RIWS Presents: National Watermedia Exhibition 2026

PLEASE READ FULL PROSPECTUS, ACCEPTABLE MEDIUMS AND SURFACES HAVE CHANGED

RIWS Presents: The 2026 National Watermedia Exhibition
Over $2,500 in cash prizes!
1-3 WATERMEDIA ENTRIES ONLY (Water-based media; see full description for more information)

Juror: Joel Popadics AWS, ASMA www.watercolorpop.com
Deadline for Entry: May 1st
Drop Off/Delivery: May 8th - May 28th
Accepted Entries Notified: May 8th
Exhibition Dates: May 30th - July 3rd
Show Opening: Saturday June 6th, 1pm ET
Pickup Date: July 3rd & July 10th, 10am-4pm
Return Shipping: July 3rd - August 3rd

PLEASE READ FULL PROSPECTUS, ACCEPTABLE MEDIUMS AND SURFACES HAVE CHANGED

RIWS Presents: The 2026 National Watermedia Exhibition
Over $2,500 in cash prizes!
1-3 WATERMEDIA ENTRIES ONLY (Water-based media; see full description for more information)

Juror: Joel Popadics AWS, ASMA www.watercolorpop.com
Deadline for Entry: May 1st
Drop Off/Delivery: May 8th - May 28th
Accepted Entries Notified: May 8th
Exhibition Dates: May 30th - July 3rd
Show Opening: Saturday June 6th, 1pm ET
Pickup Date: July 3rd & July 10th, 10am-4pm
Return Shipping: July 3rd - August 3rd

ELIGIBILITY (PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING):

Open to all artists in the United Sates

This show will take place physically in our gallery in Pawtucket and online. Only submit work you are willing to drop off or ship to us!

Work must have been completed within the last 10 years.
Work may not be copied from copywritten material.
No work partially or wholly painted by another.
Work may have been done in a class or workshop, but only using reference material belonging to the sole artist.
Work must not exceed 42 inches on its longest side (including frame).
Work must be the same work represented by the submitted digital images. No altered digital images may be submitted.
Work must be the size represented in the submission form.
Work may be listed as NFS (not for sale) by putting the number 0 in the price section of the painting.
Artwork should be well represented by any digital image submitted.

The Rhode Island Watercolor Society is proud to support watercolor and other traditional watermedia materials and methods. With the growth of the arts industry comes the introduction of new equipment and practices. As the options for art making expand, so must the horizons of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society guidelines for our member and open juried shows.

Media and Mediums

Surfaces

Acceptable surfaces: Watercolor paper; toned watercolor paper; Yupo and similar synthetic papers; paper coated with water‐based varnish and gesso; textured paper; illustration board; watercolor board; rice paper 

Unacceptable surfaces: Composite paper with embedded materials; wood or composite panels; gallery wrapped or stretched canvas; canvas paper; Duralar; Aquaboard, Clayboard or other coated wood or composite panel; unmounted canvas or other fabrics; Tyvec; metal; glass 

Acceptable mediums: Watercolor; gouache; acrylic; acrylic mediums and watercolor mediums; water-based ink; casein; egg tempera. (Please inquire about other acceptable water-based mediums)

Acceptable media up to 20%: line & wash; watercolor pencils; collage (waterbased, on or of paper); charcoal; graphite; wax accents and resists; waterbased monotypes and mono prints; embossing; metallic waterbased paint; waterbased iridescent paints or powders (not glitter)

Unacceptable media: Pastels; colored pencil other than watercolor pencil; impasto (thickly applied) acrylic and watermedia; fabrics; digital media or digitally enhanced images; multiple edition prints; sand; glitter; gold or metal leaf; collage from printed materials, newspaper, magazines, etc.; oil paints; water‐miscible oil paints; photography; reproductions; 3D media.

Exhibition History
Work must not have been exhibited in ANY previous RIWS Show. 

Framing and Presentation: 
Work must be presented in a professional manner.
No broken or damaged frames.
MUST BE FRAMED under glass/Plexiglass
Frames may not be wider than 1.5 inches.
Work may be floated within the frame, or presented with a single or double mat.
Only white or off-white matts are acceptable, but liner mats less than 3/8" may be colored.
MUST BE WIRED!!!! with no wire or hanger showing when hung. No tooth hangers. 

Shipping: Please send shipments to the following address:
Rhode Island Watercolor Society
Slater Memorial Park
831 Armistice Blvd.
Pawtucket, RI 02861
Please include a pre-paid return label in the box with your painting and send the tracking number to riwsgallery@gmail.com with the subject line "National Show Shipping" 

Submission Fee: $25 for non-members, $20 for members. Checks may be made out to "Rhode Island Watercolor Society".
MEMBERS ONLY: Use code riwsmember in the white box below both your first entry and additional entry/entries on the checkout page. 

To become a member: please visit our website at riws.org or send us an email, we're happy to answer all inquiries about our membership!

The Rhode Island Watercolor Society reserves the right to exclude from the exhibition any works that do not arrive in sturdy condition, or are deemed too fragile to be successfully exhibited. Work that has not been suitably prepared will be hung at the discretion of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society. Please submit only work that will be available at the time of the exhibition and will remain for its entirety. No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. Prices for artwork indicated at the time of submission may not be re-negotiated at a later date. Submitted pieces may be used as promotional material by RIWS. Information on work(s) (including title and price) may not be changed after submission. If the work is sold, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society will receive 35% of the sale.

Submit 1-3 images, $25 each for non-members, $20 each for members (members use provided coupon code for discount)

Open to all artists in the United States

Open to watermedia only (please read full prospectus for details)