Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Aqueous Open 2017

The Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Aqueous Open Annual Exhibition is open to all artists 18 or older working primarily with water-based media on a paper surface. Eligible mediums include watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, and egg tempera. Work must be completed within the last two years and not previously shown in a PWS exhibit. Each artist may enter one or two pieces, but only one piece will be accepted. All paintings must be sturdily framed under glass or Plexiglas plastic glazing. Work must be original and unvarnished; no canvas, pastels, digital images, prints, or reproductions are permitted. Collage is limited to 10% maximum.

Entry fee is $40 for non-members and $30 for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society members. Digital images must be professional quality, saved in high-quality jpg format with dimensions of 1920 or greater pixels on the long side, 72 dpi resolution, and 5 MB or less file size. Accepted work can be hand-delivered to Spinning Plate Gallery on Saturday, September 23, from 2-4 pm, or shipped to arrive between September 18-22, 2017. Shipped work must use Plexiglas only (no glass). International shipments require completed return documentation, airbills, customs forms, and appraisal if value exceeds $300; shipping fee is $130. Domestic shipments require pre-paid return shipping; fee is $50.

The exhibition runs September 30 - October 21, 2017, with an opening reception on September 30, 5-8 pm. Awards totaling over $5,000 in cash and prizes will be announced at the opening, with a Best of Show award of $1,200. All work must be for sale, with artists receiving 60% of sales. Work must remain on display through the close of the show. Hand-delivered work must be picked up October 21, 5-8 pm, or October 22, 2-4 pm. Shipped work will be returned as promptly as possible. The juror is Pat Dews, a signature member of the American Watercolor Society and National Watercolor Society. A workshop and demo by the juror are available during the event.