Small Works - NMWS Spring Exhibition 2026

The New Mexico Watercolor Society invites NMWS members to submit original watermedia paintings for the spring exhibition with Guest Juror Dave Cook. Small works are defined as paintings less than 50 square inches and larger than 24 square inches.

Entries are accepted February 2nd through March 8th at 5pm MST. The opening reception and awards ceremony is Saturday, May 2nd from 1-4 pm MDT. The exhibition is open to the public Sunday, May 3rd through Saturday, May 23rd, Thursdays through Sundays, 10am-4pm at Expo New Mexico Fine Arts Gallery, 300 San Pedro Drive NE (Gate 3 Entrance), Albuquerque, NM 87108.

NMWS membership is required and dues for 2026 must be paid in full before submission. All paintings must be original and completed after March 8, 2024. Each artist may enter up to 3 paintings, with a maximum of 2 selected for exhibit. All accepted paintings must be for sale with a minimum price of $100. Watercolor must be the dominant medium; acceptable media include gouache, egg tempera, casein, watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, fluid acrylics, and water-soluble inks. Prohibited media include heavy body acrylic, gel medium, water-soluble oils, three-dimensional objects, commercial papers, computer-generated art, encaustic, wax, woven material, canvas, and watercolor canvas. Permitted surfaces are cotton rag paper or board, undyed oriental papers, Yupo, Aquabord, or Gessobord.

Works previously accepted or shown in National Shows, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies (WFWS), MasterWorks of New Mexico (MWNM), or any NMWS shows are not permitted. Paintings must be available from April 26, 2026 through May 23, 2026; artists withdrawing pieces after acceptance will be disqualified from exhibiting in the current and following two NMWS exhibitions. Accepted artists must volunteer for show hosting or pay a $50 fee (artists residing more than 75 driving miles from the venue are exempt). Entry fees are $35 for the first painting and $10 for each additional painting. Digital image submissions (.jpg or .jpeg files, less than 10 MB) must be cropped to show artwork only with no mat or frame visible. Notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent by email by 5pm MDT on March 21, 2026. Exhibited work must meet professional, gallery-quality framing standards with metal or wood frames and white or off-white mats. Plexiglas is required for water-soluble and non-varnished works. Alternative presentations with varnished or waxed finishes are permitted without Plexiglas.