RIWS Presents: National Watermedia Show 2025

The Rhode Island Watercolor Society presents the 2025 National Watermedia Show, open to all artists in the United States. Artists may submit 1-3 watermedia entries only. The juror is Lorraine Watry, NWS, AWA. Over $2,500 in cash prizes will be awarded.

Entry deadline is May 2nd at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Drop off or shipping is May 8th-29th. Accepted entries will be notified May 8th. The exhibition runs May 31st-July 3rd, with a show opening on Saturday, June 7th at 1pm ET. Pickup dates are July 3rd and July 10th, 10am-4pm. Return shipping is available July 3rd-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 previously exhibited in RIWS shows is acceptable except for other Annual National Watermedia Shows. 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. Unacceptable surfaces include composite paper with embedded materials, wood or composite panels, gallery wrapped or stretched canvas, canvas paper, Duralar, Aquaboard, Clayboard, unmounted canvas or fabrics, Tyvek, metal, and glass. Acceptable mediums include watercolor, gouache, acrylic, acrylic mediums, watercolor mediums, water-based ink, casein, and egg tempera. Media acceptable up to 20% include line and wash, watercolor pencils, water-based collage, charcoal, graphite, wax accents and resists, water-based monotypes and mono prints, embossing, metallic water-based paint, and water-based iridescent paints or powders. Unacceptable media include pastels, colored pencil (other than watercolor pencil), impasto acrylic and watermedia, fabrics, digital media or digitally enhanced images, multiple edition prints, sand, glitter, gold or metal leaf, collage from printed materials, oil paints, water-miscible oil paints, photography, reproductions, and 3D media.

Work must be professionally presented and framed under glass or Plexiglass with white or off-white mats preferred. Colored liner mats less than 3/8" are acceptable, but entirely colored mats are not. Work must be wired with no wire or hanger showing when hung. Entry fee is $25 for non-members and $20 for members. Submit 1-3 digital images with your entry. The show takes place physically in the gallery in Pawtucket and online. If work is sold, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society receives 35% of the sale.