Illinois Watercolor Society 42nd National Exhibition

The Illinois Watercolor Society is accepting submissions for its 42nd National Juried Exhibition at The Next Picture Show gallery in Dixon Illinois. All paintings must be original work using WATER-SOLUBLE MEDIA and completed after January 1, 2023.

Entry call opens: January 2nd, 2026

Deadline: March 10th, 2026, at midnight

Juror: Kris Parins TWSA, AWS , NWS

This competition is open to all artists 18 years of age and older residing in the U.S. 

ANTICIPATED $10K IN CASH AWARDS!

1st Place . . . $2,000
2nd Place . .  $1,600
3rd Place . . . $1,200

42nd National Exhibition 

May 1– May 30, 2026

The Next Picture Show

A Fine Arts Center

113 W. First St.

Dixon, Illinois

Illinois Watercolor Society

nationalshow@illinoiswatercolorsociety.org

The Illinois Watercolor Society was established in 1981 and the first exhibition took place in 1982 at Glenview, Illinois. Today with over 190 members, IWS sponsors both a national show and a members’ invitational exhibit. IWS has also partnered with the Oak Brook Library and holds four meetings that feature demonstrations by nationally recognized artists which are free and open to the public.

Juror of Selection and Awards, Kris Parins 

Delight in nature was instilled in Kris as a child by her father, Robert Neu. He painted in watercolor and encouraged Kris’s interest in art and the natural world. They spent summers at a family cottage on a northern Wisconsin lake; today that same small lake provides the view and inspiration from the windows of her home studio. 

After earning a degree in Related Art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kris worked in fiber art for several years, followed by a career in the graphic design field as an art director and account executive. In creating illustrations for her clients' product graphics, she realized that her heart was in the making of art. 1999, Kris has devoted her creative energy toward fine art. The transparency and vibrancy of watercolor, combined with an element of surprise, continue to keep her interested in the challenging medium. Frequent travels provide fresh input and continue to inform her way of interpreting the world around her. For 23 years, she and her husband Dick enjoyed living half the year in Florida, where the tropical flora and fauna influenced her work.

Kris’s paintings and articles have been featured in Watercolor Artist, International Artist, American Artist Watercolor, and The Art of Watercolour magazines, as well as nine editions of Splash: the Best of Watercolor. She has earned Signature Status in many art societies, including the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. She holds the Distinguished Signature Member designation in the Florida Watercolor Society. Her work has been included in international competitions such as the Woodson Art Museum’s Birds in Art, the Society of Animal Artists, and Fabriano in Acquarello. 

Her award-winning artwork is in many private and public collections, including the Woodson Art Museum, the National Parks, Jack Richeson Co., the University of Wisconsin, and West Bend Insurance.Exhibition Overview 

Selection and Awards Juror Kris Parins

• Entry Submission Deadline: Sunday, March 10, 2026
• Entry Fee: $35 for Non-Members, $25 for Members, $10 for Signature Members
• How to Enter: Online entries thru CaFÉ. a link to found at www.illinoiswatercolorsociety.org
• Anticipated $10,000 in cash awards — First Place is $2,000
• Exhibition Dates: April 30- May 30, 2026

Exhibition Awards 

In addition to the prestige of participating in this wonderful exhibition, cash awards only will be presented by the Illinois Watercolor Society will total at least $10,000. Below is a complete list of awards.

First                                        $2000.00

Second                                     1600.00

Third                                         1200.00

Award of Excellence I                800.00

Award of Excellance II               700.00

Award of Excellence III              600.00

Award of Excellence IV              400.00

Creative Spirit Award                  500.00

Directors Choice                         400.00           

Strissell Memorial                       300.00

People’s Choice                          200.00

(6) Honorable Mentions              200.00

Exhibition Calendar 

March 10 Deadline for entries

March 24 Accepted entries posted on www.illinoiswatercolorsociety.org

April 22 – 29 Paintings due (gallery is closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesdays)

Shipped or hand delivered

       The Next Picture Show

       113 W. First St.

       Dixon Il 61021

       Attn.Gallery Director, 815 285 4924

May 2  Reception, Kris Parins will give a demo presentation at 1pm.

       Awards presentation following demo.

May 30 Show closes (work shipped back to artists)

June 2nd or after       Pick-up of hand delivered work. Please make arrangements with the gallery.

10am – 4pm or call for arrangements (Gallery closed on Sunday and Monday)

Confirming Entries 

• Acceptance only notification will be via email from CaFÉ.
• Once an entry is received you will receive a confirmation email that your entry has been successfully processed. After your entry has been submitted and confirmed, the art registration information cannot be revised or changed. This includes the Price, Title of the Entry and Entry Size.

Accepted Artwork

• All artists whose work is selected for exhibition will receive instructions for shipping and 
  delivery in the Acceptance Notification.
• Only one painting will be accepted from any individual artist.
• No substitutions of artwork can be made after acceptance.
• No peanut packing or wood cartons, please!
• Once accepted, no changes can be made to price, title or dimensions.
• Artwork must remain on display in the Gallery for the duration of the Exhibition. Removal of artwork prior to the closing will result in penalties assessed by the by the IWS Board of Directors.

Reception Invitation 

• The reception is free and open to the public and will be held at the Next Picture Show Gallery on Saturday, May 2, 2026 beginning at 1pm.
• The Awards Juror will offer a watercolor presentation at 1pm. 
  This will be followed by a ceremony recognizing award winners and new Signature honorees.

Sales 

          The Next Picture Show is responsible for all sales and will retain a 20% commission. 

• Unless specified by the artist (NFS) all paintings will be for sale.

Publicity

          IWS reserves the right to photograph and duplicate works for the catalog/website and publicity purposes. 

Contact Information

For additional questions or clarification, please contact the show chairman at: 

National Show Chair

847 714 9523

nationalshow@illinoiswatercolorsociety.org

Gallery Director 

815-285-4924
info@nextpictureshow.org

Artwork Eligibility 

The IWS National Exhibition is open to all artists who are 18 years or older. 

• Work must be original (not derived from another’s intellectual property or copyrighted references).
• Painted after January 1, 2023
• Entries cannot have been displayed in an IWS Members’ Exhibition or IWS National Exhibition.
• Entries cannot have been completed in a class, workshop, or under supervision.
• Collage, digital media, photography, prints or reproductions are NOT permitted.
• All water soluble media including Watercolor, Acrylic and Gouache are permitted. Work painted on yupo or canvas is also permitted.
• Paintings framed must use plexiglass (no glass permitted). Opaque paintings completed on stretched canvas or boards may be framed without plexiglass or mat as long as they are glazed for protection.
• Mats must be white or neutral (a color similar to white).
• Paintings must be wired and ready for hanging. No “saw-tooth” hangers.
• Maximum frame size: 44" in width or height.
• Only one painting per artist will be selected.