PWS AQUEOUS OPEN 2021 Now ONLINE!
Pittsburgh Watercolor Society invites you to enter our PWS Aqueous Open 2021 International Juried Exhibit to be held online via the PWS Website. After much consideration as to the current situation and near future, and based on the success of last year's Online Aqueosu Open, we have made the decision to once again take this year's Aqueous Open to a Virtual Exhibit through our website.  This year's Aqueous Open Juror of Selection and Awards will be the acclaimed Artist, Instructor and Juror, Carla O'Connor

Aqueous Open is the PWS annual International exhibit open to all artist working in waterbased media, member or not. The exhibit runs from October 1 through November 30, 2021. Artists may enter one (1) or two (2) of original works. This year's awards total $5,000. with $1,200 going to the Best of Show. Entry Deadline is by midnight on August 8, 2021.a

The PWS Aqueous Open 2021 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. Works on canvas or panels will not be accepted.

Mediums include: Watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, egg tempura.
No pastels, class work, digital images, any form of print or reproductions. No more than 10% collage or water-based inks, no alcohol inks or other inks.

Artist's original work only. No copies or likenesses of another artist's work. Works must have been created within the last two years and not previoulsy show in another PWS exhibit.

Enter Online by August 8, 2021.
Each artist may enter one or two pieces, but only one piece will be accepted.

Digital Files 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 at least 72 dpi and the file size must be 5 MB or less. 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.

Important Dates:
Registration Deadline - Midnight August 8
Notice if Acceptance - First week of September

Entry fee for one or two pieces is $45 (US funds) for non-members and $30 (using a discount code) for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society members. The fee is non-refundable. You can securely pay online using PayPal, even if you do not have a PayPal account. Instructions for paying by check will be provided online.

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.

PWS Membership Eligibility: Artists exhibiting in Aqueous Open two years out of five become eligible for PWS membership. Members who get accepted in Aqueous Open three out of five years become Signature members. 
Inquiries to: membership@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com.

Questions? Contact the Aqueous chairs via email at aqueous@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com

Our Juror of Selection and awards Carla O'Conner, is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society and Northwest Watercolor Society (Gold Member) and is an AWS Dolphin Fellow. She received her BFA in painting from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. She has done additional formal study at the University of the Americas, Mexico City; University of Dayton, Ohio; and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Carla is an internationally renowned, award winning artist whose works have been featured in many publications and exhibits. She is also a teacher and is well known for her amazing workshops.

O’Connor has been a juror for numerous national and regional groups including:

• Western Federation of Watercolor Societies
• The American Watercolor Society
• The National Watercolor Society
• The Northwest Watercolor Society
• Watercolor Art Society – Houston
• The Arizona Watercolor Association
• The Watercolor Societies of Florida and San Diego.

Ms. O'connnor will select the works, and awards, to be included in the exhibit from work submitted by each artist that were completed within the last two years and not previously shown in a PWS exhibit.

Awards are selected from received work. The Best of Show award is $1,200, with more than $5,000 in total cash and prize awards. Awards will be announced at the reception on October 1.

Questions? Contact the Aqueous chairs via email at aqueous@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com

Sales: All work must be for sale. The artist will receive 70% of the sale, PWS will retain 15% to cover general expenses. All sales will go through the PWS website. Artists will be notified when a sale occurs. Artists will be responsible for shipping to the purchaser, please keep this in mind when priving your work. Paintings must be priced at a current market value.

Sending an entry implies an agreement with all conditions set forth in this prospectus and grants the right to PWS to reproduce the work for the catalog and publicity.

* A complete prospectus is available at https://www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/Aqueous

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria