South Carolina Watermedia Society: 49th National Exhibition

Call Name: South Carolina Watermedia Society: 49th National Exhibition
October 2nd—November 21, 2026

Greenville Center for Creative Arts 101 Abney St. Greenville, SC 29611

Venue: Greenville Center for Creative Arts 101 Abney St. Greenville, SC 29611 

Entries Begin: May 16, 2026 

Entry Deadline: June 28, 2026 11:59 PM EDT No entries will be accepted after this date. 

Exhibition dates: October 2 - November 21, 2026 

Juror: David Stickel 

Awards: Best of Show $1500. Minimum total cash awards are $3000 with additional prize money and/or merchandise awards to be determined. 

Online Entry: Enter up to two images. Only one may be accepted by an individual artist.

JUROR 

From the artist David Stickle: This concept of 'excellence' challenges me, as it once did the great masters–to create representational works through the medium of watercolor that speaks to the heart. It beckons the mind of the viewer into the beauty and creativity of the everyday wonders around us. I especially enjoy creating images that few others would ever consider painting because of their overwhelming complexity. Known for my representational paintings of reflections–especially of windows–I love how each tells its own story inside as well as outside the window. My goal and passion is to paint an image on a 2-dimensional surface making it look as 3-dimensional as possible. I draw inspiration for my compositions from my beloved North Carolina as well as two years in Africa, trips to China, Europe, and throughout the U.S. where I have lived or traveled. However, I agree with Andrew Wyeth, who once said there was enough subject matter in his own backyard to paint over several lifetimes. https://www.davidlstickel.com/ 

CALENDAR 2026 

● May 16: Entries open on CAFE 

● June 28: Entries close at 11:59 PM EDT No entries will be accepted after this date. 

● July 11: Notifications of acceptance and instructions emailed and posted on SCWS website. 

● September 21 – 26: shipped paintings (with enclosed pre-paid return shipping) due at the Art Center 

● September 26, 11am – 3 pm: Hand-delivered paintings accepted at gallery, final screening for compliance. 

● September 30 or October 1st: SCWS sends notification to award winners (but not specific awards). 

● September 30 - October 2nd, 9am - 4 pm: Workshop David Stickel https://scwatermedia.com/workshop/ 

● October 2nd, 5pm - 8pm: Opening Reception & Awards, awards announced at 6:30 pm 

● November 21: Exhibition closes 

● November 21, 3pm - 6pm: Hand-delivered work pick up 

● November 23 - 27: Shipped work returned

Since its founding in 1977, the South Carolina Watermedia Society (SCWS) has strived to promote the artistic and professional interests of its members as well as provide visual arts programs and education opportunities to the public. Each year, the Annual Exhibition is held in a location in the state of South Carolina. It is a high-caliber, juried exhibition that draws national participation and acclaim. Artwork is selected by a professional juror. scwatermediasociety@gmail.com https://scwatermedia.com

AGREEMENT/ CONDITIONS AND RULES
Please read carefully: This exhibition maintains high professional standards. All participants are required to review this prospectus thoroughly, as several requirements have been updated. Entries must meet CaFE’s submission standards (cropping, file sizing, etc.) and exhibition preparation guidelines (framing, delivery). Noncompliance may lead to disqualification. Failure to meet ANY of the conditions may result in the disqualification of your entry and may result in ineligibility to enter future shows for a minimum of 2 years. The SCWS Board has the sole discretion for judgement as to whether the criteria are met and whether any disqualifications are incurred.

ELIGIBILITY: 

● All entries must be executed in watermedia. Watercolor, acrylic, gouache, casein, water-based/acrylic ink, water-soluble graphite/pencils/crayons and egg tempera are acceptable. Collage is acceptable; however, the painting must be primarily painted. NO pastels, charcoal, alcohol inks or water-soluble oils will be accepted. 

● All entries must be square or rectangular in shape. No diptychs or triptychs are accepted unless in a common frame. 

● Digital media, photography, prints, reproductions, and preprinted images are not permitted. 

● All entries must be original design from conception to completion: entirely the work of the entrant. It must be done outside a workshop setting. No paintings can be done under any form of supervision. 

● Submitted artwork may not be a copy, likeness, nor direct derivative of another person’s creative work, whether paintings, drawings, photography, digital images, computer generated images, Artificial Intelligence (AI) or print work and free from any copyright infringement. 

● Compositions based on photographs must use photos taken by the artist or be the sole property of the artist. There are scenarios in which minor elements of someone else’s photo might be added to your painting or comprise a minor element in your painting. This would be possible if it does not retain the key story and composition of the original photo and you have received permission from the photographer or owner of the copyright. 

● Work previously exhibited in any SCWS National juried exhibition or SCWS Online Member Exhibition is not eligible. 

● Art must be painted and created on any surface that will allow framing (required unless work is created on a canvas with finished edges, museum or gallery wrapped. See framing requirements). 

● SCWS reserves the right to withdraw any entry it deems inappropriate or objectionable. 

FRAMING REQUIREMENTS: 

● Wired and ready for hanging and framed with framed dimensions specified. Mats (if used) must be white, off-white, or pale grey. 

● Maximum size is 48” in either direction, including the frame. Maximum depth (with frame) is 2 and 3/4” and maximum weight is 25 lbs. Minimum size 80 squared inches (width x Height - example 8” x 10”) 

● Plexiglas/acrylic 1/8” glazing (glass is not permitted) must be used for all pieces on paper or paper-like products unless the work is sealed/varnished on a panel or other rigid surface. 

● Frames must be a maximum 2 and 3/4” wide flat face (see images below), “museum style,” unadorned, natural wood (dark, light, etc., such as maple, cherry, oak, mahogany) or black. NO WHITE (EVEN WOOD) OR METAL FRAMES WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

● Framed Acrylic paintings must adhere to watercolor framing requirements except they do not have to be under Plexiglas/acrylic; they may or may not be varnished (personal preference). 

● Acrylic Paints on canvas or cradled wood panel must adhere to examples shown below. 

● Canvas and Cradled Wood Panel Descriptions - Visual Aids Included Below o Any canvases with stretcher bars must be professionally stretched or purchased. Any canvases with stapled edges must be framed. 

o Paintings on canvas or cradled wood panels that are 0.75” or less in depth (e.g. canvas panels or uncradled wood panels must be appropriately framed, wired and ready to hang. Rewettable media (e.g. watercolor, traditional gouache) must be sealed using best practices. 

o Paintings on back-stapled canvases or cradled wood panels that are greater than 1.5” (typically 1.75” to 2.5” deep) must have the painting carry around over the edges, and the piece be securely wired. The maximum depth of a painting support is 2.5”. 

o Paintings on back-stapled canvases or cradled wood panels that are greater than 0.75” must be painted in a solid edge color and must be properly wired for hanging. Color options are cream (e.g. Titan Buff, Unbleached Titanium), brown (e.g. Raw Umber, VanDyke Brown) or black (e.g. Mars Black, Bone Black). 

Any significant deviation from these colors may result in disqualification during exhibition preparation. As white wood frames are not allowed, white paint or bare side edges are not allowed. 

ENTRY FEE: 

SCWS members $25 for 1 entry and second entry +$10. 

Nonmembers $60 for 1 entry and second entry +$20. 

Only one entry per artist may be juried into the exhibition. 

Accepted artists who ship work must pay an additional exhibition fee of $30 for paintings in Air Float type boxes and $50 for non airfloat boxes. Detailed instructions for shipping and delivery will be provided with the acceptance notification and guidelines.
 

DIGITAL IMAGE & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 

https://www.callforentry.org/login/ 

Upload-ready File Formats for CAFÉ 

File Type: JPEG or JPG only. 

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

File Size: Under 5 MB. Color 

Profile: sRGB 

Image: IMAGES MUST BE PROPERLY CROPPED AND OF THE PAINTING ONLY. No frame/mat, watermark, or added text should appear. 

Written Portion: 

When entering, a bio and artist statement will be collected from each applying artist. Each should be under 500 words. See below for definitions and expectations of each: 

An artist bio is a factual account of an artist's life, education, career, and achievements, typically written in the third person. 

An artist statement is a personal narrative that explains the artist's creative process, influences, and intentions behind their work, usually written in the first person. It is a formal introduction to your work. It should be about your art, stating your focus, outlining the materials and methods used to create your art, and reflecting on why you create it. Be brief. Be concise. Get to the point. Use simple language as if you are telling your story to a child or a non-artistic person.