60th Annual Membership Exhibition of the Southwestern Watercolor Society

The Southwestern Watercolor Society (SWS) is a prestigious national organization celebrating its 60th anniversary, with over 400 members throughout the United States. The 60th Annual Membership Exhibition is open to all SWS members in good standing. Current membership dues for 2023-2024 must be paid by the close of registration.

The exhibition will be held at J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 4th Floor, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201. Entry fees are $45.00 for one painting, $50.00 for two paintings, or $55.00 for three paintings. Submissions must be digital images in JPEG or JPG format, under 5 MB, with a minimum of 1,200 pixels on the longest side. Only one entry per artist may be accepted. Artwork must have been painted after January 1, 2021, and must be original work painted only by the artist. Works previously hung in an SWS or WFWS exhibition are not permitted.

Artwork must be painted on paper or Yupo using watercolor, acrylic paints, inks, gouache, casein, egg tempera, watercolor pencils, or watercolor crayons. The minimum image size is 100 square inches without mat or frame. The maximum outside framed size is 46 inches in either direction. Simple frames are encouraged and must be wired and ready to hang with backing. Unvarnished artwork must be framed, matted in white or off-white, and protected by clear, unscratched plexiglass. Varnished artwork may be sealed with varnish or cold wax and must be free of lint, hair, debris, haziness, or visible brush strokes. No diptychs, triptychs, nudes, digital media, photography, prints, or reproductions are permitted.

Juror Stan Miller, AWS, will select works for the exhibition. Over $8,000 in cash and merchandise awards will be given, including the Naomi Brotherton Best of Show ($1,500), Edgar A. Whitney Transparent Watercolor Award ($1,000), 1st Place ($750), 2nd Place ($600), 3rd Place ($500), and Lou Bono Memorial Award ($500). The exhibition opens Tuesday, September 5, 2023, and closes Friday, September 29, 2023. Awards judging is Monday, September 11, 2023, and the awards reception is Saturday, September 23, 2023, 5:30-7:30 p.m. A 30% commission will be charged on any sold paintings. Acceptance notifications will be sent by email on or before Saturday, July 15, 2023. Shipped art must be received by Friday, August 25, 2023. Local artists may drop off artwork Saturday, August 26, 2023, 1:00-4:00 p.m., and pick up Saturday, September 30, 2023, 1:00-4:00 p.m.