2026 Transparent Watercolor Society of America's 50th National Exhibition

TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF AMERICA

     $25,000+ in cash awards 

WWW.WATERCOLORS.ORG

IMPORTANT: When selecting your images from your portfolio, pls. review the contact information to verify it is correct/current.  Images previously uploaded may have outdated contact info.  If accepted and we cannot reach you, you will miss an opportunity to be in the exhibit.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  JANUARY 31, 2026

Exhibition Dates:  May 2, 2026 - August 2, 2026, Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI 

Entry Fee:  TWSA member in good standing and dues paid for 2026. (Fees waived for Life Members) Cafe is set up to accept membership dues and entry fees combined. $40 for dues and $25 entry fee for one or two images. If you have prepaid dues or are a Life member, use the appropriate Coupon Code during checkout. (See below)

Online Entry Only through CaFE  www.callforentry.org 

Kenosha Public Museum will handle sales and charge a 35% commission. 

CALENDAR

January 31, 2026  Online Entry Deadline 

First Week of March - Notifications sent by email

April 10-17  Shipped paintings due at Kenosha Public Museum. Shipping details will be sent to accepted artists. Paintings are NOT to arrive prior to April 10.

May 2, 2026     Exhibition Open

June 3-5  Workshops:  Carrie Waller, TWSA, AWS, NWS & Stewart White, AWS

June 6th   10:30a - Noon and 2pm - 3:30 Demos by Carrie Waller and Stewart White -Open to the public

5:00 Reception, Celebrate Watercolor Awards & Dinner 

June 8-10 Workshops:  Carrie Waller, TWSA, AWS, NWS & Stewart White, AWS

August 2, 2026 - 50th TWSA Exhibition Closes

2nd Week of August - Paintings packed and returned  

ELIGIBILITY

• Residents of North America 18 years of age or older
• Must be original work of the entrant, created after January 1, 2024, with no supervised instruction.
• Must be a member of TWSA in good standing whose dues are paid for 2026.
• May not be a copy, likeness or derivative of another person’s artistic creation.
• May not be in a virtual exhibition during the dates of May 2nd-August 2nd while hanging in the TWSA Exhibition.

REQUIREMENTS OF PAINTINGS

Transparent watercolor painted in a transparent manner. TWSA has recently utilized alternate selections due to final screening findings of heavy opacity. PLEASE, remember, regardless of what the pigment is rated, if you apply too many multiple washes, it can become opaque. Hold it up to natural light and if you see a shiny or leather-like appearance, it’s opaque. 

• Must be transparent watercolor, applied on a single piece of rag or wood pulp paper that is free of pigment and imbedded materials. For a complete description of transparency please go to www.watercolors.org - explanation of Transparency located in the FAQ section.  

Graphite pencil may be used only for planning marks.

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The following grounds, treatments, and media are excluded:

Opaque white paint, of any kind, such at titanium white, Chinese white, etc.

Gesso, matte medium, or any other priming material or exterior surface treatment

Gouache, acrylics, or water-soluble oils

Inks, metallic, or iridescent paint or products that leave a metallic, graphite, or reflective sheen. Be aware that some of the Daniel Smith prima tek pigments can possibly contain iridescence, eg.:  Kyanite, Bronzite etc.

Watercolor crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, pastel, Conte sticks, or Conte Crayons

Varnish, wax, wax crayon, oil sticks, or oil pastel

Collage or surface constructions, impasto, embossing

Watercolor resist, such as Frisket, that is not completely removed from the final painting

Yupo or similar papers.

Canvas or canvas paper

Use of digital images or enhancements printed on the paper.

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Maximum frame size not to exceed 50” on any side.
• Simple, neutral frames are preferred. KPM framing guidelines can be found on the TWSA website.
• Mats must be white or off-white. A colored 1/8 inch liner is acceptable. If you are floating your work, follow the instructions given by KPM on our website in the FAQ section.

• Minimum image size (mat opening) is 8 x 10 or 80 sq. inches.

• TWSA reserves the right to withdraw any entry it deems inappropriate or objectionable. 

• Follow the image upload requirements stated by Cafe.  www.callforentry.org. (See below.)

• Work previously exhibited in a TWSA Exhibition is not eligible. (Includes online exhibition)

• The TWSA Screening Committee will examine all delivered paintings for compliance with its Exhibition requirements.

• Accepted paintings must match the online entry image.

• Online entry stated sales price may not be changed.  (35% commission to KPM for sold paintings)

• Paintings not adhering to requirements will not be exhibited and will be returned at the artist’s expense.

• Entry Fees will not be refunded for any reason.

• Images of exhibited artwork may be used without charge for advertising and promotion.

JURORS

Carrie Waller, TWSA, AWS, NWS  

Carrie is an internationally recognized watercolor artist known for her luminous, realistic paintings that often feature glass as a central subject, showcasing her mastery in capturing transparency, reflection, and light. With a background in interior design and a deep appreciation for light and composition, she creates richly detailed still lifes and atmospheric scenes that draw viewers into carefully constructed visual narratives. Carrie has earned numerous awards from prestigious organizations, such as the grand prize in American Women Artists and Best in Show in Women in Watercolor.  Carrie is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, and the National Watercolor Society as well as many others. Her work has been featured in major art publications and exhibitions worldwide. Based in Arkansas, she balances her professional art career with teaching, mentoring, and raising a family, continually inspiring others with her passion for watercolor.

www.carriewallerfineart.com 

Stewart White, AWS

Stewart is an artist from Easton, Maryland. He works as freelance illustrator specializing in architectural illustration. The flexible nature of watercolor painting can impart both precision and illusion, for that reason it is extremely useful in conveying, unrealized concepts with great efficiency. Besides illustration, Stewart is always out and about painting “en plein air” or in the studio. He is frequently leading workshops abroad.   

Stewart studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and after serving 3 years in the US Army he received a BFA from UC Berkeley with a minor in Art History. As a carpenter of many years his interests found a perfect balance between Art and Architecture in a career in architectural illustration. His skill in both oil, egg tempera and watercolors have garnered many awards. He is a Grand Prize winner of several of the country’s most prestigious plein air competitions, Plein Air Easton, Olmsted Invitational, and the Plein Air Salon (2014) which in a field dominated by oil painters is a significant accomplishment.

Stewart is a past President of the Mid-Atlantic Plein-Air Painters Association (MAPAPA). He exhibits his paintings in juried and gallery exhibitions throughout the US. Stewart is a member of the American Impressionists Society (AIS), signature member of the American Watercolor Society (AWS) Executive Fellow for the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) and past President (2012) of The American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI).  He has spent many years as a mural painter with commissions that include: the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of American History, The US Naval Academy, The Texas Rangers Baseball Club.

Stewart White is represented by Folly Cove Gallery in Rockport MA. The Troika Gallery in Easton, MD.

www.stewartwhitestudios.com 

TO SUBMIT ONLINE ENTRIES

PREPARE YOUR IMAGE FOR UPLOAD

   Image must be JPEG or JPG only.

   Cropped to show only the artwork…no mat or frame may be visible

   Be sure your images are right side up.

   Resize to 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side

 HOW TO RESIZE

 On a Mac Using Preview:

    1. Select the image file you want to resize.

    2. Right-click/select Open with Preview

    3. Go to Tools, then Adjust Size.

    4. Choose Fit Into Custom and resize the image to 1200 pixels or larger on the longest side.

    5. Click OK.

On A PC Computer:

    1.Select the image you want to resize.

    2. Go to the toolbar and select Edit Pictures.

    3. Go to Change Picture Size and click Resize.

    4. Choose Custom and resize to 1200 pixels or larger on the longest side.

• Go to www.callforentry.org

• On the LOGIN page, enter your username and password.

   If you forgot your username and/or password: 

    1. Go to the forgot username page.

    2. Enter the email address you registered with.

    3. Click Retrieve.

    4. Go to you inbox to check for the Forgotten Login

         email and/or

    5. Go to the Forgot password page.

    6. Enter email address AND username.

    7. Click Request Reset.

    8. Go to you inbox to check for the Password Reset link for the username submitted. Link is valid for 24 hours.

        Click the password reset link in the email and create a new password.

• To SIGN UP for CaFE, create a free CaFE account profile.

   1. Go to the Register for CaFE page.

   2. Read and agree to the CaFE Terms and Conditions.

   3. Complete the account profile requirements on the screen and create a username and password. (Usernames and passwords are limited to 7-30 characters. You can use letters, numbers, and periods. Do not use spaces, apostrophes, single or double quotations, or accent marks.)

   4. Click Register Now to create an account.

• ENTER Information and Images (follow CaFE guidelines and requirements)
• Images: Minimum 1, Maximum 2
• Entry Fee is $25 for one or two images.
• Life Members are FREE. Use code, TWSA4Life for EACH entry (otherwise you will be charged $5 for the second image).
• PREPAID new and renewing TWSA Members enter coupon code 40offTWSA in Coupon Box.

You MUST have prepaid your 2026 dues. You will be charged the $25 entry fee only. 

   TWSA monitors entries and improper usage of coupon codes will automatically disqualify your entry.

• UNPAID New and Renewing Members (without leaving this site) enter 1 or 2 images for $65.  You will AUTOMATICALLY become a new or renewed TWSA member.

   (Helpful Information when filling out form)

• Dollar = Sales Price
• Value = If not for sale, it is the value of your painting for museum insurance.
• Paintings not for sale must be designated ‘NFS’
• 35% Commission is charged by the Kenosha Public Museum for paintings sold.
• Upload Work - Acceptable Upload-Ready Files

   File Types: JPEG or JPG only

   File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side

   File Size: Under 5 MB

• Please allow time for unforeseen circumstances in your submission, you don’t want to miss the deadline.
• Deadlines in CaFE are at 11:59 PM Mountain Time Zone on the day of the deadline.

Questions or concerns about your entry, please contact our Exhibition Chair at TWSAexhibition@aol.com

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