Entry-Help. A useful online resource for resizing images is at: www.picresize.com.

Entry Fee: Entry fee for one or two pieces is $40 (US funds) for non-members and $30 for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society members (using special CaFÉ coupon code). Fee is non-refundable. Register and pay by check or securely by credit card on CaFE.

Eligibility: The PWS Aqueous Open Annual Exhibition is open to all artists 18 or older working primarily with water-based media on a paper surface (YUPO and Tyvek are permitted) and unvarnished. No canvas.  Mediums include: watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, egg tempura. No pastels, class work, digital images, any form of print or reproductions, 10% collage only. Artist's original work only. No copies or likenesses of another artist's work including published source or reference not attributable to the artist. Work must have been completed within the last two years and not previously shown in a PWS exhibit. All paintings must be sturdily framed under glass or Plexiglas® plastic glazing. Shipped work must use Plexiglas.

Two Ways to Deliver Accepted Work:  All work must be framed and ready for hanging.

1. Hand Deliver Work to Spinning Plate Gallery on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 2-4 pm. 
2. Ship Work: Acrylic/Plexiglas only; NO GLASS.  Do NOT pack work in “popcorn” (work will be returned). Shipped to: Kathryn Sickels, 514 Center Hill Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15239. Work must arrive Sept.18-22, 2017. No shipped work will be accepted after Sept. 22. 
   US shipments: Domestic work and international work shipped through a domestic clearinghouse must include pre-paid, pre-arranged return shipping documents and instructions. Fee: $50
   International shipments: International shipments must contain all completed return documentation, airbills, customs forms, and appraisal (if value is over $300). Fee: $130 
   Pay shipping fee online via credit card or PayPal here: www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/aqueous

Awards: Awards are selected from received work. The Best of Show award is $1,200, with over $5,000 in total cash and prize awards.  Awards announced at Opening, Sept. 30.

Sales: All work must be for sale. Artist will receive 60% of sale. Painting must be priced at current market value. Paintings must hang until close of show. Buyers may pick up work Oct. 21, 5-8 pm, or Oct. 22, 2-4 pm.

Return of Exhibited Work: Hand delivered work must be picked up Oct. 21, 5-8 pm, or Oct. 22, 2-4 pm.  Shipped work will be returned as promptly as possible. PWS and Spinning Plate Gallery will not be responsible for any return shipping charges.

PWS Membership Eligibility: Artists exhibiting in Aqueous Open two years out of five become eligible for PWS membership.  Inquiries to: Michalina Pendzich at membership@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com or 412-388-1025.

Questions? Contact Aqueous chairs via email at aqueous@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com or phone. Suzie Sparks, 724-483-7258; or PWS president Phiris Kathryn Sickels,412-370-6905, president@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com.

Juror: Pat Dews, a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC, is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the National Collage Society and the New Jersey Water Color Society. Pat Dews creates experimental works in watermedia on paper and canvas.  She paints the abstract essence of nature. The shapes and textures of flowers, rocks, water, crumbled walls, rusty objects are translated into richly layered paint surfaces.  Collage is often integrated.  Dews skillfully juggles organic and geometric forms, transparent and opaque paint - all held together by a basic abstract underlying shape.  It is this intricate dance, rendered in strong color and value which produces her award-winning paintings. When Pat paints, it is a lively, fascinating performance as she shows that, with the simplest tools, less can become more, much more.

Pat Dews Workshop: Sept. 25-28, 2017 See the PWS website at www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/event-2424003 for more information and to register for this exciting workshop. For the workshop "Paint Better Abstracts" description, click here, supplies list, click here.  $400 public; $375 PWS members. Register online or contact Leslie Baldwin, 412-720-7380, workshop@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com. Workshop Location: Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave., Carnegie, PA 15106

Pat Dews Demo: Sunday, Sept. 24, 1 pm Open to the public, $5 (free to members) at the PWS Membership Meeting, Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave., Carnegie, PA 15106

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria