RIWS Presents: National Watermedia Show 2024

The Rhode Island Watercolor Society presents the 2024 National Watermedia Show, open to all artists in the United States. Artists may submit 1-3 watermedia entries only. The show offers over $2,500 in cash prizes and will take place physically in the gallery in Pawtucket and online. The juror is Paul Jackson, AWS Dolphin fellow and NWS member.

Entry deadline is May 3rd at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Drop off or delivery is May 10th-30th. Accepted entries will be notified May 10th. The exhibition runs June 1st-July 12th, with a show opening on Saturday, June 8th. Pickup and return shipping are July 12th-August 3rd.

Eligibility requirements: Work must have been completed within the last 10 years and may not exceed 42 inches on its longest side (including frame). Work may not be copied from copyrighted material or partially/wholly painted by another artist. Work may have been done in a class or workshop using only the artist's own reference material. Previously exhibited work in RIWS shows is acceptable except for other Annual National Watermedia Shows. Work may be listed as NFS by entering 0 in the price section.

Acceptable mediums include watercolor, gouache, acrylic, water-based ink, casein, and egg tempera. Acceptable surfaces include watercolor paper, toned watercolor paper, Yupo and similar synthetic papers, paper coated with water-based varnish and gesso, textured paper, illustration board, watercolor board, and rice paper. Up to 20% of work may include line & wash, watercolor pencils, water-based collage, charcoal, graphite, wax accents and resists, water-based monotypes and mono prints, embossing, and metallic water-based paint. Unacceptable mediums include pastels, colored pencil (except watercolor pencil), impasto acrylic, fabrics, digital media, oil paints, photography, and 3D media. Unacceptable surfaces include composite panels, gallery wrapped or stretched canvas, canvas paper, Duralar, Aquaboard, Clayboard, unmounted canvas, Tyvek, metal, and glass.

Work must be professionally presented in frames under glass or Plexiglas with white or off-white mats preferred. Framed work must be wired with no wire or hanger showing. Entry fee is $25 for non-members and $20 for members. The Rhode Island Watercolor Society receives 35% of sales. Submitted pieces may be used as promotional material by RIWS. No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition.